Europe's Weekend Wrap: Arsenal Survive Chelsea, Barça Run Riot, Juventus Rescue Late Point
The best storylines from the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A — Arsenal and Manchester City still flawless, Lamine Yamal running riot at Valencia once more, and Fiorentina's Grosso era over after three straight defeats.
Arsenal 2–1 Chelsea — the Gunners keep pace with Manchester City at the summit
Arsenal maintained their flawless start with a scrappy home victory over Chelsea. The Blues actually drew first blood through Rogers, but the hosts hit back before half-time when Havertz tucked away an equaliser. After the interval it was Ødegaard — later named Player of the Match — who won it, sending the Emirates crowd into full voice. The win stretches Arsenal's unbeaten league run against Chelsea to ten matches (7W 3D).
Manchester United 2–2 Everton — Naylor's late, late equaliser stuns the visitors
United headed to Merseyside hoping to keep in touch with the front-runners, but a cagey first half — highlighted by a Fernandes effort that rattled the crossbar and flashes of Rashford flair — was followed by a chaotic second. Mbeumo broke the deadlock with a curling individual goal, George replied for Everton, and Sesko's header looked to have nicked it for United late on. The home side had other ideas, though: Naylor's stoppage-time finish made it 2-2 and shared the spoils.
Barcelona 5–0 Valencia — Yamal hits twice as Barça make it four straight wins
Another week, another hammering from Hansi Flick's side. Lamine Yamal scored within minutes of kick-off, Fermín added a second before the interval, and the second half became a formality — Raphinha tapped in a third, Pedri grabbed a fourth, and Yamal thumped home a fifth to complete the rout. Barça's 17 goals in four matchdays matches the club record first set in 1957/58 and later equalled by Guardiola's 2011/12 vintage. As for Valencia, one point from four games has left supporters protesting outside the Mestalla.
Juventus 1–1 AC Milan — Gatti's late header spares the Old Lady's blushes
A tense Derby d'Italia finished with the Allianz Stadium on its feet. Chukwueze teed up Alfa-Cissé, whose low drive from the edge of the area put Milan ahead early in the second half, and the Rossoneri seemed destined to bring all three points back to the San Siro. But deep in added time, Gatti climbed highest to meet a corner and headed Juventus level — bedlam in Turin, despair in the away end. A point that probably suits both camps more than it thrills either.
Matchweek 3 — Man City and Arsenal are the only sides still perfect
Three rounds down and the title picture already looks familiar. Manchester City and Arsenal each collected maximum points to stay on nine, with Hull City the surprise story in third on seven. Chelsea are fourth, Liverpool sixth, Manchester United eleventh, and Spurs — yes, Spurs — are sitting in the bottom three after picking up just one point from their opening three games.
Ødegaard named Player of the Match as Arsenal's week goes from strength to strength
Fresh from his match-winning strike against Chelsea, Martin Ødegaard was named Man of the Match — the Norwegian skipper posed with the award in the dressing room after full-time. Arsenal's official channels shared the photo, rounding off a weekend that keeps the Gunners among just two sides in England still boasting a perfect record after three rounds.
Rashford clocks 300 Premier League appearances — the 23rd youngest to do it
At 28 years and 10 months, Marcus Rashford stepped out at Hill Dickinson Stadium for his 300th Premier League appearance, making him the 23rd youngest player in the competition's history to reach that landmark. The list is headed by Wayne Rooney, James Milner and Gareth Barry, with Rashford slotting in just behind Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand — part of an elite group of English forwards who have matched longevity with a prolific scoring record.
Fiorentina sack Fabio Grosso — the first Serie A coaching casualty of the campaign
Three games, three defeats, no points, one goal scored and nine conceded — and with it, the first managerial sacking of the Serie A season. Fiorentina confirmed on Monday they have parted ways with 48-year-old boss Fabio Grosso, who only took over the Viola in June. Whoever comes in next will be under pressure from day one, with a run of fixtures that offers little respite.
Valencia supporters call for change at the top — protests outside the Mestalla
Around 2,000 Valencia fans gathered outside the Mestalla on Saturday evening to demand that majority owner Peter Lim put the club up for sale. The chants — plus a section of the ultras walking out in the 19th minute — were a response to one point from four league games and a summer transfer window that never got going. Lim's son, Lim Wee-Jay, was spotted in the directors' box in conversation with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, which only added to the tension on a bruising night for the home faithful.
Fiorentina's rotten start costs Grosso his job in the dugout
Rock bottom after three straight defeats, with a goal difference that makes grim reading. Fiorentina's brief Grosso experiment is over — the hunt for a successor is already under way, and whoever walks into the Franchi next will inherit a squad in need of both a tactical rethink and a lift in confidence before the international break.