Premier League 
/ Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 22 January 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Cool as you like it. But should Mario Balotelli have still been on the pitch?
"The award of the penalty was a fair one and Balotelli calmly stroked it home to win the match but the Italian international probably shouldn’t have been on the pitch after appearing to catch Scott Parker with a flailing leg whilst already on a booking."
Mario Balotelli scored a last-gasp winner as Manchester City beat Spurs but could well have been sent off earlier. At the Emirates, Manchester United took all three points as Arsenal's troubles continue...
The two Manchesters march on in a Premier League title race that has very much become a two-horse race. Spurs are out to [23.0] for the title after defeat away to City this afternoon whilst Arsenal are at [300.0] with some suggesting they're best chance of being in the Champions League next season is to actually win it this year.
But whereas Arsenal can have few complaints about their 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United, Spurs have good reason to feel deeply aggrieved about their own defeat. They went 2-0 down to goals from Samir Nasri and Joleon Lescott (matched at 16.5 to score) but came back to draw level with Jermain Defoe making the most of some poor defending to round Joe Hart and score and Gareth Bale curling in a beauty from outside the box.
Having traded at [1.04] to win the match when 2-0 up, they had drifted to [65.0] when deep into injury-time substitute Mario Balotelli was brought down in the box by an uncharacteristically rash challenge from Ledley King. The award of the penalty was a fair one and Balotelli calmly stroked it home to win the match but the Italian international probably shouldn't have been on the pitch after appearing to catch Scott Parker with a flailing leg whilst already on a booking.
A similar thing happened before Christmas when City travelled to Liverpool and on that occasion Balotelli did receive a second booking, again after coming on as a substitute. This time he avoided punishment though and the fact he stayed on the pitch has already had a huge impact on the title race. The final score was matched at [230.0]. City are strong favourites for the title at [1.5], having traded at a season low of [1.4] during Manchester United's match with Arsenal.
There were seven bookings at the Emirates but much less controversy as Manchester United put in a professional performance against an Arsenal side who continue to create enough chances but simply can't keep clean sheets. Antonio Valencia continued his good form by scoring the opener and setting up Danny Wellbeck for the winner. In between those two goals Robin van Persie missed a sitter before scoring with a fine strike from the edge of the box. United had drifted to [6.2] to win before Wekllbeck's strike and the 2-1 United win had traded at [20.0]. Those who were lucky enough to back Valencia to open the scoring and for the match to end in a 2-1 United win were paid out at odds of [190.0]. Sir Alex Ferguson's men are [3.65] to defend their Premier League title.
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