United lose ground after Arsenal draw
LONDON: Manchester United lost vital ground in the title race after drawing 0-0 against Arsenal in the Premier League. United had a string of clear chances throughout the match, but the visitors couldn’t convert and grab the three points on Saturday. Instead, United dropped two and remained second with 41 points, three behind Manchester City—who have a game in hand—at the top. To make matters worse, City on Saturday were able to do what United couldn’t on Wednesday—beat bottom side Sheffield United.
But United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wasn’t focused just yet on the fight to win the league. “We don’t think about the title race or the title now,” he said. “We’re in January.”
Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to seven matches and remained ninth with 31 points. “I thought it was a fair result,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “I think both managers think we should have won it.”
Tuchel’s first win
Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso produced stunning finishes as Chelsea beat Burnley 2-0 to earn their first win of the Thomas Tuchel era. The former PSG boss was brought in to replace Frank Lampard last week. He endured a frustrating goalless draw against Wolves in midweek but two moments of magic from Azpilicueta and forgotten man Alonso mean the German now has four points from six. The result lifts Chelsea to seventh, four points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, who are in action later on Sunday.
Tuchel said the victory would infuse his side with confidence but said they needed to sharpen up their finishing after both goals came from defenders. “It should be a signal to our guys up front that we needed defensive players to score,” he said.
Leeds beat Leicester
Patrick Bamford scored one and created two as Leeds ended Leicester City’s seven-match unbeaten run and denied Brendan Rodgers’s side a move up to second with a 3-1 victory. Leeds remain in 12th, behind Southampton on goal difference, while Leicester are third—two points behind Man United.