Arsenal's English midfielder Jack Wilshere (C) vies with West Bromwich Albion's English midfielder Jake Livermore (R) during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal at The Hawthorns Stadium at West Bromwich in central England on Sunday. — AFP LONDON, Jan 1 (AFP): Manchester City survived late penalty drama at Crystal Palace on Sunday but saw their 18-match Premier League winning run halted as Arsenal Wenger overtook Alex Ferguson's record for games in charge.
Pep Guardiola's men travelled to their match in London with a 13-point lead over second-placed Chelsea and strongly fancied to match Bayern Munich's record for the big five European leagues of 19 straight
But in the end they were grateful to goalkeeper Ederson for keeping out Luka Milivojevic's spot-kick in injury time after Wilfried Zaha was adjudged to have been brought down by Raheem Sterling.
Guardiola, whose team easily surpassed Arsenal's previous Premier League record of 14 straight wins, pleaded with officials to protect players.
"I admire the physicality in the Premier League but the referees have to protect the players," he said.
Guardiola said Jesus could be out for up to two months but the injury to Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne looks less serious than feared even though he may not be ready to face Watford on Tuesday.
Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace frustrated their illustrious visitors in the first half at Selhurst Park and although City began to find their groove after the break, goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey denied Leroy Sane and De Bruyne.
Andros Townsend missed the home side's best chance of the half with about a quarter of an hour to go before Milivojevic fluffed his last-gasp chance to clinch all three points.
"It was an excellent point and before the game we would have been jumping through hoops with a point, but when you get a penalty late in the game and you miss like we have before there is an element of sadness," said Hodgson.
Despite the disappointment of the 0-0 stalemate, City still have an enormous 14-point lead at the top of the Premier League table and the chances of any of their rivals catching them appear remote.
Arsenal - missing Mesut Ozil - played out a frustrating 1-1 draw with West Brom at a wet Hawthorns to climb to fifth on the table, three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. The match was Wenger's 811th in charge - moving him ahead of United legend Ferguson, who was at the helm for 810 matches in the Premier League era.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
