List of All Articles with Tag 'cma'

The 2023/24 Premier League season is under way and you can follow every game and every goal right here with The Independent. This year sees Manchester City try to defend their crown and claim a historic fourth title in succession. Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering City, who also won the Champions League and FA Cup last season, will have to see off Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and the rest to claim an unprecedented sixth league title in seven years. Meanwhile Luton Town are making their first appearance in the Premier League, having risen from non-league in an incredible decade of progress. They followed Championship winners Burnley and second-placed Sheffield United in earning promotion to the top flight. Follow the latest action from the Premier League below.

The 2023/24 Premier League season is under way and you can follow every game and every goal right here with The Independent. This year sees Manchester City try to defend their crown and claim a historic fourth title in succession. Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering City, who also won the Champions League and FA Cup last season, will have to see off Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and the rest to claim an unprecedented sixth league title in seven years. Meanwhile Luton Town are making their first appearance in the Premier League, having risen from non-league in an incredible decade of progress. They followed Championship winners Burnley and second-placed Sheffield United in earning promotion to the top flight. Follow the latest action from the Premier League below.

Manchester United have decided Antony can resume training and will be allowed to play for the club during ongoing police inquiries after three women accused him of assault. The winger had taken a leave of absence, without being suspended by the club. He has missed United’s last four matches and will not feature in Saturday’s home game against Crystal Palace. His former partner, Gabriela Cavallin, made accusations of abuse in an interview with Brazilian newspaper UOL. Two further women, Rayssa de Freitas and Ingrid Lana, then made separate allegations against the 23-year-old. Antony has insisted he is innocent and has spoken to police in both Brazil and England. He voluntarily attended an interview with Greater Manchester Police on Thursday and submitted his phone for investigation. He also spoke to police in Sao Paulo in June and has not yet been arrested or charged in either country. United said in a statement: “Since allegations were first made in June, Antony has cooperated with police inquiries in both Brazil and the UK, and he continues to do so. “As Antony’s employer, Manchester United has decided that he will resume training at Carrington, and be available for selection, while police inquiries proceed. This will be kept under review pending further developments in the case. “As a club we condemn acts of violence and abuse. We recognise the importance of safeguarding all those involved in this situation, and acknowledge the impact these allegations have on survivors of abuse.” Manager Erik ten Hag stated Antony will return to training on Saturday and expects him to be fit. “I have to see but I think so,” he said in a press conference later in the afternoon. Cavallin claimed she was attacked by Antony last summer, when she was pregnant and before she suffered a miscarriage. She said the £86m signing had threatened to throw her out of a car and alleged the footballer punched and headbutted her in January 2023. Antony issued a statement on 10 September in which he said: “I want to reiterate my innocence of the things I have been accused of, and I will fully cooperate with the police to help them reach the truth.” Read More Antony return to Manchester United will not be a distraction – Erik ten Hag Erik ten Hag reveals cause of Manchester United’s injury woes Manchester United suffer another injury blow to defender

