Aston Villa beat Arsenal 1-0 for club record 15th straight home victory

BIRMINGHAM, England, Dec 9 (Reuters) – John McGinn’s early goal led surging Aston Villa to a club-record 15th consecutive home Premier League victory on Saturday, a breathless 1-0 win over Arsenal that prevented Mikel Arteta’s Gunners from reclaiming top spot in the table.

Unai Emery’s Villa, who shocked champions Manchester City in a dominant 1-0 win on Wednesday as part of what McGinn called a “monumental week,” are now third on 35 points after 16 games in a jam-packed title race. Arsenal, who were overtaken by Liverpool earlier on Saturday, are second with 36.

“I’m banning the T-word,” a laughing McGinn told Sky Sports, when asked if Villa were title contenders. “It’s game week 16, so there’s a long, long way to go, and we respect everyone in front of us who have been in this position for years. We’re newbies. Can we keep it up? Hopefully.”

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Emery also cautioned that the season was young.

“I will speak when we are in (week) 30, 32, and if we are in the same position then as we are now, I can speak about (the title race),” he said.

Villa Park was rocking in the seventh minute after Leon Bailey sprinted down the right wing before cutting back the ball and picking out McGinn. Villa’s captain took one touch, turned sharply and fired past keeper David Raya.

Arsenal thought they had equalised in added time before VAR determined Kai Havertz had handled the ball while firing it past keeper Emi Martinez from a goalmouth scramble.

Delighted fans sang “Hi Ho Aston Villa” at the final whistle.

Aston Villa beat Arsenal 1-0 for club record 15th straight home victory

Goalkeeping crisis: Osayi, Obasogie deserve Super Eagles’ call-up – Kano Pillars coach

ABDULLAHI Maikaba, Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars Football Club, has recommended Kingdom Osayi and Amas Obasogie of Doma United and Bendel Insurance, respectively, as good alternatives to resolve the Super Eagles goalkeeping crisis.

Maikaba said this in an interview with journalists shortly after the Match Day 13 fixture of the NPFL 2023/2024 season, which was played at Pantami Township Stadium, Gombe, on Saturday, with Kano Pillars losing 0-1 to Doma United.

He said with the form of both players, they deserved to be called up for the national team to help address the goalkeeping challenges being experienced by the team.

“Football is improving in Nigeria, especially at the league level.

“We hope the national team selectors will look inwards to our league.

“I recommend Doma United’s Kingdom and Bendel Insurance’s Amas to be of help to our national team.

“I believe these two goalkeepers can be safe hands for the Super Eagles,” he said.

On the outcome of the game, Maikaba said the fact that Doma United defeated his team by a lone goal didn’t mean the hosts were better than his team.

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He said his players were unlucky not to have grabbed the equalising goal, and he expressed optimism that his team had enough opportunity to recover and get to the top.

Asked why the 18-year-old Yusuf Abdullahi could not score a goal in spite scoring five at the same stadium on Sunday, Maikaba said it was due to pressure.

He stated that the player was under pressure from those who wanted to sell him to clubs outside the country.

“After scoring five goals, there must have been a lot of pressure on him, especially those that want to sell him out.

“We had to collect his phone for him to concentrate. I think that was part of his problem today,” he said.

Maikaba commended the turn out of supporters to watch their NPFL team play, adding that such attendance was good for the development of football in the country.

“I like the atmosphere, the supporters are out for them and it is good for Nigerian football,” he said.

On his part, Doma United’s Head Coach, Akinade Onigbinde, said Osayi had proven himself as a good goalkeeper that deserved a call-up to the national team.

Onigbinde said Osayi could challenge any goalkeeper in the national team in view of his impressive saves that had helped his team secure top spot in the NPFL.

He said he could give assurance to the coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, that Osayi would not disappoint if called up for national assignment.

“I brought Osayi to this team. I saw him when we played against Niger tornadoes in Kano last season.

“I saw the quality in him and since we had goalkeeping problems, I called him over, so I know he can do it.

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“He has the qualities to go to a national team. He is a fantastic goalkeeper and he has saved a lot of goals,” he said.

On the outcome of the game, he said they planned well for Kano Pillars knowing how good they were.

According to him, his defenders were tactically disciplined and that explained why Kano Pillars players found it difficult to score in the game.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Osayi attributed his success so far to God and fans of Doma United for their constant prayers and support.

He said he was not under any pressure to join the national team: “If I am given the opportunity to man the goal post (for the national team), I will be so excited, and I will definitely do my best.”

NAN reports that Osayi was named the NPFL player of the month for November, while Doma United coach was named coach of the month.

NAN also reports that Emmanuel Ekpenyong scored for Doma United in the 14th minute of the game to send his team to the top of the NPFL log with 25 points.

Doma now has two points ahead of Remo Stars and Lobi Stars who both have a game in hand.

Also, the 12, 000-capacity Pantami Township stadium was filled to capacity as fans crowded the facility to watch their teams play.

Goalkeeping crisis: Osayi, Obasogie deserve Super Eagles’ call-up – Kano Pillars coach

(NAN)

EPL: Salah scores 200th Liverpool goal as Reds go top

Mohamed Salah scored his 200th Liverpool goal as Jurgen Klopp’s side produced a late comeback against 10-man Crystal Palace to move top of the Premier League and increase the pressure on former boss Roy Hodgson.

It was Harvey Elliott who delivered the decisive moment inside the first of 10 minutes of added time, producing a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area to lift Liverpool above Arsenal.

Salah’s goal arrived just 98 seconds after Jordan Ayew was dismissed for a second bookable offence, and the visitors had failed to land a shot on target prior to that moment.

Palace, booed off by their supporters following a disappointing home loss to Bournemouth on Wednesday, were on course to deliver a surprise blow to the Red’s title aspirations following Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty.

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The game had continued for more than one minute after Jarell Quansah caught Mateta when attempting to clear a cross before the video assistant referee intervened – but referee Andy Madley did not take long to award Palace a spot-kick after being sent to the pitchside monitor.

Palace had seen a penalty decision in their favour overturned during the first half when Madley took three minutes to review a challenge by Will Hughes on Endo in the lead-up to Virgil van Dijk’s foul on Odsonne Edouard inside the box.