CITY HELD BY WOLVES; EMERY TASTES FIRST WIN
Manchester City offered hope to the chasing pack that the Premier League champions won’t be the same unstoppable force as last season in a 1-1 draw at Wolves on Saturday, while Arsenal ended their wait for a victory under new boss Unai Emery.
Everton’s flying start to their new era under Marco Silva also stumbled as they threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at Bournemouth and saw £50 million record signing Richarlison sent off.
City looked in ominous form to start the campaign in cruising to victory against Arsenal at the Emirates and thrashing Huddersfield 6-1 last weekend.
Wolves opened the scoring in highly controversial circumstances when Willy Boly turned Joao Moutinho’s cross into the net with his arm.
City responded via an unexpected source 21 minutes from time when Aymeric Laporte’s towering header registered his first goal for the club.
Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero struck the woodwork for the visitors before the break and Aguero was denied again by the crossbar with virtually the last kick of the game from a fiercely dipping free-kick.
However, City boss Pep Guardiola insisted he had no regrets and even claimed it had been a “good point” for his side.
“We created enough chances to win the game but it doesn’t count and we drew the game 1-1 and I don’t have too many regrets,” said Guardiola.
“There was a little lack of rhythm sometimes but I am satisfied in general with the performance.” City ensured Emery was handed a baptism of fire at the Emirates a fortnight ago and defeat in a five-goal thriller at Chelsea last weekend put the Spaniard under pressure to finally get points on the board.
His Arsenal side faced West Ham, who are also pointless despite a near £100 million investment in nine new players, and the Hammers went in front thanks to Marco Arnautovic’s fine longrange strike.
However, after Nacho Monreal had levelled, Arsenal got the luck Emery needed to strike back as Issa Diop could only turn Alexandre Lacazette’s cross into his own net and Danny Welbeck netted in stoppage time to wrap up a 3-1 win.
Richarlison scored three goals in his first two Everton games to dismiss doubts over his price tag. But the Brazilian is now set to miss the next three games after seeing red for a soft headbutt on Charlie Daniels in the first half at Bournemouth.
Despite being a man down, Everton went in front via Theo Walcott before the numbers were evened up by a red card for Adam Smith.
Michael Keane doubled the visitors’ advantage but Bournemouth struck back to go level on points with City at the top of the table through Josh King’s penalty and Nathan Ake.
On an afternoon dominated by red cards, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s second booking for diving cost Southampton as Leicester came from behind to win 2-1 at St. Mary’s thanks to Harry Maguire’s deflected 92nd minute winner.
Huddersfield and Cardiff showed why they are favourites to be relegated in a 0-0 devoid of quality and only noteworthy for Jonathan Hogg’s dismissal.
Pep Guardiola described his side’s 1-1 draw at newly-promoted Wolves as a “good point” despite seeing the Premier League champions drop points for the first time this season.
Willy Boly controversially put the hosts in front just before the hour mark as the final touch from the defender came off his arm.
City responded thanks to Aymeric Laporte’s first goal for the club, but were left to rue their luck as the visitors hit the woodwork three times through Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling.
“We conceded too many counter attacks, we were not settled but especially because we missed simple passes,” said Guardiola.
Despite his side’s good fortune, Wolves boss Nuno E spirit oS an to believesthe Premier League newcomers were worthy of a point thanks to a more daring approach than normal from City’s opponents.
“They (the players) knew it would be a tough challenge but we just go for it and played. We played in the way, the style, the shape we believe and of course individually they did fantastic.”—