Brentford 5-3 Wolves. Brentford secured a commanding 5-3 victory over Wolves at the Gtech Community Stadium, capitalizing on a disastrous defensive performance from their opponents. This result marks Brentford’s first Premier League win since August, while Wolves remain winless this season under Gary O’Neil.

Fast Start for Brentford

The game kicked off with a bang, as Brentford took the lead just 75 seconds into the match. Nathan Collins headed in a pinpoint cross from Mikkel Damsgaard, giving the Bees an early advantage for the fourth consecutive game. Wolves, however, responded quickly when Matheus Cunha steered Nelson Semedo’s cutback past Brentford keeper Mark Flekken just two minutes later.

Brentford regained their lead shortly after with a penalty. Mario Lemina fouled Collins in the box, and Bryan Mbeumo stepped up to convert, sending Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone the wrong way. This was Mbeumo’s sixth Premier League goal of the season, further solidifying his impressive form.

Wolves Fight Back, But Brentford Dominate

Wolves refused to back down, equalizing for a second time through Jorgen Strand Larsen, who turned in a low cross from Rayan Ait-Nouri. However, Brentford quickly restored their lead less than 90 seconds later when Christian Norgaard fired a precise shot into the far corner after a pass from Vitaly Janelt.

The home side continued to exploit Wolves’ defensive frailties, with Ethan Pinnock heading in a fourth goal just before halftime from another Damsgaard corner. Pinnock was left completely unmarked, and his header found the back of the net with ease.

Brentford Control the Second Half

In the second half, Brentford remained in control. Johnstone kept Wolves in the game with a couple of impressive saves, including denying Pinnock from another corner and stopping Kevin Schade in a one-on-one situation.

Fabio Carvalho, a second-half substitute, scored Brentford’s fifth goal after Johnstone parried a shot from Keane Lewis-Potter, allowing Carvalho to slot home the rebound. Ait-Nouri grabbed a late consolation for Wolves, but it did little to mask a poor performance from O’Neil’s side.

Wolves’ Defensive Woes Continue

Wolves remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table with just one point from seven matches, having conceded a staggering 21 goals in that span. Their defensive vulnerabilities were on full display against Brentford, as poor marking and giveaways led to easy goals for the home team.

The defeat means Wolves have now equaled their worst start to a top-flight season since 1963. Despite positive moments in attack, including goals from Cunha and Larsen, their defensive frailties overshadowed any potential progress.

Brentford Climb Into Top Half

For Brentford, this win was a much-needed boost. After tough outings against Manchester City, Tottenham, and West Ham, the Bees finally capitalized on their early pressure and converted chances into goals. Their relentless attacking left Wolves struggling to cope, and Brentford’s well-deserved win moves them into the top half of the Premier League table.

Head coach Thomas Frank will be pleased with his team’s resilience, especially after Wolves responded twice in the first half. Brentford’s ability to keep pushing forward and maintain their offensive pressure throughout the game was key to their success.

What’s Next?

Wolves will need to regroup quickly, as they remain in search of their first win of the season. O’Neil will likely focus on shoring up their defense ahead of their next fixture. Meanwhile, Brentford will look to build on this momentum as they continue their Premier League campaign, hoping to maintain their attacking flair and climb further up the table.

source – BBC

Arsenal 3-1 Southampton. Arsenal came from behind to maintain their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-1 victory over winless Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.

Two quick goals in the second half from Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli turned the tide after Cameron Archer gave Southampton a surprise lead. Bukayo Saka sealed the win with a late goal, ensuring Arsenal’s continued strong form.

This victory also marked Arsenal’s 400th home win in Premier League history, making them only the second club to reach that milestone. They remain just one point behind league leaders Liverpool heading into the international break.

Southampton, who have just one point from their first seven games, struggled to contain Arsenal’s pressure throughout the match. Despite some resilient defending, they managed to hold off the Gunners until halftime.

The Saints took an unexpected lead 10 minutes into the second half when Cameron Archer scored on the counterattack, capitalizing after Raheem Sterling, making his first league start for Arsenal, lost possession to Mateus Fernandes.

Arsenal responded swiftly. Just three minutes later, Havertz curled a brilliant shot in off the post to equalize. Martinelli then made it 2-1 with a well-timed run to meet Saka’s cross at the back post.

Southampton refused to give up and came close to leveling the score, with Dominic Ballard’s deflected shot hitting the post and Adam Armstrong rattling the crossbar moments later. However, Arsenal’s dominance prevailed, and Saka put the game beyond reach with a clinical finish in the dying moments.

