Break In The Action

Here we are, in the middle of the international break and, prompted by a tweet by the Premier League, I thought it was an opportune moment to do something a bit different and take a look at the Games of the Season, in my opinion, so far.

I’ve fashioned it as a Top Ten but there are actually 12 games on the list, you’ve probably already seen what they are on Twitter. I’ll explain my reasons for picking them as I go through but with the extras, they’re essentially either the flip side of the same coin or the same game played out twice and to leave out either half seemed to obscure the bigger picture, the bigger narrative.

They’re all Big games too, in the top leagues or top competitions, if I’d widened the net I’d be talking about games I saw nothing of which seems wrong. But for the record, I’d definitely have added Wrexham 5 - 5 Swindon or any one of the nonsenses that the Championship throws up on a weekly basis. I’ve also left off Leicester Women 2 - 6 Arsenal Women even though it was certainly mental.

So here we are, my 10 (12) favourite games of the season so far, in reverse order.

10. Arsenal 4 - 0 PSV

At 10 we have Arsenal’s return to the UCL. Back after too long, we opened our campaign “under the lights” at home against PSV. And what a return it was!

Three goals in the first half from Saka, Trossard and Jesus with the fourth added by Ødegaard in the second.

There isn’t a great deal to say about this other than it was utterly joyous, we played beautiful football and it felt really good.

9. Wolves 2 - 1 City

I didn’t see this game, only the highlights on MOTD and the ramblings of whoever was doing the game on Soccer Saturday, but it’s included here because a. this is a newsletter that loves to see City lose and b. the narrative behind the winner couldn’t be sweeter.

Before the game, Pep trolled his way through his press conference, referring to Hwang Hee-Chan as ‘the Korean guy’. It was rude and unnecessary, probably racist, certainly dismissive.

And so it seemed like punishment had been meted out when Ruben Dias scored an own goal after only 13 minutes. Wolves were steadfast for the rest of the first half, going in to the break with the goal advantage.

In a nicely symmetrical move, 13 minutes into the second half Julian Alvarez scored for City. Ah well, we all thought, it was nice while it lasted.

However, just eight minutes later who would score? Of course, the only person who could, ‘the Korean guy’, Hwang, to put Wolves 2-1 up.

And they held on. Over half an hour that must have been torture for the hosts until the whistle was blown and City suffered their first league defeat of the season.

8. Arsenal 3 - 1 United

Ask a sample of Arsenal fans who they hate more, Spurs or United, and chances are the majority will actually say United. Sure, Spurs are our local enemy and we hate them with passion but United? That’s kinda next level.

And so that was how we went into the game at the beginning of September, with a timeline frothing only to be silenced after 27 minutes when Rashford scored.

It felt inevitable. Ah well I thought, still plenty of the game left. Then immediately, at the other end, Martin Ødegaard put us back level with a lovely goal.

It was torture for the rest of the game, especially when Garnacho scored only for an agonising VAR check to eventually rule it offside.

Then on 90+6 a new king was crowned as new signing Declan Rice cemented himself in the affections of the Gunners but taking down the ball and smashing a sweet [deflected] volley past Onana. We’d done it.

But we didn’t leave it at that! On 90+11 Vieira made a delicious pass to Jesus who scored the third. I said it in my original summary and I’m going to say it again, I think Dalot is still sliding.

7. Aston Villa 6 - 1 Brighton

Last year, I would’ve chosen to watch Brighton under most circumstances, they were the darlings of the league. This season? Got to say I’m always here for Villa. Sure they were tonked by Newcastle on the first day of the season but since then they’ve only failed to score in one game (Forest’s 2-0 win) and they often score several.

This was their biggest win though, starting with an Ollie Watkins goal after 14 minutes and ending with a 90+7 Douglas Luiz penalty.

We’ve seen lots of high scoring games over the past few seasons, but the thing about this one is how much fun it was. It’s what you want from a football game. The crowd up, the players up, commentary having fun (more of that in one of the later entries). It goes without saying that this wasn’t a great day for Brighton but for the rest of us it was just a lovely way to start a weekend.

6. Arsenal 1 - 0 City

In at 6 we have Arsenal’s incredible victory over City. I sometimes still can’t quite believe it happened. I felt sick as a dog before the fixture; as I’ve been wanging on about all season I’m trying hard to take a step back, to not give myself the breakdown I had towards the end of last season, but this was the worst I’ve felt so far. I was certain certain that they’d turn us over, even without Rodri.

