Sergio Aguero admits third goal against Arsenal ‘was a handball’

Sergio Aguero admitted the third goal of his hat-trick against Arsenal, to move Manchester City within two points of Premier League leaders Liverpool, was a handball.

The striker headed City in front after only 46 seconds of the kick-off and added a second with a back-post tap-in just before half-time, but Arsenal’s players complained that the second-half third came off his left hand on its way in.

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Referee Martin Atkinson let the goal stand, for Aguero’s 14th City table and 10th in the top-flight, but the player revealed afterwards it should have been ruled out.

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“I [thought] it came off my chest, but now I see on TV it was a handball,” Aguero, 30, said. “It was important to win. The other game, I scored early and we lost, so I am very happy.”

FT Man City 3-1 Arsenal

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City manager Pep Guardiola believes “everyone thought we lost the title” after their surprise defeat to Newcastle United in midweek, but Sunday’s victory moved them back within two points of Liverpool, who play West Ham away on Monday.

Should Jurgen Klopp’s side not win, City will have the chance to go top when they face Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Guardiola said: “I would prefer to be in Liverpool’s position. I prefer to be in their position than the position we are in. The pressure is when you are behind and you drop points. It’s important we be ourselves. We spoke the last few days; we didn’t recognise our team. Today we came back.”

Arsenal, who failed to have a single shot in the second half, dropped to sixth, behind Manchester United, and are three points behind fourth-place Chelsea. Asked if they could still qualify for the Champions League, manager Unai Emery said: “After losing 3-1 it’s not easy to say that, but we know we need big help.”