Arsenal
Arsenal’s set-piece strength sinks Chelsea as title debate grows
Another decisive display from set-pieces helped Arsenal secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chelsea, restoring a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League and reinforcing their reputation as the division’s most effective dead-ball side.
The league leaders were not at their fluent best at Emirates Stadium, but two goals from corner routines once again proved enough. William Saliba opened the scoring after meeting an initial header from Gabriel, before defender Jurrien Timber powered home Declan Rice’s delivery to seal the win.
Arsenal have now scored 16 goals from corners this season, more than any other side and matching the highest tally ever recorded in a single Premier League campaign. This was also the ninth time this season that a goal from a corner has proved decisive in one of their league matches, a new outright record.
While Arsenal sit clear of second-placed Manchester City, albeit having played a game more, questions have resurfaced over their style of play. Former Premier League winner Chris Sutton suggested Arsenal could be remembered as one of the “ugliest” title winners if they go on to lift the trophy, arguing that their overall performance against Chelsea fell short.
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira echoed the view that expectations are higher when a team leads both domestically and in Europe, saying supporters want to see more dominance in open play.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta rejected the criticism, insisting adaptability is part of modern football. He said winning by exploiting the small margins, particularly against a side like Chelsea, was “beautiful” in its own way.
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman also defended Arsenal’s approach, saying it made sense to lean on a proven strength. “If set-pieces are your weapon, you use them,” he said.
Brazilian defender Gabriel has been central to Arsenal’s routines, now directly involved in 25 Premier League goals, the most by an Arsenal centre-back in the competition. The club’s investment in specialist coaching, including the appointment of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, has been widely credited for the improvement.
With nine league matches remaining, Arsenal remain firmly on course for their first league title since 2004. While debate continues over aesthetics, the Gunners’ efficiency in both penalty areas continues to deliver results, and in a tight title race, Arteta’s side appear content to let effectiveness outweigh style.
With inputs from BBC
17 hours ago
Manchester City hold Arsenal in premier league title race without Haaland
Manchester City beat Leeds 1-0 on Saturday without injured Erling Haaland, keeping the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal.
New signing Antoine Semenyo scored the only goal in first-half stoppage time, finishing a low cross in a Haaland-style strike. It was Semenyo’s sixth goal in 11 games since joining from Bournemouth in January. “We just need to control what we can control, win our games and see what happens,” he said. City now trails Arsenal by two points with 10 games remaining for both sides. Arsenal faces Chelsea on Sunday.
Haaland missed his first league match of the season due to a minor training injury, Guardiola said. City survived a late Leeds push and extended their league winning streak to four games, six in all competitions.
Liverpool also won big, thrashing West Ham 5-2 to continue their midseason recovery. Mohamed Salah’s league goal drought reached 10 games, but teammates Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike, and an own-goal helped secure the victory. Liverpool has won six of its last seven matches and moved level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.
Elsewhere, Brentford came from behind to beat Burnley 4-3, with a stoppage-time winner from Mikkel Damsgaard after a dramatic late VAR decision overturned an equalizer. Everton edged Newcastle 3-2, highlighted by a stunning stoppage-time save from Jordan Pickford. Bournemouth drew 1-1 with Sunderland, extending their unbeaten run to eight games.
With inputs from NDTV
1 day ago
Arsenal expose Spurs flaws in derby win
Arsenal showed superior quality and smart tactics to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in the north London derby on Sunday, taking full advantage of gaps in the home side’s system.
Arsenal took control by attacking mainly down the right flank, where Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber caused constant trouble. Their movement and understanding stretched Tottenham’s defence and led to key chances.
Tottenham, playing a 3-5-2 shape under new coach Igor Tudor, tried to press instead of sitting deep. That left space behind, which Arsenal used well, especially after the break.
Arsenal scored twice through Viktor Gyokeres, who enjoyed one of his best games for the club. Eberechi Eze also impressed with his movement and goals from central areas.
Midfielder Declan Rice played a key role with his energy and runs, helping Arsenal stay on the front foot even when they were ahead.
Tottenham fought hard in the first half but faded later, with injuries and tired legs showing. Arsenal, by contrast, kept attacking and did not try to defend their lead.
