The Pragmatist's Premier League Review
This Saturday, Brighton Hove & Albion offered the 18 other English Premier League clubs the blueprint on how to dethrone the reigning champs. Up until then, Arsenal were looking like an unstoppable juggernaut, steamrolling opponents and imbuing them with low self-esteem. Apart from the lone goal they conceded against Chelsea two weeks ago, the North Londoners appeared impregnable. Who would have given the hapless Seagulls a prayer against the ruthless points machine steaming into the Amex?
No red carpet
But somebody failed to give Fabian Hürtzeler and his boys the script. From the first minute, they nonchalantly pressed and harried Arsenal, allowing them no space for pretty build-ups from their defence. And every time they wrestled possession away, Brighton bore down menacingly on the Arsenal goal. Just six minutes into the contest, Charalampos Kostoulas introduced himself to David Raya with a shot that the Spaniard had to push away. Finally realizing they weren’t dealing with an opponent that would roll over, Mikel Arteta’s men jolted themselves awake.
They created a handful of chances but made little inroads against a robust rearguard marshaled by an unyielding Pascal Struijk. To think the Dutchman was only making his first start of the campaign, filling in for the literally stiff-necked Lewis Dunk. Dunk’s stiff-neckedness certainly permeated to his fellow defenders, ensuring Bart Verbruggen enjoyed an unusually quiet afternoon against their opponent’s richly talented attackers (just one serious chance in 98 minutes of play). Even after the break, trailing 2-0, all the Gunners managed to glean were lofty possession stats and the frustration of helplessly watching the points slip out of their grasp. Declan Rice’s kick-out at substitute Malick Yalcouyé at the death, while wearing the captain’s armband, was the perfect microcosm of the team’s day in office.
Goals at last
Elsewhere, two goal-shy clubs went head to head, desperate to offer their supporters something to cheer about. But as the first half drew to a close, it seemed neither set of fans would get any joy. Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur were canceling each other out, but after Pedro Porro hobbled off the pitch and Zion Suzuki palmed away two point-blank Savio efforts, it was clear whose misery the gods would be relieving in North London. Just before Sam Barrott whistled the teams into the locker rooms, Villa debutant Johan Manzambi tapped in from three yards out.
If Unai Emery asked for more of that during the break, his charges responded emphatically. By the 80th minute they were 3-0 up, with a reinvigorated Nicholas Jackson, looking like his Villarreal self, cashing in on comical defending by the Vans to open his EPL account for the season. Even before Emiliano Buendia’s 79th-minute screamer, a mass exodus by the home fans was underway. Their heartbreak would have been deepened by the realization that their beloved Spurs were rooted to the bottom of the table as Villa moonwalked away from the relegation slots.
A win, but barely
Following Arsenal’s capitulation, the only Premier League club remaining with a 100 percent record is Manchester City. But they barely escaped with a win yesterday at the Etihad. Don’t be fooled by the 5-3 scoreline. If anyone can attest to this, it’s Rúben Dias. Yesterday must have been the longest day in office the Portuguese centre-back has endured in a while. His inability to contain the physical specimen that is Brian Brobbey was spelt out in bold by the Dutchman’s three goals. By contrast, the quality in City’s attack shone through brightly with Ryan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo creating, and finishing off, several chances. It was a topsy-turvy afternoon for both managers but Régis Le Bris must be wondering what he must do to avoid a two-goal loss. Last weekend his men ran Arsenal ragged but still succumbed to a 2-0 loss. After the International break, they will host the on-song Brighton, who dealt the Gunners their first defeat. I’m rooting for the Black Cats to at least bag a point.
Three points, plenty to worry about
Liverpool continued their current habit of quietly stringing points together as they bagged a gritty victory at the Vitality Stadium yesterday. While they still lie outside the Champions League places, they are unbeaten this season in all competitions. A single Alexander Isak goal is all they needed to put Andoni Iraola’s former employer to the sword. But it was far from a routine win; Bournemouth were resolute, despite their midweek Europa League exertions at Real Sociedad.
Having coached them a season ago, Iraola will be familiar with The Cherries’ strengths and weaknesses. And he would have been miffed at his side’s inability to dominate the game despite having more time to recuperate and more quality. Florian Wirtz’s ineffectual displays must be something the Spaniard has observed in his first seven games in charge, even without Jamie Carragher’s vocal criticism. Something Isak’s hot goal-scoring streak and Cody Gakpo’s scorching form can’t mask. He must also be rueing the fullback options he has.
