English Premier League
Arsenal 3 -1 Tottenham
Arsenal’s revival gathered pace as Tottenham’s recent decline continued in an entertaining north London derby at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners propped up the table after three games while Spurs were top under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo – how things have changed as a rampant Arsenal ripped their shambolic rivals to shreds in a brilliant first half.
Emile Smith Rowe started the celebrations for the Arsenal fans when he arrived unmarked to sweep home Bukayo Saka’s cross after 12 minutes before the scorer turned provider as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got the second midway through the half.
Spurs were producing a horror show and nothing summed it up better than Arsenal’s third after 34 minutes. Harry Kane fell over the ball in a Spurs attack then missed two tackles on Saka as he raced back into his own penalty area to try to rescue the situation. Saka compounded the agony with a calm finish.
Inevitably, Spurs improved after the break, Kane bringing a good save from Aaron Ramsdale and wasting a good chance, before Son Heung-min pulled one back.
Ramsdale spared Arsenal any late anxiety with another superb stop, touching Lucas Moura’s shot on to the bar as Mikel Arteta’s side closed out a richly deserved win.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has staked his Arsenal future on a long-term plan but admits he will not get quick results and has called for patience.
But there was evidence for optimism here despite those three opening league defeats.
The Gunners’ latest win was based on the brilliance and exuberance of Saka, Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard, aged 20, 21 and 22 respectively.
The talented trio were all involved in the goal that got the hosts on their way, Odegaard bursting through Spurs’ non-existent midfield before feeding Saka, whose inviting cross was turned in by Smith Rowe.
Smith Rowe set up the second and Saka got the third, showing an energy, invention and commitment that shamed Spurs’ efforts in an embarrassingly one-sided first 45 minutes.
Saka tormented Sergio Reguilon on Arsenal’s right flank, Smith Rowe’s rapier runs and creativity carved Spurs wide open and Odegaard took full advantage of the gaping holes in the visitors’ midfield.
Aubameyang, whose own form and commitment have been questioned as he struggled, set the tone and lit the fuse on an explosive atmosphere inside the Emirates by chasing down Spurs’ defenders in the opening moments.
It was the signal for a magnificent first 45 minutes from Arsenal, who were unrecognisable from the timid and flimsy side that opened the season.
Arteta will point to the fact that he now has Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes starting to form a defensive partnership, while Ramsdale offers presence in goal and is now surely undisputed Arsenal number one ahead of Bernd Leno.
When Spurs did raise a gallop in the second half, Ramsdale dived low to turn Kane’s shot wide then showed ability and technique to thwart Moura.
Arteta was all smiles as he took the acclaim of Arsenal’s elated fans after the final whistle – and who can blame him? This was as convincing as the Gunners have looked for a long time under his stewardship.
Spurs manager Nuno cut a brooding, powerless figure in his technical area as he watched his side taken to the cleaners by Arsenal in that dismal first 45 minutes.
The early promise of taking Spurs top of the Premier League, starting with the opening weekend victory over Manchester City, seemed an age away as they were sunk without a trace before half-time.
It was as bad as it gets, with Spurs’ body language betraying a lack of belief and no discernible tactical plan. They were pinned on the ropes for the entire half, not helping their cause by being second to pretty much every ball and wasting possession on the rare occasions they had it.
Nuno has watched his side concede three goals in three successive league games, a worrying sign for a manager renowned for establishing a solid defensive platform.
The manager himself looked a beaten man at times, a motionless presence as the full scale of Spurs’ capitulation unfolded in front of him.
The second-half introduction of Oliver Skipp and Emerson Royal for Dele Alli and Japhet Tanganga – and presumably some very harsh words from Nuno and the simple fact that Spurs could not get any worse – prompted an improvement of sorts after the break.
It was all far too little too late and Spurs did not deserve anything from this performance. It was, particularly in the first half, an insult to their fans, gathered in one corner of the Emirates and forced to endure the taunts and celebrations of their Arsenal counterparts.
In Other News – Southampton 0 – 1 Wolves
Raul Jimenez scored his first goal since suffering a life-threatening fractured skull as Wolves won at Southampton.
