WHY SAY ANYTHING?

Continuing our look at the Premier League games involving the big six and today was the turn of Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal and Manchester United have both managed a paltry three points from their first three games whereas Spurs have an impeccable record with three wins from three, although their game against Watford who also had three from three would see the end of one or both the 100% records.

First up was Arsenal who were in Wales playing Cardiff who somehow, along with Swansea at one stage, managed to escape the Welsh League and find their way into the English Premier League. We are pretty sure that both Celtic and Rangers would like to know how this was achieved!

Anyway the only Welshman on the pitch was Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal which tends to perpetuate the unfortunate fact that the only thing remotely “local” about your local Premier League team is that they play in their home town.

To the match and Petr Cech, not renowned for his footballing ability, was soon trying to assist Cardiff to score the first goal. Unfortunately, for Cardiff, he chose Harry Arter to pass the ball to and he blazed his shot miles over the bar when a cooler head would have realised that scoring was an easier option.

It was a costly miss as Arsenal took the lead a minute later through Mustafi who headed home powerfully from a corner.

After this little bubble of excitement the game settled down and half-time was almost reached with no further change to the scoreline. Cardiff though, had other ideas and, on the second minute of added time, got their first Premier League goal and the equaliser when Camarasa scored from close range.

The Second half came to life around the hour mark when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored Arsenal’s second but, again, they couldn’t hold on and Danny Ward equalised for Cardiff a mere nine minutes later.

Then Alexandre Lacazette grabbed a third and Cardiff couldn’t summon the reserves to react fir a third time.

Up at Turf Moor Burnley were entertaining Manchester United whose supporters had paid for a banner to be flown over the ground displaying the words, “Ed Woodward, specialist in failure”. Tell us something we didn’t already know!

The game, whilst hardly a must-win for United just yet, did represent an opportunity to climb back into the top half of the table and, looking resplendent in their new pink kit, they set about trying to achieve just that.

Halfway throught the first half they took the lead when Sánchez crossed for Lukaku to score proving that keeping it simple invariably produces more results than complicating matters.

A minute before half-time and Lukaku got his and United’s second and that was the score at the break.

In the second half Burnley had to chase the game which meant, of course, leaving the occasional gap at the back.

In the 68th minute United were awarded a penalty when Aaron Lennon fouled Marcus Rashford but Pogba’s poorly struck spot-kick was easily saved by Joe Hart.

A few minutes later Rashford was fouled again, this time by Phil Bardsley, and his reaction resulted in him being sent off.

So, United down to ten men and Burnley still chasing the game albeit without much success. The final score was 0-2 to the away team.

In the other 4:00 pm kick-off at Vicarage Road it was Tottenham Hotspur who blinked first and their 100% record has now gone.

After a goalless first-half they actually took the lead through an Abdoulaye Doucoure own goal but they couldn’t hold on and goals from Troy Deeney and Craig Cathcart gave all three points to The Hornets.

Mauricio Pochettino will be disappointed but he did warn of this after the victory at Old Trafford when he didn’t think his team played particularly well despite winning 0-3. This game and result has proved him correct and he will be looking for much better very quickly.