MATCH DAY 3 — EPL ROUNDUP By EMEKA UMESI

Match Day 3 of the Barclays English Premier League gave us goals, near misses, excitement, and the rich buffet of football drama we love.

Welcome to my weekly column on football news around the world. This is the first of many to come, so I invite you to join me every week as I take you around the world of football and thrill you with stories and angles you might have missed over the weekend.

Chelsea:

After a horrendous last 30 minutes against gunsmoking Westham United, Chelsea returned to Stanford Bridge, a ground they had only won two matches on all year long. Against a newly promoted Luton Town whom Brighton and Hove Albion gave a baptism of fire on matchday 1, the expectations for Chelsea were simple: record your first three points of the season.

For a team struggling with injuries to some of its better performers in the new season, with the likes of Reece James, Carney Chukwuemeka, Christopher Nkuku, and Mudryk injured, the onus was on Poch to find a solution to the injury worries.

Having spent close to a billion dollars on transfers, excuses were out the window with regards to squad depth and replacements for injured players. All Chelsea had to do was win.

And win they did.

Chelsea started the match lively, as many expected. Raheem Sterling continued from where he stopped against Westham, running the Luton defense ragged. His darting runs and risk paid off. A goal in the first half was perfect for his runs, dribbles, and industriousness.

However, the other members of his attack line did not seem up to speed with Sterling. Nicholas Jackson and the more progressive Enzo Fernandez while doing their job didn’t seem to be up to speed with Sterling’s trickery and pace. Ben Chilwell did get some chances in the first half but Chelsea couldn’t increase their lead.

When the second half resumed, a spirited Luton side thought it could up the tempo and catch Chelsea on the counter, but whatever pep talk Poch had given the guys worked. Nicholas Jackson improved on his hold-up play, and became more involved in the game; Enzo and Sterling were on the same wavelength, and the team generally seemed more confident with the ball. Disasi didn’t look as confident sometimes, and we saw flashes of Gallagher’s desire to be the main creative threat instead of sitting back with Caicedo and doing the dirty work.

The second goal came from a brilliant combo between Sterling and Gusto. The right-back who’s deputizing in the absence of Reece James laid a sumptuous cutback for Sterling, which the former City player accepted with both hands and feet. It was a classic city-esque Sterling goal: beat the defender for pace, play a one-two with the attacking full-back, the full-back cuts it for Sterling, and he delivers. This was vintage sterling, and he was having his game how he liked it.

A few minutes later, Jackson, whose hard work in holding up play and creating chances for his teammates, finally got the goal his hard work deserved. Three nil and Chelsea was crushing — three points in the bag.

Some of the major talking points, however, were:

The effectiveness of an attacking Enzo Fernandez:

While this worked against a Luton Town side that looked out of salt against Chelsea, one wonders whether against teams with better ball handlers and rigid midfield Enzo will thrive. His hard work wasn’t without commendations from fans, but the quality of the opponent still makes Poch’s demand for an attacking midfielder stand.

At the base of the midfield, Caicedo was relatively comfortable, however, the same can’t be said for Gallegher.

He played well, yes, but we could still see his desire to go forward and create chances. We know Poch to be a flexible manager, so maybe Gallegher’s role will switch from time to time, but one can’t help but imagine how better the team would play if Gallegher played further forward while Enzo creates from deep. We also need to know how many goals he adds to the side. Although he only contributed 3 goals last season for Chelsea, his 8 goals and 5 assists for Crystal Palace in the 2021/2022 season were crucial for the Eagles that season.

While Chelsea seems to be cruising, and her fans already calling Nicholas Jackson the Drogba reincarnate, the jury is still out on Poch’s young team. You can only beat what’s in front of you, and Chelsea dispatched Luton Town 3 nil easily.

ARSENAL

After the Sterling show on Friday, we were expecting another spectacle on Saturday as two of the league’s contenders, Arsenal and Manchester United were on duty.

