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The Premier League continues to live up to its reputation as the best league on the planet in what was yet another hectic Saturday of football.
In the first weekend back after the two-week long international break, the seven matches of the day failed to disappoint.
Havertz-celebrates-scoring-862026281.jpg?strip=all&w=960″ alt=”” width=”960″ height=”750″>GettyArsenal beat Brentford to go top of the Premier League table[/caption]
There were 23 goals in total, with there being late winners in three of the matches.
It couldn’t have been a better Saturday for Arsenal, who beat Brentford 1-0 thanks to an 89th minute header from Kai Havertz.
The result saw the Gunners leapfrog Manchester City to become the new league leaders after the Citizens were held to a 1-1 home draw against Liverpool.
As for Chelsea, it was yet another match to forget as they were blown away by a rampant Newcastle team who ran out 4-1 winners at St James’ Park.
West Ham meanwhile came from behind to nick an injury time winner away at Sheffield United, while Brighton edged out Nottingham Forest in a five-goal thriller.
As for Luton and Bournemouth, they picked up crucial wins in their boost to stay up.
Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of takeaways from what was an epic day, here’s what talkSPORT.com learned from Saturday’s action.
Trent-alexander-861941397.jpg?strip=all&quality=100&w=960″ alt=”” width=”960″ height=”735″>Alexander-Arnold was the hero for Liverpool as he rescued a point at the EtihadGettyAnthony Gordon has to be in England’s Euro 2024 squad
What a season the Newcastle winger is having, with the 22-year-old now boasting five goals and three assists to his name in all competitions.
There were doubts from fans and pundits when he made the move to Tyneside from Everton for an initial fee of £40million at the start of 2023.
But he is finally showing now why he was so highly regarded at Goodison Park, with the forward now a big-game player having scored against Liverpool, Arsenal and now Chelsea this term.
A constant menace for the Magpies against the Blues, he ran Reece James ragged, before the right-back was eventually sent off for a late tackle on the youngster.
With the next international break not due now until March, Gordon knows he has to deliver at every opportunity to try and force his way into Gareth Southgate‘s plans.
But he really should be in the squad already, and can count himself unlucky that he was left out for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
Gordon can offer Southgate what others English left wingers cannot – being able to beat his Man.
A player that is quickly becoming one of Newcastle’s star players, no one can argue that Gordon deserves a chance in the Three Lions senior team.
GettyGordon chipped in with a goal and an assist in the 4-1 win over Chelsea[/caption] Darwin Nunez isn’t Liverpool’s answer up top
There can be no doubting the Uruguayan’s obvious talent, and his work rate is nothing short of exceptional.
But the Reds, who signed the striker from Benfica last year for a fee potentially rising to £85m, brought the 24-year-old to Anfield to score goals.
After nine Premier League goals last season, he has just four top-flight strikes this time.
And as is so often the case with Nunez, he failed to have his shooting boots on in what was a disappointing display at the Etihad.
Nunez missed an abundance of chances – hitting the target just once from his four efforts on goal.
If Liverpool truly wish to win a league title in the near future, they may seriously have to consider bringing in another centre-forward.
He ended up clashing with City boss Pep Guardiola following the match, with Jurgen Klopp having to pull him away.
Nunez struggled away at City as he missed a number of key chancesThiago Silva’s age catches up with him
A legend of the game, Silva will go down as one of the finest centre-backs of his generation.
Now in his fourth season at Chelsea, the Brazilian has been ever-present under Mauricio Pochettino’s tutelage so far, playing every minute of all 13 league matches.
Such is his importance for the Blues, he has become the club’s oldest outfield player at the age of 39 years and 64 days.
But he struggled against Newcastle, with the defender guilty of a horror error which compatriot Joelinton capitalised on to make it 3-1 for the hosts.
He apologised to the Chelsea fans on social media, and while the supporters will forever love Silva, the time is coming where Pochettino may have to drop him.
It’s now back-to-back games that Chelsea have shipped in four goals, and with Wesley Fofana close to returning following his injury, Silva could be the player that makes way.
Chelsea-acknowledges-fans-861986022.jpg?strip=all&w=960″ alt=”” width=”960″ height=”640″>Silva was guilty of a calamitous mistake in Chelsea’s heavy defeat in TynesideGettyTomas Soucek shining in Declan Rice’s absence
The Czech Republic international has flourished since being deployed in a box-to-box midfield role.
David Moyes often started Soucek in a defensive role to accommodate Rice, but he has been enjoying playing further forward since the England star joined Arsenal in July.
He has six goals to his name already this season in all competitions, with four coming in the Premier League – double his tally from last term.
And just like against Nottingham Forest before the international break, Soucek again popped up with a last-gasp goal to secure the three points for the Hammers.
This time it was away to Burnley, as he expertly volleyed home to lift the east Londoners up to ninth in the table.
With Jarrod Bowed and Michail Antonio out injured, Soucek is taking it upon himself to be West Ham’s gamechanger.
GettySoucek’s stunner earned West Ham all three points at Turf Moor[/caption]
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