ARSENAL capitalised on the fact that title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City play later tonight by snatching maximum points against Brentford. The win puts the North London side at the top of the table for the moment, with at least one of their title rivals dropping points later. The title race is definitely heating up.
FocusM looks at the talking points of the English Premier League (EPL) games played thus far.
Arsenal 2 v Brentford 1
An early goal from Declan Rice seemed to have pointed Arsenal towards the summit, but a mistake by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale made it a tough, hard slog. Ramsdale, who was standing in for ineligible David Raya (he is on loan from Brentford), was slow to clear a backpass, allowing Yoane Wissa to make a blocking tackle that ricocheted into the Arsenal net late in first-half stoppage time.
The visitors then used an ultra-low block to frustrate the Gunners while regularly threatening on the counter. A late goal from the in-form Kai Havertz, though, was enough for the home side to take all three points and go top of the table.
Manchester United 2 v Everton 0
The visitors started brightly enough, creating a host of chances that were spurned and then were gifted a penalty courtesy of some unnecessary clumsy defending. If one penalty was not enough, Everton contrived to gift another one within the first half making it a straightforward and leisurely win for the home team. Based on this performance and result, Sean Dyche’s men will be mired in the relegation dogfight regardless of the amount of points they are ultimately docked for off-field misdemeanours.
Erik Ten Hag meanwhile, can look forward to the pressure easing a little after a meek surrender in the Manchester derby last weekend. Tougher tests await the Dutchman as he plots the Red Devils’ rise up the table.
Crystal Palace 1 v Luton Town 1
Hope springs eternal for fans of the Hatters as they witnessed their team snatch a point with an injury time equalizer. A draw at Selhurst Park while playing below par will give Luton boss Rob Edwards and his charges renewed belief that they can actually beat the drop. Burnley and Sheffield United looked doomed, but with Everton doing their best to be sucked into a relegation scrap, the Luton faithful will continue to dream of top flight football next term.
Palace were left to rue a handful of missed chances to take maximum points and climb towards midtable safety. The international break comes at an opportune time for Luton, as they seek to reduce the length of their injury list.
AFC Bournemouth 2 v Sheffield United 2
Throwing away a two goal lead may seem wasteful, but after the 6-0 mauling by Arsenal last weekend, Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder admitted that the draw was a welcome tonic for his beleaguered players. Rooted at the foot of the table, the Blades desperately need points if they are to engineer a miraculous escape.
With games running out, Chris Wilder will need his players to put in a Herculean effort to garner as many wins as possible and not let opportunities like this one slip through their fingers. Enas Unal scored in injury time to give the home team a share of the spoils.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 v Fulham 1
The Wolves are slowly and quietly making a late charge up the table in their bid to secure European qualification for next season. That they find themselves within sight of those European slots speaks volumes about the job being done by Gary O’Neil.
Surprisingly jettisoned by Bournemouth after guiding them to safety last season, O’Neil has emerged as one of the division’s brightest young managers. That his Wolves side sit comfortably above Bournemouth tells its own story, and perhaps the board at the Vitality stadium will be regretting their decision to dispense with the Englishman’s services. – March 10, 2024
All photos credited to The Guardian
