By Victor Kanayo
As full football action returned in England, Arsenal streched their lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points, after defeating 10-men Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the north London Derby.ĺ
The victory ensured that the gunners extended their unbeaten home record to seven games in all competitions.
The Mikel Arteta side started off by far the better side and could have had the lead in the third minute, only for Gabriel Martinelli’s low shot on the half volley to come back off the near post.
Arteta’s side eventually saw their pressure pay off and Arsenal were deservedly in front in the 20th minute as Thomas Partey bent a side-footed strike from distance past Hugo Lloris and into the top corner.
Despite being on the back foot, Tottenham were trying to find opportunities on the counter-attack, and on one such occasion in the 29th minute, it resulted in the visitors being awarded a penalty as Gabriel caught Richarlison with a rash challenge inside the area.
Harry Kane made no mistake from the spot, sending his penalty straight down the middle past Aaron Ramsdale to put Spurs back on level terms, scoring his 100th Premier League away goal in the process.
A costly mistake by Lloris gifted Arsenal the lead early into the second half, as Gabriel Jesus pounced after a double lapse from the Tottenham goalkeeper in the six-yard box to score an easy tap-in to restore the lead for the Gunners.
Tottenham’s afternoon got even worse, as Emerson Royal was shown a straight red card for a poor challenge with his studs showing on Martinelli’s shin.
Arsenal then sealed the three points just five minutes later as Granit Xhaka coolly slotted home a low shot into the far corner to give Arteta’s side their third successive home win over their north London rivals.
At Selhurst Park, Chelsea’s dramatic 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace gave new Coach 1Graham Potter his first success as Blues boss on Saturday.
Chelsea left it late to give Potter his first win in his second match since arriving from Brighton to replace the sacked Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea, who drew 1-1 with RB Salzburg in the Champions League in Potter’s first game, suffered a nightmare start on seven minutes as Wesley Fofana squandered possession and Jordan Ayew fed Odsonne Edouard to fire into the top corner.
Chelsea defender Thiago Silva escaped a red card when he was only booked for stopping Ayew’s attack by deliberately handling.
As the Premier League returned with a bang after the international break, Liverpool were rocked by Brighton forward Leandro Trossard’s hat-trick in a 3-3 draw at Anfield.
In Anfield, Potter’s replacement at Brighton, former Shakhtar Donetsk boss Roberto De Zerbi, enjoyed a memorable introduction to the Premier League.
Trossard fired Brighton ahead inside four minutes after punishing sloppy Liverpool defending.
With Liverpool in disarray, the Belgian forward struck again in the 18th minute.
Roberto Firmino gave Liverpool a 33rd minute lifeline when he turned in Mohamed Salah’s flick.
And Firmino grabbed Liverpool’s leveller with a 54th minute goal as the Brazilian side-stepped his marker to convert Luis Diaz’s pass.
Jurgen Klopp’s men looked to have completed an epic comeback in the 63rd minute when Albion keeper Robert Sanchez punched a corner that hit Adam Webster and deflected into his own net.
But Trossard sealed his treble with a close-range finish from Kaoru Mitoma’s cross to silence Anfield with seven minutes left.
Newcastle ended their six-match winless run in the league as Eddie Howe’s men swept to a 4-1 rout of 10-man Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Everton won 2-1 at Southampton as Conor Coady and Dwight McNeil both scored their first goals for the club after Joe Aribo put the hosts in front.
Bournemouth and Brentford shared a goalless draw at Dean Court.
Sunday October 2, 2022 will witness a huge league clash when Manchester City host neighbours United at Etihad.
