EPL Review: Gritty Arsenal, wasteful Spurs, unstoppable Haaland

Following each weekend of Premier League motion, theScore examines a very powerful developments and largest speaking factors to emerge from the slate of matches. Under, we dissect Matchweek 4 of the 2024-25 season.

Arsenal grind out ‘ugly’ win 💪

Mikel Arteta knew it might be a grind. He knew it would not be fairly.

Lacking a number of key gamers, together with star midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, Arsenal needed to adapt going into Sunday’s north London derby towards bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Lengthy spells of possession could be restricted. There could be few alternatives for intricate passing by way of the midfield. Certainly, Arsenal completed the match with solely 36% of the ball and accomplished fewer passes (128) than they’ve within the first half of any Premier League recreation within the final two years.

And but, come the ultimate whistle, the title contenders nonetheless emerged with a gritty 1-0 win to remain on the heels of leaders Manchester Metropolis.

“There have been no excuses, no crying. The gamers have thick pores and skin. They love the sport,” Arteta stated after the match. “Typically to win it’s important to do the ugly issues and so they love to try this.”

The hosts definitely performed their half. Spurs, as soon as once more, have been wasteful within the last third, persevering with their worrying early-season pattern of profligacy. They accommodated Arsenal’s defense-first method, permitting Arteta’s aspect to remain within the recreation lengthy sufficient to ship a sucker punch from a set piece.

It was all very acquainted.

Since esteemed set-piece coach Nicolas Jover joined Arteta’s employees in 2021, Arsenal have scored extra targets from these conditions than any membership in Europe’s prime 5 leagues. They’ve 23 tallies from dead-ball conditions because the begin of final season, and Gabriel’s thunderous header from a nook kick made the distinction Sunday, giving Arsenal their third right away win over Spurs within the Premier League.

“We believed we might harm them (from set items),” Arteta defined.

He was proper. Not like final season, the place Arsenal profited time and again by utilizing intelligent screens and picks contained in the penalty space to release gamers for uncontested headers, Sunday’s aim was merely a matter of Gabriel giving Cristian Romero a bit nudge to create area for himself. Romero, one of many league’s most bodily gamers, was oddly nonchalant on the play and allowed himself to be simply moved apart with out offering a lot resistance.

Arsenal’s set-piece prowess might be vital as they appear to face up to their harm points and hold tempo with Manchester Metropolis, whom they meet subsequent weekend in what might be one other riveting battle.

Fast free-kicks 📝

Some respite for ETH: Regardless of the flattering scoreline, this wasn’t precisely the response Erik ten Hag was searching for. Manchester United, beneath intense scrutiny on the again of two straight losses previous to the worldwide break, have been fortunate to not be down no less than one aim to Southampton within the first half of Saturday’s eventual 3-0 win. Andre Onana’s penalty save within the thirty third minute swung the sport. Can it assist swing the season, too? Ten Hag, greater than something, wanted three factors to take among the warmth off. He’ll be inspired by the stable debut of Manuel Ugarte, however a lot stiffer assessments than the Saints will decide if he is the supervisor to get the membership again to the highest.

Liverpool changes: Arne Slot’s honeymoon section got here to an abrupt finish Saturday as Liverpool suffered their first defeat beneath the Dutchman, dropping a league match towards Nottingham Forest at Anfield for the primary time since 1969. A few of that may be attributed to sluggish performances from key gamers; Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Dominik Szoboszlai weren’t at their finest. However Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo applied a great tactical scheme, clogging the center of the pitch with an extra physique and slender formation that made it tough for Liverpool to play by way of the middle. Will others attempt to emulate that method? And may Slot adapt?

Story as previous as time: Missed alternatives come again to chunk you. This weekend offered one other harsh reminder. Southampton, as talked about, blew an excellent likelihood to take the lead towards Manchester United from the penalty spot and misplaced. Equally, Bournemouth misplaced after failing to transform a spot-kick when their match with Chelsea was nonetheless goalless. In maybe probably the most excessive instance, Brentford really did rating, taking the lead after 22 seconds towards Manchester Metropolis. However, with Metropolis nonetheless rocking, Thomas Frank’s group could not capitalize on further probabilities to take a stranglehold on the competition. Erling Haaland made them pay with a brace within the reigning champions’ win.

Sancho’s encouraging debut: Enzo Maresca and Chelsea obtained away with one on Saturday, snatching a late 1-0 victory regardless of being outplayed by Bournemouth. The house aspect had extra pictures and probabilities, however Chelsea’s squad depth, assembled at nice expense, made the distinction, as substitutes Jadon Sancho and Christopher Nkunku mixed for the profitable aim. Nkunku seems like one thing of the forgotten man after Chelsea’s continued spending spree, however on pure expertise, he is arguably the group’s finest attacking participant. Sancho, in the meantime, regarded full of life on his debut, getting an help after a spirited 45 minutes wherein he did a little bit of every thing.

One thing’s gotta give: Everton, who blew a two-goal lead for the second successive recreation this weekend, are off to their worst-ever begin to a Premier League season, sitting final with 4 defeats from as many matches. Leicester, in the meantime, additionally constructed a two-goal benefit earlier than throwing it away and settling for a draw with fellow early-season strugglers Crystal Palace. The Foxes stay winless on the marketing campaign. Each side look destined to be mired within the relegation battle all season lengthy. Factors might be at a premium. That provides subsequent weekend’s assembly between the 2 further significance, even when it is nonetheless solely September.

Star performer 🌟

Erling Haaland (Manchester Metropolis)

Feels acquainted, proper? How might we not?

Haaland is on the form of tear actually by no means seen earlier than by way of the opening 4 matches of a Premier League marketing campaign, turning into the primary participant to search out the web 9 occasions in that stretch together with his brace towards Brentford. He is so automated in entrance of aim that it was really a bit little bit of a shock he did not full a hat-trick. Yet another aim on Saturday would have made him the primary participant since 1946 to attain a hat-trick in three consecutive video games within the English prime flight. It wasn’t for a scarcity of making an attempt, both, because the insatiable striker smacked the submit and had one other fierce effort saved within the second half whereas chasing one other treble.

The variation in his recreation is what’s most horrifying. He pounced on a deflected go contained in the penalty space for his first aim, shortly swiveling and firing a shot into the far nook together with his proper foot earlier than anybody else might react. He then showcased his intelligence and bodily energy for the second, putting his physique in precisely the fitting place and awaiting contact to knock his defender off stability earlier than racing by way of on aim and deftly clipping the ball dwelling. There’s merely no stopping him.

Finest XI 😎

(Courtesy: FotMob)

Spotlight of the weekend 🎥

Following per week the place social media reminisced in regards to the days of the “Barclaysman,” Aston Villa tremendous sub Jhon Duran paid homage to that bygone Premier League period with a sensational long-range strike towards Everton.

The aim was sensational. Emi Martinez’s bewildered response to it was equally entertaining.

Stat of the weekend 🔢

Ben Brereton Diaz is the brand new holder of an undesirable Premier League report. Simply how lengthy will this run proceed?

Social media second 📱

This eager Premier League observer knew precisely what was coming when Everton took a 2-0 lead over Aston Villa. You might have the lottery numbers, mate?

The place we stand 👀

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