Hits and misses: Spurs hit self-destruct again as Arsenal prove imperfect

Another season of humiliation for Spurs?

This Tottenham team are not a lost cause. But being bad in both boxes is a footballing nightmare. And that is where Spurs find themselves right now. Five games, no wins. And back in the relegation zone.

They are wasteful in front of goal and then seemingly determined to self-destruct at the other end. Sloppy passes, poor decisions, defensive lapses – gifts being handed out to the opposition.

And Roberto De Zerbi cut a frustrated figure. He called the defending for Aston Villa’s second goal “unacceptable”.

You could feel the anger bubbling underneath him in his post-match press conference. The most damning admission? He didn’t even speak to his players after the defeat. That tells you plenty.

What was there to say? The same mistakes keep appearing. The same problems keep costing Spurs. And now, just when the manager needs his players on the training pitch to put it right, the international break arrives. Some of them won’t see De Zerbi again for more than two weeks.

This isn’t a lost season. There is too much talent in this Tottenham squad for that. But talent means very little if you keep shooting yourself in the foot. Top teams don’t behave like this.

And if De Zerbi doesn’t get that habit out of them quickly, this project is going to become another season of humiliation.
Lewis Jones

Jackson showed Spurs exactly what they’re missing

Nicolas Jackson absolutely tormented Tottenham with a brilliant mixture of silky touches and bruising physicality. He gave Spurs’ centre-backs no peace, constantly offering an out-ball, protecting possession and bringing those around him into the game.

It was the kind of performance that reminded you why Chelsea saw so much in him. Jackson doesn’t always get the goals his all-round game perhaps deserves, but that can sometimes disguise just how valuable he is to the team. When he is playing with this confidence, everything seems to click. The midfielders have someone to find. The wide players have someone to combine with. Runners have space to attack.

It was a proper centre-forward’s performance that included the game’s key goal, which doubled Villa’s lead.

It was a demonstration to Tottenham of exactly what they are missing through the middle.
Lewis Jones

Arsenal must make sure blip doesn’t become wobble

Arsenal lost 3-0 but it should have been six. Brighton missed three big chances to add to their hefty tally. We’ve rarely seen this from Mikel Arteta’s team.

The last time Arsenal conceded three goals in a Premier League away game was in December 2023, and the Gunners even won that game at Luton 4-3. The last time they lost by a three-goal margin was May 2023, coincidentally against Brighton.

Arsenal went the entire of 2024, 2025 and most of 2026 without doing what they did at Brighton. It was uncharacteristic display, particularly on the road – where Arsenal have accumulated more away points than any other team in the last five years.

Arteta knew that Arsenal were in trouble right from the first throw-in in the game. And the way in which Arsenal were second-best from that moment to the 95th minute, this was clearly a bad day at the office, but not part of a wider problem.

Arteta was keen to call for perspective after the game: Arsenal have won every other match this season after staggering so many late arrivals from the World Cup and suffering a fair few injuries in defence.

The last time Arsenal lost in this manner was the 2026 Carabao Cup final – after which, the tactical template of ‘how to beat Arsenal’ then spilled into a FA Cup exit, a loss to Bournemouth and then that defeat at Manchester City which temporarily turned the title race tide.

The lengthy international break will help, but Arsenal need to make sure this Brighton blip doesn’t become wobble.
Sam Blitz

Brighton are getting better and better

Brighton have started the season in electric fashion. They are comfortably the Premier League’s top scorers, who have added goals to the third-best defence in the league from last season.

Interestingly, all under Fabian Hurzeler, they have won a game against the reigning champions three seasons in a row. But when they beat Man City and Liverpool in previous years, those two clubs were already in freefall. Stopping Arsenal in their full flow makes this Brighton win the best out of the three.

What makes Brighton unique is how they respond to challenges? Lose Carlos Baleba? Chema Andres will arrive and step up. Danny Welbeck leaves and Georginio Rutter is out? Babis Kostoulas will score to get you wins over United and Arsenal.

Jack Hinshelwood is injured? Pascal Gross will get you seven goal contributions in five games. “He’s like a fine wine,” said Hurzeler about the German after the game. The same goes for his team. They just keep getting better and better.
Sam Blitz

Is Moyes a managerial mastermind?

There is something quite endearing about Everton under David Moyes. After all the hardships of the transfer window, with the smallest squad in the division, they continue to overachieve. VAR even tried to undermine their victory over Ipswich, but they rallied to make sure it didn’t matter.

Everton remain unbeaten in their opening seven games across all competitions, complete with five clean sheets. When asked if working with a small squad has actually been to his advantage, Moyes said: “We’re trying to make it that way.”

Their 21 shots against Ipswich were their most in a Premier League game at Hill Dickinson Stadium, but Moyes still sees plenty to improve on. “I am ratting the players like you wouldn’t believe,” he added. “Why are we not scoring more?”

