Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action - chof 360 news

Gunners find title-race ignition

Any successful title challenge needs a statement victory to install belief and reset previous concerns. Beating Manchester City must now be Arsenal’s foundation and not the zenith. Arsenal have played much of this season as if distracted by situations beyond their control – referees, their rivals’ dispositions and their relative luck with injuries. The second-half performance was a reminder of how Mikel Arteta previously took Arsenal to the verge of title wins, playing high-grade attacking football, pressing their opponents into mistakes. Has the high-quality football returned at the right time? Arteta’s team maintained discipline, not rising to provocations before taking advantage of City’s malfunctions to run in five goals. All without Bukayo Saka, whose loss was supposed to be the end of the affair. In Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, both on the scoresheet, the next generation made its contribution on a perfect Sunday for club and manager. One to celebrate and build on, not bask in. John Brewin

Gray a bright spot in Spurs’ season

It had surely not been the plan for Archie Gray to make eight starts at centre-back for Tottenham this season. But needs must and, thrust in again at Brentford, the 18-year-old was simply outstanding. Gray is that glorious brand of talent who you sense could thrive in any area of the pitch; he was mentally a step ahead of the hosts’ attack throughout and showed a healthy appetite to keep them out through sheer aggression, too. “A fantastic player, a fantastic kid,” Ange Postecoglou said, refusing any invitation to nail Gray down to a long-term position at this point. “No task is too much for him. He belies his years, he wants to learn and get better, we are just very fortunate to have him at this football club.” They certainly are. Whether at full-back, in central defence or in midfield, Gray has the potential to become an icon for club and country. Spurs’ league season has largely been miserable but it may, at least, have fast-tracked the former Leeds prospect to prominence in his first top-flight campaign. Nick Ames

Mateta and market moves lift Eagles

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 12th and 13th strikes of the season in all competitions were surely his sweetest, as they came at Old Trafford in Manchester United’s downing. Oliver Glasner enthused about his striker after the 2-0 win. “It’s him, it’s JP,” said Crystal Palace’s manager. “The first goal was after a set play and he is where he has to be as a number nine. He makes so many runs where he doesn’t get the ball. We demand and encourage him. Everything he is doing, he is doing it and of course we are delighted with his form.” Glasner is also hopeful of adding a left-sided defender – possibly Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell – before Monday’s deadline. “One more day to go [in the window] and let’s see what happens, but I think we will have at least one more signing. We need one. Not to talk about where it will be but I think everyone can imagine. I think this signing will happen. Maybe we are also looking for a centre-back. It’s not a must, but I’m pretty confident that there will be one signing.” Jamie Jackson

No epic battle this time as City crumble

The Manchester City empire looks in danger of collapse rather than mere decline. There were 65 minutes played when Pep Guardiola retreated to his seat, and engaged Juanma Lillo in one of those terse chats that have become one of the memes of the season. They were not plotting any sort of comeback. Instead, they were already picking over the postmortem. Arsenal had played much of the first half as if they were facing the old Manchester City, a team of latent danger no matter the situation. The ease of their second-half goals showed they really needn’t have worried. The one weapon that still works, Erling Haaland, was starved of touches in the first half. Gabriel baiting him after Arsenal’s first goal suggested the Gunners still fear the striker who previously yomped through their defence and denied title dreams. It won’t be Haaland doing that this season, more likely Mohamed Salah. Instead, City must cushion their own fall. JB

Pereira profits from cohesion

One great thing about football is that it is ultimately unquantifiable. You can record all the data you like, but there will always be certain things that resist capture, like the influence a sense of unity can have on a team. In emphasising post-match that main man Matheus Cunha is “committed” to Wolves – at least for the rest of the season – Vítor Pereira was speaking from a position of relative strength. Not only had his team recorded a first win in six matches, they had achieved it through a coherent team effort and with the full vocal support of the crowd. If, as Pereira suggested, Cunha understands that to have left Wolves in this window would have been letting the team down, then it seems a sense of duty and commitment exists more broadly throughout the club. It helped to produce a performance that, if replicated, could see the Old Gold stay up. What price togetherness? Paul MacInnes

