Almanac Soccer: EPL Matchweek 5 – Highlights

 

Matchweek 5 Highlights

 

Another entertaining weekend of football in the English Premier League. Here is a summary of the standout matches for me.

 

Manchester City v Arsenal 2-2

 

The curtain draw to an entertaining match week five was the most anticipated of them all with Manchester City hosting Arsenal at the Etihad. The Citizens made an electric start to arguably their most important fixture so far this season, scoring after just 8 minutes. New signing Savinho made a driving run into the Arsenal half before playing in City’s main man, Erling Haaland. The big Norwegian took the ball in his stride before poking the ball past Gunner’s keeper, David Raya, and into the bottom right corner with the outside of his boot. He has now equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the least number of games to reach 100 goals for a new club (105). Arsenal struck back just over 10 minutes later after Thomas Partey played a brilliant ball over to Gabriel Martinelli who was left isolated down the left wing. City right back, Kyle Walker, was out of position due to referee Michael Oliver requiring a chat to the captains after players from both sides were constantly firing up. Martinelli cut into the City area before popping the ball out to starting debutant, full-back Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian wrapped his foot beautifully around the ball, watching it curl out of City keeper Ederson’s reach and glided down the side netting. City players and manager Pep tried to argue the goal shouldn’t stand but VAR and Oliver were happy and the score stood at 1-1. Arsenal then silenced the Etihad once again when they completed the turnaround in the 1st minute of first half stoppage time. Fresh from scoring the winner against Arsenal’s North London rivals last week, Gabriel was once again the man to head Arsenal into the lead. For the second time this half, the goal was arguably Walker’s fault as the English full back let Gabriel run around him, leaving him free to head in Bukayo Saka’s corner. Saka also registered his fifth assist of the season with that corner, averaging over 1 G/A every game this season. It looked like things were going smoothly for the Gunners and they would head into the interval with a 1-2 lead but the half wasn’t over yet. After seeing yellow already due to pulling the shirt of Savinho, Leandro Trossard was shown red for fouling Ilkay Gundogan and then kicking the ball away, reminiscent of Declan Rice’s dismissal just weeks ago. At half time the score was 1-2 but City were gifted a lifeline of a 1 man advantage for the next 45 minutes.

 

Mikel Arteta’s game plan for the next half was clearly obvious; sit their remaining nine outfield players behind the ball and stop City from scoring an all important second. Arsenal defended heroically, with centre halves Gabriel and William Saliba as well as keeper David Raya deserving an honourable mention for the part they played in keeping City at bay for most of the 2nd half. Unfortunately for the Gunners, City scored with the last kick of the game. Substitute Jack Grealish took City’s final corner quickly and found Mateo Kovacic unmarked on the penalty spot. Kovacic took a shot which took a huge deflection leaving Arsenal vulnerable as Raya had come to claim it. John Stones was then the hero for the Champions, bundling the ball over the line and rescuing a point for the Citizens. At the full time whistle, the action packed, controversial and dramatic game finished 2-2. Arsenal became the first team to take points from City this season but will feel devastated and that they should have snatched all 3. The Gunners sit in 4th. City continue their unbeaten start to the season thanks to Stones as they retain 1st place on 13 points.

 

 

Tottenham Hotspur v Brentford 3-1

 

The second London derby of match week five saw Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur host Thomas Frank’s Brentford at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. For the second week running, Brentford shocked another ‘big 6 team’ by scoring after just twenty seconds. Keane Lewis-Potter whipped in the ball from the left wing where his cross was met with an outstanding first time volley from Bryan Mbuemo. It was a stellar strike and another early lead for Frank’s men. Tottenham soon came back with a professional response as Dominic Solanke popped up with his first goal in a Spurs kit. James Maddison intercepted a pass inside the Brentford penalty area before testing Bees’ keeper Mark Flekken with an early shot. Flekken was able to keep Maddison’s effort out but Solanke was quick on the follow up, tapping in the first of what Spurs fans will hope is one of many goals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Tottenham then completed the turnaround in the 28th minute after their skipper, Son Hueng-Min, made a driving run through the middle of the park. The South Korean then played the ball out to the right wing to Brennan Johnson who had just recently scored a last minute winner in the cup for Spurs against Coventry. The Welshman took the ball wide into the Brentford penalty area before managing to get a shot away. The ball somehow found the far corner from what looked like an impossible angle, giving Tottenham a 2-1 lead at half-time. It was a perfect first half for Ange’s side, especially after all the doubts from Tottenham fans about goalscorer Johnson and Ange himself.

 

After dominating the Bees in the second 45 minutes, Tottenham sealed all 3 points in the 85th minute when Son registered his 2nd assist of the game. Spurs hit Brentford on the counter attack with Ethan Pinnock left alone to try and keep Son and Maddison out. Son played the ball across to Maddison who kept his cool and chipped the ball over the outcoming Flekken, making it 1-3. Tottenham held out for the remaining minutes, claiming their 2nd win of the season. With all the uncertainty about Ange’s job, it was the perfect way for him to hit back at his critics. Brentford will be disappointed they couldn’t come away with anything after their great start to the game but know they will have a much easier opposition next week in West Ham United. Tottenham sit in 10th while Brentford come in at 12th.

 

 

Brighton v Nottingham Forest 2-2

 

The first game played on Sunday afternoon saw two unbeaten teams play off at the Amex Stadium in Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton and Nuno Espirito’s Nottingham Forest. Forest silenced the Amex in the 12th minute after Callum Hudson-Odoi was brought down inside the penalty area by Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. Chris Wood stepped up to take the spot kick and dispatched it calmly, slotting it down the bottom left and giving Forest an early lead. Just before the interval, one of Brighton’s very own, Jack Hinshelwood, struck them level with a quite brilliant header. Centre-half Jan Paul van Hecke crossed in a ball from the right wing where the young man jumped up superbly to head the ball past Forest keeper Matz Sels. Brighton fans were satisfied that their team had struck back before the break but the best was yet to come. In the last minute of normal time, the Seagulls won a free kick in a dangerous area. Danny Welbeck was the man standing over it and completed the turnaround in stunning fashion, curling the ball around the wall and watching as it nestled perfectly into the bottom right corner. At half time the score was 2-1, with Nuno left furious that his side had thrown away a priceless 0-1 lead in such quick succession.

 

After Welbeck was denied a brace in the 50th minute from a great Sels save, Forest struck level in the 70th minute. It was a brilliant Forest move which split Brighton apart, leaving new signing Jota Silva one-on-one with Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen. Silva had fellow new signing Ramon Sosa running parallel to him and he opted to pass to the Paraguayan due to Sosa having an open net to aim at. Sosa was then left with an empty goal to pass the ball into, making it 2-2. With the result still tied in the dying minutes, this game was always going to have a fiery end. Forest skipped Morgan Gibbs-White was shown red after a second yellow card for his rash challenge on Brighton forward Joao Pedro. Amidst all of the commotion, both managers were also shown red for their complaints and contests regarding referee Robert Jones’ decision to send Gibbs-White off. The competitive fixture finished all square, with both teams taking a point as well as lengthening their unbeaten start to the season. Brighton sit 7th and Forest sit 8th with both teams on 9 points.

 

Written by Ollie Wade

 

 

Ollie Wade is a Grade 11 student who dabbles in sports writing, He plays for the Barossa United Senior Men’s Team.

 

 

 

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