Thierno Barry was denied what most would consider a legitimate goal by VAR, but Everton were also responsible for squandering four big chances themselves. That level of profligacy will come back to bite in certain games. And yet, you cannot help but be impressed by the way Moyes has maximised the finite tools at his disposal.

His managerial nous can take Everton further than their recruitment limitations suggested was possible.
Laura Hunter

Barnes brilliance under Jaissle sends message to Tuchel

It was Newcastle’s valiant defending that may have seen them over the line in their 2-1 victory against Hull, but it was their blistering first-half attack which proved the telling difference on the way to three points – especially that of Harvey Barnes.

Barnes provided two assists in just seven minutes, the earliest into a Premier League game a Newcastle player has set up mulitple goals, taking the record from Fabian Schar who managed the feat in nine minutes in that 6-1 demolition job of Tottenham in 2023.

The difference here was that Barnes was facing a resolute defence that had only conceded in one of their previous four Premier League games – not that that stopped the winger picking their locks twice in four minutes.

His deft inside through-ball for Joe Willock to lash home came just four minutes before slipping in a galloping Lewis Hall on the outside of the opponents’ box – but he continued to provide Newcastle a creative spark throughout the 90 minutes, whipping in teasing crosses even when his side was up against it.

Barnes now has five goal contributions in seven games across all competitions for new boss Matthias Jaissle, but was still overlooked for Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, missing out to Eberechi Eze, who has not started a Premier League game for Arsenal so far this campaign.

If the Englishman keeps producing game-defining performances like he has so far under Jaissle, it surely will not be long before he earns the trust of the other German manager he is eager to impress.
Noah Langford

Coventry prove PL status to deepen Forest’s home woes

Coventry’s last Premier League win before their 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest on Saturday came 25 years ago when the Sky Blues beat Sunderland at home.

On that day in April 2001, there was no such thing as VAR, but on Coventry’s return to the top flight, VAR was needed to get them over the line at the City Ground.

Had Igor Jesus’ goal stood, it would have felt very cruel on Coventry, who were worth their victory.

They battled superbly, showed fantastic spirit and had moments of quality in attack capped off by Jay Dasilva’s fine winner as goalkeeper Carl Rushworth assisted the goal.

There had been a fear Frank Lampard’s side would become the basement boys after a pointless and goalless start to the season.

But on their fifth attempt, the Sky Blues showed they are Premier League material.

An away day win at the City Ground, however, is becoming far too regular an occurrence for Forest.

Among ever-present sides since the start of last season, only Tottenham have won fewer home games (3) and earned fewer home points (16) in the Premier League than Forest (4 wins, 21 points).

Forest boss Glasner believes the “heaviness of the past” is affecting the squad around home games, but this defeat was not for the want of trying.

Forest had 24 shots, their second most in a Premier League match since they returned to the division in 2022.

The upcoming three-week international break will leave Glasner searching for answers as to how to fix their home form and make their performances more clinical in front of goal.
Declan Olley

Is Joao Pedro Chelsea’s most important player?

For the first time this season, Chelsea were without their infamous front three of ‘JP Morgan’ due to Joao Pedro’s injury.

Danny Welbeck started in the Brazilian’s place and it was set up for the England international to do well. Brentford were Welbeck’s favourite opponents in his career, with six goals in his nine previous matches against the Bees before Friday night.

But Chelsea weren’t the same in attack. The new-formed attack of Welbeck, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers managed just one shot on target between them at the Gtech. They averaged three shots on target in each of their previous four league games.

Pedro is not just a goalscorer, he’s a player who drops off the frontline to link up with others. He has just as managed goals as he has assist this season. Welbeck is less of a creator, more of a clinical scorer.

Xabi Alonso says Pedro’s absence cannot be used as an excuse – but the Chelsea manager is surely hoping in private that he is back quickly after the international break.
Sam Blitz

What a buy! Brentford have done it again with Schuster

Brentford’s best buy of the transfer window may not be Mamadou Sangare after all. Jannik Schuster has announced himself to the Premier League after his £13m move from Red Bull Salzburg.

For all of Brentford’s excellent attacking play – they scored three times, Igor Thiago got off the mark for the season and Kevin Schade’s two assists rubberstamped his brilliant start to the season – it was in defence where they shone just as much. They are the first team to stop Chelsea scoring this season.

Schuster was a big part of that, with some outstanding defensive numbers earning the 20-year-old Player of the Match.

His 12 clearances was twice as many as the next Brentford player, which is not bad given his first home Premier League start was up against a formidable and experienced opponents in Welbeck.

“I loved him from the second I saw him,” said Keith Andrews after the win over Chelsea. “He’s fearless, you could see his character from just watching clips. He’s whole-hearted, he has personality and aggression. They way he truly plays, he loves defending.”

Brentford have done it again.
Sam Blitz

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