PL on Citi: Adama Traore double stuns Manchester City at home, Arsenal and Chelsea securing wins

Adama Traore struck twice in the closing minutes as Wolves claimed a shock 2-0 win over champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The Spaniard finished off a quick counter-attack 10 minutes from time and then broke away for another in stoppage time to leave Pep Guardiola’s side eight points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Adama Traore’s late goal stunned City

City was below par but had been piling on the pressure in search of a breakthrough and hit the bar through David Silva in the second half.

But Wolves were resolute and, after piercing City’s unsteady defense and spurning a number of gilt-edged chances in the first half, they finally made them pay late on.

The hosts paid for their indecisiveness as, despite having plenty of possession, they were unusually sluggish, particularly in the first half when their defense seemed at sixes and sevens. Were it not for some wasteful finishing by the Wolves forwards, they could easily have been trailing at the break.

Guardiola was again forced to play midfielder Fernandinho as a makeshift centre-back alongside Nicolas Otamendi, although there were times when it seemed as if the Brazilian was the specialist.

Pep Guardiola’s side was off the pace on Sunday

Otamendi made a number of errors while bringing in Joao Cancelo as City’s fourth starting left-back in four games in all competitions – with Benjamin Mendy ruled out injured – added further unfamiliarity to the backline.

City was caught napping after five minutes as Joao Moutinho played Patrick Cutrone through on goal. It was a glorious chance but the Italian attempted to curl beyond the advancing Ederson and sliced wide.

Wolves were presented with further chances as Riyad Mahrez gave the ball away, but Fernandinho did brilliantly to block from Raul Jimenez and the follow-up effort from Cutrone.

Jimenez raced through again after Otamendi gave the ball away but Ederson came out to deny him, although the Wolves forward claimed he had been clipped by Fernandinho in the area.

Almost half an hour had gone before City had a first serious attempt on goal as Ilkay Gundogan shot wide from a free-kick.

Rui Patricio then produced a fine save to keep out a Raheem Sterling shot from the edge of the box and Cancelo blasted over.

Nuno Espirito Santo was thrilled at full-time

Guardiola tried to tighten up at the back at half-time as he sent on Oleksandr Zinchenko for Kyle Walker and switched Cancelo to right-back. That solved one problem but Wolves remained firm at the other end and Guardiola introduced Bernardo Silva on the hour in the hope of finding a breakthrough.

City’s frustration became apparent as they protested vociferously after Wolves won a free-kick deep in their own half. Ederson joined in the complaints as play switched to the other end and was booked.

Guardiola’s side almost found a way through after 67 minutes when David Silva clipped the bar from a free-kick and the ensuing scramble saw Sergio Aguero, Sterling and Silva, again, all threaten but Wolves survived.

City cranked up the pressure and carved out another chance after a move down the right involving their third substitute, Gabriel Jesus, but Silva’s close-range effort was blocked.

At times City was encamped in the Wolves half but that was to cost them as a quick break by the visitors caught them completely off-guard 10 minutes from time.

Jimenez led the charge and skipped through an attempted challenge from Otamendi to square invitingly for the advancing Traore, who calmly slid the ball past Ederson.

City tried to respond but they could not find a way through and Traore finished things off with another breakaway goal in the dying seconds.

Arsenal 1-0  victory against Bournemouth

Arsenal has climbed up to third in the Premier League table after securing a 1-0 win over Bournemouth in a tight game at the Emirates Stadium.

David Luiz bagged his first goal as a Gunners player – his ninth-minute header turning out to be all that separated the two sides.

Chelsea brushes aside struggling Southampton

The Blues picked up from where they left off last week as they saw off a struggling Southampton side at the St. Mary’s Stadium.

Tammy Abraham got his eighth goal of the season after looping the ball above the on-rushing Angus Gunn.

Mason Mount grabbed Chelsea’s second goal justifying his inclusion after gaining another England call-up.

French international, Ngolo Kante restored the London-based club’s two-goal advantage after Danny Ings pulled one back.

Kante found his goal-bound strike deflect off a Southampton player before beating Angus Gunn in goal.

Michy Batshuayi scored his first of the season in the league and Chelsea’s fourth of the afternoon to round up a well-deserved victory.

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