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Battling Arsenal snatch draw

Last Updated 04 November 2018, 19:16 IST

Arsenal manager Unai Emery is happy with his side’s progress but admits there is still work to do to match Liverpool’s title challenge after a thrilling 1-1 draw between the sides on Saturday.

Alexandre Lacazette extended the Gunners unbeaten run to 14 games with an equaliser eight minutes from time to cancel out James Milner’s opener as Liverpool edged a point clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.

Arsenal remains four points behind the leaders. However, it is the first time Emery has avoided defeat against a Premier League top six opponent having been handed a baptism of fire in losing to Manchester City and Chelsea in his first two matches in charge.

“Against Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool - these are three teams in front of us (in the table) and you can see how three different matches we played,” said Emery. Today is a more complete game for us.”

Second on table

Alvaro Morata scored twice as unbeaten Chelsea climbed to second with a 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Chelsea knew a victory would send them second and an in-form Spain forward Morata saw them on their way with two smart finishes.

First the 26-year-old skilfully controlled and converted Pedro’s cross in the 32nd minute, then -- after Andros Townsend equalised -- the often maligned Morata lashed home from a tight angle in the 65th minute for his fourth goal in four league matches.

Pedro then sealed the victory five minutes later, ghosting into the box to convert Marcos Alonso’s cross in the 70th minute for a Chelsea side, who also welcomed back Eden Hazard as a second-half substitute.

Chelsea, one of three unbeaten sides, have 27 points from 11 games -- two fewer than leaders Manchester City -- and lead Liverpool in third on goal difference.

Palace, meanwhile, have won just twice in the league this season and remain 14th with eight points. “I can score a hat-trick so it was not the perfect day but we will take the three points,” Morata said.

Chelsea talisman Hazard was fit enough only for a place on the bench following injury but under Maurizio Sarri the Blues are no longer solely reliant on the brilliant Belgian.

Raheem Sterling scored twice fresh from agreeing a new five-year contract with City as the champions swept aside Southampton 6-1 on Sunday to return to the top of the table.

Sergio Aguero, with his 150th league goal, David Silva and Leroy Sane were also on the mark as Pep Guardiola’s side continued their unbeaten start to their title defence.

“We played excellent, without and especially with the ball,” Guardiola told the BBC as he insisted there was more to come from England international Sterling.

“He is more mature now than he was when we first met at the club...He is 23 and he can be a better player.”

Southampton had the minor consolation of becoming the first team in 630 minutes to score against City but the leaders’ form is ominous for the rest of the division.

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(Published 04 November 2018, 19:09 IST)

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