Aston Villa vs Sheffield United LIVE: Result and reaction as Premier League returns after 100 days
The 2019/20 Premier League season is back
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Aston Villa drew with Sheffield United as the 2019/20 Premier League season resumes.
After 98 days football in England returned to the field with Villa hoping to get a result to kickstart their push for safety at Villa Park. The Blades have far loftier ambitions and will have their eyes on an unlikely Champions League qualification place should things break right for them between now and the end of the season.
The match was an even affair blighted by controversy as goal-line technology appeared to miss the ball go over the line in the first-half denying Sheffield United a certain goal.
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Reaction from Man City's manager Pep Guardiola:
"We are really concerned [about Eric Garcia]. He responded quite well but we have to wait. He is conscious which is a good sign. We will make another test.
"In the beginning it was a lot of energy. Everybody wanted the ball. It was not quiet. We had chances. It was important to score before half time.
"I am happy with the performance of the team. I see in a good shape, the team, which is a good thing for the next few games.
"We have one eye on the next game. Aymeric Laporte was out for a long injury. We have players who play 50, 60 minutes which is good. And can maybe play the next one good."
Pep Guardiola gives his thoughts on the footballing solidarity for the Black Lives Matter protests, he said:
"We should send a thousand million messages for the black people. I'm embarrassed and ashamed of what the white people have done for the black people.
"How people can think they are different? All the gestures are good and positive. Everything we can do to make it conscious, it is not acceptable.
"We have to do a lot of things for the black people which we have not done so far."
Raheem Sterling added:
"I see it as a massive step for the Premier League to allow something like that to happen and it shows we're going in the right direction.
"Little by little we’re seeing change. It was natural, it was organic. We saw the teams do it in the earlier kick-off and thought it was something we had to do as well."
Reaction from Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports:
"Everything went wrong from the first minute. Every possible accident that could have happened hopefully happened today."
Was the lengthy lay-off a reason behind the injuries? "If they were muscular injuries, maybe yes. But these ones I don't think so."
On David Luiz' s performance: "He is someone that is very honest and straight forward. My opinion on David Luiz hasn't changed. It won't change because he had a difficult performance tonight."
On leaving Mesut Ozil out of the squad: "It was a tactical reason."
On 'Black Lives Matter' support: "I think it is bringing everyone back together again in a very strong message."
The defender proved even more influential than the talismanic Kevin De Bruyne as City eased to a 3-0 win over the visiting Gunners:
Man City pick up from where they left off 100 days ago, match report from Mark Critchley:
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