Arsenal v Leeds United: pic by @JTaylorSport ARSENAL 2 LEEDS UNITED 1 Plain. Basic. Workmanlike. But still three points for Arsenal. The Premier League champions found a way, if not via their customary verve. It transpires that a lengthy international break can affect focus at serious club level after all. While there was nothing especially life-affirming about this, a feisty Leeds United were eventually undone, despite going in front early in the second half. By that point,

By Alessandro Schiavone at Stade de Luxembourg Arsenal face a daunting task on Saturday when Leeds United visit the Emirates Stadium after the three-week international break. That is because, unlike Arsenal, Daniel Farke’s men have yet to lose a game in the Premier League this season after five outings. Add to that the return of fit-again midfielder Ilia Gruev and it’s easy to see why Mikel Arteta’s side will have to play to their strengths to make it six consecutive Premier

Brighton & Hove Albion (2) 3 v Arsenal (0) 0 Premier League Matchweek 5 Talking Points By Kaz Mochlinski at the Amex Community Stadium There is nothing which Mikel Arteta has done this season that was as impressive as his reaction to Arsenal’s first defeat of the new campaign with a painful 3-0 loss away to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Arsenal manager’s balanced response - acknowledging mistakes, admitting disappointment, crediting the opposition, and looking ahead to improvem

Brentford (0) 3 v Chelsea (0) 0 Premier League Matchweek 5 Talking Points By Kaz Mochlinski at the Brentford Community Stadium “Everything was disappointing” admitted a very chastened Xabi Alonso after his Chelsea team were badly beaten by Brentford, crumbling completely as they conceded three goals in the second half. It was by a long way the lowest point so far for Chelsea’s new manager, sending the side spiralling down the table with two wins, two defeats and a draw from h

Brentford (0) 3 v Chelsea (0) 0 Premier League Matchweek 5 Talking Points By Kaz Mochlinski at the Brentford Community Stadium “I just love watching us play” enthused Keith Andrews, entirely understandably, after Brentford brilliantly beat Chelsea 3-0 to repeat the scoreline of their opening weekend victory over Tottenham Hotspur and remain undefeated this season. Second half goals from Jaiden Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fábio Carvalho made it an unforgettable Friday night for B

Photo taken by Schiavone in Amsterdam in 2023 By Alessandro Schiavone at the AMEX Bart Verbruggen has humorously called out his Brighton & Hove Albion teammates after their 3-0 demolition of Arsenal, pointing to some sloppy moments during the game. The Netherlands’ number one pulled off a huge save to deny Kai Havertz in a one-on-one late on, with his side already three goals to the good, but played down suggestions that it was the ‘perfect game. A win against the champions,

Chelsea (1) 2 v Hull City (2) 2 Rogers 7 Belloumi 28 Belloumi 34 João Pedro 66 By Kaz Mochlinski at Stamford Bridge Premier League Matchweek 4 Chelsea’s latest reset with the appointment of Xabi Alonso as manager is not looking like it will conjure a new era of instant success on the evidence of Hull City’s 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Just as in their defeat at Arsenal six days beforehand, Chelsea’s attack was unable to compensate for substantial shortcomings in defence, wit

Fulham (2) 2 v Crystal Palace (1) 3 King 11 Mitchell 36 Palacios 42 Mitchell 54 Chilwell 77 By Kaz Mochlinski at Craven Cottage Premier League Matchweek 3 Crystal Palace gained their first points of the new Premier League season with a vital victory at Craven Cottage, producing a spirited comeback from being behind at half-time to leave Fulham in despair after three consecutive defeats. All three Palace goals were scored by their left-sided wing-backs, with two from Tyrick Mi

Fulham (1) 2 v Chelsea (2) 3 Premier League Matchweek 1 Talking Points By Kaz Mochlinski at Craven Cottage Has there ever been a more thrillingly promising start made by a new Chelsea manager than that produced by Xabi Alonso at Fulham? Rarely has such an immediate impact occurred with an opening goal after only 31 seconds. It provided the platform for a 3-2 away victory as all three of Alonso’s new forward line of Cole Palmer, João Pedro and Morgan Rogers scored on their fir

Exclusive by Alessandro Schiavone in Nijmegen Champions League play-ofg first-leg Nec Nijmegen 1-3 Bodø/Glimt Tjaronn Chery admitted to being blown away by QPR’s lack of progress since he left the Hoops nearly 10 years ago. Chery spent 18 months at the club between the summer of 2015 and January 2017, carving out a reputation for pulling rabbits out of his hat with the occasional wonder goal. Since their relegation to the Championship, just a few months before his arrival fro