This is starting to feel like Groundhog Day. Arsenal won in gritty fashion this weekend, triumphing 2-0 at Turf Moor to temporarily go nine points ahead at the top of table (Haaland and co would cut that down to six).
Arsenal clean-sheet continues as big boys rule Premier League weekend
This is starting to feel like Groundhog Day. Arsenal won in gritty fashion this weekend, triumphing 2-0 at Turf Moor to temporarily go nine points ahead at the top of table (Haaland and co would cut that down to six). First-half goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice were always going to be enough for a team that hasn’t conceded a goal in seven games! Seriously, Arsenal have now won seven successive games without conceding a goal (the first time that has happened since 1999). They have won 13 of 15 games this season, conceding just three goals in all competitions. I never thought that Chelsea’s 04/05 record of conceding just 15 goals would ever be beaten. I may have been wrong. Gabriel was a beast in both boxes, rising high to provide Gyokeres with the assist for the first. The Swedish marksman was at his best on Saturday, scoring once and linking up play with precision. Declan Rice was a colossus in midfield, relentlessly driving forward while causing havoc from virtually every dead-ball scenario (his goal was well deserved). Elsewhere, Manchester City and Liverpool delivered comfortable home wins to keep a semblance of pressure on the Gunners.
Bayern win at a canter while Leipzig continue strong form
That was exactly what the ordered for Bayern Munich. Vincent Kompany’s dominant Bayern Munich face their biggest test of the season in this week’s Champions League, travelling to Paris for a date with the reigning European champs. Kompany rotated his side heavily at home to ostensible title contenders Leverkusen (a bit of a sad indictment of the ‘competitiveness’ of this league). And Bayern put the game away with a first-half blitz, scoring three goals before sitting back and controlling the tempo of the 2nd half. The first-choice front-three were benched, giving Nicolas Jackson the chance to lead the line. He delivered, heading in his first Bundesliga goal while constantly threatening the offside trap. The versatile Tom Bischof was electrifying at left-back, surgically dissecting Leverkusen to set up Gnabry’s opener. The youngster will be hoping his performance will translate into a first Champions League start tomorrow night. Kompany will just be delighted with the fact that his side was able to shadowbox their way through that 2nd half.
Elsewhere, Ole Werner’s successful start to life as RB Leipzig head coach continued with a brilliant 3-1 home win over Stuttgart. Werner enjoyed an inauspicious start to life at the Red Bull superclub, losing 6-0 to Kompany’s all-conquering Bayern side on the opening day of the season. His side have bounced back from that chastening defeat and currently look like legitimate contenders for that runner-up spot. Yan Diomande was particularly devastating, providing an assist in the first half before scoring a wonderful solo effort in the 2nd. If they continue with this type of form, the kinetic Ivorian should be pling his trade in next season’s Champions League.
Mbappe machine continues while Barca bounce back
Frenchman Kylian Mbappe continued his relentless start to the season, scoring a brace as Real Madrid sauntered to a 4-0 home win over Valencia. It was ideal preparation for Real ahead of a potentially taxing midweek trip to Anfield (there’s always fireworks when those European footballing dynasties collide). Mbappe cooly scored his 6th penalty of the season before latching onto yet another Arda Guler assist to make it 2-0 around the half-hour mark (Guler and Mbappe are convincingly cosplaying as Ozil and CR7). Jude Bellingham looks back to his best and scored an absolute beauty just before the break, weaving in and out of defenders before calmly slotting home from just outside the box. Vini Jr caused chaos on that left-hand side but failed to capitalize on an Mbappe gift, fluffing his lines after the Frenchman handed him a chance to take a spot-kick in the 70th minute. Real fans would get their 4th goal of the night, as the excellent Alvaro Carreas launched a left-footed rocket into the top corner.
Barcelona bounced back from their El Clasico defeat with a breezy 3-1 home win over Elche. Hansi Flick’s side needed to respond after Real’s victory and they got off to the ideal start, with Lamine Yamal curling in a lovely opener in the 9th minute. It appears that the single life agrees with the Spanish wunderkind (he just announced his break-up with musician Nicki Nicole). I can’t believe I went all People Magazine over there. Moving on, Ferran Torres made it 2-0 soon after that, latching onto Fermin Lopez’s excellent cross. Barca’s defence was once again exposed, with Rafa Mor rifling the ball into the corner on the cusp of halftime. But wantaway Man United loanee Marcus Rashford finally settled matters, walloping in a left-footed strike off the crossbar in the 61st minute. You could make a solid case for Rashford being Barca’s best player so far this season. I just want to give a quick shoutout to Fermin Lopez. The Spaniard has really stepped up in the prolonged absence of Pedri and was instrumental last night, picking up two assists to make it six goal involvements in his last three matches.
One point separates top four in dramatic Scudetto race
This week’s Serie A action provided plenty of late drama and long may it continue. AC Milan came through the glamour tie of the weekend, seeing off fellow would-be title contenders AS Roma 1-0 in a tight game at the San Siro. Allegri’s Milan had to weather an early Roma barrage but got the go-ahead goal in the 39th minute, with Strahinja Pavlovic finishing off an incisive Rafael Leao counterattacking move. There was drama in the closing stages of the match, with Roma awarded a free kick in a dangerous position outside the box. A leaping Fofana was adjudged to have handled the free kick, resulting in a last-gasp spot-kick (plenty of them in Europe this week). Mike Maignan stepped up to the plate, saving Dybala’s effort to trigger wild scenes inside the San Siro. It was a huge result that leaves the Rossoneri just one point behind table-topping Napoli.
Conte’s Napoli were held 0-0 at home by Fabregas’ dogged Coma outfit. Conte- who made several changes ahead of Napoli’s key Champions league clash with Eintracht Frankfurt- was bullish in the post-match press conference, stating he was happier with the draw then he had been in some recent victories. I never read it that way. Como outplayed Napoli for large portions of the match, bossing possession with 55%. In fact, Napoli have goalkeeper Milinkovic-Savic to thank for maintaining parity. The Napoli shot-stopper continued his unparalleled spot-kick record this weekend, saving from Alvaro Morata to ensure that he has saved six of his last ten Serie A spot-kicks. Still, Conte’s men still top the league by virtue of Roma’s slip-up at Milan.
Player of the Week-Piotr Zielinski
Polish midfielder Piotr Zielinksi has struggled to recapture his Napoli form since joining Inter on a free transfer last year. But he gave us all a reminder of his technical prowess this weekend, scoring a majestic side-foot volley that is going to generate plenty of Puskas buzz (I sounded like an Oscar prognosticator there). Inter won the match at Hellas Verona 2-1, scoring a 93rd minute winner. But this match will forever be remembered for one of the most beautiful goals I have ever seen. Hakan Calhanoglou floated a corner to the edge of the area and Zielinski met it on the full, caressing it into the top-left corner. Stunning.
