Last weekend we witnessed one of the biggest football games of the season even if it was so early into it. Already it seems like the first two positions in the league may well be taken up by Liverpool and Arsenal just like they were last season and these two met at Anfield. It was not a game to remember and the Reds ran out 1-0 victors after a sensational free kick from Dominik Szoboszlai there will be questions about Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta once more. Arsenal had come into the game looking dangerous having won both of their opening games and scoring 6 goals in the process. Arsenal have spent over a quarter of a billion pounds and with the addition of Eberechi Eze there is a feeling that the team look complete. It was odd then that Arteta did not start his new signing and also dropped Martin Odegaard to the bench. It really made little sense. Granted the Gunners started fairly well but the champions got back into the game and despite the wonder of the free kick a goal looked like it was coming for the home side.
The worry for Arsenal is that this seemed to be the perfect time to play Liverpool. Granted the Reds have spent upwards of £400m this summer but they have players who are still bedding into the system they have also almost drawn their opening two games and conceded 4 goals along the way. Liverpool look strong currently but there is a fragile mindset in defence and yet against perhaps their strongest challengers they were able to keep their first clean sheet of the season. These are of course early days and football changes so quickly but on this evidence you wonder already if Arsenal are going to finish second best yet again?
It's a relief that the Alexander Isak story is over and he has joined Liverpool for £125m. Isak's behaviour this summer has rubbed many up the wrong way as he is practically forced a move away from Eddie Howe's side. A petulant child comes to mind but we have seen many players down the years and especially recently forcing moves. What happened to contracts? It's easy to feel sorry for Newcastle but at the same time they have done the same to Brentford with the Bees Yoane Wissa forcing a move up north. The real pity for Newcastle isn't over the fact that they have lost one of the best players last season in the Premier League but over the fact that they can't spend big to bridge the gap between themselves and Liverpool. The PSR rules are in place to restrict spending, in an ideal world you can see the validity of that but football at least in the Premier League is not planted in real world values and PSR remains to benefit the big clubs keeping the chasing pack well behind, it's nothing short of tragic.
Aston Villa have done well in the past two years but after such incredible efforts like solid home form and qualifying for the Champions League is everything falling apart for them? Villa have begun the campaign with three defeats from three and Unai Emery seems a man under pressure. Football moves quick and within two games all could be well for the club but Emery has a history of success tinged with a great fall akin to a sugar boost and drop. Perhaps there is a silver lining though. Emery lost the plot in a recent interview repeating his 'next' goalkeeper Marco Bizot's name in a flurry of different questions. Emery was upset that first choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez seemed on his way to Manchester United but that deal fell through. Martinez, a strong figurehead in the dressing room stays for now and maybe Villa can move on from this, we shall see.
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