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Jonathan Cook’s World Game Wrap-Up

Posted on | Posted by Jonathan Cook

Eddie steadies Gunners’ charge

Eddie Nketiah played a starring role as Arsenal secured a late victory that has Gunners fans dreaming of Premier League title glory.

The 23-year-old doubled his league goals tally for the season by scoring twice – including a stoppage time winner – in a dramatic 3-2 win over Manchester United.

United’s Marcus Rashford and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka had scored stunning goals before Nketiah flicked home the winner.

Arsenal are now five points clear of second-placed Manchester City and have played one game fewer at the halfway mark of the season.

Haaland breaks new ground

Erling Haaland scored his fourth hat-trick of the season as Manchester City made Wolves their latest victim with a 3-0 win at the Etihad Stadium

The big Norwegian, who has played just 19 Premier League matches, has achieved the feat in record-breaking time. Former Manchester United front man, Ruud van Nistelrooy, held the previous record, taking 65 games to hit four trebles.

Haaland, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund this season, has scored 31 goals in all competitions, including 25 in 19 league games.

Record unbeaten run for Newcastle

Newcastle United marched on to a new club record, 15-game unbeaten streak with their sixth goalless draw of the Premier League season.

Beaten just once this campaign – away to Liverpool in August – Newcastle were kept at bay by Crystal Palace, and not for the first time. The teams drew 0-0 in their St James’ Park clash earlier in the season, and also played out a goalless League Cup draw that Newcastle won on penalties.

While the unbeaten streak shows remarkable improvement under Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League will require improvement in front of goal.

Sixteen shots, seven on target, and 15 corners came to nothing against Palace.

Bowen’s double delight

Jarrod Bowen celebrated news that his partner is pregnant with twins by scoring twice in an important win over Everton.

The West Ham forward scored twice in seven minutes to lift the Hammers out of the bottom three and sink Everton deeper into trouble.

Bowen’s double spelt trouble for Everton boss and former West Ham midfielder Frank Lampard, whose team is now second bottom.

The win eased the pressure on West Ham boss David Moyes, as the Hammers climbed a point clear of the relegation zone.

Mid-table sums up Reds and Blues

There was a time when Liverpool against Chelsea was a top-of-the-table blockbuster where fireworks – if not goals – were expected and delivered.

These days, a third successive goalless draw between these sides, sums up their status.

There was still plenty of star talent on show – Mo Salah, Darwen Nunez, Kai Havertz and Thiago Silva to name a few – but eighth-placed Liverpool and 10th-placed Chelsea are some distance below the standards of recent memory.

Chelsea had an early Havertz goal ruled out for offside and new Ukrainian signing Mykhailo Mudryk made a lively
contribution. But this one won’t be remembered as a classic.

Who are ya?

Sam Surridge felt it in his bones – and his premonition came true with a goal against his former club.

The Nottingham Forest striker earned his side a point with a late goal that was met by jeers from Bournemouth fans.

Surridge spent four seasons on the Bournemouth books, although he made just a handful of starts and was regularly loaned out.

But the 24-year-old made sure Cherries fans won’t forget him in a hurry with a goal that extended to four games
Forest’s unbeaten league run.

Taggart on target in Glory return

Adam Taggart was a man in a hurry as he marked his return to Perth Glory with two goals in a 3-1 win over Melbourne Victory.

The Socceroos striker scored a fine header just nine minutes after his second-half introduction and grabbed a second goal three minutes from the end.

The win extended Glory’s unbeaten streak to four games and has reignited their finals hopes. They are seventh on the table, separated from sixth-placed Macarthur by goal difference.

Sparkling Diamanti stuns Sydney

Alessandro Diamanti scored one of the great A-League goals then thanked himself for his own contribution.

The former Italy international unleashed a stunning late strike to earn Western United a much-needed 1-0 win over Sydney FC but the entertainment didn’t stop there.

Still basking in the glow of his goal, Diamanti’s on-pitch, post-match interview was priceless.

“I’m very happy for me, honestly,” he said. “I have to say thank you to myself.”

Yorke departs after “pub team” blast

Dwight Yorke’s first venture into coaching has ended just 13 games into a two-year deal at A-League side Macarthur.

The former Manchester United and Aston Villa striker parted ways with Macarthur, apparently after blasting the squad as a pub team in the aftermath of a 1-0 loss to Adelaide United.

Yorke has already been linked to Sydney FC, where coach Steve Corica has overseen seven defeats in 13 games.

Former Socceroos and Perth Glory striker Mile Sterjovski has been tipped to take over at sixth-placed Macarthur.

Juventus plummet from third

Juventus’ hopes of UEFA Champions League football next season were dealt a serious blow without a ball being kicked.

Juve were docked 15 points for financial irregularities, and are now ninth in Italy’s Serie A, after previously occupying third place on the table.

The players responded to the news by sharing the points in a 3-3 draw with Atalanta that has left Juve 14 points adrift of fourth-placed Roma.

Twenty-seven points separate the Turin side from league leaders Napoli, who are 12 points clear of AC Milan.




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