Gameweek 7
Gameweek 7 was an absolute banger of a Premier League week. There were some shocking results, a halt to an unbeaten run by the most dominant team as well as very entertaining show-stealers by mid-table teams. As per the usual English football shenanigans, there was refereeing controversy that could lead to long-term consequences. Still, this week scores a strong 9/10 in the drama and football offered, in that order.
Seagulls fried away from home by the Clarets. Aston Villa were unplayable in the first game of the seventh week when they welcomed Brighton. Ollie Watkins started the sensational beat down on the 14th Minute when he picked Matty Cash’s low ball cross from the right side-yard box and slotted it in smartly. He put a second in the 21st minute when he slotted past Steele at his near post after Veltman misplaced a pass to Diaby. Barely five minutes later, they made it 3-0 when Digne found Watkins in the penalty area, he set Diaby up but the initial shot was parried by Steele before he fired home a second attempt on the rebound which deflected off Estupinan and in. Brighton sought to come back into the march and in the fifth minute of the second half, Ansu Fati converted from close range. That goal was supposed to give Brighton momentum but Villa had other ideas when minutes later, Watkins got on the score sheet to complete his hat-trick. Ramsey who was subbed and rewarded the coach in the 85th minute when he received the ball from Watkins and curled it home off the far post from the edge of the box making the Villa Park faithful cheerful. The cheering would be complete in the seventh minute of added time when Luiz followed up to convert after Watkins’ initial strike had been saved by Steele. 6-1 was how it ended.
Arsenal faithful serenade Havertz at the Vitality Stadium to the detriment of Cherries. Bournemouth began the game on the attack with Arsenal exchanging the attacks as well. The hosts were starting to make an impact when suddenly Arsenal went ahead as Odegaard’s clipped pass found Jesus at the far post: Jesus’ header hit the post, which wrong footed Neto and the Bournemouth defence and this allowed Saka to nod it into the empty net. There was a corner that Alex Zinchenko fired from 20-yards out goalwards but Neto palmed it away to safety. Zinchenko and Nketiah exchanged passes into the area, and the striker was brought down by Max Aaron’s sliding challenge which was decidedly led to a penalty, Odegaard converted it coolly. Phillip Billing and Ryan Christie got close to scoring for Bournemouth who were dominant than expected as compared to Arsenal. Odegaard picked up possession inside the area and was brought down by Ryan Christie. Saka handed the ball to his teammate Havertz who stepped up and confidently struck his first goal in Arsenal colours. The Gunners’ fans cheered him on in unison with his teammates. Saka was withdrawn in the final 20 minutes after being clattered by Milos Kerkez. Deep in injury-time time, White rose highest to head in Odegaard’s inswinging free-kick to end the 4-0 thriller.
Luton Town finally pick up a win. Everton suffered a 2-1 loss to Luton Town at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon. The Blues let Luton’s Lockyer and Morris to convert from two dead-ball situations in the opening 30 minutes. Calvert-Lewin pulled a goal back before the break to grab his third goal of the season but it wasn’t enough to stop Sean Dyche’s side slipping to defeat.
The Eagles avenge their midweek defeat to the Red Devils in the Carabao Cup. Erik ten Hag’s side suffered a fourth league defeat of the season at Old Trafford against Crystal Palace. The two sides had faced each other with Manchester United emerging winners of the third round of their Carabao Cup. Hojlund and Guehi almost put their sides ahead, with Hojlund’s effort being cleared off the line by Mitchell in time. It was the Eagles who would go ahead when Eberechi Eze’s set-piece from the right found its way through to Andersen at the back post and he rifled home a right-footed effort past Andre Onana. Manchester United tried to level things severally to no avail as Crystal Palace secured their 1-0 victory.
Newcastle’s run of incredible performances continues against Burnley. St. James’Park must have been buzzing after their team knocked off Premier League champions midweek in the Carabao Cup. Despite injuries to Callum Wilson and Sven Botmann, Newcastle looked inspired. Amdouni went close for Burnley but Pope denied his former side the lead. In-form Trippier dispossessed Ramsey deep inside the Clarets half which saw Almirón collect the ball and unleash an arching effort 22 yards out into the top corner of the Leazes net, this his second goal in his last two league games. Several back and forths later, Anthony Gordon was brought down in the box by Al-Dakhil, gifting Newcastle a penalty which Isak converted comfortably. The game finished 2-0.