The Mexico forward grabbed the only goal of the match when he collected a long ball forward, showed great skill to evade two home defenders and finished calmly past Alex McCarthy. learn more
Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United. Manchester United were left frustrated as they squandered several clear-cut chances in a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Selhurst Park. Despite dominating possession and creating a number of opportunities, Erik ten Hag’s side couldn’t find the breakthrough they needed.
Coming off an emphatic 7-0 EFL Cup win over Barnsley earlier in the week, United started positively. Alejandro Garnacho, who was given the nod ahead of Marcus Rashford, nearly opened the scoring early on, but Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson tipped his effort around the post.
United continued to apply pressure, with defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez both denied by Henderson’s quick reflexes. Garnacho later hit the crossbar, with the rebound falling to Bruno Fernandes, who saw his follow-up effort clip the top of the bar.
Crystal Palace began to find their rhythm as the first half progressed, and Eberechi Eze tested United goalkeeper Andre Onana with a shot straight at him when left unmarked in the box.
The second half was a more even contest, though United continued to push for a winner. Fernandes curled a shot wide, while Garnacho forced another save from Henderson. At the other end, Eddie Nketiah had a chance, but Onana’s sharp save kept the game level.
Palace had the best opportunity of the second half when Eze, once again unmarked, missed the target from 12 yards out. United’s goalkeeper, Onana, also made a critical save from Nketiah’s close-range effort to preserve the clean sheet.
The draw leaves Manchester United in 11th place, while Crystal Palace remains winless in 16th. Erik ten Hag will likely view this result as two points dropped rather than one gained, especially given United’s dominance in possession, with 66.8% – their highest away possession since April 2023.
Despite controlling much of the game, Manchester United’s familiar weaknesses resurfaced. They generated several scoring chances but lacked the clinical edge to finish them. The Red Devils currently rank second in the Premier League for expected goals (xG) with 9.53 across their first five matches, but they’ve only managed to find the net five times. This underperformance in front of goal is only rivaled by Southampton, who sit in 18th place.
One bright spot for United was the return of Danish striker Rasmus Højlund. The 21-year-old came off the bench in the second half, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury. Højlund’s return gives Ten Hag more options up front alongside Joshua Zirkzee, who was well-contained by the Palace defense throughout the match.
Crystal Palace, under manager Oliver Glasner, had a difficult start to the match, with United dominating the opening 30 minutes. Palace struggled to get out of their half and were reliant on Henderson’s goalkeeping heroics to keep the score level.
As the game progressed, Palace grew in confidence and created some decent chances, particularly through Eze. However, the Eagles will likely be disappointed not to have capitalized on their best opportunities, especially Eze’s two unmarked chances in both halves.
The point continues a positive run for Palace, with three consecutive league draws and recent progress in the EFL Cup. They are still adapting to life without key players like Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich, and Joachim Andersen, who moved to Fulham. However, with a solid defensive foundation and improvement in the attack, Palace will be hopeful of securing their first league win soon.
source – BBC
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Brentford. Dominic Solanke scored his first goal for Tottenham as they came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Brentford in an exciting clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The win was a much-needed boost for Spurs after back-to-back Premier League defeats.
Brentford made a lightning start, going ahead just 23 seconds into the match when Bryan Mbeumo volleyed home from Keane Lewis-Potter’s cross. However, Spurs quickly responded, leveling the score just eight minutes later when Ethan Pinnock’s poor pass was intercepted by James Maddison. Though Maddison’s initial shot was saved, Solanke calmly finished the rebound, marking his first goal for Spurs following his £65 million summer transfer from Bournemouth.
Tottenham’s pressure paid off again before the half-hour mark when another Brentford mistake led to Brennan Johnson scoring with a clinical finish past Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken. By that point, Spurs were in control, and they extended their lead late on when Maddison chipped in a delicate goal after a pass from Son Heung-min.
Brentford had opportunities to fight back, with Mbeumo nearly scoring again late in the first half after robbing Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario of the ball inside the six-yard box. However, Vicario made up for his error with a save, and Brentford struggled to regain momentum.
