Sergio Aguero fired a hat-trick of poachers finishes as Manchester City closed in on leaders Liverpool with a 3-1 win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
The Premier League champions have cut the gap on Liverpool to two points with their win, though the Reds can respond when they face West Ham on Monday evening at the London Stadium.
Just as he was in midweek at Newcastle, Aguero was on the scoresheet in the opening minute – taking 50 seconds before he headed home from six-yards after Arsenal had failed to clear their lines and allowed Aymeric Laporte pick out the Argentine with his cross from the left.
It was almost deeper trouble minutes later when Shkodran Mustafi appeared to drag Aguero to the floor in the penalty box but Martin Atkinson waved play on.
I think it came off my chest, but now I see on TV it was a handball.
Sergio Aguero
Arsenal grabbed that reprieve with both hands when Laurent Koscielny powered a header home from Nacho Monreal's set-piece delivery after 11 minutes.
The Gunners were on course for parity at the interval but City carved them open on 43 minutes.
Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling were the architects, leaving Aguero with the easiest of far-post tap-ins to make it 2-1 at the break.
Sterling was the provider once again just beyond the hour, his low cross connecting with the sliding Aguero and just creeping over the line despite the efforts of Bernd Leno. Arsenal may feel that it was Aguero's arm which made the difference in steering the ball goalwards.
The match-winner suggested it was a crucial win having lost 2-1 despite that quick start at Newcastle while Aguero admitted after seeing replays that it looked like hand ball for his hat-trick moment.
"It was important to win. The other day I scored early and we lost, today I am very happy," he told Sky Sports.
"I think it came off my chest, but now I see on TV it was a handball."
Manchester City are now 11/8 to retain the Premier League title, with Liverpoo 8/13 to end their famine. The Reds meanwhile are 11/1 to beat West Ham 3-1 on Monday night.
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Sergio Aguero fired a hat-trick of poachers finishes as Manchester City closed in on leaders Liverpool with a 3-1 win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
The Premier League champions have cut the gap on Liverpool to two points with their win, though the Reds can respond when they face West Ham on Monday evening at the London Stadium.
Just as he was in midweek at Newcastle, Aguero was on the scoresheet in the opening minute – taking 50 seconds before he headed home from six-yards after Arsenal had failed to clear their lines and allowed Aymeric Laporte pick out the Argentine with his cross from the left.
It was almost deeper trouble minutes later when Shkodran Mustafi appeared to drag Aguero to the floor in the penalty box but Martin Atkinson waved play on.
I think it came off my chest, but now I see on TV it was a handball.
Sergio Aguero
Arsenal grabbed that reprieve with both hands when Laurent Koscielny powered a header home from Nacho Monreal's set-piece delivery after 11 minutes.
The Gunners were on course for parity at the interval but City carved them open on 43 minutes.
Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling were the architects, leaving Aguero with the easiest of far-post tap-ins to make it 2-1 at the break.
Sterling was the provider once again just beyond the hour, his low cross connecting with the sliding Aguero and just creeping over the line despite the efforts of Bernd Leno. Arsenal may feel that it was Aguero's arm which made the difference in steering the ball goalwards.
The match-winner suggested it was a crucial win having lost 2-1 despite that quick start at Newcastle while Aguero admitted after seeing replays that it looked like hand ball for his hat-trick moment.
"It was important to win. The other day I scored early and we lost, today I am very happy," he told Sky Sports.
"I think it came off my chest, but now I see on TV it was a handball."
Manchester City are now 11/8 to retain the Premier League title, with Liverpoo 8/13 to end their famine. The Reds meanwhile are 11/1 to beat West Ham 3-1 on Monday night.
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Source: bet365.com