Slot’s tweaks pay dividends

One of Arne Slot’s great strengths has been how he tweaks his formation, often within games, to affect the flow of play. The obvious threat Bournemouth posed Liverpool was always going to come through the attacking left-back Milos Kerkez and the in-form left-sided forward Antoine Semenyo, up against Trent Alexander-Arnold, a right-back whose strength is not defending, and Mohamed Salah, a right-sided forward who is not the most diligent tracker of a full-back. The Bournemouth pair did cause Liverpool problems, but that was mitigated by the deployment of Ryan Gravenberch, slightly to the right of centre in midfield, doing the job Jordan Henderson used to do in protecting Alexander-Arnold. The benefit of having Salah playing high was seen in Liverpool’s second goal as he gathered the ball on the break from Curtis Jones and arced a perfect finish into the far corner. Jonathan Wilson

Saints improve in planning mode

Southampton’s goals for the remaining season range from the highly unlikely (staying up) to the now possible: avoiding infamy. Winning at Ipswich took them to within two points of Derby’s notorious 2007-08 campaign. Between those different possibilities is the task for establishing a squad and locating the talent for next season’s promotion campaign. Russell Martin was something of a victim of his own success in getting the team back to the Premier League ahead of schedule. His squad proved itself incapable but Ivan Juric, his successor, may have found a few players to work with. Welington, signed last summer from São Paulo, was impressive on debut, zipping up and down the left flank, closing off the danger of Omari Hutchinson in tandem with Taylor Harwood-Bellis. There are some overdue successes for the Saints’ scouting department. Take Paul Onuachu, signed four managers ago, under Nathan Jones, his winner a second goal in three, though those are the only two he has scored for Saints. JB

Moyes savours renewed unity

As David Moyes said on his return, football has moved on since he labelled Everton “the People’s Club” at his first unveiling as manager in 2002. Everton are not the same club he left in 2013. “The Everton I left were competing every year for Europe,” he reminded everyone after victory over a porous Leicester side. Moyes’ message was clear: standards must be raised. The Scot is reluctant to revive “the People’s Club” image but the connection between manager, team and supporters remains an essential part of his rebuilding job as Sean Dyche’s football is consigned to the past. Winning is the cure-all but the reception Beto received, and the cheers for Moyes himself, made a valuable win sweeter. “I enjoyed hearing the crowd,” said the Everton manager. “The last few years have been difficult, but that was more like what I can remember. There’s a huge rival in the city who are very good. We don’t have all the same things they’ve got so we have to find our way of doing it. We need the supporters and players working together to give us the best chance of success.” Andy Hunter

Fastest Premier League goals of all time

7.69sec Shane Long, Watford v Southampton (2018-19)

9.11sec Philip Billing, Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth (2022-23)

9.82sec Ledley King, Bradford City v Tottenham (2000-01)

10.18sec Abdoulaye Doucouré, Everton v Leicester City (2024-25)

10.52sec Alan Shearer, Newcastle v Manchester City (2002-03)

10.54sec Christian Eriksen, Tottenham v Manchester United (2017-18)

11.90sec Mark Viduka, Charlton v Leeds (2000-01)

12.16sec Dwight Yorke, Coventry v Aston Villa (1995-96)

12.94sec Chris Sutton, Everton v Blackburn (1994-95)

13.48sec Kevin Nolan, Blackburn v Bolton (2003-04)

Abuse of Willock sours occasion

An entertaining match won, deservedly, by an impressive Fulham turned ugly as Newcastle’s Joe Willock subsequently suffered such appalling racist abuse on social media that Northumbria Police became involved. It is easy to think that the bad old days of the 1980s, when the National Front recruited openly outside St James’ Park, are long gone, but a residual problem has gone underground, or rather, online. Engaging withdigital abusers is often unwise but Willock’s response to one: “Hope you find God, bro,” was a perfect putdown. The midfielder, a second-half substitute, stepped off a bench lacking a single experienced forward. With Newcastle more concerned with balancing the books – they have just sold Miguel Almirón to Atlanta and are close to a £15m deal with Juventus for Lloyd Kelly – Eddie Howe is resigned to a lack of reinforcements as he aims to reach the Carabao Cup final and achieve Champions League qualification. Louise Taylor

Sels shines before Forest run riot

It was all forgotten after the seven goals Nottingham Forest put past Brighton, but they needed their goalkeeper to be on form before the break. Matz Sels was a curious signing a year ago; the Belgian was a long way down the list when Forest were searching for a new No 1 but eventually put pen to paper and joined from Strasbourg. His previous experience in England was a forgettable spell at Newcastle and few backed him to shine in the Premier League. Sels has, arguably, been the best goalkeeper in England this season and proved his worth once again with some superb saves against Brighton, most notably tipping Danny Welbeck’s goalbound shot on to the underside of the bar. Whatever is happening at the other end, Forest can have confidence they’ve got one of the best around in the net. Will Unwin