The win showed Arsenal are back to their best level and remain strong contenders in the title race, while Tottenham were left to reflect on defensive weaknesses exposed by their rivals.
With inputs from BBC
7 days ago
Mikel Merino’s brace helps Arsenal maintain perfect UCL run
Arsenal continued their superb form in the Champions League with a commanding 3-0 win over Slavia Prague on Tuesday night, thanks to a brace from Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino and an early strike from Bukayo Saka.
Playing away at the Czech champions’ home ground, Mikel Arteta’s men took control of the game after a composed start. Arsenal recorded their first shot on target in the 20th minute and capitalized on mounting pressure just 12 minutes later.
From a fifth consecutive corner, Gabriel Magalhães’ header struck the arm of Slavia midfielder Lukas inside the box. The referee awarded a penalty to the Gunners after checking the touchline monitor, which Saka confidently tucked away to put the visitors ahead at the break.
Arsenal doubled the lead within a minute of the restart. Leandro Trossard whipped in a cross from the left towards the edge of the six-yard area, and Merino met it with a superb volley beyond goalkeeper Jakub Markovic.
The Premier League side sealed the victory in the 68th minute following a oppositons’ defensive blunder. Declan Rice delivered another teasing ball into the area, and Markovic misjudged its flight, allowing Merino to head in his second goal of the night.
In the 72nd minute, Arteta introduced Max Doman for Trossard. At just 15 years and 308 days old, Doman became the youngest player to feature in Champions League history.
Slavia Prague, who drew two of their previous three matches, failed to create serious threats in the final stages as Arsenal comfortably saw out the game.
The victory extended Arsenal’s flawless run in Group B to four straight wins, taking their tally to 12 points.
Arteta’s side also equalled a historic English football record by claiming their eighth successive win in all competitions without conceding a single goal, a record previously achieved only by Preston in 1889 and Liverpool in 1920.
3 months ago
Haaland brace fires City past Bournemouth; trailing only Arsenal in EPL
Erling Haaland delivered another masterclass on Sunday as Manchester City beat high-flying Bournemouth 3-1, climbing into second place in the Premier League.
The Norwegian striker opened the scoring in the 17th minute and doubled the lead in the 33rd. In between, Bournemouth’s USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams pulled one back in the 25th minute, capitalizing on a mistake by Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, Nico O’Reilly sealed the victory for the hosts with a goal in the 60th minute of the game.
With his brace, Haaland has moved onto 13 goals in the Premier League this season—more than twice any other player. He also achieved a rare record, becoming only the third player ever to score two or more goals in four or more consecutive Premier League home appearances, after Robbie Fowler (4 in 1995-96) and Luis Suárez (5 in 2013).
Barcelona narrow gap with Real Madrid with a 3-1 win over Elche
Arsenal remain well ahead at the summit of the table with 25 points from 10 games, but this win keeps Pep Guardiola's side within touching distance. The gap is now six points, while Bournemouth drop to fourth in the table with 18 points. The gap is now six points, while Bournemouth drop to fourth with 18 points. Liverpool have collected the same number of points as the Cherries but sit third due to goal difference.
The Blue half of Manchester will host Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League match on Wednesday before facing Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Bournemouth, meanwhile, will look to return to winning ways on Sunday at Villa Park.
3 months ago
Arsenal consolidate Premier League lead with dominant 2–0 win over Burnley
Arsenal produced a dominant display at the Emirates Stadium, securing a 2–0 victory over Burnley on Saturday to consolidate their grip on the top of the English Premier League standings.
The victory extended Arsenal’s impressive form, following a flawless October in which they won all six matches across all competition without conceding a single goal.
Mikel Arteta’s men were on the front foot from the start, opening the scoring in the 14th minute through Viktor Gyökeres. Declan Rice’s corner found Gabriel Magalhães, who set up Gyökeres for a composed finish past the Burnley goalkeeper.
Ramos’ last-minute goal seals PSG victory over Nice
Maintaining their attacking rhythm, Arsenal kept Burnley under constant pressure and created several opportunities to extend the margin. In the 32nd minute, Bukayo Saka’s powerful effort was brilliantly saved, while Leandro Trossard’s rebound was cleared off the line by a Burnley defender.