The Hammers down the Blades adding to their woes again. West Ham United returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a victory over bottom side Sheffield United at London Stadium on Saturday. The Hammers bounced back after consecutive top-flight defeats to get a fourth win in their opening seven matches and move to 13 points. Cameron Archer and Vini Souza tried to put the visitors ahead. Foderingham kept the hosts at bay could do nothing to prevent Bowen’s beautifully crafted 24th-minute opener, his fifth Premier League goal of the season. Álvarez, Michail Antonio, and Souček had further half-chances before the latter made it 2-0 eight minutes before half-time. Emerson intercepted a clearance, Antonio collected, span and played in Souček who slid it past Foderingham with his left foot. This saw the sides sit the game ended 2-0.
City’s perfect start to the season ended dramatically by Wolves. Manchester City suffered their first defeat of the campaign at the Molineux Stadium. The home side took the lead early in the first half when Ruben Dias unfortunately deflected the ball into his own net after a lightning break from Pedro Neto. City controlled most of the ball leading to Alvarez equalising with a brilliant free-kick just before the hour mark. Wolves only needed eight minutes to go ahead again when a fast counter-attack saw the ball eventually fall to the feet of Hwang Hee-chan; the man smashed in the winner with Wolves fortifying their defence to hold on for the three points in the 2-1 sensation.
Tottenham break a resolute nine-man Liverpool at the dead amidst a myriad of controversies. The final game of Saturday saw Tottenham Hotspur invite Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The North Londoners were looking to rescue something against the Reds after their two consecutive draws. Liverpool had most of the chances with some being misses while others being squandered. They would go on to be reduced to ten when Curtis Jones was deemed to have fouled Bissouma, a decision that initially saw a yellow card awarded but was upgraded to red upon review by VAR. The Scousers thought they had gone ahead shortly after when Diaz latched on to Salah’s pass on the break and shot it into the bottom corner of the goal. The offside flag was raised to deny Liverpool their lead and the VAR in a rather confused manner did not object despite showing him as being onside to the clear eye. Spurs broke the deadlock a minute later when Son scored from close range. Just before halftime, Gakpo picked the ball inside the box when Virgil van Dijk’s knockdown found him free, he turned and shot past Vicario to level the contest. This goal appeared to have taken a toll on the Dutch so Klopp brought on Jota in his stead. Just when the game was halfway in the second half, Jota got himself booked twice in quick succession to reduce Liverpool to nine men. Tottenham decided to use their numbers to good effect by possessing most of the ball while the nine men of Liverpool looked to counter them at every chance. After some splendid defense, it was a defender who unfortunately undid Liverpool: Matip inadvertently turned a low cross into his own net on added time to end it 2-1.
10-man Forest steal points from Brentford. Nottingham Forest faced a difficult challenger in the form of the Bees at home. In the eighth minute, Forest thought they had gone ahead after the debuting Murillo flicked on Hudson-Odoi’s corner for Awoniyi to convert from close-range, but the striker’s finish was ruled out for offside. Forest were not impressive in the second half, Niakhaté was shown a second yellow card after fouling Wissa. The free-kick that followed this saw Nørgaard glance a header in to give the visitors the lead. Forest clawed hard for an equaliser which they got finally when Toffolo’s excellent delivery from the left met the head of Nicolás Domínguez who flicked a header over Flekken and into the far corner. The two sides brought substitutes to try and scrap a win but it would not be as they ended the game 1-1.
The Blues overcome Fulham in a confidence-boosting game. Chelsea travelled to the Craven Cottage for a derby which saw the two sides at opposite sides of the same coin; the Blues were on a losing streak with few goals to show while Fulham had plenty of goals and good showings but still losing points where it mattered most. Chelsea would only have to wait 18 minutes when Caicedo flashed his pass wide left allowing Colwill to run on to it close to the touchline. He lofted it perfectly for Mudryk who chested the ball down before smoothly slipping it through Bernd Leno’s legs. Fulham worsened their troubles when 82 seconds later, Ream made an errant pass at the back which Palmer intercepted and tried to tee up Broja. Ream got across to cut it out but succeeded only in clearing it against Broja’s right foot, the ball ricocheting into the net at speed. This was the last goal of the game despite Fulham’s attempts from set-pieces as well as Chelsea’s many attacks. Thus it ended 2-0.
Burnley finally secure first win of the season against their former Championship competitors. Despite the brilliance of Kompany’s side, the team’s earlier run of matches was quite tough. They had not managed a win until the midweek when they faced the team that was promoted alongside them in Luton Town. The Clarets faced the Hatters on Tuesday night at Kenilworth Road. Lyle Foster marked his return after his suspension with a first-half strike but Luton Town substitute Adebayo equalised in the 84th minute to give the visitors a scare. However, only a minute later, the Clarets got ahead yet again when Bruun Larsen’s struck a sublime curling effort in to give the visiting Burnley fans a victory to cherish in the Premier League.
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