In a thrilling weekend of Premier League action, Arsenal reclaimed top spot from Manchester City as a forgotten man sent a reminder of his quality, while Chelsea’s soft underbelly was once again exposed.
Arsenal reign supreme
Arsenal made the most of Manchester City’s draw with Liverpool on Saturday to return to the summit of the Premier League table. The Gunners secured a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory over Brentford, thanks to a late header from Kai Havertz.
Havertz, who has struggled to justify his £65 million price tag since joining Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, finally showed glimpses of his potential with a decisive strike. His goal sent a timely reminder of his quality to Arsenal fans and manager Mikel Arteta.
Chelsea’s soft underbelly exposed
Chelsea’s defensive woes continued as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United at St. James’ Park. The Blues were guilty of conceding two soft goals, and their lack of defensive solidity was once again their Achilles’ heel.
Newcastle opened the scoring through Miguel Almirón, who capitalized on a mistake from Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Magpies doubled their lead through Joelinton, who took advantage of another Chelsea defensive lapse.
Chelsea pulled a goal back through Kai Havertz, but it was too late to salvage anything from the game. The Blues’ defeat left them in eighth place in the table, and their title hopes are hanging by a thread.
Other talking points
- Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Liverpool in a pulsating encounter at the Etihad Stadium. Erling Haaland scored his 20th goal for City in all competitions, but Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late equalizer ensured a share of the spoils.
- Tottenham Hotspur moved into fourth place with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace. Harry Kane and Son Heung-min were both on target for Spurs, with Kane’s goal marking his 100th Premier League goal.
- Manchester United moved up to fifth place with a 2-1 victory over Fulham. Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho were on target for the Red Devils, while Fulham replied through Aleksandar Mitrović.
The EPL Wrap
The Premier League returned with a bang this weekend, and there was plenty of drama and excitement to keep fans entertained. Arsenal’s return to the summit, Chelsea’s defensive woes, and Tottenham’s ascent into the top four were just some of the talking points from a thrilling round of fixtures.
