City fall at Aston Villa, Arsenal move level

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Manchester City’s perfect start to the Premier League season came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa yesterday, allowing Arsenal to move level on points at the top of the standings.

Tottenham also secured their second win of the week, beating 10-man Chelsea 2-0.

Nicolas Jackson scored both goals for Villa against a City side that had been chasing an eighth consecutive league victory. The win extended Villa’s impressive run to six victories from their last seven matches in all competitions.

“It is incredible,” Jackson said. “It was difficult but we got the win and that is the most important thing. Now we can focus on the next one.”

After City’s defeat in the early kick-off, defending champions Arsenal took full advantage with a 2-0 victory over Everton at Emirates Stadium.

Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes scored in either half for Mikel Arteta’s team, which sits second only on goal difference.

Spurs, who ended their wait for a league win on Monday against Coventry, followed up with a rare victory at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders inadvertently punched the ball into his own net to hand Tottenham the lead, and Cole Palmer was sent off shortly afterwards. Mathys Tel added a late second to seal the visitors’ win.

Elsewhere, Fulham edged Coventry 1-0.

Arsenal end unlikely run

Konsa scored his first goal for Arsenal since arriving from Villa at the start of the season, ending the champions’ run of 13 matches without a goal from a set-piece.

Arsenal’s title-winning campaign last season was built largely on their efficiency from corners and other dead-ball situations, but Konsa’s scrambled finish after seven minutes was their first set-piece goal of the campaign in any competition, excluding penalties.

“A goal from a set-piece has felt like it has been coming. Today was the day,” Konsa said.

Gabriel also got on the scoresheet, heading home Arsenal’s second in the 68th minute for his first goal of the season.

Having boosted their credentials with a 2-2 Champions League draw away to Bayern Munich in midweek, Arsenal strengthened their title defence by defeating Everton and moving level with City on points, with only goal difference separating the teams.

“We’re very happy with the victory, the performance and the week, because we were given a terrible schedule,” Arteta said. “We just have to focus on what we can do, and we’re very pleased with 90 per cent of the performances and results.”

Emery a ‘tactical genius’

Villa have climbed rapidly up the table after a difficult start to the campaign that saw them fail to win any of their first four matches and collect just one point.

That slow start came after a disruptive off-season in which a number of key players departed, including Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Konsa, Emi Martinez and Youri Tielemans.

Unai Emery, who transformed Villa from relegation candidates into Champions League contenders, was forced to rebuild a squad that won the Europa League last season, and he has done so quickly.

Villa’s last defeat came on September 12, when they lost 2-1 to Nottingham Forest. Since then, Emery’s side have remained unbeaten.

Jackson took his tally to seven goals in all competitions when he opened the scoring inside six minutes at Villa Park.

Erling Haaland headed City level in the second half, but Jackson restored Villa’s advantage with a first-time finish that slipped under goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The defeat was City’s fourth consecutive loss at Villa Park.

“Emery is just a tactical genius. Especially against Man City at our place we have been really good,” Villa defender Matty Cash said. “He always has a plan for something and is always coming up with new ideas. When you play against top teams you have to adapt and we did that today.”

Maresca not so perfect now

Maresca said City would learn from their first league defeat of the campaign.

The Italian had enjoyed a flawless start to life in England’s top flight since succeeding Pep Guardiola during the off-season.

Villa joined Arsenal and European champions Paris Saint-Germain as the only teams to beat City in any competition this season.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose today, but we lost,” Maresca said. “You can always learn something.”

Spurs on the rise

Tottenham climbed from the foot of the table to 12th place after victory over fierce London rivals Chelsea.

After guiding Spurs away from relegation danger at the end of last season, coach Roberto De Zerbi may have secured the standout result of his short tenure, with only Tottenham’s second victory at Stamford Bridge in 36 years.

“It’s a big moment for the fans, for the club, for the players also. They deserve this win,” De Zerbi said.

Spurs finished just one place above the relegation zone in each of the previous two seasons.

“We are working to change the last part of the history of this club,” he added.

Chelsea lacked sharpness in attack without the injured Joao Pedro, and their task became even more difficult when Palmer was sent off in the 80th minute after receiving a second yellow card.

“We are all disappointed with the result and the performance. Collectively and individually, we were not on our best level,” Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said.

For Fulham, Oscar Bobb scored in the 80th minute to secure victory at Coventry.