There’s by no means a boring weekend within the Premier League, and Saturday’s matches had been no totally different in what was one other hectic day.
Within the penultimate weekend earlier than the subsequent worldwide break, seven matches had been on present, which noticed loads of controversy.
It was an ideal day for Manchester Metropolis, who hit six towards Bournemouth as Pep Guardiola’s males returned to the highest of the desk.
In the meantime their title rivals Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season after shedding away at Newcastle after VAR allowed Anthony Gordon’s objective to face.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta raged over the choice following the match, as he labelled it as a ‘shame’ in an extraordinary rant.
Elsewhere, Manchester United obtained again to successful methods after beating Fulham in dramatic style, whereas Burnley are bang in hassle having misplaced a fourth consecutive top-flight match.
And unsurprisingly there are many takeaways from what was an action-packed Saturday.
Jeremy Doku is the true deal
The Belgian has starred since becoming a member of the Residents from Rennes for £55million in the summertime.
However few would have anticipated him to regulate to life in England so seamlessly, along with his dazzling show towards the Cherries his best in a Metropolis shirt to this point.
Opening the scoring on the Etihad, he then offered 4 assists to turn into the youngest participant in Premier League historical past to register 5 objective involvements in a single match.
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Boss Pep Guardiola waxed lyrical over the 21-year-old’s efficiency, as he mentioned: “All of the video games he has performed right here he has been improbable. He has shocked all of us.
“He is a good footballer. He reads each motion precisely as he has to do.”
The Spaniard added: “I feel he’s joyful and hopefully he will be right here for a lot of, a few years.”
Arsenal must signal a brand new striker
If Arsenal are severe about successful their first league title since 2004, they should signal a brand new centre-forward in January.
Gabriel Jesus, for as gifted and good as he’s, can’t be relied upon with the Brazilian no stranger to choosing up damage knocks.
And his back-up Eddie Nketiah merely is not ok to guide Arsenal’s line on a constant foundation, with the one-cap England worldwide a passenger in huge fixtures.
Regardless of banging in a hat-trick towards Sheffield United final weekend, the 24-year-old struggled to make an impression at St James’ Park and by no means threatened the Magpies backline.
Bodily presence is required up prime for Mikel Arteta, and regardless of Brentford eager to maintain Ivan Toney till the summer season, he is the participant Arsenal must go all out for.
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Bruno Fernandes places in a captain’s efficiency
The Manchester United skipper has come beneath scrutiny up to now week, with membership legend Roy Keane insisting he ought to have the armband ripped off him.
However the Portuguese playmaker silenced his critics with an damage time winner at Craven Cottage.
His never-say-die angle was praised by boss Erik ten Hag, who insisted he can not perceive why the previous Sporting Lisbon star is commonly focused by followers and pundits.
Requested concerning the criticism Fernandes receives, the Dutchman remarked: “I do not perceive why.
“Everybody has their errors, nobody is ideal. However all the time when he performs, he provides power.
“He’s an instance. You see the best way he’s urgent and counter‑urgent, his restoration. He all the time desires the ball, he desires to create.”
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Vincent Kompany is bang in hassle
The Burnley boss earned widespread acclaim over his type of play final season which noticed the Clarets ease to the Championship title.
However his facet now look toothless in assault and weak each time the opposition are on the ball.
Their newest defeat – a 2-0 dwelling loss towards Crystal Palace – means they’ve now misplaced 9 out of their 11 matches this time period.
And so they have turn into the primary facet in English top-flight historical past to lose every of their opening six video games on dwelling soil in the beginning of a marketing campaign.
With a visit to the Emirates subsequent up for Burnley, one other defeat will solely additional enhance the stress on Kompany.
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