Just three minutes later, Rice doubled the lead with a precise header from Trossard’s pinpoint cross during a swift counterattack.
Arteta’s side continued to press after the break but failed to convert further chances, leaving Rice’s strike as the decisive goal of the match.
Arsenal dominated possession with 54 percent and registered 12 shots, eight of which were on target. Burnley, despite having 46 percent possession, failed to register a single shot on target from their three attempts.
Manchester United’s winning run ends with 2–2 draw against Nottingham
With the victory, Arsenal moved to 25 points from 10 matches, with eight wins and one draw, solidifying their position at the summit of the Premier League table. Burnley, meanwhile, remain near the relegation zone with just 10 points from as many games.
4 months ago
Arsenal narrow the gap on leaders with stunning comeback win over Newcastle
In a dramatic and highly charged encounter at St James’ Park, Arsenal staged a sensational late turnaround, scoring two headed goals in the final minutes to snatch a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United. The win sees the Gunners move to within two points of league leaders Liverpool, who suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace.
Arsenal, the Premier League runners-up for the past three seasons, started with intent in the sixth round of the league on Sunday. They appeared to have earned an early breakthrough when referee Jarred Gillett awarded a penalty for Nick Pope’s challenge on Viktor Gyokeres. But after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was controversially overturned, leaving the visiting camp furious.
Despite that setback, Mikel Arteta’s men continued to press forward, with Leandro Trossard striking the post and Eberechi Eze forcing two fine saves from the inspired Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope.
However, it was the home side who broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when record signing Nick Woltemade rose to head in Sandro Tonali’s cross from the left.
Martinelli rescues Arsenal with stoppage-time strike against Man City
That goal looked like it would be enough for the Magpies as they clung on deep into the second half. But Arteta’s men refused to relent. With six minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Mikel Merino flicked in a precise cross from Declan Rice to level the score.
The equalizer ignited a fresh wave of belief for the visitors, who piled more pressure on the Newcastle backline. Deep into stoppage time, their persistence paid off.
In the sixth minute of added time, Gabriel Magalhães rose highest to meet a right-wing corner from Martin Ødegaard, heading home the winner and sparking wild celebrations among the players and traveling fans.
The victory lifts Arsenal back into second place in the Premier League standings. Crucially, it also ensured the north Londoners closed the gap at the top following Liverpool’s shock defeat at Crystal Palace a night earlier.
The Gunners now have 13 points from six games, comprising four wins and a draw. Liverpool currently sit atop the table with 15 points from the same number of matches. For Newcastle, the defeat leaves them in 15th place with only six points.
Both teams will now turn their attention to European competition. Arsenal return to Champions League action with a home tie against Olympiakos, while Newcastle travel to face Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday night.
5 months ago
Carabao Cup fourth-round draw sets up blockbuster clashes
Following the completion of the English Football League (EFL) Cup, popularly known as the Carabao Cup, third-round fixtures last night, the fourth-round draw has been finalized, setting the stage for several high-profile Premier League clashes.
Defending champions Newcastle United will host Tottenham Hotspur in one of the standout ties, with several Premier League giants set for challenging encounters.
Premier League heavyweights drawn together
In what is arguably the tie of the round, holders Newcastle United will welcome Tottenham Hotspur to St. James’ Park. Newcastle, who ended a 70-year trophy drought by lifting the Carabao Cup earlier this year, advanced comfortably with a 4-1 victory over League One leaders Bradford.
Elsewhere, an all-Premier League affair sees Arsenal drawn against Brighton. Meanwhile, record ten-time winners Liverpool will host fellow top-flight side Crystal Palace at Anfield. Liverpool progressed after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Southampton, a match notable for Hugo Ekikite’s late winner and subsequent sending-off for taking his shirt off during the celebration.
In other significant matchups, Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) will host Chelsea, ensuring another Premier League giant will be eliminated. Only Manchester City has a comparatively easier task on paper, drawn away to Championship club Swansea.
