Arsenal build momentum as Villa end Manchester City's perfect start

Arsenal have won three league games running, while Aston Villa handed Manchester City their first defeat. Manchester United face Chelsea after another damaging setback.

Arsenal’s third successive Premier League victory has sharpened the contrast with both Manchester clubs after eight rounds of fixtures. Mikel Arteta’s side won comfortably again, while Aston Villa ended Manchester City’s perfect league start and Manchester United suffered a heavy defeat. Arsenal’s next assignment is a trip to Liverpool on 1 November, bringing together two teams whose recent results suggest growing momentum.

Liverpool’s convincing win over Brighton made it consecutive victories and three wins from their past four league matches. That gives Arsenal a significant test of their own winning sequence, even if Arteta’s team still appear to have another level to reach. Brighton, meanwhile, must respond away to City on 31 October: a demanding follow-up against opponents also looking to recover from a setback.

For City, the Villa defeat was not the only concern. Their continued concession of goals remains an issue ahead of Brighton’s visit, despite the winning run that preceded the weekend. Villa now have an impressive result to build upon, but consistency is the next challenge. They host Fulham on 31 October, with the visitors having recorded successive wins after edging past Coventry.

United head to Chelsea on the same day needing to halt their deterioration. The hosts also have something to repair after losing at home to Tottenham by a two-goal margin, and will be without Cole Palmer for United’s visit. Spurs, by contrast, have won twice in succession and are finding greater attacking fluency before their meeting with Crystal Palace.

Palace’s problems are particularly stark: consecutive defeats have left their league-worst defence under scrutiny. Newcastle were the latest side to take advantage, winning 2-0 at Selhurst Park before a home fixture against Everton, who have managed only one victory in five matches. Elsewhere, Bournemouth have put together back-to-back wins, while Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich extended their winless sequence to four games. Sunderland drew 0-0 with Leeds and continue to have the division’s least productive attack.

Original reporting:dazn.com