European Football Wrap: Arsenal pecked by Seagulls in first defeat of the season

Arsenal pecked by Seagulls in first defeat of the season

But the Gunners were given a rude awakening on the South Coast, as Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton outmuscled and outmanoeuvred the reigning champs for a thoroughly deserved 3-0 victory.  It felt like I was watching a modern remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, with every Arsenal player looking like a shadow of their best selves.  Gabriel and Konza backed away like Michael Jackson for both of Brighton’s first-half goals.  Brighton gave the champs a taste of their own medicine in the 2^nd half, as Chema Andrés rose to meet a corner and make it 3-0.  Rice looked shattered while Guimares looked lost (it’s a bit harsh that Lewis-Skelly has been cast aside so quickly).  Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth are quickly developing a reputation as the Bermuda Triangle of this league.  Any team that beats all three sides, home and away, wins the title. 

Man City take advantage of Arsenal slip in eight-goal thriller

Enzo Marseca took a leaf out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s book yesterday, as City’s buccaneering attack papered over defensive issues in a showstopping 5-3 win over Sunderland.  The xG told its own story, as the Black Cats registered 4.32 compared to City’s 2.72.  I find it odd that City’s was so much lower after Haaland missed what was essentially an open goal.  But I digress.  Brobbey was an absolute menace throughout, using his physicality and off-the-ball movement to make Dias pedestrian.  But City always seemed to have an answer when the gauntlet was laid down, with Antoine Semenyo proving masterful in the chaos.  He consistently found little pockets of space down that left-hand side and behind Sunderland’s double-pivot, scoring two and assisting another in an all-action display.  Erling Haaland completed a nice little side-mission today, scoring the crucial 5^th to ensure that he has scored against all 25 Premier League sides that he has played against.  Is this gung-ho approach sustainable? 

Roma and Inter share the spoils in pulsating clash

Is the Serie A low-key the most exciting league in European football right now?  Allegri-ball is out and Gasperini-ball is in, as Italian sides appear to be adopting a more dynamic approach with every passing year.  And with three teams currently sitting on 13 points; I’m all here for it.  But there’s only one place to start after what was a monumental tussle at the Stadio Olimpico, as Chivu’s never-say-die Inter clawed back another deficit against Roma in a wild top-of-the-table clash.  Manu Kone returned from his recent knee scare to wreak havoc in Inter’s box, scoring twice from close range to give Roma a 2-0 halftime lead.  Inter had shown plenty of endeavour in that first period, with Lautaro Martinez picking up a miss-of-the-season contender.  But Chivu’s side are nothing if not unrelentless and they pulled one back shortly after the break, as that man Martinez scuffed a left-footed finish into the corner.  Both keepers pulled off some worldies before Captain Fantastic Martinez would have the final say, providing a snap finish after a chaotic goalmouth melee.  Elsewhere, Lazio won 2-0 at Venezia to keep draw level on points with the two pacesetters.

Bayern run riot against Union Berlin

Just when you think there may be a glimmer of intrigue in this year’s Bundesliga; Bayern go and have a mic-drop moment.  In recent weeks, I have made a point of highlighting the fairytale story of SV Elversberg and undeniable improvement of Borussia Dortmund.  But you just had a feeling that Bayern were itching to steal back the headlines.  And Die Roten broke free from the shackles in magnificent style this weekend, thrashing Union Berlin 7-0 to send a shockwave through the rest of German- and European- football.  I think they saw what Barca were doing in Spain and wanted to remind the world what they were made of.  Jamal Musiala opened the scoring with a rocket while Harry Kane made it 2-0 with a trademark spot-kick.  That spot-kick brought up Kane’s 100^th Bundesliga goal in just his 98^th match, obliterating Dieter Muller 49-year record by 31 games!  Kane would add another while Olise casually scored his first Bayern hat-trick.  Oh, and Salibari snuck in to score his first Bundesliga goal.  Luiz Diaz’s continued cold streak aside; this is starting to look more like it. 

Atletico beat Real in feisty Madrid derby

Diego Simeone was born for these types of occasions.  His side may not have the resources to realistically challenge for La Liga every season.  But boy, they can spoil with the best of them.  His well-organized Atleti side proved too much for Mourinho’s Real, outsmarting them to triumph 2-1 in the first Madrid derby of the campaign.  The first half was an absolute snoozefest, as Atleti worked hard to stifle Real’s array of attacking talent.  Cristian Romero was probably a little lucky to avoid a red for what appeared to be a stamp on Bellingham.  The match needed something to wake it up from its slumber and Dean Huijsen obliged, cynically fouling Simone Jr inside the box in the 53^rd minute.  I say inside the box, but I personally think the initial contact was outside the box.  Regardless, it was an undeniably foolish choice by Huijsen, giving away a penalty and forcing his side to play 40 mins with ten men.  Grimaldo converted the spot-kick and Atleti sensed blood.  Jonathan David effectively put the game to bed in the 59^th minute, applying the finishing touches to an inch-perfect cross from Simeone (dad must have been so proud yesterday).  Courtois spared Real’s blushed with several fines saves while Rudiger snatched a late consolation.  Atletico leapfrogged Real as a result of the match, pulling to within five points of table-topping Barcelona. 

More Raphinha magic as Barcelona fight back at Sevilla

Barcelona are flying right now.  The Spanish giants needed to show a bit of resilience at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday, withstanding brave Sevilla resistance to make it seven wins from seven matches in La Liga.  The home side shocked the champs in the 19^th minute, as Fofana’s darting near-post run and bullet header gave Sevilla a 1-0 lead.  In-form Raphinha answered almost immediately, neatly finishing off from a delicious Christensen through-ball.  Sevilla solidified and went in 1-1 at the break, marking the first time that Barca haven’t led at halftime all season.  But the combination of Yamal and Raphinha brought Sevilla to their knees in the 2^nd stanza, as creator extraordinaire Yamal teed up Raphinha for two more exquisite goals.  Raphinha has entered another stratosphere during this early portion of the season, scoring 14 goals in his first eight games across all competitions.  How is anybody going to stop this relentless Barca machine? 

Player of the Week- Michael Olise

The whole Ballon d’Or conversation seems to have boiled down to the trio of Kane, Mbappe and Yamal.  Michael Olise just gave us a timely reminder of why he is this year’s quintessential dark-horse contender.  Lest we forget, Olise pipped Harry Kane to Bundesliga Player of the Season honours.  He was also the assist king at the FIFA World Cup, ending the tournament with three more contributions than any other player.  He was at his mesmeric best on Friday night, scoring two long-range rockets either side of a near miss-of-the-season contender (he barely squeezed it into the top corner of an open net).  He also created another goal to make it eleven G/A in eight games this season.  If the Ballon d’Or was based purely on aesthetics: Olise would win it every year.