But it didn’t happen! We kept them at bay, Haaland was almost non-existent, bundled off the ball beautifully by Saliba.

There was an amazing goal line clearance from Rice and yes, it wasn’t a classic, it was tense and horrible, Raya was all over the place in the first half, Kovačić probably should have been sent off, to be fair Ben White did this too

But then, at the 11th hour… Martinelli.

God I love him. He’s so quick and so determined to get into the box and there he was, ready to pounce on a slightly clumsy pass from Havertz and thanks to a wicked deflection off Nathan Ake, Arsenal had the lead.

The next nine minutes were hell. I was literally on the edge of my seat, head in hands, barely able to watch but we did it. We beat City.

5. United 2 - 3 Galatasaray/FC Kobenhavn 4 - 3 United

A twofer here, because, in essence, these are the same game. In both fixtures United took the lead and looked like they might win. In both fixtures Højlund got a brace and looked like this might be the moment he kicks on. In both fixtures they had a red card (Casemiro v Galatasaray, Rashford v Kobenhavn). In both fixtures the comeback from the other team was breathtaking.

Against Galatasaray United scored first, after 17 minutes, only for Zaha (the narrative) to score just six minutes later. In the second half United clawed back the lead, only for Aktürkoğlu to score just four minutes later. Then Mauro Icardi missed a penalty and it looked like maybe the luck was on United’s side… only for Icardi to score from open play just three minutes later and seal the victory for the Turkish side.

Then, in Copenhagen a similar patter arose. Again Højlund scored first, after just three minutes, then he scored again just before the half hour mark. Deep into the first half Elyounoussi scored, then on 45+9 a penalty was awarded and Gonçalves converted.

In the second half Bruno put United ahead, only for a capitulation at the back in the late stages of the game allowed Lerager to score to put it to 3-3 then 17 year old wunderkind Roony Bardghji settled the game.

Why are these games on the list? Have you been paying any attention at all? Not only were they both exciting back and forths but they were also very very funny.

4. Newcastle 4- 1 PSG

Now this, this is what a UCL tie should be. Loud, frantic, not the expected result. I can actually barely remember any of it except Darren Fletcher on comms for TNT completely losing his composure and screeching through the last ten minutes or so of the game.

But what I do know is that Almiron opened the scoring, followed by, of all people, Dan Burn. 2-0 up at half time, in SJP, against PSG, a dream scenario.

And they didn’t wake up either, with Sean Longstaff scoring five minutes into the second half and handsome Fabian Schär adding the fourth in that magic minute, 90+7.

It may well be that Newcastle will exit the Champions League at the group stage but just as I will never forget Bournemouth last year, I know they’ll never forget this game and frankly it was a complete joy to witness it.

3. Napoli 2- 2 Milan

As with Newcastle PSG this was a game in which the commentator truly lost it. These are just his comments after the game, I truly thought he was going to explode at some points.

It was such a crazy, entertaining, wild game with a brace from newsletter fave, Olivier Giroud, and this stunning free kick from Giacomo Raspadori.

It was a real advert for Serie A and a reason why you should always cast your net wider than your own team or your home league; there’s so much good stuff to be found elsewhere.

2. Chelsea 4 - 4 City

Well. Well well well. What a game this was. The early Sunday kick off was West Ham Forest which had been a breathless 3-2 to West Ham, so it felt very much like Chelsea City would be a easy City win. A borefest.

Oh what sweet Summer children we were.

Initially it looked like it might be the case. After 25 minutes, somewhat against the run of play to be honest, City were awarded a penalty which Haaland dispatched easily. Ah well, the timeline sighed in unison, nevertheless.

Just four minutes later however, Thiago Silva scored. GAME ON.

To repeat exactly what I said last week (literally, I copy and pasted it) it was an exhilarating game, paced beautifully for drama, with something happening every time you’d resigned yourself to the result going one way or the other.

After Thiago Silva’s goal, Raheem Sterling put Chelsea ahead, then Akanji scored just before half time. In the second half Haaland scored almost immediately, only for Nico Jackson to bring it back to parity on the 67th minute. A 3-3 draw, that’ll do. No. No it won’t! Because on the 86th minute my nemesis Rodri scored. 3-4. But what’s that? Yes a penalty for Chelsea on 90+5, put away coolly by Cole Palmer to draw the match. The narrative gods are truly bringing it this season.