Giant-killers eyeing more upsets
The competition’s current giant-killers, Grimsby Town, have another golden opportunity to cause an upset after being drawn at home to Premier League side Brentford. The only remaining League Two side has already impressively dispatched Manchester United at home and Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday away, and their reward is yet another Premier League opponent at home as they seek to continue their remarkable cup run.
Championship newcomers Wrexham were drawn against Cardiff City, marking the first meeting between the two Welsh clubs since 2002. Additionally, League One side Wycombe Wanderers have the chance to create their own magic as they host Premier League club Fulham.
The fourth-round ties are scheduled to be played during the week of October 27.
Carabao Cup fourth-round draw:
- Arsenal v Brighton- Grimsby Town v Brentford- Swansea v Manchester City- Newcastle v Tottenham- Wrexham v Cardiff- Liverpool v Crystal Palace- Wolves v Chelsea- Wycombe v Fulham
5 months ago
Martinelli rescues Arsenal with stoppage-time strike against Man City
A stoppage-time strike from Gabriel Martinelli rescued Arsenal as they held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The result denied City a much-needed victory while keeping Mikel Arteta’s side firmly in the title race.
Haaland’s early opener
The visitors struck first in the ninth minute through Erling Haaland, who finished off a swift counter-attack. Starting from his own half, the Norwegian striker combined with Tijjani Reijnders before firing a low strike across goal.
It was the first open-play goal Arsenal had conceded this season and their earliest concession in a Premier League match since September 2024.
Arsenal take control
Despite the early setback, Arsenal dominated possession, enjoying 68 percent of the ball and registering 12 attempts compared to City’s five. However, they struggled to create clear-cut chances against a disciplined defense.
Barcelona closes gap on Real Madrid with commanding win over Getafe
The Gunners’ first real opportunity came in the 32nd minute, when Noni Madueke headed off target. It was the first time since April 2021 that Arsenal had gone more than 30 minutes into a league match without a single attempt on goal.
Arsenal piled on pressure after the break, forcing City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into several key saves. City, however, nearly doubled their lead in the 57th minute when Haaland’s shot was parried and the rebound deflected over the bar.
Martinelli’s late heroics
Just as City seemed set to take all three points, Arsenal found their breakthrough. In the third minute of stoppage time, substitute Eberechi Eze slipped a precise through ball to Martinelli. The Brazilian forward kept his composure, lobbing Donnarumma with his first touch to secure a dramatic equalizer.
The draw leaves Arsenal second in the table with 10 points from five games, five points behind leaders Liverpool. City, meanwhile, sit ninth with just seven points from their opening fixtures.
5 months ago
Zubimendi’s brace gives Arsenal comfortable win over Forest
Martin Zubimendi's outstanding performance secured another win for Arsenal, while Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou has to suffer a bitter start with the club.
The Gunners’ bagged a 3-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, where the Spanish midfielder opened his goal tally for Arsenal in style.
On goalkeeper David Raya's 100th match, Zubimendi took just 32 minutes to bring a smile to his teammates.
He netted the ball with a spectacular volley just after the half-hour mark. The lead was doubled within seconds of the restart when Ebere Eze marked his home debut by assisting another summer arrival, Viktor Gyokeres. With 11 minutes to play, Zubimendi struck again to give Arsenal a 3-0 lead, heading in a Leandro Trossard cross to register his first-ever career brace.
Mikel Arteta's team also dominated on paper. With 54% possession, they registered a total of 16 shots, five of which were on target, compared to Forest's single shot on target and four in total.
Arteta finished the match with a headache, as his captain, Martin Odegaard, had to leave the pitch after just 18 minutes with what appeared to be a shoulder injury after falling awkwardly.
Arsenal returned to winning ways with this victory after a 1-0 disappointment against Liverpool in the previous match. They are currently sitting on top of the table with nine points from four matches. Liverpool (9), Chelsea (7), and Tottenham (6) could potentially move ahead by winning their respective matches later this weekend.
In the first four games of the season, the Gunners have scored nine goals, kept three clean sheets, and conceded only one.
Arsenal's next Premier League match is next Sunday when they will face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. Before that, they will visit Spain to play against Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday in their Champions League opener.
5 months ago