After a slow start to the match at the Emirates, a loose ball from Bukayo Saka played Andreas Periera, the former Manchester United man, on goal. Quick thinking from the Portuguese caught the out-of-position of Ramsdale, giving Fulham the lead in the 3rd minute.

From there onwards, it was a constant onslaught from Arsenal, led by the driving runs of Saka from the right and the composure from Odeegard. Although Thomas Partey as an inverted right back meant Saka did not get the type of balls he normally would get if Ben White were there. It also meant Odeegard had to drop deep to get the ball more as Kai Havertz looked lost playing from the left up front.

After over 60 minutes of belabored performance from Kai Havertz, Arteta decided to switch things up. Pablo Viera replaced Kai, and within a few minutes, his run-down left Fulham with no other choice than to bring him down. Saka stepped up and converted from the spot.

Now in the driver’s seat, Eddy Nketiah once again proved he was a good enough replacement for Gabriel Jesus who was on the bench, as he latched on to a delicious cross from Viera, giving Arsenal the lead.

It all looked signed and delivered from Arsenal after a careless foul by Calvin Bassey saw him get a second yellow. His matching orders showed him, that Fulham was down to ten and an infuriated coach who felt hard done by.

The second yellow card infuriated Marco Silva, who was given a second yellow, but it was not for long. A corner kick from Harrison Reed was met by Joao Paulinha, and Arsenal were kissing their behinds disappointed.

For Mikel Arteta, he knows he has to switch things up as fast as possible. Make the brave decision to either play Pablo Viera more from the left side of the midfield, or resort to his tested and trusted formation of four at the back, and not an inverted right back in Thomas Partey.

Arteta, however, has some respite with the return of the Ukrainian National team captain Zinchenko. Zinny’s return means Ben White might return to the left back, and Kiwior to the center back.

While injury problems rock Arsenal as much as it is rocking other teams (City has a list of injured players, so also do Chelsea and Manchester United. Whatever the issues are, the injuries this early in the season are worrying for big clubs who have many matches to play), Arteta’s decision with Partey and Havertz will be crucial in the coming matches.

While Kai has the potential to be a defining player for Arsenal, he seemed out of sorts against Fulham, and when you contrast his performance against Viera’s in a similar position, one wonders whether Mikel Arteta’s words before the season started where he said he was still searching for a perfect position for Havertz is coming back to bite him.

Where does Havertz fit?

Should he start the next game or should Arteta trust Viera enough?

The other positive news for Arsenal is Eddy Nketiah finally scored after a long time. With JESUS set to return to full fitness soon, Arteta has options up front to choose from.

And there is the case of Martinelli and his dive in form.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

When Ange Postecoglou took over the job at Tottenham Hotspur, many were skeptical about the future. Not because he was a bad coach (we’d seen what Rodgers, after success in Scotland, did with Leicester City), but because of the uncertainty of Harry Kane. The rash decision-making of Daniel Levy and his inability to sign players was also considered a stumbling factor to whatever magic the former Celtic gaffer had.

After losing Kane, it seemed like Tottenham was bound to struggle for goals, but with the introduction of the mercurial James Maddison, the form of Yves Bissouma, and the addition of Sarr, Tottenham looks a different team. More fluid in the middle, and with more creativity. The addition of Destiny Udogie, a player who had played last season for Udinese after his acquisition, has also proven imperative in how Postecolgou plays.

Beating Manchester United 2 nil at White Hart Lane was impressive, but winning away from home against a Bournemouth side was the kind of consistency they needed.

Although Richalison was awful up front, Maddison, Son and Kulesevski carried the team. Madisson got his first Tottenham goal, and a brilliant work between Son and Udogie saw Kulesevski score an easy goal as the Bournemouth defenders were ball-watching.

Postecoglou has shown, in his first three matches of the season, that you don’t need three seasons to leave your imprint on a team. His style is evident to see. And while they miss the deadliness of Harry Kane, they are finding solutions to their problems as they go.

Where is the Richarlison We Knew?

