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Jonathan Cook’s World Game Wrap-Up

Posted on | Posted by Jonathan Cook

Emery off to a flyer

What a start for Unai Emery.

The former Arsenal manager’s first game in charge of Aston Villa could not have gone better as Manchester United were beaten 3-1.

United’s nine-match unbeaten run was ended by goals from Leon Bailey, Lucas Digne and Jacob Ramsey, who also scored an unfortunate own goal.

Defeat for United, their first in Premier League and Europa League matches since a 6-3 loss to Manchester City, was also their first league defeat at Villa Park in 27 years.

The win lifted Villa three points clear of the relegation zone.

Arsenal’s title dream

A toe-poke over the line from a defender has Arsenal fans believing they can win the Premier League. And they might be right.

Gabriel’s tap-in earned Mikel Arteta’s side a 1-0 win over Chelsea that has kept the Gunners top of the table with just one game to play before the World Cup break.

It was a scrappy goal but maintained Arsenal’s record of being the only team this season to have scored in every match.

Chelsea suffered a second successive Premier League defeat for the first time in manager Graham Potter’s 12-match reign.

Salah at the double

Mohamed Salah’s double against Tottenham Hotspur took his recent tally to an impressive nine goals in his past eight Premier League and Champions League games.

More importantly for Liverpool, it secured a 2-1 victory after two previous Premier League defeats to Leeds United and Nottingham Forest.

There were further signs that Darwin Nunez is settling into life in Red, his awareness setting up Salah for the opening goal, and his overall contribution unsettling Spurs.

Tottenham pulled a goal back through, you guessed it, Harry Kane, but despite pressing for an equaliser it never came.

Spurs, now fourth on the table, let slip third place to Newcastle United, who were 4-1 winners over Southampton. Liverpool are eighth.

10-man City snatch late win

Erling Haaland came off the bench to snatch a stoppage time winner from the penalty spot as 10-man Manchester City dominated Fulham at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite having an extra man for more than an hour following the dismissal of City’s Joao Cancelo, Fulham were forced to play second fiddle, having less than 30% of possession and only two shots on target.

One of those was the penalty scored by Andreas Pereira as a result of Cancelo’s red-card. Julian Alvarez had given City an early lead and, aside from the penalty, not a lot changed once Fulham had the numerical advantage.

Haaland was introduced from the bench midway through the second half and had a goal ruled out for offside before firing home a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win.

Leeds boos turn to cheers

Booed at half-time by their own fans, Leeds United had supporters singing in their seats at the end of a thrilling fightback against Bournemouth.

Trailing 2-1 at the break, and then 3-1 early in the second half, the home crowd at Elland Road was understandably restless.

But few would’ve gone home disappointed after a stirring comeback that was completed when Crysencio Summerville scored an 84th-minute winner.

Sam Greenwood’s first goal for Leeds on the hour was the pick of the bunch, although Summerville’s finish, following great work from Wilfried Gnonto, was a worthy winner.

Rolling back the years

Adam Lallana rolled back the years to inspire Brighton and Hove Albion’s 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, whose new manager Julen Lopetegui will start with the club next week.

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Lallana fired home an excellent opener – his first goal of the season – and later set-up Kaoru Mitoma before Wolves were reduced to 10 men after Nelson Semedo’s dismissal. Pascal Gross wrapped up the win with a late goal.

There will be no place in England’s World Cup squad for 34-year-old Lallana, whose last international appearance was in 2018, but expect to see more of Mitoma in Qatar.

The 25-year-old has scored five goals in his 10 appearances for Japan since making his debut last year.

VAR cheats Forest: Gibbs-White

It wouldn’t be a Premier League weekend without some VAR controversy. So, to the City Ground where Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper was baffled by several decisions in his side’s 2-2 draw with Brentford.

Goalscorer Morgan Gibbs-White took things one step further by claiming Forest were cheated out of a victory.

The Video Assistant Referee system certainly was working overtime during the match, and while Josh Dasilva’s push on Forest’s Ryan Yates was deemed not to have been a penalty, goalkeeper Dean Henderson’s contact with Yoane Wissa was.

Henderson was outraged and it only got worse when Bryan Mbeumo scored from the spot.

There was some light at the end of the tunnel for Forest when Mathias Jorgensen steered the ball into his own net
in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Pique farewell’s Camp Nou

More than 18 years after making his professional debut, Spain defender Gerard Pique has farewelled Barcelona fans at Camp Nou during a 2-0 win over Almeria.

A former Barcelona youth player, Pique left the Spanish giants to sign a first professional contract at Manchester United but returned to the club in 2008.

He received a standing ovation when he was taken off late in the game in what will be his last at home. He might
yet play in Barca’s away game against Osasuna on Tuesday, their final fixture before the World Cup break.

Borussia’s record breaker

Keep an eye on Borussia Dortmund teenager Youssoufa Moukoko, who is leaving quite a mark on Germany’s Bundesliga.

The Cameroon-born striker scored twice in a 3-0 win over Bochum as he became the youngest player to reach 10 career Bundesliga goals.

Moukoko achieved the record with the first of his goals and now has 11 since making his debut as a substitute against Hertha Berlin in 2020.

Moukoko was just 17 years and 350 days old when he achieved the record.

Maclaren eyes Qatar place

Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren compounded the struggles of his former club and enhanced his World Cup selection prospects with two goals in a 4-0 A-League win over Perth Glory.

Maclaren, who spent two seasons at Glory in 2013 – 15, took his season tally to seven goals in five games, as Glory slumped to a fourth loss in five matches.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold will name a 26-man squad tomorrow for the World Cup in Qatar, which kicks off on
November 21.

Fornaroli in a hurry

Bruno Fornaroli wasted no time in winning over the fans of his new club with a goal off the bench on his Melbourne Victory debut.

The Uruguayan, who dramatically left Perth Glory just over a week ago, scored Victory’s last goal from the penalty spot in a 4-0 win over Newcastle Jets.

All four Victory goalscorers – Jake Brimmer, Chris Ikonomidis, Nick D’Agostino and Fornaroli – are former Glory
players.




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