A Premier League weekend price its weight in targets delivered drama, VAR controversy, and loads of musings in regards to the future as the primary days after the summer season switch window occurred upon the 2023-24 season.

And so it’s becoming that the weekend ended with one of many males who switched golf equipment for giant cash — Declan Rice — propelled one title hopeful previous one other as Arsenal received a recreation stuffed with late flash factors towards Manchester United on Sunday.

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Sunday’s drama got here after a Saturday with three hat methods, which itself got here mere hours after Luton Town showcased its distinctive floor and membership to the Premier League… and got here inside a known as handball and ensuing penalty of peculiar West Ham.

It was a Premier League weekend price a deep evaluation, and our writers Joe Prince-Wright, Nick Mendola, and Andy Edwards acquired caught into evaluation on the aforementioned eight video games.

Declan Rice winner provides Arsenal hundreds of thousands (and hundreds of thousands) of purpose to revel

Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United

This was a day for distinction makers. Marcus Rashford struck for United. Bruno Fernandes cued up what might’ve been a late winner (VAR stepped in). Martin Odegaard delivered a pinpoint equalizer. And Gabriel Jesus later salted away an emotional win. So how good should everybody at Arsenal really feel — the participant above all — that huge summer season signing Declan Rice struck decisively in stoppage time to win one of many Premier League’s most historic rivalries? Considering his price ticket, that the Gunners had been coming off an uninspired draw with Fulham, and the approaching worldwide break, and Rice’s objective was price it for the week’s price of vibes alone. The Gunners would’ve focused not less than 10 factors from this smooth begin to the season, and make amends for the Fulham draw by beating Man United. They would’ve remained a legit contender with a draw or a loss, however this bolds and italicizes that standing. – Nicholas Mendola

Burnley 2-5 Spurs

How do you change your file goalscorer after they depart the membership? You don’t — not less than in Tottenham’s case, they merely couldn’t, as a result of there are few strikers on the planet like Harry Kane. Four video games into the season, six totally different Tottenham gamers have scored a objective already, together with three who’ve scored not less than two. Last season, Kane scored 30 Premier League targets, Son scored 10 and nobody else scored greater than 5. Ange-ball producers scoring probabilities by the ton, not only for one or two key gamers however for anybody and everybody who ventures ahead to affix the assault. There will probably be some rising pains alongside the way in which, little doubt, however the mixture of 1) a quick, unbeaten begin, 2) no European video games to take focus away from PL performances, and three) extra time for gamers to coach Postecoglou’s system, make Tottenham a really severe top-four contender this season. – Andy Edwards

Liverpool passes heart again depth take a look at with assist from assault

Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa

Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate can have all of the high-fives for Joel Matip and Joe Gomez after the deputizing heart backs helped Alisson maintain a clear sheet. Alisson is the important thing piece there — he had just a few good saves, as normal — however Villa’s 0.49 anticipated targets reveals that hazard was laborious to seek out for a membership that had cruised in all matches for the reason that blowout at Newcastle. Liverpool fired ahead within the first half and will’ve led by 4 and even 5 on the break. The Reds solely discovered yet one more objective from Mohamed Salah — nonetheless in purple, by the way in which — even because the second half opened up, however Jurgen Klopp will recognize the consolation not less than relative to the Herculean effort at Newcastle. – Nicholas Mendola

Erling Haaland takes drama and debate out of VAR controversy

Man City 5-1 Fulham

Might Fulham have fared in a different way had Manuel Akanji been dominated to have interfered with Bernd Leno’s judgment of Nathan Ake’s late first-half objective? Maybe. The Cottagers had been cagey and recreation within the first 45 minutes. Erling Haaland himself mentioned the play was offside in his opinion, however Haaland already had an help to Julian Alvarez below his belt and the Norwegian was unplayable within the second half, scoring thrice to convey his season haul to 6 targets from 4 video games. He now has 42 Premier League targets in 39 video games. That’s yet one more than a full season, and 4 of his appearances lasted 45 or fewer minutes. Should Ake’s objective have stood? With apologies to Marco Silva’s arguably righteous fury, Haaland made it so the query is borderline irrelevant. – Nicholas Mendola