The win extends Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 16 matches, and manager Mikel Arteta praised Saka, who provided two assists and scored the third goal. “He has the capacity to change and decide games. That is his maturity and it’s another step in what he wants,” Arteta said, adding that Saka’s ability to deliver in crucial moments is what defines a top player.

Arsenal had to dig deep for the second week in a row, having required a late rally to beat Leicester in their previous match. For much of the game, Arsenal looked dominant yet frustratingly wasteful, failing to break down Southampton’s defense in the first half.

It was Southampton’s goal that finally woke Arsenal up. Havertz’s equalizer and Martinelli’s quick follow-up turned the game around, and Arteta’s triple substitution—bringing on Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and summer signing Mikel Merino—added fresh energy to secure the win.

Southampton, despite their battling performance, have now matched their worst-ever top-flight run, extending to 20 matches without a win, a record last seen in 1969. While their defensive resilience showed promise, manager Russell Martin will be concerned as they remain at the bottom of the table.

Arsenal’s solid start to the season, with five wins and two draws (both achieved with 10 men), puts them in a promising position in the Premier League title race, while Southampton continue their search for their first victory.

source – BBC

Manchester City 3-2 Fulham. Mateo Kovacic scored twice as Manchester City earned their first Premier League victory in three games, overcoming a determined Fulham side.

City controlled the opening stages, but it was Fulham who struck first with a brilliant team goal. Raul Jimenez produced a stunning backheel cross, setting up Andreas Pereira to score from close range. Fulham could have extended their lead, but Adama Traore missed two key opportunities—first being denied by Ederson in a one-on-one, and then sending a shot over the bar from inside the box.

City’s response came through Kovacic, who punished Fulham for their missed chances. His first goal came from a deflected first-time shot after a half-cleared corner. Kovacic then doubled his tally early in the second half with a well-placed strike from the edge of the area, putting City in control.

Fulham, however, didn’t back down. Traore continued to cause problems, outpacing Kyle Walker but again failing to beat Ederson. City, despite their lead, allowed Fulham several more chances before substitute Jeremy Doku extended their lead with a spectacular solo goal, cutting in from the left and firing into the top corner.

At that point, it seemed City had secured the win, but a defensive lapse left Rodrigo Muniz unmarked in the box, and he pulled one back for Fulham. Despite this late goal, Marco Silva’s side couldn’t find an equalizer.

City’s victory extended their unbeaten run at home to 50 games in all competitions, making them the fourth English top-flight team to achieve this feat. Before kick-off, City fans displayed a banner urging manager Pep Guardiola to stay, as his contract expires at the end of the season, and he has yet to commit to his future.

One notable absence for City was defensive midfielder Rodri, whose season-ending injury has had a clear impact on their form. Since he came off injured during their 1-1 draw against Arsenal, City had struggled, also drawing with Newcastle. A failure to win against Fulham would have marked their first three-game winless streak in 2024, and for a time, it seemed possible that Fulham could pull off an upset, especially if Traore had converted his chances.

Kovacic, partnered with Ilkay Gundogan in midfield, effectively filled in for Rodri. While neither player matches Rodri’s defensive capabilities, Kovacic proved to be the difference-maker with his two goals, providing City a crucial route back into the game. His first goal came at a time when Fulham looked capable of scoring more, and his second just after halftime swung momentum firmly in City’s favor.

When Doku scored City’s third, it seemed like the game was wrapped up, but Fulham’s late push, capped by Muniz’s goal, left City hanging on in stoppage time. Despite this, the win equaled City’s longest-ever unbeaten run in the league—30 matches, matching their stretch from April 2017 to January 2018.

Guardiola praised Marco Silva before the match for the excellent job he’s done at Fulham, a team that has struggled historically in this fixture. Fulham’s loss marked their 17th consecutive defeat against City, the longest such losing streak between two teams in English league history. However, Fulham put up a strong fight, causing City more trouble at the Etihad than some of the world’s best teams.

Their opening goal, created by Jimenez’s brilliant backheel, was a testament to Fulham’s quality. But Traore’s inconsistency in front of goal—something that has perhaps held him back from reaching the highest levels in football—proved costly. He missed two one-on-one chances, both saved by Ederson, and skied a third opportunity from 10 yards out.

Despite the defeat, Fulham remain sixth in the table, and Silva can take confidence from their spirited performance against the defending champions.

source – BBC