The second half saw Brentford try to push for an equalizer, but Spurs remained composed and solid at the back, even as Brentford pressed for a way back into the game. A controversial moment occurred when Vicario appeared to handle the ball outside the penalty area, but the referee waved off Brentford’s protests, and VAR did not intervene, deeming the incident not to have denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Despite Brentford’s efforts, it was Tottenham who sealed the win through Maddison’s late goal, relieving the pressure after losses to Newcastle and Arsenal in recent weeks. The victory gave Spurs their second league win of the season and helped ease the anxiety that had been building among the home supporters.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank acknowledged his side’s struggles, saying, “We made too many mistakes in possession, and Tottenham punished us. We had our chances, but we need to be more careful with the ball in key moments.”
For the second consecutive week, Brentford lost after scoring in the opening minute, with the defeat leaving them with three losses from their last four games. Spurs, on the other hand, will take confidence from their spirited performance as they look to build on this win.
Solanke, speaking after the game, expressed his delight: “It’s always special to get your first goal, especially in front of the home fans. Hopefully, it’s the first of many.”
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou praised Solanke’s contribution, saying, “He’s been excellent for us in every game, and it’s great to see him get off the mark.”
With this win, Tottenham can now focus on climbing the Premier League table, while Brentford will need to address their defensive lapses if they hope to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
source – BBC
Southampton 1-1 Ipswich Town. Southampton manager Russell Martin expressed his frustration after Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy scored a dramatic injury-time equalizer, leaving the Saints without a win in their return to the Premier League. The match ended 1-1 at St Mary’s Stadium, as both sides continue their search for a first league victory this season.
Southampton, having lost their opening four top-flight games of the 2024-25 campaign, struck early thanks to 18-year-old Tyler Dibling. The young midfielder netted his first goal for the club just five minutes into the match after capitalizing on a defensive error by Ipswich’s Axel Tuanzebe. The Saints kept the pressure on, with 36-year-old Adam Lallana setting up Dibling, who coolly slotted the ball past Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.
Cameron Archer, who had missed a penalty in Southampton’s previous 3-0 loss to Manchester United, almost doubled the lead but was denied by the post. Archer, a £15 million summer signing from Aston Villa, had another chance to score, but his effort was well saved by Muric.
The missed opportunities would come back to haunt Southampton, as Ipswich’s Morsy equalized in the 95th minute. His long-range strike, deflected off Joe Aribo, left Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with no chance, securing a dramatic point for the visitors.
After the game, an irritated Russell Martin shared his disappointment: “I’m really angry and frustrated that we didn’t see the game out. We allowed them too much space in the final moments, and that cost us. We made fundamental errors that we don’t make in training, and that has to be down to the anxiety of the situation. It was our best performance, but it wasn’t enough to get the win.”
Both teams remain winless in the Premier League this season, but Ipswich will be the happier side, as they continue to defy expectations in their first top-flight campaign since 2001-02. The draw is Ipswich’s third in five matches, moving them up to 16th place in the table. Southampton, meanwhile, picked up their first point of the season, moving from 19th to 18th.
Ipswich’s last Premier League victory came in April 2002 when they beat Middlesbrough 1-0. Town boss Kieran McKenna had hoped to target this game as an opportunity for another win, especially against a side that, like Ipswich, earned promotion from the Championship in 2023-24.
The game started in Southampton’s favor when Lallana, showing his experience, assisted Dibling’s opener with a deft pass. Dibling controlled the ball well, creating space to fire past two Ipswich defenders and find the back of the net, marking his first senior goal.
Southampton almost doubled their lead midway through the first half, but Archer’s attempt hit the post after rounding Muric. Ipswich fought back, with Southampton’s Ramsdale forced into a series of saves to maintain the lead, denying efforts from Dara O’Shea, Leif Davis, and Omari Hutchinson.
As the game neared its conclusion, Southampton looked set for their first Premier League victory since March 2023, when they beat Leicester City 1-0. However, Ipswich’s late push resulted in Morsy’s equalizer, with the captain’s deflected strike salvaging a point for his side.
Reflecting on the match, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna praised his team’s resilience: “It was a fantastic way to finish the game. For the captain to step up and strike it well, in front of the away supporters, to get a point is a great thing for the group. Scoring late goals and never giving up has been a massive part of our success, and it’s good for this new group to experience that.”
McKenna added that Ipswich is “edging in the right direction” and emphasized the importance of continued improvement as the team adapts to Premier League competition.
With both sides yet to find a victory, the pressure will continue to build, especially for Southampton as they aim to break their winless streak in their Premier League return.
source – BBC