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1 month ago
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The three-headed hydra keeps up the pace. After Liverpool’s victory earlier in the afternoon at Palace (0-1), Manchester City and Arsenal were under pressure for the result. Respectively opposed to Fulham and Southampton, the two big names were finally able to enforce the hierarchy by winning on their own. Vengeful after two consecutive draws in the league, the Sky Blues won 3-2, and for once, their guide was not named Erling Haaland but… Mateo Kovacic, author of a double. However, the Sky Blues started their meeting in reverse by conceding one of the goals of the weekend by Pereira.
Put into orbit by a backheel from Raul Jimenez, the former Red Devil left Ederson no chance (0-1, 25th). In a match open to drafts, Adama Traoré was even close to making the score 2-0, but his shot flew off target. The type of action you can quickly regret when challenging Manchester City, and that’s what ultimately happened less than 180 seconds later. Kovacic had a fine nose in equalizing after a poor return from the Fulham defense on a corner (32nd, 1-1), then offered himself his first double in more than 10 years, in the same configuration, after a service from Bernardo Silva withdrawn (2-1, 47th). Doku finally extinguished Fulham’s hopes of a powerful strike (3-1, 82nd), Muniz’s reduction of the gap being insufficient (3-2, 89th).
Arsenal got scared
At the same time, it was once believed that Southampton would send Arsenal back to its doubts. But as often lately, the Gunners found the recipe to chase them down and win (3-1). In the first half, it would be a huge exaggeration to say that they dominated their opponent. They only occupied the opposing half of the field, and their only shot on target came in the 45th minute from the feet of Partey, which reflected quite well this inability to break the Saints’ lock. The Sterling – Havertz – Jesus – Saka quartet often gave the feeling of looking for each other in the passing circuits, the Brazilian not always being technically connected with his partners. Arteta’s men paid the price for these technical blunders upon returning from the locker room when Archer froze the Emirates Stadium and, unknowingly, launched the match. The Englishman stared at Saliba and squared Raya with a flat foot at the far post (0-1, 58th), but the Gunners’ reaction came in the extension of the goal.
After Saka recovered from the start, Havertz fired a shot to equalize (58th). The winds were buoyant, Saka, after a fairly anonymous first half, decided to roll up his sleeves, and as often, it was he who held the success of his team in his feet. The Englishman sent a cross to the line for Martinelli, who entered 5 minutes earlier, and the Brazilian woke up the Emirates (2-1, 68th). The success of a team escorted by grace? Possibly, since the goal was denied to Southampton, disgusted by Raya’s post and bar. Saka, again, ensured the success of the Gunners at the end of the match (3-1, 88th). In the other matches, Brentford won 5-3 against Wolves thanks, in particular, to a new goal from Mbeumo, his 6th in the Premier League this season, and again, a goal in the first minutes of the match. Leicester beat Bournemouth (1-0), when West Ham finally won back, and in style against Ipswich (4-1).
All results from 4:00 p.m.:
Arsenal 3-1 Southampton: Havertz (58th), Martinelli (68th), Saka (88th) / Archer (55th)
Brentford 5-3 Wolverhampton: Collins (2nd), Mbeumo (20th), Norgaard (28th), Pinnock (45+2nd), Carvalho (90th) / Cunha (4th), Larsen (26th), Ait-Nouri (90+3rd)
Leicester 1-0 Bournemouth: Buonanotte (16th)
Manchester City 3-2 Fulham: Kovacic (32nd, 47th), Doku (82nd) / Pereira (26th), Muniz (89th)
West Ham 4-1 Ipswich: Antonio (1st), Kudus (43rd), Bowen (50th), Paqueta (69th) / Delap (6th)
