The Gunners scored three past Brentford to return to the top of the Premier League table. The Gunners move a point above Manchester City, putting their first loss of the season to Manchester United nearly a fortnight ago behind them.
William Saliba gave the visitors the lead in the 17th minute, flicking his header backward off a Bukayo Saka corner for his second goal of the season. Twenty-eight minutes in, Arsenal led 2-0. Mikel Arteta’s side moved the ball from back to front with precision, eventually giving Granit Xhaka possession just before the penalty box.
The Albania international, from a standstill, clipped the ball to the back post for Gabriel Jesus, and the Brazilian looped his header into the far corner.
Midfielder Fabio Vieira, starting in the absence of captain Martin Odegaard, sealed the win in the 49th minute. The Portugal international received the ball from Saka, opened his body, and unleashed a fierce strike that struck the near post and went in. The playmaker needed a moment to realize what had transpired but soon wheeled away in celebration with his teammates.
With the win in the bag, Arteta sent on youngster Ethan Nwaneri for a historic appearance. At 15 years, five months, and 23 days, the Englishman became the youngest player to make his debut in the Premier League – beating Harvey Elliott’s record by a year.
At Goodison Park, Everton recorded their first win of the season to move clear of the danger zone – over a club similarly in crisis, West Ham.
Everton striker Neal Maupay opened the scoring in the 53rd minute; the Frenchman received a pass from Alex Iwobi on the edge of the box, turned, and unleashed an unstoppable shot that beat Lukasz Fabianski at his near post. The Toffees later had to rely on stand-in goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to keep a clean sheet – repelling a late Hammers’ onslaught – for their first win of the 2022/23 campaign.
