Matchday two of the Premier League’s gameweek eight produced goals and drama galore. However, the big game of the day produced a rather disappointing spectacle. Here is a detailed look at what happened in Sunday’s top-flight games:
Arsenal hammer Fulham at Craven Cottage
The Gunners took the leaf on 29 minutes, as Nacho Monreal’s cross found Alexandre Lacazette and the Frenchman fired past Marcus Bettinelli in the home goal. The Cottagers were on level terms just before half-time.
Luciano Vietto produced a superb ball behind the Gunners backline to Andre Schurrle and the German coolly chipped the ball over compatriot Bernd Leno.
Arsenal blew the home side away in the second period, though. Lacazette struck his second of the game from long distance on 49 minutes. Wales international Aaron Ramsey made it three on 67 minutes, flicking home brilliantly from a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cross.
Aubameyang got in the scoring act himself on 79 minutes, as he produced a superb turn to beat his man before finding the bottom corner of the net with his shot. The Gabon international then grabbed his second in stoppage-time.
The win moved Arsenal into fourth place above arch-rivals Tottenham on goal difference. The home side are currently 17th place, just one place above the relegation zone.
Chelsea ease to victory on the south coast
In the middle kick-off of the day, Chelsea temporarily moved to the top of the table through a 3-0 win at Southampton.
The Blues took the lead on the half-hour mark, as Ross Barkley produced a superb ball to Eden Hazard who made no mistake with the finish. The Blues doubled their lead just before the hour mark, as Barkley scored from close-range after Olivier Giroud had acrobatically kept the ball alive the Southampton area.
Maurizio Sarri’s side made it three in stoppage-time, as substitute Alvaro Morata produced a fine after good work from Hazard.
The win moved the Blues back to the top of the table, although it was only temporary with top three rivals Liverpool and Manchester City meeting in the late kick-off at Anfield.
Liverpool and City play out a goalless draw
In a massive surprise, Liverpool and Manchester City played out a goalless draw at Anfield in the late kick-off, as City’s Riyad Mahrez missed a late penalty kick. Recent games between the pair have been high scoring, but this game was a rather more cagey affair than the other latest meetings between the pair.
Mohamed Salah had the first chance of note on four minutes. However, the Egyptian international could only fire wide from an excellent Joe Gomez cross. The home side were rather fortunate not to concede a penalty kick on 20 minutes, as Dejan Lovren hacked Sergio Aguero to the ground in the area. However, referee Martin Atkinson waved play on.
Riyad Mahrez had City’s first chance of the match, but could only drag a shot wide of Alisson’s far post after good play from David Silva. Salah rather summed up Liverpool’s day on 69 minutes when he slashed a shot into the Kop from long range. Daniel Sturridge also tamely headed straight at Ederson when well placed in the area.
City looked to have snatched the victory with just five minutes left, as the Citizens were awarded a penalty kick. Substitute Leroy Sane ran at Virgil van Dijk and the big Dutchman lunged in on the German international.
With first-choice penalty taker Sergio Aguero off the pitch, Mahrez stepped up to take it. The Algerian had a poor record from the spot in the Premier League and ballooned the spot-kick high and wide.
The draw means that City are top of the table due to their superior goal difference, while Liverpool dropped to third-place. The Citizens remain favourites to win the title this season.
Is the Premier League title race wide open this season?
