The Premier League title race has swung dramatically. Manchester City lost for the first time this season at Villa Park, and champions Arsenal took full advantage by beating Everton.
Both sides now have 21 points from eight games. City lead only on goal difference, +11 to Arsenal’s +8.
Saturday also brought a famous Spurs win at Chelsea and a narrow victory for Fulham at Coventry.
Arsenal 2-0 Everton: Old Habits Return
Arsenal looked a lot like the side that won last season’s title. They controlled the game, scored from a set piece and kept a clean sheet.
Mikel Arteta’s team set a record for corner goals last season. They also became the first champions to score 24 set-piece goals, on the way to a first league crown in 22 years.
This season, those goals had dried up. Ezri Konsa ended a 13-match wait when he bundled Martin Odegaard’s corner in at the back post. It was his first goal for the club.
“I spoke to the set-piece coach before the game and he told me he’s been waiting for my goal as well, so it was only right that I got the goal today,” Konsa said.
Arteta told Sky Sports the goal “gave us the confidence and composure to go and dominate the game”.
Raya and Gabriel Make Their Mark
David Raya won the Golden Glove last season with 19 clean sheets. Arsenal’s 27 goals conceded were the fewest in the division.
He made a key save from Thierno Barry late in the first half. That secured a second straight league clean sheet, a good response to the 3-0 defeat at Brighton and the comeback win over Leeds.
Gabriel Magalhaes sealed the points with his first goal of the season, in his 200th Arsenal appearance. There was concern he might have to go off injured shortly before he scored.
Arteta did not say what the problem was. He did praise the defender’s reaction.
“The way he overcomes that situation with his willingness to go again and to score that goal, it’s a great description of what he is as a player and as a leader in this club,” Arteta said.
Villa 2-1 Man City: Jackson Breaks the Perfect Run
City arrived at Villa Park with a 100 per cent record and left without it. It was their third straight league defeat against Villa and their fourth in a row at this ground.
Enzo Maresca’s side have scored 20 goals this season, seven more than Arsenal. They have also conceded nine, four more than the champions.
The defensive worries are growing. City have let in seven goals in their last four league games. They have kept just one clean sheet in their last five games in all competitions.
Haaland Scores Again, but Errors Cost City
Erling Haaland equalised, scoring in a seventh consecutive league game. That matches his own best run, set in 2022.
Mistakes at the back then proved decisive. Marc Guehi erred first, then Gianluigi Donnarumma. Maresca also pointed to a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal.
“We lost because we were not being clinical enough in their box,” the head coach said.
Jackson Delivers for Villa
Nicolas Jackson was the match-winner. He joined from Chelsea after Ollie Watkins left for Al-Hilal, and he scored twice.
He gave Guehi and Ruben Dias a torrid afternoon and finished both chances superbly.
Jackson has often been criticised for missed chances, but the numbers are strong. Since the start of 2023/24, only four players have a better non-penalty goals-per-90 rate than his 0.39. They are Haaland (0.69), Alexander Isak (0.51), Watkins (0.44) and Mohamed Salah (0.40).
Unai Emery was full of praise when he spoke to TNT Sport.
“How he was working, defending, getting duels – wow,” Emery said. “He has the power to attack with spaces, duels and his challenge has been when he has chances to score always in the corner in the goal.
“At the beginning of the season he was shooting so much as though he was playing rugby, so he is progressing as well. He is doing his tasks.”
Villa’s Summer Replacements Shine
Jackson was not the only newcomer to impress. Zion Suzuki, signed from Parma to replace Emiliano Martinez, made a series of sharp saves. He faced seven shots on target and was beaten only by Haaland’s header.
Young midfielder Johan Manzambi has also settled well since Morgan Rogers left for Chelsea. He held his own against City’s more expensive pair, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez.
Top Four Snapshot
Here is how the table looks at the top:
Chelsea 0-2 Spurs: A Famous Night at Stamford Bridge
Tottenham are rarely expected to win at Stamford Bridge. Roberto De Zerbi’s side did it in style, and it marked their return as a force after two years of Premier League struggles.
Spurs were bottom of the table until Monday’s win over Coventry City. The victory in this London derby then lifted them into mid-table. It is their highest league position since New Year’s Day, and they are close to the top five.
Only once before had Spurs won a league game at Chelsea since the Premier League began in 1992. They had lost 22 times and drawn 11 in that run. Their last victory came in 2018.
De Zerbi Credits Marbella Trip
The Italian pointed to a team bonding trip to Marbella before the Coventry game as a turning point.
“The week in Marbella, to speak better face to face, to open ourselves and remove the mask it is important,” De Zerbi told Sky Sports. “It is important for the spirit, the belief. The atmosphere inside the dressing room is maybe more important than the tactics.”
He called his team “a complete team”. He added: “When we stay for dinner and stay together in the dressing-room I see a different group, a different relationship and different atmosphere among the players.”
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said the result “felt like Roberto De Zerbi’s project coming to life”.
Key Players Return
Spurs are also getting important players back. James Maddison started both victories, and Dejan Kulusevski came off the bench in both after long injury absences. Pedro Porro played for the first time in a month.
Chelsea Self-Destruct in the Rain
The conditions were torrid, and Chelsea’s afternoon unravelled. Goalkeeper Mike Penders, 21 and making his first Premier League start, accidentally punched a corner into his own net in the 77th minute.
Cole Palmer was then sent off for a second booking. It was his first red card in the league and Chelsea’s 100th in the Premier League.
Mathys Tel added a fine solo goal late on to make it 2-0.
It was Xabi Alonso’s first home defeat as Chelsea boss. His team had scored 17 league goals this season and had been shut out only once before, in the loss at Brentford.
Joao Pedro missed both of those games. He is Chelsea’s top scorer and has the second-most goal involvements in the league. He withdrew from the squad with an injury, and Alonso gave no timeline for his return.
Coventry 0-1 Fulham: Bobb Settles a Tight Game
Fulham are climbing fast. They were 19th before edging Hull City 1-0, and they followed that with another 1-0 win at Coventry.
Oscar Bobb produced a late moment of individual brilliance to decide a tight game. The result lifted Fulham seven places to 13th.
Alvaro Arbeloa was happy to praise the 23-year-old and the club’s young group.
“For me as a coach it would be easier to sign players with experience but they have the talent and I trust them,” Arbeloa said. “They are the people and the future of Fulham. I’m happy with this young talent.”
Coventry’s Finishing Problem
Coventry again lacked a cutting edge. Frank Lampard’s side have failed to score in five of their eight league games, more than any other team in the division.
“We didn’t threaten them enough to give ourselves a chance of winning the game but then you just don’t want to lose,” Lampard told the BBC. “Fair play it took a moment of quality from them to get the goal but I’m disappointed to lose.”
What Saturday Means for the Title Race
Arsenal are level on points with City after a day that could prove important. Their controlled, set-piece-driven approach worked again, while City’s more open style cost them.
City still have the better goal difference and the more prolific attack. But the leaky defence and the dip in form give Arsenal a real chance. The title race now looks set to go the distance.