One other season of humiliation for Spurs?
This Tottenham group should not a misplaced trigger. However being dangerous in each bins is a footballing nightmare. And that’s the place Spurs discover themselves proper now. 5 video games, no wins. And again within the relegation zone.
They’re wasteful in entrance of objective after which seemingly decided to self-destruct on the different finish. Sloppy passes, poor selections, defensive lapses – items being handed out to the opposition.
And Roberto De Zerbi reduce a annoyed determine. He known as the defending for Aston Villa’s second objective “unacceptable”.
You possibly can really feel the anger effervescent beneath him in his post-match press convention. Probably the most damning admission? He did not even converse to his gamers after the defeat. That tells you loads.
What was there to say? The identical errors maintain showing. The identical issues maintain costing Spurs. And now, simply when the supervisor wants his gamers on the coaching pitch to place it proper, the worldwide break arrives. A few of them will not see De Zerbi once more for greater than two weeks.
This is not a misplaced season. There’s an excessive amount of expertise on this Tottenham squad for that. However expertise means little or no in case you maintain capturing your self within the foot. High groups do not behave like this.
And if De Zerbi would not get that behavior out of them rapidly, this mission goes to develop into one other season of humiliation.
Lewis Jones
Jackson confirmed Spurs precisely what they’re lacking
Nicolas Jackson completely tormented Tottenham with a superb combination of silky touches and bruising physicality. He gave Spurs’ centre-backs no peace, consistently providing an out-ball, defending possession and bringing these round him into the sport.
It was the form of efficiency that reminded you why Chelsea noticed a lot in him. Jackson would not at all times get the targets his all-round recreation maybe deserves, however that may typically disguise simply how useful he’s to the group. When he’s taking part in with this confidence, every thing appears to click on. The midfielders have somebody to seek out. The vast gamers have somebody to mix with. Runners have house to assault.
It was a correct centre-forward’s efficiency that included the sport’s key objective, which doubled Villa’s lead.
It was an illustration to Tottenham of precisely what they’re lacking by the center.
Lewis Jones
Arsenal should be sure blip would not develop into wobble
Arsenal misplaced 3-0 however it ought to have been six. Brighton missed three large possibilities so as to add to their hefty tally. We have hardly ever seen this from Mikel Arteta’s group.
The final time Arsenal conceded three targets in a Premier League away recreation was in December 2023, and the Gunners even gained that recreation at Luton 4-3. The final time they misplaced by a three-goal margin was Could 2023, coincidentally in opposition to Brighton.
Arsenal went all the of 2024, 2025 and most of 2026 with out doing what they did at Brighton. It was uncharacteristic show, significantly on the street – the place Arsenal have collected extra away factors than every other group within the final 5 years.
Arteta knew that Arsenal had been in hassle proper from the primary throw-in within the recreation. And the best way by which Arsenal had been second-best from that second to the ninety fifth minute, this was clearly a foul day on the workplace, however not a part of a wider drawback.
Arteta was eager to name for perspective after the sport: Arsenal have gained each different match this season after staggering so many late arrivals from the World Cup and struggling a good few accidents in defence.
The final time Arsenal misplaced on this method was the 2026 Carabao Cup remaining – after which, the tactical template of ‘easy methods to beat Arsenal’ then spilled right into a FA Cup exit, a loss to Bournemouth after which that defeat at Manchester Metropolis which briefly turned the title race tide.
The prolonged worldwide break will assist, however Arsenal want to ensure this Brighton blip would not develop into wobble.
Sam Blitz
Brighton are getting higher and higher
Brighton have began the season in electrical style. They’re comfortably the Premier League’s high scorers, who’ve added targets to the third-best defence within the league from final season.
Apparently, all underneath Fabian Hurzeler, they’ve gained a recreation in opposition to the reigning champions three seasons in a row. However once they beat Man Metropolis and Liverpool in earlier years, these two golf equipment had been already in freefall. Stopping Arsenal of their full stream makes this Brighton win the most effective out of the three.
What makes Brighton distinctive is how they reply to challenges? Lose Carlos Baleba? Chema Andres will arrive and step up. Danny Welbeck leaves and Georginio Rutter is out? Babis Kostoulas will rating to get you wins over United and Arsenal.
Jack Hinshelwood is injured? Pascal Gross will get you seven objective contributions in 5 video games. “He is like a superb wine,” mentioned Hurzeler in regards to the German after the sport. The identical goes for his group. They simply maintain getting higher and higher.
Sam Blitz
Is Moyes a managerial mastermind?
There’s something fairly endearing about Everton underneath David Moyes. After all of the hardships of the switch window, with the smallest squad within the division, they proceed to overachieve. VAR even tried to undermine their victory over Ipswich, however they rallied to ensure it did not matter.
Everton stay unbeaten of their opening seven video games throughout all competitions, full with 5 clear sheets. When requested if working with a small squad has truly been to his benefit, Moyes mentioned: “We’re making an attempt to make it that method.”
Their 21 photographs in opposition to Ipswich had been their most in a Premier League recreation at Hill Dickinson Stadium, however Moyes nonetheless sees loads to enhance on. “I’m ratting the gamers such as you would not imagine,” he added. “Why are we not scoring extra?”
