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A London derby at the Emirates as Arsenal took on Watford. Bukayaro Saka announced his arrival to the home fans in style as he put them ahead within minutes of kick off. On 20 minutes Olive thought he had put them further ahead after a mazy run and dribble but was deemed to be in an offside position. Timo Werner did make it 2 just before half time and just as they were thinking about going in for the interval Werner produced a magical free kick straight into the top corner to make it 3-0. Watford played well in the second half and pulled one back through Hall but it was too little too late and Arsenal were well deserved winners.
MOM: Bukayaro Saka (Arsenal)
Villa and Southampton are both pushing for European spots and met at Villa Park. Saints took an early lead through Martinelli’s dipping shot and his goal separated the sides at half time. The home side rallied in the second half, and Lobotka found Correa who equalised early on. Southampton then had a penalty when Lafont took out Isak, who got up to take the kick. Lafont managed to stick out a leg to save it and then made a fantastic save from the resultant corner from Molina’s header. Both sides had their chances, with Villa just shading it, but a 1-1 draw was a result they will both probably settle for.
MOM: Stanislav Lobotka (Villa)
Blackburn have been looking good in the last few games, but won’t have relished the visit of the form team in the division, Chelsea. The home fans were celebrating early though as Son neatly finished a smart pass from Dumfries to put them ahead. Chelsea responded immediately and equalised through their star player Odegaard after a lovely piece of work from Dalot. Blackburn regained the lead when Aguerd hit one from just outside the area and then Son again scored to make it 3-1 at half time and Ewood Park was rocking. It went stratospheric when Leroy Sane nutmegged Dean Henderson to make it 4-1 and Blackburn were running riot. Chelsea still showed plenty of quality and had more shots on target than their opponents but found Courtois in the Blackburn goal on superb form, and had to wait until the end of the game for a consolation goal from Dalot and a 4-2 defeat after 4 straight wins.
MOM: Heung Min Son (Blackburn)
League leaders Spurs went to Cardiff without injured Leon Bailey and the sides played out a pretty uneventful first half with Alsop making a couple of good saves. This dull game then burst into life with 10 minutes to go as Gotze put Cardiff ahead and then Vestegaard hit a screamer for Cardiff to go 2-0 with 10 to go.Kokcu pulled one back for Spurs and then Victor Eletu thought that he had scored his first for the club and the equaliser only for the goal to be disallowed by VAR. Spurs dominated the game and should have come away with a point but didn’t quite have the quality to finish their chances. Dusan Tadic will be signing from Juventus after the game and with him and Bailey the side will hope to convert more chances.
MOM: Victor Eletu (Spurs)
Newcastle found themselves without a management team for the trip to Crystal Palace and it showed on the pitch. Palace completely dominated the game as the Newcastle players looked confused and lost, but the one player that did look like he knew where he was, Strakosha in goal, kept them in the game. Finally with just 4 minutes to go Tsimikas hit a volley from Eze’s cross and Lee Clark ran up the touch line and did a knee slide on to the pitch, the relief at his side finally breaking through.
Newcastle fans were seen demanding answers outside the team bus but there was no comment from the club at this time.
MOM: Konstantinos Tsimikas (Palace)
Everton were undefeated in 4 going into their home game against West Ham, who they could even leapfrog in the table with a victory. Daniele Podence put the Hammers ahead in the 22nd minute when he was first to react to a near post corner, and they held on to go into half time ahead. Everton equalised immediately after the whistle when Carrasco hit a rocket shot and both sides tried to find a winner but couldn’t as the game petered out to a 1-1 draw which probably didn’t suit either side.
MOM: Yannick Carrasco (Everton)
Leeds were looking to get back on form with a home game against another side looking to pick up, Barnsley. Fekir got the home fans making some noise when he put them ahead in the 7th minute, and then he dissected the defence with an inch perfect pass for Osimhen to make it 2-0. Mitoma is such a big player for Barnsley and he showed a moment of top quality in the 35th minute, turning and then side stepping his marker to curl in a peach of a goal. His strike partner Dia followed with a wonderful goal of his own 5 minutes later and suddenly it was half time and 2-2. Leeds huffed and puffed but couldn’t find a winner with Maximiano solid in goal and had to settle for a point.
MOM: Nabil Fekir (Leeds)
Man United came into their away game at Leicester after 3 straight wins and starting to click. It was a shock when Semedo headed past Oblak after 10 minutes and the Foxes started to think they might be able to turn them over. Adeyemi thought he had equalised when his shot hit the line, and Steve Outten spat his dummy out, but then he did equalise when he got on to the end of Martinez’s pass to finish in style. Suddenly United were rampant, and Luis Diaz got off the mark with the second and a half time lead. Just after time Diaz had the ball in the net again, Only for it to be disallowed. In the confusion, Leicester boss Darren Lear seemed to think it had been allowed and screamed in the refs face for VAR, earning him a red card and he was sent to the stands for the rest of the game. Valverde did make it 3-1 soon after, and United coasted home to a comfortable win
MOM: Pedro Porro (Man U)
Man City were at home to Burnley, and when Vlahovic’s early goal was disallowed you felt it could be a long day for the away team. John Stones did score on 4 minutes, and then Bellingham's header made it 2-0, with Phil Foden’s hammer shot on 10 minutes making it 3-0. It was becoming more like an exhibition as Laporte scored City’s 4th, and then Bellingham their 5th and his second with 10 minutes to go to half time. Burnley regrouped and only conceded one goal in the second half, Rensch converting Foden’s assist, City with 31 attempts on goal, and they came away with the definition of a consolation goal when Ekitike scored from distance just before full time.
MOM: Phil Foden (Man City)
After last week's memorable SECOND league victory, Sheffield Wednesday hosted Liverpool. Marcus Rashford has been excellent for the Reds and scored his 10th of the season when his sweet half volley found the back of the net. Mahrez then found Mudryk who doubled their lead on 13 minutes, and Liverpool looked in control. Akanji added a third in the second half and Liverpool were good value for all 3 points.
MOM: Mykhailo Mudryk (Liverpool)
Team of the week: Strakosha(Newcastle),Porro (Man U), Rudiger (Leeds), Lamptey(Chelsea),Ruben Diaz (Man C),Lobotka (Villa), Eletu (Spurs), Saka (Arsenal), Foden (Man C),Son (Blackburn), Mudryk (Liverpool)
Performance of the Week: Blackburn Rovers continue their recent good form to make it 3 wins in a row to beat Chelsea
Shocker of the week: Newcastle had to play again with no manager. 5 points off the top, the fans are concerned.