The football association of Ukraine has written to Uefa’s member nations urging them to boycott matches against junior Russian teams. Uefa announced earlier this week that it would be reinstating Russia at under-17 level. The decision comes after a ban on all Russian sides by European football’s governing body after the invasion of Ukraine by Moscow in February 2022. England’s Football Association (the FA) had been among the national bodies that had said that they would not allow their sides to play Russia despite Uefa’s decision. And the Ukrainian footballing body has now urged all members to do the same. “We are convinced any step towards reintegration of Russian representatives is a hazardous and terrifying trend, which means nothing but support to the Russian terrorist state and all their crimes committed in Ukraine,” said the letter, according to the BBC. The next Under-17 male European Championship finals are due to be played in Cyprus next year, while the women’s U17 Euros are set to be hosted by Sweden in May. Sweden’s FA has also said that it will not allow age-group sides to face Russia and will not host the country, even if there is now a path to qualification. Uefa’s executive commitee is expected to meet on 10 October to confirm their position. Aleksander Ceferin, the president of Uefa, this week said that the move to relax the blanket ban came out of a desire to not punish children for the action’s of the Russian government amid the ongoing conflict. “Uefa’s continuing suspension against Russian adult teams reflects its commitment to take a stand against violence and aggression. Uefa is determined that this position will continue until the war is over and peace restored,” said the organisation’s president Aleksander Ceferin. “But by banning children from our competitions, we not only fail to recognise and uphold a fundamental right for their holistic development but we directly discriminate against them. “By providing opportunities to play and compete with their peers from all over Europe, we are investing in what we hope will be a brighter and more capable future generation and a better tomorrow.” Read More Russia to return to Uefa competitions as ban lifted on Under-17s teams EU lawmakers ask UEFA to ban Belarus from Euro 2024 Russia Olympic chief fuming over ‘unacceptable’ Asian Games exclusion

Fantasy Premier League managers get one free transfer a week to make but with the competition in full flow, some may be eyeing up an early wildcard or a four-point hit to try and ring the changes and make up some early lost-ground on rivals. Here are five players who we think are worthwhile considering as the Premier League heads into the new gameweek, judging by upcoming fixtures and individual player form. Jarrod Bowen, West Ham - Midfielder (7.1) With just over 9 per cent ownership, the West Ham winger offers an interesting differential in a stacked pool of mid-price midfielders. Bowen has three goals and one assists in his last four games which included fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester City. The Englishman did not feature in West Ham’s Europa League game last week which perhaps suggests he may be rested in the group stages of the European competition to keep him fresh and firing in the Premier League. Sheffield United at home is the Hammers’ next fixture and after their 8-0 drubbing at the hands of Newcastle, David Moyes’s side must surely fancy their chances of putting a few past the out-of-sorts Blades. Carlton Morris, Luton - Forward (5.6) With Nicolas Jackson managing the impressive feat of picking up five yellow cards in just six games, many FPL managers will be looking to ship out the suspended Colombian after his meagre returns so far this season. Despite Luton’s struggles so far, Carlton Morris has picked up returns in three of the Hatters’ five matches while leading the line. Throw in an appetising-looking double gameweek against Everton and Burnley and suddenly he is a nice differential pick. The Englishman is also 1.3m cheaper than Jackson which could fund an upgrade elsewhere in your team. Emiliano Martinez, Aston Villa - Goalkeeper (4.9) Aston Villa registered their second clean sheet of the season against Chelsea at the weekend as Unai Emery’s side continued their solid start to his first full season in charge. The Argentine keeper made four saves against the Blues and has dropped 0.1m in price since the start of the season. With three home games in their next four - including against lowly Luton Town - Martinez could be a good option, especially for those looking to transfer out Aaron Ramsdale following his relegation to the Arsenal substitutes bench. Sergio Reguilon, Manchester United - Defender (4.4) Manchester United’s defence has often been the target of criticism so far this season, but a gritty 1-0 away win against Burnley proved that Erik ten Hag’s defence may offer some value in the coming weeks. New summer signing Reguilon has finally established himself in the team following his loan move from Tottenham and sits at just 4.4m. The Spaniard showed during his time