Mikel Arteta was, of course, in full voice as he criticized the second yellow card that sent Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice off in the 49th minute at the Emirates. Brighton would score a tying goal nine minutes later as the surprising Seagulls remained undefeated by securing a 1-1 draw at the Emirates. Rice’s second infraction was, of course, both obvious and silly as the English international was carded for delaying a restart. The Gunners had earlier taken the lead when Kai Havertz scored in the 38th minute, his second goal of the season, assisted by Bukayo Saka. All momentum changed, however, when Rice received his first Premier League red card when he nudged the ball as Brighton’s Joel Veltman was trying to take a free kick. Rice had earlier fouled Veltman for his first yellow card and the second yellow left the Gunners to battle most of the second half with ten men. Brighton pressed its advantage and broke through in the 58th minute when Joao Pedro scored the equalizer. Both clubs now have identical records of two wins and a draw from three matches. Brighton should be ecstatic at their undefeated start under new manager Fabian Hurzeler. When the ball drops for João Pedro , you know what’s about to happen next.
Refreshingly clinical. pic.twitter.com/vSuTUMUFZC
Arsenal, on the other hand, may already be worried about losing ground to fellow title contenders Manchester City and Liverpool, both of whom remain perfect after three matches. Erling Haaland continued his torrid start to the season, finding the net three times in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over West Ham. The Norwegian goal machine has seven goals on the season after his second consecutive hat trick and has now scored 70 Premier League goals in 69 matches for Manchester City.
Liverpool kept pace with the defending champions by defeating Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford. Luis Diaz scored a brace and Mohamed Salah had a goal and two assists as Liverpool Manager Arne Slot continued his perfect record in the Premier League. Manchester United’s midfield was overrun by their quicker Liverpool counterparts. Casemiro was dispossessed in the lead up to both Diaz goals and the former Real Madrid great was given the hook at halftime by Manchester United Manager Eric ten Hag. Casemiro’s midfield partner, promising youngster Kobbie Mainoo, also had a rough afternoon and lost the ball to Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister leading to Salah’s goal. The Red Devils certainly rued not having newly acquired defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte registered in time for the match. Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, continues to play like he is the answer to the Reds’ own defensive midfield concerns. Liverpool remains the only Premier League club not to have conceded a goal this season.
Newcastle United is level with Arsenal and Brighton on points after a 2-1 win at St. James Park over Tottenham Hotspur in a match where Spurs dominated play but was unable to capitalize upon its chances. Newcastle played conservatively but succeeded with its counterattack. The winner came when Spurs center back Cristian Romero was caught going forward as Newcastle attacked the space left in the Spurs defense. Joelinton found Jacob Murphy who crossed to Alexander Isak for the winner. Sandro Tonali made his return for the Magpies on Sunday after a lengthy betting suspension and received a warm welcome from supporters.
Brentford and Aston Villa each have two victories on the season after defeating newly promoted clubs on the weekend. Brentford pounded winless Southampton 3-1 as the Bees’ Bryan Mbeumo scored twice and forward partner Yoane Wissa added the third and final goal. The teammates have scored all five of the Bees’ goals this season with the Bees’ former striker Ivan Toney now having finalized a transfer to Saudi Arabia.
Aston Villa were 2-1 winners at Leicester as Villa’s super sub Jhon Duran scored in the 61st minute after coming on in relief of striker Ollie Watkins. It was Duran’s second match winner of the young season.
Newly promoted Ipswich Town got its first point of the season with a 1-1 draw versus Fulham. Twenty-one-year-old forward Liam Delap, acquired from Manchester City this summer, staked the Tractor Boys to the lead in the 14th minute. Not even an equalizer from Fulham’s Adama Traore could detract from the joy of Portman Road supporters in securing their first Premier League point in 22 years.
Less excited were the Chelsea supporters at Stamford Bridge who saw Crystal Palace take home a point when Eberechi Eze equalized after an opening goal by Chelsea’s Niclas Jackson. It was an all too typical day for the Chelsea forward. He scored a goal but bottled two later opportunities that could have given Chelsea the winner. His immaturity was on display when he received a yellow card for delaying play. Still, his contributions at the center of Chelsea’s attack are likely underestimated amid Chelsea’s perpetual search for a different striker. Cole Palmer facilitated Jackson’s goal against the Eagles on Sunday with his league leading fourth assist. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, relied on Eze’s strike and some fine goalkeeping from Dean Hendersen, who notched six saves on the day, to end a steak of 13 consecutive losses against Chelsea and register the Eagles’ first point of the season.
The unhappiest fans of the weekend were likely those streaming out of Goodison Park after Everton collapsed in the late stages of a 3-2 loss to Bournemouth. The Toffees, who had failed to win, draw or even score going into the day, were leading by a 2-0 margin until Bournemouth began its comeback with an 87th minute goal by Antonio Semenyo. Stoppage time goals by Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra stole all three points for the Cherries in classic “smash and grab” fashion. The epic collapse by Everton was the first time in Premier League history that a club had lost after holding a two-goal lead into the 87th minute of play. The concern after two disappointing Everton losses to start the season had waned just a bit for 86 minutes until exploding into a cacophony of despair for the club that now sits dead last at the bottom of the Premier League table.
Wolverhampton resides with Everton and Southampton in the relegation places despite gaining a point in a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Forest remarkably stayed undefeated after Saturday’s draw despite scoring only three goals in three matches. Wolverhampton earned its first point of the season when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde scored in the 12t minute, just two minutes after Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood had opened the scoring.
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