Premier League leaders, Manchester City have begun the new year with a win as they defend the title won last season.
Despite being a man down for over half an hour in the contest after Gabriel Magalhaes got his marching order, Rodri scored a stoppage-time winner for City to move 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
That advantage could be reduced on Sunday when second-placed Chelsea hosts third-placed Liverpool.
No team has failed to win the Premier League title when beginning the new year with a lead as big as City’s.
Arsenal looked to have held out for a draw, but Rodri steered in a loose ball in the 93rd minute to help City claim an 11th successive league win.
The game also had two major VAR incidents and an avoidable red card for Gabriel.
The hosts were rewarded for their impressive play as Bukayo Saka swept in a deserved opener to finish off a slick move.
However, the Gunners hit the self-destructed button after the break. Bernardo Silva was brought down by Granit Xhaka. Riyad Mahrez leveled from the penalty spot after referee Stuart Attwell overturned his initial decision after viewing the pitchside monitor.
Arsenal were a man down when Gabriel was given a second yellow, one minute after conceding from a penalty. Gabriel was shown the first yellow for trying to scuff up the spot and the second for a foul on Gabriel Jesus.
Arsenal remain fourth in the table.
Spurs leave it late to beat Watford
In another development, Spurs second maximum points at Vicarage road through Davinson Sanchez scored a 96th-minute winner.
The North London club have continued their push for a Premier League top-four place with this victory.
It was indeed a good reward in a game they had almost 80 percent possession. Defender Sanchez headed in from Son Heung-min’s cross to secure the win.
Thus, Antonio Conte has continued his unbeaten league start with Spurs, who climbed to fifth in the table.
West Ham hold on to a win at Palace
Fellow London side, West Ham United have also continued their push for a top-four place with a hard-fought 3-2 win at Crytal Palace.
The narrow Premier League victory at Selhurst Park pushed David Moyes’ side moves them back up to fifth in the table above Tottenham Hotspur, who had claimed an added-time winner at Watford earlier on Saturday.
The Hammers won’t have recorded a win here if not for wasteful finishing from the home side and being clinical in front of goal themselves, netting three times in the first half.
Michail Antonio gave the visitors the lead as he converted Said Benrahma’s delightful cross midway through the half.
Three minutes later, the visitors doubled their lead courtesy of Manuel Lanzini’s neat footwork and thumping finish.
They made it three on the stroke of halftime from the penalty spot. Referee Darren England awarded a penalty against Palace skipper Luka Milivojevic for handball after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor, and Lanzini confidently despatched it.
In the second interval, the hosts pushed forward and pulled one back seven minutes from time when Edouard poked home Michael Olise’s cross.
The substitute then also curled a late free-kick in for Palace’s second – but a dramatic equaliser proved elusive.
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