Thierno Barry was denied what most would contemplate a official objective by VAR, however Everton had been additionally accountable for squandering 4 large possibilities themselves. That stage of profligacy will come again to chew in sure video games. And but, you can’t assist however be impressed by the best way Moyes has maximised the finite instruments at his disposal.
His managerial nous can take Everton additional than their recruitment limitations recommended was attainable.
Laura Hunter
Barnes brilliance underneath Jaissle sends message to Tuchel
It was Newcastle’s valiant defending which will have seen them over the road of their 2-1 victory in opposition to Hull, however it was their blistering first-half assault which proved the telling distinction on the best way to 3 factors – particularly that of Harvey Barnes.
Barnes supplied two assists in simply seven minutes, the earliest right into a Premier League recreation a Newcastle participant has arrange mulitple targets, taking the document from Fabian Schar who managed the feat in 9 minutes in that 6-1 demolition job of Tottenham in 2023.
The distinction right here was that Barnes was dealing with a resolute defence that had solely conceded in considered one of their earlier 4 Premier League video games – not that that stopped the winger selecting their locks twice in 4 minutes.
His deft inside through-ball for Joe Willock to lash house got here simply 4 minutes earlier than slipping in a galloping Lewis Corridor on the surface of the opponents’ field – however he continued to offer Newcastle a inventive spark all through the 90 minutes, whipping in teasing crosses even when his facet was up in opposition to it.
Barnes now has 5 objective contributions in seven video games throughout all competitions for brand spanking new boss Matthias Jaissle, however was nonetheless ignored for Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, lacking out to Eberechi Eze, who has not began a Premier League recreation for Arsenal up to now this marketing campaign.
If the Englishman retains producing game-defining performances like he has up to now underneath Jaissle, it certainly is not going to be lengthy earlier than he earns the belief of the opposite German supervisor he’s wanting to impress.
Noah Langford
Coventry show PL standing to deepen Forest’s house woes
Coventry’s final Premier League win earlier than their 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest on Saturday got here 25 years in the past when the Sky Blues beat Sunderland at house.
On that day in April 2001, there was no such factor as VAR, however on Coventry’s return to the highest flight, VAR was wanted to get them over the road on the Metropolis Floor.
Had Igor Jesus’ objective stood, it will have felt very merciless on Coventry, who had been price their victory.
They battled beautifully, confirmed implausible spirit and had moments of high quality in assault capped off by Jay Dasilva’s superb winner as goalkeeper Carl Rushworth assisted the objective.
There had been a concern Frank Lampard’s facet would develop into the basement boys after a pointless and goalless begin to the season.
However on their fifth try, the Sky Blues confirmed they’re Premier League materials.
An away day win on the Metropolis Floor, nevertheless, is changing into far too common an incidence for Forest.
Amongst ever-present sides because the begin of final season, solely Tottenham have gained fewer house video games (3) and earned fewer house factors (16) within the Premier League than Forest (4 wins, 21 factors).
Forest boss Glasner believes the “heaviness of the previous” is affecting the squad round house video games, however this defeat was not for the need of making an attempt.
Forest had 24 photographs, their second most in a Premier League match since they returned to the division in 2022.
The upcoming three-week worldwide break will go away Glasner trying to find solutions as to easy methods to repair their house type and make their performances extra scientific in entrance of objective.
Declan Olley
Is Joao Pedro Chelsea’s most essential participant?
For the primary time this season, Chelsea had been with out their notorious entrance three of ‘JP Morgan’ resulting from Joao Pedro’s harm.
Danny Welbeck began within the Brazilian’s place and it was arrange for the England worldwide to do effectively. Brentford had been Welbeck’s favorite opponents in his profession, with six targets in his 9 earlier matches in opposition to the Bees earlier than Friday night time.
However Chelsea weren’t the identical in assault. The brand new-formed assault of Welbeck, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers managed only one shot on course between them on the Gtech. They averaged three photographs on course in every of their earlier 4 league video games.
Pedro isn’t just a goalscorer, he is a participant who drops off the frontline to hyperlink up with others. He has simply as managed targets as he has help this season. Welbeck is much less of a creator, extra of a scientific scorer.
Xabi Alonso says Pedro’s absence can’t be used as an excuse – however the Chelsea supervisor is unquestionably hoping in personal that he’s again rapidly after the worldwide break.
Sam Blitz
What a purchase! Brentford have executed it once more with Schuster
Brentford’s finest purchase of the switch window might not be Mamadou Sangare in spite of everything. Jannik Schuster has introduced himself to the Premier League after his £13m transfer from Purple Bull Salzburg.
For all of Brentford’s glorious attacking play – they scored thrice, Igor Thiago obtained off the mark for the season and Kevin Schade’s two assists rubberstamped his good begin to the season – it was in defence the place they shone simply as a lot. They’re the primary group to cease Chelsea scoring this season.
Schuster was an enormous a part of that, with some excellent defensive numbers incomes the 20-year-old Participant of the Match.
His 12 clearances was twice as many as the following Brentford participant, which isn’t dangerous given his first house Premier League begin was up in opposition to a formidable and skilled opponents in Welbeck.
“I cherished him from the second I noticed him,” mentioned Keith Andrews after the win over Chelsea. “He is fearless, you could possibly see his character from simply watching clips. He is whole-hearted, he has persona and aggression. They method he really performs, he loves defending.”
Brentford have executed it once more.
Sam Blitz