at Spurs his capability for attacking returns and with games against Crystal Palace, Brentford and Sheffield United in their next three, the left-back could be worth a look. Luca Koleosho, Burnley - Midfielder (5.0) Burnley have endured a tough start to the season and remain without a win. However, from an FPL perspective, their players may be worth a look this week due to their double gameweek. Vincent Kompany’s side first travel to face Newcastle but then have a midweek rearranged clash against Luton, with both games counting towards the same FPL gameweek. Out of their options, Koleosho presents the most intriguing option at just 5m. The winger has just one assist so far this season but has often looked a lively presence in the Clarets’ attack and could be worth a punt at such a cheap price. Read More Fantasy Premier League: 30 players you must consider for 2023/24 season Mohamed Salah, Sven Botman and 5 players to target for FPL Gameweek 6 James Maddison, Julian Alvarez and 5 players to target for FPL Gameweek 5 Eddie Howe says Harvey Barnes has ‘big part to play’ this season despite injury Micky van de Ven determined to help Tottenham prove doubters wrong Why new-look midfields will decide Liverpool’s clash with Tottenham

Manchester United winger Antony has flown back to the UK to face the police over allegations of abuse and violence against women made against him. Antony has agreed to hand over his phone to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to aid their investigation into the complaints made by the footballer’s ex-partner Gabriela Cavallin. Cavallin was in a relationship with Antony for two years and submitted allegations of “physical and psychological violence” by the Brazilian star to both GMP and São Paulo police earlier this month. Further assault allegations followed from Rayssa de Freitas and Ingrid Lana, with Lana’s complaints relating to a meeting between the pair in Manchester. Antony has denied all the allegations in an interview on Brazilian TV. The 23-year-old flew back to England on Tuesday from Brazil, where he was voluntarily interviewed by police in June and they have confirmed they don’t need any more information from him. He has now agreed to voluntarily meet with GMP. Earlier this month, Antony agreed to take a “period of absence” from Manchester United on full pay to address the allegations, meaning he would not play or train with the club until further notice. Despite returning to the UK, he will still not be considered for selection At the time, a club statement read: “Manchester United acknowledges the allegations made against Antony. It has been agreed with Antony that he will delay his return until further notice in order to address the allegations. As a club we condemn acts of violence and abuse. We recognise the importance of safeguarding all those involved in this situation, and acknowledge the impact these allegations have on survivors of abuse.” This was accompanied by a statement from Antony himself, stating: “I have agreed with Manchester United to take a period of absence while I address the allegations made against me. “This was a mutual decision to avoid distraction to my teammates and unnecessary controversy for the club. I want to reiterate my innocence of the things I have been accused of, and I will fully cooperate with the police to help them reach the truth. I look forward to returning to play as soon as possible.” Read More Erik ten Hag consulted as Antony put on ‘period of absence’ from Man Utd amid abuse allegations Man Utd winger Antony appears on Brazilian TV to deny assault allegations Clubs send out wrong message playing footballers accused of abuse – Women’s Aid

Sarina Wiegman leads her England Women team out on Tuesday evening to face her own home nation, with the Lionesses facing Netherlands in their second Women’s Nations League fixture. Last time out as the competition got underway for the first time in the women’s game, England triumphed over Scotland but it was hard work indeed - while Netherlands suffered a late defeat at the hands of their own near neighbours, Belgium. All four nations are in Group A1. There’s not just relegation and the finals at stake either; a couple of berths at the 2024 Olympics in Paris are also on the line, for the two countries who reach the Nations League final. Top spot in the group, then, is of massive importance to those with medal ambitions - potentially including Team GB. Follow all the latest action from Netherlands vs England below and get the latest football odds and tips here.

