Premier League Matchday 4 review: Gunners keep North London crown

Jonathan Victoria • 16 Sep 2024 Features

I don’t like doing this as much now that my Saints are back…

It’s always rubbish how early the first international break is into the new season, but thankful we’re already on the other side of it as the Premier League returned for Matchday 4, and along with it came some fantastic action.

Exciting comebacks, outrageous goals and a massive surprise were the order of the weekend, and with that, I’m giving my thoughts on it all in the Premier League Matchday 4 review, with the usual look at the good, the bad and the ugly plus some new features.

The Good

It may have only been against Southampton (more on them later) but Manchester United had a solid showing over the weekend, with Marcus Rashford even looking close to his best again.

The first 30 minutes weren’t great, and giving away a penalty shows that, but they used the momentum from the saved penalty to go forward and score, and once they did they never looked back.

De Ligt looked great, as he has done in each of his performances so far, and everything just worked for them. A solid job already that should give Erik Ten Hag another couple of games.

Aston Villa had a good fightback against Everton, going two goals down after half an hour but finding their way back, including a sensational strike for the winner. Those sorts of performances are what they need to prove they are legitimately a threat in the top four race once more, although they could do without going two down in the first place.

Credit: Barnes beauty ensures Magpies continue unbeaten start! ⚫⚪ | Wolves 1-2 Newcastle | EPL Highlights (Sky Sports Premier League, YouTube)

In the same vein, Newcastle’s turnaround at Wolves showed they still have the quality, especially Harvey Barnes with his game-winning effort, but also Anthony Gordon, who is really blossoming into a great winger. If you haven’t seen his effort from the game, go check it out now.

Crystal Palace also came from behind to rescue a point at home, which was great for them to get their first win of the season but a shame for Leicester, who looked good but squandered the lead and had to settle for three points. Still, got to love a Jamie Vardy goal.

Finally, rounding of the good is Arsenal and Manchester City. Both got the win this weekend, Arsenal’s holding more importance as it was over their biggest rivals Tottenham, but City’s was prominent because, yet again, it was a comeback win, with two more goals from Haaland taking him to nine in four games and keeps the Cityzens perfect so far, 12 points on top of the table with Arsenal and Newcastle just behind on 10.

The Bad

Credit: Hudson-Odoi secures HISTORIC Forest win at Anfield! 😲 | Liverpool 0-1 Forest | EPL Highlights (Sky Sports Premier League, YouTube)

Chelsea may have won their game but it was an ugly affair between them and Bournemouth. Not enough so to put it in the ugly section, but just enough to not see the Blues the good. 

A Premier League record 14 yellow cards were handed out during the game, and it took them until the 86th minute to find the winning goal. We're all still waiting for the day that it comes together and they start looking like a title contender once again, but results like this make it feel like it won't happen.

Speaking of title contenders, Liverpool have has an early dent to their aspirations, losing to Nottingham Forest at home. Results like that against a far inferior opponent simply can’t happen, especially at home and regardless of the fact that they are at the start of a new regime. 

They had plenty of chances but couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net. Props to Forest though for snatching the victory.

The Ugly

Credit: De Ligt scores first Man Utd goal and Onana saves pen! | Southampton 0-3 Man Utd | EPL Highlights (Sky Sports Premier League, YouTube)

Cheers, Southampton, for bringing me and the rest of us fans right back down to earth after a fun year in the Championship. We really enjoy being back to the old ways of looking decent for a spell of the game then crumbling and looking like a bunch of amateurs.

To be fair, I wasn’t overly angry at how they played, just annoyed that they lost our heads after the penalty miss. For the first half an hour, it was looking great. If the penalty goes in, it’s a completely different game.

Instead, it was a terrible pea roller that was easy for Onana to save, the heads went down and they never came back up. I’m already looking forward to being back in the Championship and actually getting to see us play well.

We weren’t the only ugly mention from this week, though, as Everton once again choked a two-goal lead, albeit this time not in the final 10 minutes and against a far superior side.

Like Southampton, the first 30 minutes were brilliant from the Toffees. But they weren’t able to keep it up, and against a team of Villa’s standards, that will cost you.

Of course, the winning goal wasn’t exactly something they could’ve prevented so no blame to Pickford or the defence, but to be in that position yet again is not a good sign for the season ahead.

Game of the Week

Credit: Duran SCREAMER seals Villa comeback! 😱 | Aston Villa 3-2 Everton | Premier League Highlights (Sky Sports Premier League, YouTube)

New section now, replacing the old Biggest Winners with my pick for Game of the Week.

The game which earns this great of honour of being my first picked Game of the Week for the season is Aston Villa vs Everton.

Everyone loves a comeback, and especially so when one of the goals includes a stunner that is sure to be in the goal of the season running.

I must admit, I didn't watch the whole match, but if the full affair was anything like the highlights, then it was one you’ll remember for some time.

5-a-Side Stars

GK: Arijanet Muric, Ipswich – Kept a clean sheet saving all six of Brighton’s shots on target against him, finishing with a 2.1 post-shot expected goal rate showing an almighty effort to give Ipswich a point.

DEF: Gabriel, Arsenal – What’s better than a pacey towering lockdown centre-back who is a threat in the air and loves a game against his team’s biggest rival?

MID: Dwight McNeil, Everton – The Toffees may have crumbled once again from being up 2-0, but a goal and an assist for McNeil earns a place in my 5-a-side this week.

MID: Mario Lemina, Wolves – May have been on the losing end but the Wolves captain looked solid, getting a goal and setting up two more good chances.

ATT: Jhon Duran, Aston Villa – An unbelievable strike out of nowhere for the winner, you always want that from someone in your 5-a-side squad.

ATT: Erling Haaland, Manchester City – Does this one even need explaining?