Brighton 3-1 Newcastle

Roberto De Zerbi and Eddie Howe took two very totally different avenues to bouncing again from tough weekends and De Zerbi’s plan got here out wanting decidedly superior. Brighton made vital modifications to its XI and Newcastle’s solely transfer was injury-demanded. The Magpies midfield was straight-up labored by Brighton. It was dangerous even earlier than Howe eliminated steely Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, and it was hopeless with Sean Longstaff and Elliot Anderson becoming a member of star Bruno Guimaraes in giving Brighton’s Pascal Gross, Solly March, Kaoru Mitoma, and Billy Gilmour a one-dimensional group to traipse via for 2 extra Ferguson targets. All the detrimental Newcastle notes apart, Brighton stays a improbable soccer membership that’s passing each take a look at despatched its manner. Moises who? Alexis who? Yves who? Cucu-who? Leandro who? Ben who? – Nicholas Mendola

Palace has particular one thing, wants assist from well being and Hodgson

Crystal Palace 3-2 Wolves

Roy Hodgson wasn’t very happy with Palace’s efficiency even when he wished the win, and that’s saying one thing from a 3-2 house win that noticed Edouard, Eze, and Co. present innovative within the remaining third. And it’s going to grow to be much more troublesome to function on this Palace assault when Michael Olise and Matheus Franca are able to go. But for Hodgson’s unit to thrive, he must hope for well being on the again and midfield or for fast adaptation from the brand new signings below skilled hand Hodgson. If both or each come to mild. don’t be shocked if the Eagles are flirting with a top-seven run in some unspecified time in the future this season. – Nicholas Mendola

Steve Cooper’s made it very troublesome to chop via Tricky Trees

Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest

Chelsea couldn’t discover its well beyond Forest’s again line greater than a few times, however the Blues can take some solace in the truth that nobody’s producing a lot hazard via these Tricky Trees. The Blues’ 1.15 anticipated targets was the best complete conceded by Forest via 4 Premier League video games by 0.18. Joe Worrall — eight recoveries, seven clearances — leads what’s can solely be described as an offended unit. Ryan Yates in entrance of the again three reinforces that vibe as he performs with the sting and has a novel knack for getting away with mayhem. – Nicholas Mendola

Luton Town 1-2 West Ham

It had been greater than 30 years since top-flight soccer had been performed at “the Kenny,” after the membership was relegated the season earlier than the Premier League started in 1992. The pleasure was palpable and West Ham almost helped add to it with a susceptible end. Carlton Morris headed the ball throughout the penalty space and Mads Andersen helped it on with one other header simply contained in the far publish to make it 2-1 and officers’ choices to not give Luton a penalty kick virtually instantly following the restart robbed the match of extra drama. Cauley Woodrow despatched a nook kick into the penalty space and the ball clearly made contact with Ward-Prowse’s arm, which gave the impression to be increase fairly excessive and away from his physique. Referee Paul Tierney let play proceed and VAR John Brooks really helpful no additional evaluation upon his personal evaluation. –Andy Edwards

Cameron Archer prepared for breakout Blades marketing campaign

Sheffield United 2-2 Everton

Sheffield United chased Cameron Archer all summer season lengthy and based mostly on his ending on Saturday it’s straightforward to see why. Archer curled house a magnificence in his first Premier League look for the Blades after which hit the publish after an excellent little bit of talent which led to the their second objective. Archer is a superb younger expertise and a medical finisher. The form of talent he has to work area within the field and end is one thing you possibly can’t actually educate and that’s precisely what this workmanlike Sheffield United group wants. Everton appear to have discovered a expertise up prime in Beto too and this entertaining draw will give each groups hope that in the event that they shore issues up on the again they’ve the attacking skills to seize loads of wins this season. – Joe Prince-Wright

There’s a “Yeah, but” with Brentford’s unbeaten begin

Brentford 2-2 Bournemouth

It comes with a little bit of an asterisk, as Thomas Frank’s aspect has drawn three of their 4 video games to date, to go together with the actual fact they held a lead in all three attracts and didn’t recover from the end line. Coming into Week 3, solely three-time defending Premier League champions Manchester City (+1.73) had a greater xGD per 90 minutes than Brentford (+1.43) this season. Three video games is a small pattern measurement, however we all know that gaudy xG numbers are merely a part of the furnishings at Brentford as of late. Bournemouth hit them for two.02 xG on Saturday, although, and that’s the place they’d been a lot improved to start the 2023-24 season. Still, it speaks volumes {that a} thrilling 2-2 draw is seenas a downright disappointment for Brentford. – Andy Edwards