What a Weekend for the Gunners! Arsenal Win, Whilst Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea Lose

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Saka Arsenal win
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There are various sporting cliches about only focussing on what your own team is doing or, in modern parlance, controlling the controllables. However, in sport you are typically competing against an opponent and their performances almost always have some impact on the outcome of your own goals.

Arsenal have been taking care of their end of the bargain magnificently this season. Prior to the weekend’s fixtures they had won six of their eight games, dropping points only via one draw and one defeat. Those dropped points came in a 1-0 defeat at Anfield against Liverpool and a 1-1 draw at the Emirates with City, further highlighting just how good Mikel Arteta’s men have been this term.

However, this weekend, not only did the Gunners win yet again, and once more both without conceding, and giving their opponents hardly a sniff of goal, but their major title rivals also all lost. Arsenal dominance aside, this is shaping up to be rather a strange season. As such, deciding who might rival the Gunners is not straightforward. Nonetheless, everyone associated with the club will still have been very happy to see Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea all lose.

Incredibly, Sunderland, who beat Chelsea at the Bridge, now have more points than any of that trio. Even so, we suspect Arteta and co will not be overly worried about the Black Cats. They will, though, be ecstatic about the six-point cushion they have over City, with Liverpool a point further back and Chelsea already fully eight points adrift of Arsenal’s title pace.

1-0 to the Arsenal But City Stumble

Much has changed at City this season, with Pep Guardiola’s team now playing a more direct style of football. Several new signings have helped them look a bit more like their old selves in terms of performances, while Erling Haaland’s incredible scoring feats have meant they have almost always been able to find a goal when they have needed one.

At the weekend it was one of those “almost” days, rather than one of the “always” ones, as they drew a blank away at Villa. The game took place on Sunday, at the same time as Arsenal were beating Palace 1-0. The Gunners won courtesy of a 39th minute goal from former Palace man Eberechi Eze. Once more their defence was brilliant, while their midfield dominance meant that they gave up just one shot on target.

Returning to City, though, and they could not find a way past Villa stopper Emi Martinez. The Argentine did not have a huge amount to do, with only four of City’s 18 shots finding the target and none of those requiring much work – City’s xGOT was just 0.16 from an xG created of 1.18.

Haaland had one of his rare off days and in the end Matty Cash’s goal after 19 minutes was enough for the hosts to take the points. Villa are improving and are up to eighth after a slow start. As for City, they are priced at 11/2 for the title, with Arteta’s unstoppable defensive machine now just 1/2.

Liverpool Lose Yet Again


Liverpool began this season with seven straight wins. Combined with one of the most spectacular transfer windows ever seen in English football, they were huge odds-on favourites to retain the title they won with such ease last term. However, five defeats in six have followed and they look in disarray and could face a struggle to finish inside the top four unless they fix the many obvious issues within their team.

They have now lost four league games in a row and hopes that a 5-1 win away at Eintracht Frankfurt meant their woes were over came crashing down at Brentford. They lost 3-2 and the margin should have been more as they were very poor. The Bees, tipped by some for relegation, are now just two points behind Arne Slot’s men and the Reds are a distant 8/1 in the Premier League title betting.

Chelsea Stunned at the Bridge


Sunderland have made a superb start to the season but few expected them to get anything from their Saturday visit to Stamford Bridge. The hosts duly took the lead after just four minutes and many would have predicted a routine home win at that stage.

However, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has done a brilliant job since joining the Black Cats in June 2024. He has integrated a host of new signings superbly and several of them look capable of becoming true stars. They were back level after just 22 minutes before sub Chemsdine Talbi, just 20 years old, stunned the home faithful by firing home in the 93rd minute. And his side were probably just about good value for the win too, despite Enzo Maresca’s men dominating the ball.

Added together, this made for a rather incredible weekend for Arsenal and their fans. After finishing second in the Premier League for three campaigns in a row can they finally get over the line? We certainly wouldn’t bet against it given their experience, incredible squad and the rather handy lead they have over their rivals.