Cherries buy smart while United burn billions
The three Bournemouth goalscorers cost a combined £85m, joining from Vasco da Gama, Middlesbrough, and Porto. The Cherries are smart at investing, far more so than Manchester United, who have wasted a lot of money by failing to look outside the box for players like Rayan, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson. United may not have the wealth they previously showed in the transfer market but Bournemouth are showing what can be done within a budget and, more importantly, will be able to make a profit on signings. United, however, only know losses as everyone’s price tag diminishes the moment they come through the Old Trafford door. Jason Wilcox and others can point to certain factors that are against them but there are quality signings to be made at the right price if you have the ability to find them. Will Unwin
Suzuki slots in seamlessly
Aston Villa were quite happy to sell Emiliano Martínez but many feared it would be difficult to find an upgrade on the World Cup-winning goalkeeper. They have seemingly done so in the form of the £30m signing Zion Suzuki, who was superb against Manchester City. Nicolas Jackson’s goals stole the headlines but Suzuki’s bounty of saves ensured that Villa were victorious, while also impressing with his distribution. ”He’s ambitious. I think it’s very important, his mentality,” Unai Emery said. “Of course, we need a keeper first to save us in the goal, but as well we need one keeper to try to help us in our buildup. And in buildup, he’s a really fantastic player because he can play short, he can understand where is the superiority to break the opponent’s press. He has qualities to do long ball, getting our players in attack. So, we are very, very impressed how he adapted so quick with us.” WU
Anfield warms to Araújo’s fighting spirit
Aside from the reaction to the half-time and full-time scores from Old Trafford, the biggest noise at Anfield was generated by Ronald Araújo showing no mercy in his challenges on Malick Yalcouyé and Charalampos Kostoulas. The on-loan Barcelona defender immediately endeared himself to the Kop with his commitment and quality, and was again in commanding form to help Andoni Iraola record his first Premier League home win as Liverpool head coach. “I think we all enjoyed watching Ronald fighting,” said Iraola. “He’s very good in the duels. Even the first goal, he wins two duels in a row and defensively he’s been really, really good. I’m happy for him because I’ve taken him out in the last two games because we needed more offensive things. But he has continued working with no issues and today we needed him more. He has given a very, very good 90 minutes.” Andy Hunter
Striker problems at the Bridge
João Pedro is unlikely to make a swift return after picking up an injury in training. The Chelsea striker missed the defeat to Tottenham and had a scan on Sunday. Xabi Alonso did not sound optimistic after the Spurs game. The expectation is João Pedro will miss this week’s games against Liverpool and Manchester United as a minimum, leaving Alonso with problems in attack. It was strange he did not start Danny Welbeck against Spurs. Chelsea had no focal point and there are questions over their depth. Emmanuel Emegha, another struggling with injury, is yet to play since joining from Strasbourg. It is fair to wonder if selling Nicolas Jackson to Villa was the right move. Chelsea have played two league games without João Pedro this season and have lost both without scoring a goal. Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are not as effective without him. Jacob Steinberg
Arteta says he is not worst strayer
Mikel Arteta says he has been compiling a dossier of evidence of other managers straying outside the technical area after the Arsenal manager was shown a yellow card during the 2-0 win over Everton. It was his second of the season and leaves the Spaniard at risk of suspension if he gets one more, although Arteta suggested he is by no means the worst offender. “There are managers who have the record in the league, 36 times in 10 minutes [they] leave the touchline – no yellows,” he said, naming no names. “I am clipping all of that so I now have a massive storage of images, so if somebody comes to me I can say: ‘I am not in the record yet.’ Somebody else has the record so let’s see. Then it’s 36 yellow cards in 10 minutes for the managers. I don’t know what we are going to do – let’s see.” Ed Aarons
González increases his value at Newcastle
Nico González cost Manchester City £50m when they signed him early in 2025, as part of that January spree as Pep Guardiola tried to arrest the first real slump of his Premier League career. Although he started nine league games that season and 17 last, González made very little impact at the Etihad. He probably wasn’t even the best Nico González in world football, given the Argentinian winger’s performances for Juventus and Atlético. But the Spanish Nico González clearly is a player of substance, his calm in midfield one of the few undoubted positives for Newcastle so far this season. Only Lewis Hall has made more tackles per game than him, he set up Sven Botman’s goal at Coventry, while he’s made more key passes per game than anybody other than Harvey Barnes. At £48m, he may end up representing extremely good value. Jonathan Wilson
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Sunderland earn a good point
To ask a question that might be a segment on the Football Cliches podcast, is there a more “swirling litter” venue in the Premier League than the Stadium of Light? At this point it should be obvious this was not a classic. In part that is down the conditions – long balls ran away from players on both sides with frequency, and crisp packets were the only thing to trouble the nets at either end. Managing the Europa League was always going to be a challenge for Sunderland and returning from a midweek trip to Poland to earn a point against a team who have had a week to prepare is a good result, even if the Black Cats finish the weekend at the foot of the table. Tom Bassam
Bobb eases the pressure on Arbeloa
In spectacular style, Oscar Bobb’s wait for a first Premier League goal for Fulham came to an end at Coventry. Bobb was signed in January, fitting the recruitment template that brought success and stability under Marco Silva, a manager adept at regenerating talent. Social media footage from the away end showed Fulham fans ask what Bobb, weaving and bobbing, was doing only for him to feint past two Coventry defenders and score. That broke the deadlock when Coventry appeared fully capable of claiming a point or better. It remains to be seen whether Álvaro Arbeloa possesses the some restorative powers as Silva. After two wins in succession, two clean sheets and a first win away from Craven Cottage since February, early-season panic has dissipated. For now. If survival is Fulham’s first objective, then successive wins over the promoted teams Hull and Coventry were minimum requirements. Though should Fulham aim much higher? Silva departed because his ambitions were not met. John Brewin
Brentford struggle to make chances count
Brentford are still yet to win away from home in the league but are also unbeaten on their travels. The draws at Leeds, Bournemouth and Aston Villa can be considered decent results, but this goes in the missed opportunity pile. So far Hull have presented a stiffer challenge at MKM Stadium than predicted, but in terms of expectations for Brentford this fixture has more in common with playing Sunderland at home than it does with their previous draws on the road. Against Sunderland and at Hull, Keith Andrews’ side struggled when the onus was on the them to make the game. The Bees play like they would rather not have the ball. In this one, they had plenty of shots – 14 in total – but only Dango Ouattara and belatedly Jaidon Anthony truly troubled Konstantinos Tzolakis. Brentford need Igor Thiago firing again. TB
Delap under pressure to find the net
With Nottingham Forest the Premier League’s joint-lowest scorers, the pressure on Liam Delap is increasing. At Ipswich, where he was a rare bright spot with 12 goals in the relegation season of 2024-25, Delap was booed on every touch. The jeers got louder when each of his four attempts on goal missed their target. Only three of 18 Premier League shots in a Forest shirt have been on target. The raw materials that Chelsea moved for in summer 2025 remain present, the physical prowess and ability to find promising positions. The finishing touches are, at present, lacking, when Forest need someone to start scoring. Failing to take their chances at Portman Road left Forest in the relegation zone, endangering Oliver Glasner, when the ownership is trigger-happy with managers. Chris Wood, previously Forest’s talisman, came on in the 89th minute for Delap, but has been no super-sub so far, without a goal or assist from seven cameo league appearances. JB
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