Penalty misses cost City points
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
MANCHESTER CITY were held to a 1-1 draw as Everton’s Maarten Stekelenburg saved penalties from Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero.
Romelu Lukaku gave Ronald Koeman’s visitors a shock second-half lead when Yannick Bolasie flicked on a long ball from deep into the Belgian’s path and he stormed forward from halfway, outpaced Gael Clichy and slammed a firm low shot past Claudio Bravo.
After De Bruyne saw his penalty saved just before half-time, Aguero experienced the same feeling after 70 minutes. But Stekelenburg was finally beaten when Nolito, on for Sane, headed home a Silva cross after 72 minutes.
“They played fantastic football,” Koeman said of his opponents. “They are the best team in my managerial career that I’ve played against.
“I’m pleased with a point and we didn’t deserve more, I know. Maybe we didn’t deserve one when you count the chances and the opportunities, two missed penalties.
“Maybe the goalkeeper played his best game ever. We know he is a good goalkeeper but saving two penalties – you need that luck to get a good result.”
Guardiola may be thankful for his former Barcelona team-mate’s kind words but he would much rather have been toasting a return to winning.
“I’m sorry, never in my life am I going to change the way I want to play football,” he said. “It’s the only way I have. I can make mistakes, be judged for many things, but I have only one power: my teams play the way I want.
“There are storms, problems, but what is nice is to improve on that.”
Elsewhere, Bob Bradley’s first game as Swansea manager ended in defeat as his side were narrowly beaten by 10-man Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium that sent the Gunners level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table, albeit Guardiola’s side have a better goal difference.
Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will not be appealing against Granit Xhaka’s red card despite classing the decision as “a little harsh”.
The Gunners made it six Premier League wins in a row, with a brace from Theo Walcott and a goal from birthday boy Mesut Ozil proving enough though Swansea twice pulled within one, through Gylfi Sigurdsson in the first half and Borja Baston in the second.
Wenger added: “What looked to be a comfortable afternoon finished in a very uncomfortable way. We just got over the line.
“I thought at times we played fantastic football, we lost a bit of our focus and after that, at 3-1, we could have conceded.”
Walcott’s brace on Saturday made it six goals in five games for the 27-year-old and Wenger believes he is looking much more resilient as a player this season.
He said: “He could have had a hat-trick, maybe even four.
“He scored two goals, I make that six now which is very encouraging.”
Tottenham are just a point behind in third place but missed the chance to go top of the table after needing Dele Alli to rescue a late point at West Brom.
The England midfielder struck an 89th-minute equaliser to clinch a 1-1 draw after Nacer Chadli looked to have condemned his former club to defeat just seven minutes previously.
Earlier in the day, Diego Costa scored his seventh Premier League goal of the season as Chelsea claimed a 3-0 win over champions Leicester at Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Conte hailed Chelsea’s best performance under his management as they brushed aside Premier League champions.
Costa scored after seven minutes and Eden Hazard struck a second before half-time. David Luiz hit the crossbar with a free-kick as Chelsea dominated, with former Foxes midfielder N’Golo Kante excelling, before Victor Moses struck a late third.
Chelsea now have five wins in eight Premier League games under head coach Conte, who praised his team’s comprehensive display.
“I think this is the best game for us,” he said. “I saw good commitment and I’m pleased for the players because when you work very hard it’s important also to win and make a good performance.”
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri joked he chose to forget the first half as he endured a difficult day at his former club.
“I forgot the first 45 because they play so well and we concede everything,” he said. “It was difficult. We change, after, our system to help the players. It does a little good. In the second half it was much better.”