Defending champions Manchester United face Crystal Palace in the third round as a further seven Premier League teams begin their Carabao Cup campaign. Manchester City, West Ham, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Newcastle, Brighton, and Liverpool are all involved after a bye to allow for European competition. In the last round, League One side Lincoln City provided a shock when they beat Premier League opponents Sheffield United 3-2 on penalties. The third round starts on the week commencing the 25 September. Here’s everything you need to know about the fourth-round draw. When is the fourth round draw? The fourth round draw takes place on the 27 September after the match between Newcastle and Manchester City which will be televised from St James’ Park. The match is due to kick off at 8pm, and the draw will follow after full time, starting between 10-10:10pm. How to watch on TV and online Sky Sports will broadcast both the match before and the draw. The draw will also be live streamed for free on the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel. When will the fourth round fixtures be played? The fourth round of the Carabao Cup will be played in the week commencing Monday 30 October. When is the Carabao Cup final? The Carabao Cup final is scheduled for 25 February 2024 at Wembley Stadium. Read More Erik ten Hag’s got a good thing going at Manchester United – Jonny Evans Premier League clubs push government over key question surrounding state ownership in English football Ange Postecoglou has already transformed Tottenham with Arsenal comeback Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta ‘not thinking’ about Man City’s lead after derby draw Pep Guardiola jokes he could play for much-changed Man City in Newcastle cup tie Erik ten Hag’s got a good thing going at Manchester United – Jonny Evans

Premier League clubs and other senior football figures have increased pressure on the Department of Culture, Media and Sport over state ownership in the English game, raising specific questions about whether a distinction will be drawn between revenue and equity when it comes to testing the liquidity of clubs. There is a feeling that a more general framing of the rules could have the unintended consequence of diminishing competitive balance, while also worsening the very issue the independent regulator is being set up to tackle. The Saudi Arabian takeover of Newcastle United has made the majority of the Premier League clubs - sometimes described as “the other 18” in this context - more attuned to the potential issues that come with state ownership, and it is understood that the topic was constantly raised in the initial talks that informed the content of the landmark White Paper on football. The issue wasn’t even mentioned in the eventual document, though, despite it representing a significant factor that greatly influences all of the problems that the regulator is supposed to cover - primarily club sustainability and systemic sustainability - through the raising of the financial threshold. The absence of reference was largely put down to the Conservative government’s concern for geopolitics, and another example of how this is affecting the game. Scrutiny on the subject has continued into the formation of the independent regulator, with football officials pressing DCMS on exactly how the body will test the solvency of clubs. The White Paper has made the financial sustainability and resilience of the sport its “primary strategic purpose”. “To support this purpose, it will have 3 specific primary duties,” the paper read. “Club sustainability - the financial sustainability of individual clubs. Systemic stability - the overall stability of the football pyramid. Cultural heritage - protecting the heritage of football clubs that matter most to fans.” Within that, the regulator will be empowered to determine the liquidity requirements for clubs based on the business plans. Other football officials are concerned that, if the framing of the questions around club sustainability only go as far as liquidity and does not have more specific terms relating to whether potential income is revenue, it could end up favouring state-owned or state-linked clubs. The argument is that, since state-owned clubs would easily pass all the solvency tests due to the fact their ownerships have virtually unlimited money and no financial risk, it would further skew the market. They would have complete freedom, while rival clubs had to be more conscious of the parameters when it comes to spending. A fear is that rivals just won't be able to keep up. The issue of revenue and equity is covered by the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play rules, and has informed part of the charges against Manchester City, but club officials are insisting that the independent regulator should be just as rigid on this and ensure all regulations covering the game are as tight and consistent as possible. A comparison has been raised with a similar system in French football, where Paris Saint Germain’s mega sponsorship deal with the