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Journalism of Courage
Brighton striker Neal Maupay landed a double blow on Arsenal in the Premier League, playing a role in a serious-looking injury to goalkeeper Bernd Leno in the first half and then scoring a stoppage-time winner with one of the last kicks of a 2-1 win on Saturday.
Maupay celebrated loudly after the final whistle and was pushed to the ground by Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi before being harangued by other players from the visitors.
Arsenal was angry because Maupay had leaned into Leno as the goalkeeper jumped to collect the ball. Leno landed awkwardly on his right leg and collapsed to the ground, his howls of pain clearly audible in the empty Amex Stadium.
As Leno was being carried off in the 40th minute, he sat up on the stretcher and pointed angrily at Maupay, who protested his innocence.
Maupay added to Arsenal’s sense of injustice by grabbing the winning goal in the fifth minute of added-on time when he latched on a pass and shot left-footed inside the near post of Leno’s replacement, Emiliano Martinez.
Earlier, Nicolas Pepe had given Arsenal the lead with a curling left-footed shot in the 68th, but defender Lewis Dunk equalized for relegation-threatened Brighton when he stretched out his right leg to block Rob Holding’s clearance off his own goal line and diverted the ball over the line.
This loss came less than three days after a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on the opening night of the league’s resumption after the coronavirus outbreak.
It leaves Arsenal six points behind fifth-place Manchester United, which occupies the final Champions League qualifying berth because second-place Manchester City was handed a two-year European ban that is currently under appeal.
Brighton moved five points clear of the relegation zone.
Two late stunners as Watford, Leicester draw 1-1 in EPL
Socially distanced celebrations are hard to stick to when your team has scored a stunning and potentially crucial late goal.
Just ask the players of Watford and Leicester.
Ben Chilwell was mobbed by his Leicester teammates after smashing home a rising, angled shot off the inside of the post in the 90th minute for what looked like the winning goal inside an empty Vicarage Road stadium in the Premier League on Saturday.
However, there was more late drama as Watford center back Craig Dawson performed a bicycle kick to score a brilliant equalizer in the third minute of stoppage time and secure his relegation-threatened team a 1-1 draw.
Dawson was also hugged by teammates after a goal that moved Watford a point above the relegation zone, though third-to-last Bournemouth plays later Saturday.
Players have been urged to stay 2 meters (6 feet) apart during celebrations following the resumption of the Premier League after a three-month suspension.
The point restored third-place Leicester’s eight-point advantage over Manchester United, which is occupying fifth place — potentially the last Champions League qualification spot this season because of second-place Manchester City’s two-year European ban that is currently under appeal.
