NFL
By: Ty Reeves
Matchday two has passed and we are starting to see how teams will line up for the rest of the season. Lukaku opened up his goal-scoring account for the Blues in his return to the Premier League, while Jack Grealish scored his first goal for Manchester City at the Etihad. Manchester United slipped up against Southampton, while West Ham United catapulted to the top of the table.
Chelsea: 2 Arsenal: 0
London is Blue. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/Kkb9r4AeOb
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 22, 2021
Chelsea and Romelu Lukaku showed that they’re a force to be reckoned with after defeating Arsenal away from home at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The Blues snapped their three-game losing streak against the Gunners in the first London derby of the season, and it wasn’t exactly close.
The Blues had 65% possession throughout the match, outmuscling the Gunners throughout the match. Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring in the 15th minute of the match with an easy tap-in to the Arsenal net. 20 minutes later Chelsea would expose the unorganized Arsenal line and find defender Reece James in arches of space down the right-hand side of the field. The England international would take a couple of touches and smash the ball into the top netting, scoring his second career Premier League goal and doubling Chelsea’s lead.
In the 40th minute of the match, Arsenal had a chance at a penalty kick as it appeared the winger Bukayo Saka was tripped by James in the Chelsea penalty box. After a VAR check, the chance was denied and waved off.
Chelsea continued to show their dominance for the rest of the match, having chance after chance. Arsenal’s one and an only real chance came in the 60th minute when a header back across the face of the goal was headed towards the net by defender Rob Holding. Unfortunately for the Gunners, the ball was headed wide of the post.
The game would finish 2-0 with Chelsea taking the win and Arsenal getting off to their worst start in club history.
West Ham: 4 Leicester City: 1
The Hammers are flying high at the top of the league after an impressive win over Leicester City. Striker Michail Antonio made West Ham history becoming the club’s leading goal scorer after scoring twice in the match.
Pablo Fornals started off the scoring for the Hammers in the 26th minute when Said Benrahma whipped in a cross into the box while Fornals tucked the ball away into the far post. Things would only get worse for Leicester as winger Ayoze Perez was shown a straight red after a VAR check showed dangerous play against the midfielder.
West Ham would double their lead in the 56th minute when Leicester City defender Soyuncu made a costly error that would lead to an easy tap-in for Benrahma. The Foxes would grab a goal back in the 69th minute when Youri Tielemans was able to get the ball into the back of the net.
Antonio had multiple chances throughout the match and it wasn’t until the 80th minute that he was able to break through and get on the scoresheet. The Jamaican striker would then double his count four minutes later in the match.
Michail Antonio really celebrated with a cardboard cutout of himself 🤣
(🎥: @NBCSportsSoccer)pic.twitter.com/cE2IsHHUO5
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 23, 2021
West Ham now sits on top of the Premier League ahead of the rest of the pack on goal difference.
Manchester City: 5 Norwich: 0
Dynamic duo 🤝
🌟 @gabrieljesus9 | @JackGrealish
🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/1UuFYadIEo— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 21, 2021
After slipping up against Spurs last weekend, City looked to make a statement against Norwich. And that’s exactly what they did with a crushing 5-0 victory at the Etihad.
City opened the scoring in the 7th minute when a well-worked attack led to a Norwich own goal. Then the most expensive transfer in Premier League history would open his account for City in the 22nd minute. Gabriel Jesus would whip a ball across the box that would bounce off the midfielders thigh into the back of the net. City would take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
The flood gates would open for City in the second half with defender Aymeric Laporte scoring in the 64th minute. Raheem Sterling would then score in the 71st minute to make it 4-0 in City’s favor. Finally, in the 84th minute, Riyad Mahrez would put the icing on the cake scoring the fifth and final goal in the match.
Pure passion! 💥
⚽️ @Laporte
🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klUGiM pic.twitter.com/8ALrCEw0zH— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 24, 2021
For Norwich, it’s another game to forget and the Canaries as they’ve conceded eight goals in their first two games this season. The Canaries currently sit at the bottom of the league table.
Manchester United: 1 Southampton: 1
After getting off to a fast start to the new season last week, Manchester United slipped up against Southampton away from home. Neither team was able to get a firm grip on the match, with each team only taking away one point.
The goal for Manchester United was scored by young star Mason Greenwood but was once again set up by no other than Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes. However, it was the Saints that capitalized first in the 30th minute when a shot from Che Adams deflected off United midfielder Fred into the net.
Manchester United wasn’t able to get the equalizer until the 55th minute. Pogba assisted the goal giving him his 5th assist of the season in just two games.
Paul Pogba already has 𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 assists this season 📞 pic.twitter.com/4iePO14EsV
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 22, 2021
Tottenham: 1 Wolves: 0
Spurs walked away with the win over Wolves Sunday in manager Nuno Esperito Santos’ return to Molineux Stadium. Dele Alli’s 9th-minute penalty was enough to separate the sides in the match.
Steven Bergwijn didn’t need any space to beat his opponents 🪄
(via @SpursOfficial)pic.twitter.com/SDlqUwGorw
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 24, 2021
Wolves played an impressive game, creating multiple chances to get back in the game, as well as take the lead. Winger Adama Traore had a field day out wide for Wolves creating multiple chances for his team throughout the match. Unfortunately for Wolves, they were not able to convert.
The big news that came from the match was that Harry Kane was brought on as a sub in the match. The England captain’s future at the club has been in question as the striker asked to move away from the club this summer. Manchester City is preparing another bid for the striker as the summer transfer window ends in seven days.
Remaining fixtures
Liverpool: 2 Burnley: 0
Crystal Palace: 0 Brentford: 0
Aston Villa: 2 Newcastle: 0
Leeds United: 2 Everton: 2
Brighton: 2 Watford: 0
