Saturday’s full round of Premier League fixtures produced seven matches and plenty of storylines, but the headline act came at the Stadium of Light, where Arsenal ground out a 2-0 win over Sunderland to stretch their winning run to nine successive matches in all competitions. It is the kind of sequence Arsenal have not managed since the Invincibles era, and on a day when City kept pace at the top with a victory of their own, Mikel Arteta’s side made sure they stayed level at the summit heading into Sunday’s Manchester derby.
David Raya was the difference in the first half, saving Enzo Le Fee’s penalty in the 53rd minute after Ezri Konsa had been penalised for a coming together with Dan Ballard, a decision upheld by VAR after a lengthy check. Sunderland could not make that let off count, and Arsenal made them pay through Bruno Guimaraes, whose thumping finish into the top corner in the 56th minute settled a tight contest before Bukayo Saka added a second penalty deep into stoppage time. It was Arsenal’s ninth Premier League win in a row, and while Arteta has been careful not to get carried away with comparisons to 2003/04, the numbers are starting to invite them regardless.
Guimaraes and Saka do the damage as Le Bris searches for fine margins
Régis Le Bris had little to complain about in terms of application from his Sunderland side, even if the result extended their winless run against members of the traditional top six. “David Raya was one of the best players on the pitch today, it shows we are dangerous but not enough to score,” the Sunderland manager said afterwards. “We are getting better game after every game, it’s hard to take but we need to go again.” Both Gabriel and Sunderland substitute Brobbey were booked amid a feisty finish, and Arteta himself picked up a caution for straying outside his technical area, a reminder of just how tight the contest remained even as the scoreline settled in Arsenal’s favour.
For Arsenal, the win keeps them level with Manchester City at the top of the table and sets up a fascinating trip to Old Trafford next weekend, though for now the focus will simply be on maintaining a run that shows no sign of slowing.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace suffered a chaotic afternoon at Selhurst Park, losing 3-2 to Ipswich Town after Axel Disasi was sent off for a reckless, studs up challenge on Jack Clarke in the 32nd minute. Ipswich made the extra man count, with Emersonn’s double either side of half time putting the visitors firmly in control before Anan Khalaili and Jorgen Strand Larsen threatened a Palace comeback either side of the interval. It was not enough. Substitute Zian Flemming struck in the 90th minute to complete an away win that gave Ipswich their first three points on the road this season, and their first successful top flight comeback in the best part of a quarter of a century.
Chelsea and Bournemouth also serve up plenty of goals
Chelsea, meanwhile, were made to work hard for a point against a newly promoted Hull City side showing no signs of nerves at Stamford Bridge. Morgan Rogers put the hosts ahead inside seven minutes, only for Hull’s Mohamed Belloumi to score twice in the space of six minutes either side of a nasty collision between his own goalkeeper and Levi Colwill that briefly interrupted play. Joao Pedro’s left footed finish just after the hour mark rescued a point for Xabi Alonso’s side, who could easily have won it themselves in a frantic finish before Cole Palmer’s late free kick drifted wide. The draw leaves Chelsea fourth, with Alonso admitting his side have “developed a habit of scoring early” without yet finding the consistency to close matches out.
There was late drama too at the Vitality Stadium, where Kevin Schade’s brace for Brentford was cancelled out twice by Bournemouth, Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier both finding replies as the sides shared the points in a 2-2 draw that will have pleased neither manager fully.
Stalemates in north London and at Anfield, and a familiar story for Aston Villa
Not every game produced goals. Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool were held goalless by Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham at Anfield, with Victor Munoz rattling the crossbar in the first half and Alexander Isak heading over in stoppage time as the closest either side came to a breakthrough. Rodrigo Muniz spurned Fulham’s best opening late on, but a point away from home ended the visitors’ three match losing run and offered a reminder that Liverpool, unbeaten but short of their usual sharpness after a midweek Champions League trip, still have work to do at home this season.
It was a similarly frustrating afternoon for Roberto De Zerbi, whose Tottenham side remain both winless and goalless after four Premier League matches following a flat 0-0 draw with Everton. The pressure on De Zerbi will not ease with a run of fixtures still to come, and Spurs supporters will hope for signs of life in attack sooner rather than later.
Aston Villa’s afternoon ended in familiar frustration, too. Unai Emery’s side led for spells against Nottingham Forest through a spirited second half fightback, but two goals from Liam Delap and Igor Jesus either side of that response condemned them to a 2-1 defeat that leaves Villa still searching for their first win of the season. Emery was left fuming afterwards at a late tackle on Ian Maatsen that forced Villa to finish the match a man light, having already used all of their substitutes, calling it a decision VAR should have intervened on. Oliver Glasner’s Forest, by contrast, will be delighted with a first win of the Glasner era against opposition Emery has traditionally troubled.
Between Arsenal’s ongoing surge and the chaos further down the table, it made for one of the more eventful Saturdays of the season so far, with the top of the table setting up nicely for Sunday’s Manchester derby to add another twist to an already compelling title race.
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