Premier League
English Premier League talking points

Talking points from the English Premier League weekend:
Feel-good factor sweeping Arsenal
Even in the latter years of Arsene Wenger’s long and illustrious reign as Arsenal manager, the atmosphere at The Emirates could often be toxic among the divided home fans.
The same can be said when Unai Emery replaced him and there have been a sizeable minority who have wondered whether Mikel Arteta was the right man to lead Arsenal forward.
But after their best start to a Premier League season since 2004-5, with four straight wins, the feel-good factor has swept the stadium and there is a growing belief in Arteta’s project.
Even when Gabriel made a dreadful mistake to hand Fulham an opener on Saturday (Aug 27), the fans remained very much on board and they roared their side to a 2-1 victory.
There is a long way to go but suddenly the red half of north London has its pride back and the season looks full of promise.
United need focal point in attack
Cristiano Ronaldo’s rich haul in front of goal was among the few bright spots for Manchester United last season but with the Portuguese unable to break into the starting line-up under Erik ten Hag, the team are in dire need of a traditional striker.
Ten Hag employed Marcus Rashford up front in the win at Southampton but he proved ineffective, often drifting wide or dropping deep. The injured Anthony Martial can also operate as a striker but the Frenchman has had limited success in the role.
United often took a direct approach in attack against Southampton but failed to break down their opponents more than once due to the lack of a natural goal scorer, a problem ten Hag will be keen to fix before the transfer window closes next week.
Firmino underlines value to Liverpool
Roberto Firmino has sometimes been overshadowed at Liverpool by Mohamed Salah and their former forward Sadio Mane but on Saturday he showed just how valuable he is after helping to kick-start his side’s season with a vintage showing in a record-equalling 9-0 rout of Bournemouth.
The tireless Brazilian was unstoppable in the first half, creating three assists and then scoring himself – all inside the opening 31 minutes at Anfield.
He scored again in the second half as he showed just why manager Jurgen Klopp holds him in such high esteem and last month called him “the heart and soul of this team”.
Impressive Brighton enjoying purple patch
Brighton & Hove Albion beat Leeds United 1-0 to make it 10 points from a possible 12 in a brilliant start to the campaign and their defensive discipline has been the envy of some of their more illustrious rivals in the competition.
Graham Potter’s side, who are emerging as early contenders for a top-six push, currently boast the best record in the top division, having conceded just once, an own goal by Alexis Mac Allister in their impressive win over Manchester United.
In Pascal Gross they have an experienced figure at the other end of the pitch and the German midfielder scored his third goal of the season to secure the win over Leeds and extend his team’s unbeaten run in the top flight to a club-record nine games.
Gerrard needs to stem Villa’s decline
Aston Villa have won just once in their last eight Premier League games and Sunday’s 1-0 home defeat by West Ham provoked boos around Villa Park as the slump continued.
Steven Gerrard’s honeymoon period is over and the former England skipper is badly in need of some positive results to deflect some of the unwanted spotlight.
Villa’s biggest problem is a lack of creativity with too much of the onus on Philippe Coutinho, who went off injured against West Ham. They have only scored three times and have also gone nine Premier League games without a clean sheet.
With Arsenal and Manchester City up next, the omens are not good for Villa to climb the table any time soon after three defeats in their opening four games.
-Reuters
Premier League
Maguire handed suspended prison sentence for 2020 brawl

England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court over a 2020 incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence against public employees after his arrest in a brawl in which two police officers were assaulted.
Maguire, who was detained for two days following the incident and denied any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on multiple charges.
In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing nullified Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.
Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The 32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. His legal team will appeal against the guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.
Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences related to the incident and received suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.
-Reuters
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Premier League
Timber header earns Arsenal crucial win over Chelsea

Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.

Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.
But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.
Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.
-Reuters
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Premier League
Manchester United climb to third in Premier League table with come-from-behind win over Palace

Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.
Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.
The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.
“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”
Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.
United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.
The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.
Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.
United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.
Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”
Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”
For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.
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