We didn’t have energy: Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola admitted an exhausted Manchester City had luck on their side to open up an 11point Premier League lead as the English champions came from behind to beat 10man Arsenal 21 to start 2022 off on a winning note11game winning runCity are well on course for their fourth title in five seasons thanks to an 11game winning run but were made to toil until Rodrirsquos winner deep into stoppage time by the GunnersA 50 thrashing by City when the sides last met in August saw Arsenal off to their worst start to a league season in 67 years But Mikel Artetarsquos men have rallied to rise to fourth in the table and showed why as they deservedly led at halftime through Bukayo Sakarsquos seventh goal of the seasonPep GuardiolaMahrez equalisesRiyad Mahrez levelled from the penalty spot before Gabriel Magalhaes stupidly got himself sent off for two quickfire bookings just before the hour mark And the 10 men just failed to hold out for a point when Rodri poked home from close range after Aymeric Laportersquos shot was blockedPlastic bottles rained down on the Spanish international as he celebrated with the Arsenal supporters furious as they voiced their frustration at the officiating after seeing a penalty appeal of their own waived away in the first half ldquoThey were betterrdquo said Guardiola ldquoIt was difficult because we didnrsquot have energyrdquoCity are one of only two Premier League teams not to have had a match postponed in recent weeks due to rising cases of COVID19 meaning they have played nine games in the last 32 daysArsenalrsquos clash with Wolves in midweek had been called off and they looked the fresher side They ran the champions ragged in the first half despite missing the presence of Arteta who tested positive for Covid19 for the second time earlier this week The first big decision to go against the home side came on 12 minutes when Martin Odegaard went down as he tried to round City goalkeeper EdersonlsquoClear penaltyrsquoThe Brazilian was given the benefit of the doubt by the referee and VAR but Ederson appeared to have gone through the Norwegianrsquos foot to get to the ball ldquoConfusing is the right word we are looking for consistencyrdquo said Arsenal assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg ldquoFor me the Odegaard one is a clear penaltyrdquoArsenal did get the halftime lead they deserved when Saka swept home Kieran Tierneyrsquos pass into the bottom cornerThat was just the second Premier League goal City had conceded in the first half all season and Guardiolarsquos men bounced back in a dramatic second period Arsenal were furious when Stuart Attwell was sent to review Granit Xhakarsquos pull on Bernardo Silva seven minutes after the break when he had not been for Odegaardrsquos penalty appeal Mahrez made no mistake from the spot in his final City appearance for a while due to his participation in the African Cup of Nations with AlgeriaThe game then turned in the course of an incredible 60 seconds Firstly Arsenal somehow did not retake the lead when Nathan Ake rescued Laportersquos wayward header from crossing his own line before Martinelli hit the post with an open goal on the reboundThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever