(Football news) Arsenal narrowly defeated the hosts 2-1 over the weekend, but Vincent Kompany’s team put on a five-star display to thrash Sheffield United 5-0.
Arsenal has struggled to get off to a fast start in the 2023–24 campaign, but on Saturday when Wolves visited their Emirates headquarters, the Gunners showed no mercy as they went up 2-0 in just 13 minutes, courtesy of goals from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
However, Matheus Cunha took advantage of a defensive error to cut the deficit in the second half as Mikel Arteta’s team wasted multiple opportunities to end the game, forcing Arsenal to play defense-as-defense in the final minutes.
The league leaders’ defensive efforts would eventually pay off in a hard-fought victory, but O’Neil was able to evaluate the positive aspects of Saturday’s performance and take a jab at the Gunners for what he saw as their perceived time-wasting after witnessing his team give Arsenal a few scares in North London.
Even if their performance was commendable, the hosts’ form chart is somewhat depressing to read. They have lost three of their previous four Premier League games and are presently in 13th place; depending on Sunday’s results, they may be forced closer to the finish line.
Nowadays, goalmouth action is a given when O’Neil’s team plays; in fact, Wolves has both scored goals and given them up in 12 straight games before losing at the Emirates. However, the team has won their last 4 home games in the top flight, which is a much-needed encouraging development.
Home losses, on the other hand, had previously been Burnley’s only option at Turf Moor. Prior to Sheffield United’s visit, the relegation rivals, they had suffered a record-breaking seven straight losses from their first seven home games of the Premier League season.
The Clarets were supposed to have a great chance to at least score a point in their matchup against the lowly Blades, but Kompany’s team outplayed Paul Heckingbottom’s struggling squad, giving up a goal to Jay Rodriguez right away.