Qatar Tourism Authority saw the club easily pass the domestic rules, only for Uefa to subsequently write it down. One of the core issues in the City case is whether money from sponsors Etihad and Etisalat actually came from the owner, Sheikh Mansour, and consequently represented equity disguised as revenue. The case is ongoing as City insist upon their compliance with the rules. Many football figures also raised it as regards Newcastle United's new sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabian company Sela, pointing to a unique question that comes from states with such centralised structures. Read More Welcome to Wrexham’s biggest heroes are neither the A-list owners nor the players How the Champions League lost its spark and led to the end of an era European football is ignorant to the march of the Saudi Pro League Man City scandal is not about fair play – it’s about fraud UEFA warns clubs against overspending in ‘reckless pursuit of success’ Sportswashing is about to change football beyond anything you can imagine

After a lot of back and forth about the north London derby itself, Mikel Arteta was eventually asked about what mattered most. It was put to the Arsenal manager whether it was a concern that his side are already four points behind Manchester City following this 2-2 home draw with Tottenham, with that just the sixth game of the season. It is already a lot to make up, and a sizeable psychological task given the champions’ points return. “I’m not thinking about that,” Arteta insisted, even if it wasn’t completely convincing. The same could be said of the display, which is maybe what is most relevant for what the Basque said he was most bothered by, which is just winning games. This was a frustrating afternoon for Arsenal in a few senses. There was first of all the fact they were in complete control, and could have killed the game even before it became a proper contest: Gabriel Jesus wasted a huge chance. There was then how they lost Declan Rice to injury, conceded two soft goals from a defensive point of view, and never really had that big chance towards the end. They didn’t really bring on any game-changer. Arteta fairly pointed to five injuries but it still feels as if Arsenal are missing something more. It is actually what most of the market was looking for this summer. That is a prime finisher. It makes it increasingly surprising that Arsenal didn’t pursue this option. They instead went for Kai Havertz, who was brought on in this match as a potential game-changer. It didn’t do much. This isn’t to criticise the German, who is obviously a far better player than much of the worst criticism has made out so far. He could go on to become a very productive player for Arsenal, and it was obvious he was signed to give them a different tactical option, especially given how their main first XI ran out of steam last season. He is still adapting, though, and his qualities weren’t quite what was needed here. Many will similarly point to Jesus, who missed that big chance. That reflected a lot of the discussion. Jesus is a brilliant all-round forward who links play superbly, but arguably the least of his abilities is his finishing. That missed effort brought echoes of a common refrain within the game, that the Brazilian isn’t “a killer”. Arsenal still don’t really have that. If it seems harsh to be focusing on the attack when Arteta’s side still scored two and conceded such soft goals, it is mainly because it was their inability to make sure that offered Spurs such encouragement. That fed into the defensive issues. They should have been out of sight. It may well mean they look around next summer, or perhaps even as early as January. All of the major London clubs like Ivan Toney, including Arsenal’s derby opponents here. The Brentford forward feels like he is now ready to make that step up. Could he step across? Arsenal are monitoring the situation. That’s natural, since he is an obvious option, all the more so since Arteta didn’t have such clear choices on the bench. Good youth products in Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe were brought on, and it would of course be better for everyone if they were capable of rising to that level; of offering that difference. That might even have been the case in a sport that didn’t involve such concentration of resources at the top as the modern game. As it is, for all Arteta’s insistence he isn't even thinking about it, Arsenal face the most modern of problems. They have to match City’s points return. That may mean trying to match the champions with a clear number-nine in Erling Haaland. Arteta is now so close to that finished product, even allowing for these slips at the start of the season. They maybe just need that finisher, and those finishing touches. Read More Ange Postecoglou has already transformed Tottenham with Arsenal comeback Mikel Arteta provides Declan Rice injury update after ‘strange’ half-time change Arsenal vs Tottenham result and player ratings as Son Heung-min and James Maddison lead Spurs fightback Football rumours: Ivan Toney can leave Brentford if the price is right Pep Guardiola jokes he could play for much-changed Man City in Newcastle cup tie I don’t understand handball rule – Spurs’ Ange Postecoglou bemused by penalty

