Arsenal back on top with 2-1 win over Villa
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Arsenal scored two goals in the space of 59 seconds on its way to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa that put the Gunners back on top of the Premier League on Monday.
Jack Wilshere’s 34th-minute opener was quickly followed by a well-taken goal by Olivier Giroud, which proved to be enough to lift Arsenal back above Manchester City and Chelsea after their victories at the weekend.
Belgium striker Christian Benteke scored his first goal since mid-September to give Villa hope in the 76th minute but the home side couldn’t find an equalizer despite late pressure. “The first half was more about playing, and the second half was more about fighting,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
With its fourth straight league win, Arsenal restored its one-point lead over City after 21 matches.
To cap another disappointing result at Villa Park for the mid-table hosts, Villa defender Nathan Baker was carried off on a stretcher in the 21st minute after briefly losing consciousness when he was hit straight in the face by a shot from Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry.
Baker required oxygen and a neck brace after being treated on the field for seven minutes. He was later diagnosed with mild concussion, according to broadcaster Sky Sports.
The pressure was on Arsenal after seeing the rest of the top seven all pick up victories by two-goal margins over the weekend. However, save for a worrying last 15 minutes when Villa rallied gamely, the Gunners passed the ball much better and always looked the likely winners.
Wilshere’s goal came when he ran onto a cut-back from left back Nacho Monreal, took a touch and shot low in to the bottom corner to the left of goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Just 17 seconds after the restart, the ball hit the back of the net again. This time Wilshere was the provider as he collected a loose ball and played a sublime pass through to Giroud, who fired into the corner.
Inter denied goal
In Italy, Inter Milan was held to a 1-1 draw at home to Chievo Verona in Serie A as an incorrectly disallowed goal saw its poor run continue on Monday.
Chievo took the lead in the eighth minute when former AC Milan forward Alberto Paloschi smashed the ball into the top far corner with a great finish.
Inter leveled four minutes later as Yuto Nagatomo sidefooted home Ricardo Alvarez’s low pass across the area from close range. Nagatomo thought he had fired Inter in front just two minutes later but his effort was harshly ruled out for offside.
“We scored a clear and obvious goal and they didn’t give it to us,” Alvarez said. “Certainly we’re making our mistakes and we know that but I think that the referees are too. Certainly we have to think about what we’re doing, but sometimes the referees make too many mistakes against us.”
Inter has won just one of its past seven league matches and was knocked out of the Italian Cup by Udinese last week. It is fifth but 10 points behind third-placed Napoli and the final Champions League berth.
Meanwhile, off the pitch, Argentina striker Sergio Aguero will return from a month out with a calf injury in Manchester City’s third-round replay against Blackburn in the FA Cup today.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini said Aguero, who last played on December 14, is training as normal and is in the squad for the match at Etihad Stadium.
City has won seven of its eight games during Aguero’s absence, who has 19 goals this season.
Pellegrini said on Tuesday that Sweden striker John Guidetti will be sent out on loan, amid reported interest from fellow Premier League team Stoke.
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