That was a performance that would have sent a shiver of delight up George Graham’s spine.
1-0 to the Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were far from their swaggering best yesterday, largely misfiring as they struggled to break a resolute Crystal Palace down. It took the Gunners more than 30 mins to muster their first chance, but they would score soon after, with Ebrahim Eze taking advantage of more Declan Rice-related set-piece carnage. The former Palace man had been on the periphery of the match but arrived when it mattered most, expertly volleying home a half-clearance to haunt his former employers. Arsenal could have given themselves a tension-free afternoon soon after the break, with man-mountain Gabriel crashing a header against the bar after yet more free-kick shenanigans. But they are getting to the point where they don’t even need a cushion, consigning Palace to just five shots total in the match (and not one on target). If there ever was an Arsenal side that deserved the ‘boring, boring Arsenal’ moniker: this is it. That’s not to say they are dull, per se. They are just the epitome of defensive efficiency, just as pumped keeping clean sheets as they are ripping sides apart. Could this finally be Arteta’s year to prove the doubters wrong? With Liverpool and City both losing this weekend, it’s starting to look more likely.
Real break El Clasico curse in fiery 2-1 triumph over bitter rivals
Xabi Alonso enjoyed a fruitful start to managerial life in El Clasico, overcoming an injury-riddled Barcelona 2-1 to extend their La Liga lead to five points. Barcelona destroyed Real in their four Clasico meetings last season, attaining a psychological advantage that I thought would be tough to shake. But Alonso’s men were the superior side yesterday, pressing the play while constantly exposing Flick’s psychotic high line. The match started in frantic fashion, with Real awarded a penalty after Vini Jr appeared to have been brought down in the first two minutes. VAR intervened, adjudging the Brazilian to have kicked Yamal first. And that opening typified the stop-start tempo of a match which was as much about officiating as it was about the ‘beautiful’ game. Seriously, these games feature some of the world’s finest players but too often into cheap melodrama.
In any event, Real would go on to have three goals ruled out for offside, reflecting both Los Blacnos’ superiority and Barca’s defensive positioning. In-form Kylian Mbappe was always going to be a factor in this match, and he would open the scoring, latching onto an incisive Bellingham pass to give Real the lead in the 22nd minute. Fermin Lopez levelled matters in the 38th minute only for Bellingham to get on the scoresheet himself, tapping in at the back post despite accusations of skullduggery by Barca players. While the goalscoring didn’t continue into the 2nd half, the testiness did, with Pedri sent off in the dying embers off the match after picking up a 2nd yellow for a rambunctious lunge on Tchouameni. Tempers flared. Players got involved. Pathetic half-tussles ensued. Still, Alonso should be pleased with the way his side managed the game, relegating Barca to very few meaningful shots on target.
Bayern enter all-time European record books with another solid win
It feels like I’m stretching my vocabulary when I write about Vincent Kompnay’s current Bayern Munich squad. How many times can you say emphatic or ominous? I’m just going to have to expand my repertoire to keep up with the German giants. Die Roten were made to sweat this weekend, as Eugene Polanski’s Monchengladbach side stubbornly withstood the inevitable tide for over an hour (this despite having a man sent off in the first 20 mins). But they ultimately relented, with Joshua Kimmich giving Die Roten the lead after converting his own rebound. Substitute Guerriero doubled the lead before exciting prospect Lennart Karl made it 3-0 in the 81st minute, becoming the youngest goal scorer for Bayern in German top-flight history. More importantly, the result took them to 13 straight wins in all competitions, equaling AC Milan’s 1992/1993 record for most consecutive wins at the beginning of a European top-flight season (across the top five leagues). And the craziest thing? Harry Kane didn’t even get his name on the scoresheet.
Sidenote: Bayern Leverkusen showed plenty of gumption this weekend, recovering from their midweek 7-2 mauling at the hands of PSG to pick up a workmanlike 2-0 home win over SC Freiburg.
Napoli win top-of-the-table clash with Inter
Napoli and Inter couldn’t have gone into this weekend’s crunch clash in with more contrasting form. Napoli suffered ignominy in their midweek European clash, going down 6-2 to PSV Eindhoven. Inter were beginning to look rampant, travelling to the Diego Stadio Armando Stadium on a seven-match winning streak. And that form translated onto the pitch in the early stages, with Chivu’s Inter dominating possession and chances. But Napoli opened the scoring against the run of play, with Kevin de Bruyne converting from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute (with de Bruyne injuring himself in the process). Inter pressed for an equalizer, leaving gaping holes in their defensive lines. And Conte’s side punished Inter’s high-line at the star of the 2nd half, with Scott McTominay- last season’s MVP- superbly blasting home a half-volley to give Napoli a two-goal cushion. Inter briefly halved the deficit through a penalty but Napoli restored their advantage, with indefatigable midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo-Anguissa getting his just desserts after a titanic shift. The result means that Napoli hold a slender 1-0 lead over AC Milan, who have ninjaed their way within one point of the top of the table.
Player of the Week- Jude Bellingham
English midfielder Jude Bellingham had been a subdued figure going into the Clasico, failing to score or assist since returning from shoulder surgery. But he suddenly sparked into life in the biggest match of the season, picking up his first assist and goal of the season in yet another talismanic display. He played like a man with a point to prove, reminding the Madrid faithful that Arda Guler is not the only No.10 in town.