Richarlison is supposed to be the main target man, but he seems lost up front. For a man who was once rumored to be on Barca and Madrid’s radar, the Brazilian is everything a Brazilian striker shouldn’t be: poor decision-making, slow, bad runs behind the defender; Richalison has failed to show, the same way he failed to show up last season. Three goals all of last season is too poor a return for a striker that cost Tottenham 60 million dollars.

MANCHESTER UNITED:

A disappointing first two games for Manchester United meant Erik Ten Hag’s team were under immense pressure to win again. Although they won against Wolves, they looked lethargic, and against Tottenham, the chicken came home to roost very early against Nottingham Forest.

No start could have been worse than losing 2 nil after 25 minutes. Goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Wily Boly saw United kissing the gun’s barrel early.

With Eriksen replacing the injured Mason Mount, the midfield looked more fluid. But then, Nottingham Forest’s defensive setup after going two goals up set them to be outplayed in the midfield. Goals from Eriksen and Casemiro in the first and second half drew United level. A controversial penalty that was beautifully dispatched by Bruno Fernandez saved United’s blushes.

For Erik Ten Hag, while this was a show of the team’s resilience, it showed the gaping holes in the middle of the park and the lack of depth up front. For All the talent Anthony showed in Ajax, he looks out of his depth. His consistent inconsistent performance on and off the ball makes it hard for anyone to make a case for his continued start. But the bigger question is, who replaces him on the right?

The options are thin, and with Ten Hah sticking with his man, the likes of Pellistri, who have shown some flashes of brilliance when introduced, are left asking if they’ll ever get a chance.

One might even throw in Jadon Sancho into the mix, but he is not favored so far, and it does not look like anything will change. Rasmus Hojlund should return against Arsenal, at least from the bench, which makes way for Rashford to play on the left.

United still has the left-back conundrum — well, if you don’t think Dalot can do a good job in the absence of Malacia and Shaw, you’ll understand why the rumored Cucurella loan deal is good for United. The team looks disjointed, but the win against Nottingham Forest was needed. A win, no matter how belabored, is a win. And three points on the table is all that matters right now for United.

MANCHESTER CITY:

No Pep Guardiola, no problem for Manchester City.

It was a match where Sheffield United frustrated Erling Haaland and only a magical cross from Jack Grealish could save the Norwegian from a frustrating day in front of goal.

On an afternoon where the Bramble Lane fans were boisterous, and Haaland missed a penalty and several clearcut chances, it looked as though the gods were sitting resident in Bramall Lane. But the city patience that has seen them break the best of teams came to the fore. After a first half where Erling Haaland would be asking whether he lost his boot, and if the referee was afraid to blow the whistle, City came back into the second half with a lot more pace and intentionality to their play.

Jack Grealish was given too much space, allowing him to pick Haaland, who was lurking behind the Sheffield United defender. One goal up, and you see a huge sigh of relief from every city player. It seemed as though the match was destined for a draw. A team that had an endemic character of starting the season slow, up until then, City hadn’t conceded a goal and had a 100% record.

But just when you thought City would see the game out, a too-clever backhill from captain Kyle Walker gave Sheffield United the opening they needed. A thundering goal from Jayden Bogle in the 85th minute increased the already thundering Sheffield United fans. it was written in the stars; The City Hoodoo will continue: dropping points in either the second or third game of the season.

But when you have the amount of talent City has both on the pitch and on the bench, counting your eggs before they hatch is what Marcus Aurelius will smack you in the face for.

Phil Foden was introduced immediately after Sheffield United’s goal, and his impact was immediately felt. A poorly controlled ball by Foden saw the ball drop nicely for the red-hot Rodri.

His thunder of a shot was too hot for Foderingham to handle. The Sheffield goalkeeper had done all he could to keep City and Haaland out, making 7 saves in the game, but the mark of champions is grinding out results when they need to.

We still did not see Jeremy Doku, but who needs him when Rodri can do it all!!!!!!!!!!