It started on Saturday lunchtime with drama and ended, nearly 30 hours later, in equally dramatic fashion. I suppose that is the gift of the English Premier League which, if it’s compelling storylines you’re after, rarely disappoints.
Kenilworth Road kickstarted the first action of the weekend as high-fliers Spurs were the visitors to Luton Town.
After missing early chances, Spurs were frustrated by the newly promoted Hatters, fresh from earning a first top flight win of the campaign in three decades at Everton.
The outside SBOTOP Premier League betting odds in their favour then shortened on the stroke of half-time when Yves Bissouma saw red.
The talented midfielder had already ensured he would miss Spurs’ next game by picking up a fifth booking of the season for dragging down Chiedozie Ogbene.
But the Mali international, who has had an impressive start to the campaign, then picked up a second yellow for diving on the edge of the Luton area.
However, the home side could not take full advantage and, seven minutes after the restart, came the decisive moment as two summer signings combined with Micky van de Ven poking home his first goal for the club after James Maddison cut the ball back from a short corner.
Dutch defender Van de Ven said it was an “amazing feeling” to score the match-winning goal for the North Londoners who are now unbeaten in eight Premier League games.
Elsewhere, there was better news for Everton who finally earned their first Goodison Park success of the season.
The Toffees stayed up on the final day of last season by beating Bournemouth 1-0, yet this 3-0 triumph was far more convincing – so much so it has convinced me that the Cherries may be the side destined to join Luton and Sheffield United in my predicted bottom three.
Everton are in a state of flux at the moment, awaiting the completion of a takeover of the club by 777 Partners, who agreed a deal to purchase current owner Farhad Moshiri’s 94% stake in the club.
The Miami-based investment firm are on a charm offensive with the Blues faithful, with co-founder Josh Wander writing to the fans before the games, and afternoons like this only help lift the optimism.
Manager Sean Dyche had asked his side to “change the story” and this was the first time in a year that Everton had scored more than once at home in a league game, with the previous occasion being a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace under ex-boss Frank Lampard
James Garner’s cool finish after 10 minutes gave them the lead before the second came courtesy of a poor punch by goalkeeper Neto, with the ball falling to Jack Harrison 25 yards out. The on-loan Leeds winger brilliantly lofted a first-time finish into an unguarded net.
The Toffees could have had a third on the stroke of half-time, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin’’ towering header at the back post rattled the crossbar.
But the home side remained buoyant against a dire Cherries team and sealed victory on the hour mark when Abdoulaye Doucoure smashed in,
Their west London neighbours Fulham also enjoyed victory against Sheffield United which included a fluke goal from Tom Cairney.
Sadly, the match was overshadowed by a severe injury to Blades captain Chris Basham.
The game at Craven Cottage was stopped for 13 minutes midway through the first half as Basham received treatment, the centre-back raising a thumb to the crowd as he left the field on a stretcher before being taken to hospital.
Everyone in football wishes him well in what is the latest blow Paul Heckingbottom’s men have suffered in recent weeks.
You simply cannot question the spirit of Brighton who delivered more Premier League highlights for their fans to enjoy.
After another summer selling their leading players – and following a 6-1 drubbing at Aston Villa last weekend – the south coast club continue to mix it at the top end under Roberto de Zerbi.
They may be without a win in four games in all competitions but, for the second time this week, the Seagulls left the pitch to a standing ovation from their supporters after refusing to lie down.
Having fought back from 2-0 down to draw their Europa League encounter with Marseille 2-2 in France on Thursday, De Zerbi’s side produced a similarly spirited performance to rescue a point against Liverpool.
It was the same score in east London where West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus netted an 89th-minute equaliser to deny Newcastle United victory in a thriller at London Stadium.
The Geordies looked to be heading for a fifth straight win when Alexander Isak’s second-half double turned the game around, following Tomas Soucek’s eighth-minute opener for the Hammers.
Yet Kudus’ first Premier League goal since joining West Ham in the summer, a driven effort into the bottom corner, ensured the points were shared in the capital as the Toon – fresh from their 4-1 drubbing of Paris St Germain – tired.
And so onto the final game of the weekend and last season’s top two getting down to business.
In a match of few chances, the drama continued until almost the very end as Gabriel Martinelli scored a deflected late winner as Arsenal earned a statement victory over defending Premier League champions Manchester City at the Emirates.
Making his return from a hamstring injury as a substitute, Martinelli’s strike deflected in off Nathan Ake to earn Arsenal a first league win over City since December 2015.
It was a moment that sparked wild celebrations and put the Gunners level on points with north London rivals Tottenham at the top of the table – a result more impressive given the absence of Bukayo Saka, although City can also point to how much they miss Rodri. They have lost all three matches in which he has been suspended over the last 11 days.
Although it was only one game, Arsenal made City look mere mortals was how one journalist described it.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer.
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