It's another week and I am presenting us with the English Premier League matches recap. We didn't have too many of the big games this time around but I would be analysing the pick of the weekend games for me and of course, my favourite Manchester United too - Selective Matches Recap.
Manchester City v Arsenal:
This is one of the most entertaining games of the weekend (if you are a Manchester City fan or a neutral) and it could as well be the most embarrassing game of the weekend too if you happened to be an Arsenal fan. I must admire the resilience of Arsenal fans how they always come back every season with hope despite knowing how incapable their team is. It's no disrespect but with what I have seen of that team in recent years, without a massive injection into that team, I don't see them progressing that much and in as much as I can cite issues with the coach, the players also need to be ashamed of themselves.
I knew Manchester City would win anyway but I didn't predict that scoreline. I was hoping on a 3-0 but City went 2 better from my prediction and hit Arsenal for 5-0. The fans didn't even stay to the end of the game for you to know how humiliating it is. Xhaka also didn't make it easy for his team after he received a red card for a careless challenge. It's worse enough that they were losing already and to be down to 10 men against this hungry City side, there is absolutely no way back for them.
Gundogan opened the floodgates with Ferran Torres getting a brace and Gabriel Jesus with Hernandez both grabbing a goal apiece. It was a bad day in the office for Mikel Arteta and despite his optimism after the game, you could tell that he was really worried about his team. This is their worst start to the season ever. They have lost three games on the trot and also not registered a single goal this season. They languish in 20th position and this is the best time for them to get out of this mess else it becomes difficult as they would be dragged into the relegation fight. It's bad enough that they are not even playing in any European competitions, now, they couldn't even use that to their advantage and win games.
Very true, they have a tough start to the season save the Brentford game but with some easy games coming for them before they meet Tottenham, they must rack up those points and give themselves a breather.
Liverpool v Chelsea:
Another match that lived up to its billing even though some Chelsea fans might feel aggrieved with the decision of the referee. Football is sometimes like this because you feel the decision go in your favour one week and then against you the next. The referees make mistakes but they are the ones to uphold the rules of the game and no doubt, this season, the rules have changed. There won't be marginal offsides again, something we experienced last season that even your shirt can pull you in an offside situation.
Liverpool played better and attacked more but Chelsea showed resilience and defended well. It was an end to end game because Chelsea showed patience in their attack. They would wait for Liverpool to slip and then launch an attack to punish them. Chelsea should have won the game comfortably if not for terrible decisions in the final third regarding the final passes.
Chelsea took the lead with a brilliant header from Havertz and it looked like Chelsea would go on with the win due to the exceptional performances from Rudiger, Christensen and Mendy but Reece James' handling of the ball on the line to deny a clear scoring opportunity changed the game and made Chelsea settled for a draw. If Reece James didn't move his arm, maybe it could have been ruled for a reflex action but then, with the rules these days, you never know. Mo Salah stepped up and sent Mendy the wrong way.
Liverpool also had chances to win the game but Mendy was up for it and denied them over and over again. The game ended 1-1 and you could feel the relief from Chelsea players when the referee blew the final whistle. It's never easy playing with 10 men against Liverpool at Anfield. Credit to Chelsea.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United:
This game was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 100th game in charge of Manchester United and it also saw Varane with Sancho having their first start of the season. It was an okay game for Varane which saw him missed some long passes while also producing a good shift at the back to stop Wolves from scoring and good to say he provided the assist for the only goal of the game when Greenwood scored.
Sancho was disappointing for me. He didn't really penetrate the defence and he didn't make good use of his pace in any way. Adama Traore constituted a menace to Manchester United's defence line and De Gea produced two double save to deny Saiss what would have been a goal for Wolves.
Fred was another disappointment for United as he was always off position, gave away so many balls and it shows how desperate United needed a good Central Defensive Midfielder. With McTominay out due to surgery, United needed a solid Midfielder to give room for Pogba to push further up. Pogba playing deep to help out Fred constituted United's horrible showing in this game. Pogba was seen several times telling Fred where to be.
Wolverhampton Wanderers would feel hard done by not to at least get a draw in this game and they would have deserved a win nonetheless but for the brilliance of Greenwood who smashed home the ball in the 80th minute to give United the only goal and the 3 points which sent them to the 3rd position on the summit.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have suffered 3 consecutive defeats with the scoreline being 1-0 despite always playing so well. United stretched their away games unbeaten to 28 games which is the most and a record in the League as the Arsenal of hold did 27 games. It took United 19 months to achieve this feat and it is remarkable despite not being at their best against Wolves.
In all honesty, Wolves deserve a win because United played terribly but football can be like this sometimes where you played your heart out but the win eludes you and there are days you would play bad and still manage to win or get a point. United need to sort out their midfield just as Wolves are still searching for their first win of the season.
Thank you for your time.
Arsenal and Chelsea both got red cards in game week 3. But the final score showed the disparity in both teams. With the red card, Chelsea held on to a draw and even threatened to score, but Arsenal...hmmm. Man City and toyed with them. The internationalal break should end I can't wait to see CR7 play.