It was a seven-minute snapshot into the enduring enigma of Darwin Nunez. There was the profligacy and the potential to be prolific, the glaring miss and the terrific goal, the possibility he could have been the man to cost Liverpool victory and the eventuality that the pivotal moment in their sixth successive win was his strike. In a world of certain guarantees, David Moyes’ record at Anfield remains one: after 20 trips as a manager, the Scot still has not won, despite the chances West Ham had to end the former Everton manager’s long wait. But Nunez remains the great wildcard. The only guarantee is unpredictability and, if Nunez himself is not entirely sure what will happen, opponents can stand little chance. West Ham first benefited and then suffered from Nunez being Nunez. Liverpool fashioned two glorious opportunities shortly after half-time. Mohamed Salah released the Uruguayan for the first: unmarked, by the penalty spot, he sliced a shot wide. When Alexis Mac Allister chipped a pass over the West Ham defence, the £64m man timed his run and angled his volley, perhaps in ungainly fashion, but certainly in an effective manner. And so the table is taking on a familiar look, with Liverpool the closest challengers to Manchester City, as they often have been in recent years. That owes something to Nunez: mainly his explosive double at Newcastle, in perhaps the most startling comeback of the season so far. His return for the Premier League campaign now stands at a goal every 73 minutes, surrounded by examples of wastefulness. Perhaps Liverpool have to accept the trade-off with Nunez: that his physicality and irrepressibility mean he will enjoy plenty of opportunities and the probability that some will be missed in embarrassing fashion. Yet on a day when their other two goals were scored by more clinical finishers, in Salah and the substitute Diogo Jota, Liverpool offered an example of their firepower. Nunez’s charisma is such that Salah can find himself overshadowed on occasions but the Egyptian was the outstanding player on the pitch. He extended his record of either scoring or assisting in each of his last 13 games with a penalty he both won and converted. Jota came off the bench to clinch victory: part of Jurgen Klopp’s task is perming the correct options from his five main forwards and Nunez, granted just a second start of the league campaign, proved the right choice for this. The Portuguese’s sharpness makes him a valuable substitute and he had the predatory sense to volley in when Virgil van Dijk headed Andy Robertson’s cross into the six-yard box. Nunez had departed by then, but his contribution to Liverpool’s opener was typically idiosyncratic. It involved each of the front three. Luis Diaz, who oozed menace, fed a pass into the penalty area. It flicked off Nunez’s boot, perhaps without his knowledge, for Salah. He was upended by Nayef Aguerd and rifled in the resulting penalty. And yet what both preceded and followed it was revealing of both teams. For a side who have had a terrific start to the season, Liverpool are slow at beginning games. They often trail and, even on a day when they struck first, they could have conceded twice in the opening eight minutes. First Tomas Soucek meeting Lucas Paqueta’s cross with a header Alisson saved superbly. Then, when Soucek crossed, Michail Antonio made a mess of his header. There is a fragility at the back, with clean sheets rarities this season, but their potent attack can find ways of compensating. Meanwhile, even in defeat, West Ham showed why they briefly topped the table. Moyes’ men have a threat and, without wanting much possession, some ambition on the ball. Jarrod Bowen was both excellent and, in his own way, their Nunez. The winger equalised, stooping to head in Vladimir Coufal’s cross, guiding it past Alisson; Van Dijk’s attempt to stop the scorer lacked conviction. Any feelings of injustice West Ham had when the winger had been denied a penalty a couple of minutes earlier after a Mac Allister challenge were channelled into levelling. Yet Bowen, too, spurned a golden chance: unmarked, heading straight at Alisson from James Ward-Prowse’s free kick, a few minutes before Nunez restored Liverpool’s lead. And so West Ham, who had acquitted themselves well against City last week and lost 3-1, repeated the scoreline and with a similar sense. History repeated itself in another respect: they were defeated by a Nunez goal on their previous visit to Anfield. Amid the wildness of his game, the confusion as to what will happen, perhaps the one certainty is that he will score at home against West Ham. Read More Jurgen Klopp hails ‘massive steps’ made by Darwin Nunez after latest Liverpool goal Jurgen Klopp hails ‘massive steps’ made by Darwin Nunez after latest Liverpool goal Liverpool vs West Ham United LIVE: Latest Premier League updates Why isn’t Liverpool vs West Ham live on TV?