It was a brilliant game and a wonderful way to go into the International Break.

1. Spurs 1 - 4 Chelsea (Spurs 2 - 1 Liverpool)

And so we come to the end and the final game(s).

While the United games were included as a pair for essentially being the same game, these two are included for being the game on each side of the same coin.

Let’s start at the beginning with Spurs 2 - 1 Liverpool. I live with a Liverpool fan, I’m Arsenal, I like people doing their jobs properly, so for me, this was a difficult watch. It was tense in my house and I didn’t like seeing Spurs win.

The red cards are neither here nor there really. We can argue about intent v. danger until the cows come home and it’s fair to conclude that Jota was silly (even if you can argue about his first card and whether it was right in the first place) nothing else to say. There’s no accounting for fluke own goals either really.

However the shambles of the offside has, in some ways, forever changed the game in England. VAR checks take a little longer, officials have been shuffled around, demoted, re-promoted or moved from roles they were going to undertake. Fans are waiting for any little error to jump on them.

So that was tails if you like, or heads, I don’t care, it was one side of a coin to which Spurs Chelsea was the other.

I’d apologise to Spurs fans for using this image yet again but I don’t want to, look at it. A position that got Jamie Carragher so het up he was almost skipping around the studio and confessed himself he hadn’t been able to sleep for thinking about it.

And who can blame him? It was, frankly, the game of the season up to now and potentially just full stop.

It was chaotic, wild, frenetic, gasp inducing, giddy, stupid all in one. Spurs scored first and I was glad I wasn’t watching but that seemed the catalyst for all manner of nonsense. Romero saw red. Udogie saw red. Nicolas Jackson scored a hattrick. There were four (4) offside goals. Twitter went utterly feral, it was like the good old days. It was brilliant.

Notable Mentions

Goalkeeper own goals: we’ve had two great ones this season. Pickford v Sheffield United and Martinez v. Luton

Newcastle spanking Sheffield United 0-8: Unless it’s against my team or by a team I hate, I love to see a high scoring tonking.

Harry Kane’s halfway line goal

Olivier Giroud in goal: The match itself was most terrible so couldn’t possibly make it on this list but this part of it? Possibly the greatest incident so far this season.

Jude Bellingham: truly, just Jude, he’s been astonishing

Everything Else

Not going to break it down into Full Time, Shirt of the Week and the Thirst Trap this week, instead here’s a round up of what’s been going on since last week.

Everton have had a 10 point deduction for financial irregularity. But even this doesn’t put them on the bottom of the table. For my money I think they’ll be fine even if they manage to appeal the decision and get some or all of their points reinstated.

Sudan beat DR Congo (who to be fair, are also suffering terribly at the moment) in their group of the African World Cup qualifiers

It’s not football but India lost the Cricket World Cup Final to Australia

Haaland won the Little Buff Boys contest

Finally, do check out Lotte Wubben-Moy on Stadio. She’s fantastic.

Right, let’s drop in on a few Thirst Trap faves.

Firstly, neither has been in the Thirst Trap but this picture of Piemonte and Connolly from Everton v Bristol City gets me all hot under the collar

Olivier has been peddling ballsbaubles for Milan

Chloe Kelly, DCL, Alex Scott and Leah Williamson served at the GQ Men of the Year awards. (You can click the pics to see the whole thing afaik, I know their heads are chopped off!)

Leah also blew me away at training this week, jfc.

And let’s not skip past Hector modelling for Betis. What a guy.

And of course, Dominik Szboszlai for InStyle Men Hungary

I think I’m going to leave it there for this week! We’re back with Premier League action first thing on Saturday with City v. Liverpool. I’m going to miss some of the game, probably some of Sunday’s and also I’m away next week so I will see you again in December!

Remember, I removed the paid option for the newsletter but you can still chuck me a couple of quid if you enjoy what I do, via my Ko-Fi or just Like this, tweet (Bsky? Thread? Er, Tumbl?) about it, send it to a friend or drop me a message :)

Have a wonderful fortnight, I hope you teams don’t embarrass you and I will be back on the 4th.