Manchester City missed the chance to move temporarily top of the Premier League table courtesy of a shock 2-1 home defeat to Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Ivan Toney quickly put aside the setback of not being named in England’s World Cup squad with both goals for the Bees, netting the winner in the eighth of 10 minutes of added time at the end of the game.
Phil Foden had levelled things up for the champions on the stroke of half-time, fizzing a blistering half-volley into the top corner, but Man City was otherwise frustrated by a resilient Brentford side throughout more than 100 minutes of football due to the lengthy period of stoppage time.
The victory is Brentford’s first away league win of the season, their first over Man City since 1937 and inflicts a first home league defeat on the Citizens since February, with Pep Guardiola’s men having won each of their previous 11 such matches heading into this one.
The result guarantees that Arsenal will be top of the Premier League table at Christmas regardless of their result against Wolverhampton Wanderers later today, with the Gunners having the chance to extend their lead over Man City to five points heading into the international break.
Thomas Frank’s side, meanwhile, climb into the top half of the table in their final game before the World Cup break, now sitting only four points adrift of the top five.