All square at Arsenal, with one side much happier about it. Everyone else would at least have been greatly entertained by it. This was yet another north London derby that swung back and forth in such absorbing fashion to add to its archive of classic games but, once it settled into a 2-2 draw, it was Tottenham celebrating more. They have been given huge encouragement for the future, after displaying adventure and resilience in a match many might not have considered them quite ready for. That is the effect of Ange Postecoglou, which was all the more impressive given how Arsenal had posed the most testing questions for the first half-hour. Mikel Arteta’s side, however, might again be feeling the effects of a title race with Manchester City. They already find themselves four points behind by 24 September, and with the champions to come here in two weeks. That might be without Declan Rice, who went off with a calf injury that proved decisive. If it is again ludicrous to be talking about this at such an early stage, just as it was with the victory over Manchester United, these are the stakes of the Premier League right now. This is maybe the state of the Arsenal team right now, so promising but still missing a few elements. One is depth, as could be seen with how easy their defence was to get at for both of Son Heung-Min’s goals. Another is real extra-level quality in attack. For all that this draw ultimately came down to Arsenal failing to keep their lead, a large part of that was the encouragement Spurs enjoyed from their attack being able to extend it. It already raises the question over whether they will go big in January. They could have had a substantial lead here. That is what will be so frustrating. Spurs and Postecoglou, however, were rewarded for their bravery. That could well be a theme going forward. It has already been a theme of the season, as Spurs again defied expectations. They shouldn’t have been ready for this north London derby against a side that finished second last season. They were instead prepared to pounce on any Arsenal slip. That is what this whole game amounted to. Arsenal could really have killed the game before any semblance of a contest had even developed. It was set up for them. Postecoglou’s approach initially seemed rather naive given how nascent his team is, and it left Destiny Udogie constantly exposed on the left. Saka consistently had 15 metres of space around him and it of course wasn’t long until he made use of that. Having turned Udogie again, Saka saw the space open up and looked to curl the ball into the far corner. Romero intervened and turned it into the near corner. Arsenal were by that point in complete control and had the chance to take full command. Gabriel Jesus couldn’t seize it, though, blazing one key effort over. It does perhaps raise one of the final questions in the formation of this Arsenal team. Are they still lacking that finisher? Jesus is a brilliant link forward but he lacks that ruthlessness. It allowed Spurs back in. To give Postecoglou his due, though, they also forced their way back in. With the manner that Saka had got at Guglielmo Vicario’s defence in the opening half-hour, the Spurs manager could have been forgiven for altering formation and tightening up. He did the opposite. In a move that feels like it’s going to be symbolic about what is to come under Postecoglou, he doubled down, ensuring his left flank always had at least two in attack rather than defence. It started to make trouble for Arsenal, and made the difference. In a five-minute flurry, Brennan Johnson forced two big saves from David Raya - one of them a brilliantly instinctive response, that Mikel Arteta will feel vindicated his decision - before Spurs eventually forced their way in. This was a turnaround in more ways than one. It was suddenly Saka given a tough time as James Maddison so easily got around him to set up Son. It was not the last time that the duo made such a testing occasion look easy. Before then, though, Arsenal had contrasting developments. Declan Rice went off with a calf injury. Saka scored a penalty from a Romero handball. Both contributed to what next. With Arsenal seeming like they were still celebrating the goal, and substitute Jorginho so casual on the ball, Maddison just stepped up and took it off. It was reminiscent of the way Germany just cut through Brazil in that 7-1 in how simple it was, which was all the more surprising given Arsenal were apparently in a relatively secure position. They were anything but. Son was put clean through, almost no one around him, to just slide the ball past Raya for his second. Spurs didn’t quite settle for that but Arsenal did ensure they couldn’t set foot beyond the halfway much late on. For all the pressure, though, there was no big chance. There was no difference-maker to bring on. Arteta threw on Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith-Rowe but both felt hopeful shows of faith rather than any display of superiority. So it proved. It was an early-season derby that may say a lot about both for the season - and potentially influence a lot. Read More Arsenal vs Tottenham result and player ratings as Son Heung-min and James Maddison lead Spurs fightback Son Heung-min and James Maddison lead Tottenham response to claim Arsenal point Phil Foden admits Rodri will be a ‘big miss’ during his three-match suspension Pep Guardiola unhappy at Rodri for red card in Man City win