By Chris Sampson
- Arsenal win North London derby to stay top
- Dramatic late win for Chelsea
- Haaland and Foden grab hat-tricks
UK – Following the international break the Premier League returned with a number of local derbies.
A range of local derbies promised an incident packed weekend of Premier League football. We saw controversy, drama, another managerial casualty and some excellent football.
Arsenal 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Arsenal ensured that they will end the weekend as league leaders, while claiming the North London bragging rights, at Emirates Stadium in Saturday’s early kick-off. Arsenal came out of the traps quickly and served notice of their intent in the third minute when Gabriel Martinelli hit the woodwork. They deservedly took the lead on 20 minutes when Thomas Partey bent a side-footed effort in from distance. However, Tottenham were level 11 minutes later when Gabriel fouled Richarlison in the area and Harry Kane tucked the resultant penalty away.
Gabriel Jesus restored Arsenal’s lead four minutes after the interval when Hugo Lloris failed to hold a loose ball, before a dangerous challenge by Emerson Royal was punished with a straight red card just after the hour. The Gunners sealed the points on 67 minutes when Granit Xhaka slotted a low shot into the far corner from inside the box to condemn Tottenham to their first league defeat of the season. It is now seven wins out of eight for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the only blemish being their defeat away to Manchester United.
Crystal Palace 1 Chelsea 2
It was a day of firsts for Chelsea as they came from behind to claim victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. It was manager Graham Potter’s first win in charge of the club while Conor Gallagher and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both scored their first goals for Chelsea. Gallagher, who spent last season on loan at Palace, curled home from 25 yards in the 90th minute to snatch all 3 points. Aubameyang had earlier equalised after Odsonne Edouard had given Palace an early lead.
Aubameyang’s equaliser was controversial as it was created by Thiago Silva who could have easily been dismissed earlier for deliberate handball. Jordan Ayew robbed Silva and the Brazilian defender appeared to punch the ball away when grounded, denying Ayew a goalscoring opportunity. However, referee Chris Kavanagh deemed the offence to be only worthy of a yellow card. A decision he stood by after a VAR review.
Palace competed well and it can be argued that they deserved at least a share of the spoils. However, Gallagher’s late intervention meant that the points headed for West London.
Fulham 1 Newcastle United 4
Newcastle United claimed their second win of the season at Fulham. The hosts were reduced to ten men early on when Nathaniel Chalobah received a straight red card after a dangerous challenge on Sean Longstaff. United, who had already had their chances, soon took the lead through Callum Wilson before a superb one-two between Miguel Almiron and Bruno Guimaraes saw the Paraguayan volley Guimaraes’ chip into the top corner for what could well be a goal of the season contender.
Further goals from Longstaff and Almiron put the game beyond Fulham who scored a late consolation through Bobby Decordova-Reid. Eddie Howe’s side have only lost once this season but too often they have failed to convert draws into wins. They will be hoping that this proves to be a turning point. Fulham, who had enjoyed a positive start to the season, endured a day when nothing went right and will be looking to bounce back.
Manchester City 6 Manchester United 2
The records continue to tumble for Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker became the first player to score three successive Premier League home hat-tricks as Manchester United were swept aside in the derby at Etihad Stadium.
Haaland made it 17 goals in 10 games since his summer move from Borussia Dortmund with Phil Foden notching his first hat-trick for City as they narrowed the gap on Arsenal to one point. This is only the third occasion that two teammates have grabbed three goals each in the same Premier League game since the top division was rebranded in 1992.
Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan had control of the midfield from the outset and it was Silva’s cross which allowed Foden to sweep home on eight minutes. City then effectively claimed the points with a ruthless finish to the first half. Haaland headed City’s second from Kevin De Bruyne’s corner on 34 minutes with the same combination accounting for the third goal three minutes later. De Bruyne sent an inch perfect ball into the box, turning the United defence with Haaland sliding in to apply the finish. Haaland then played in Foden for the fourth on 44 minutes leaving United looking stunned and the home crowd baying for more. This was the signal for hordes of Man Unt supporters to leave, clearly having seen enough.
United appeared for the second half with a clear attempt to salvage some pride and a superb 25-yard strike from Antony after Jack Grealish was caught under a long ball. However, Pep Guardiola’s side went through the gears again and Haaland crashed in his third from Sergio Gomez’s cross then once again set up Foden for his third and City’s 6th.
Substitute Anthony Martial hit a late double to reduce the arrears, but the game had long been over as a contest. Erik ten Hag has made progress over the last month or so with United’s results and performances improving, but today shows that there is still a vast gap between the two clubs.
Liverpool held, Leicester leapfrog Forest.
Brighton stunned Liverpool by roaring into a two-nil lead at Anfield. The hosts turned things around to go into a three-two lead, however Leandro Trossard hit a late equaliser to complete his hat-trick and claim a point for Brighton. West Ham’s two-nil win over Wolves prompted the Midlands club to sack manager Bruno Lage after a disappointing start to the season. Everton won at Southampton while Bournemouth and Brentford and Leeds and Aston Villa played out goalless draws. The East Midlands derby between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest saw the home side win the bottom of the table clash four-nil.
Arsenal lead the table, a point ahead of unbeaten Manchester City with Spurs a further three points behind. Brighton complete the top four. After winning their first game of the season against Forest, Leicester leapfrog their local rivals to move off the bottom of the table on goal difference, both clubs having picked up four points. Wolves, who are two points better off complete the relegation zone with Crystal Palace staying out of the bottom three on goal difference.
The Premier League resumes next weekend with fixtures scheduled for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
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