Six Prem speaking factors as Gabriel avoids crimson card and Man Utd concede ‘aim of the season’

Arsenal dealt the first blow of the Premier League title race by coming from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates on Sunday thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard. But the game could have played out incredibly differently after Gabriel escaped a red card in the first-half.

The big Brazilian defender is one of the most talked about players in the entire league; however, his knack of throwing himself on the ground under the slightest of contact has given him an unwanted tag among rival fans. And those furious supporters were enraged again after Gabriel kicked Emi Martinez in the head during a scramble in the Chelsea six-yard box.

Gabriel swung his foot at the ball, but he connected with Martinez’s head with both players on the deck. The Argentine stopper inevitably rolled around on the floor but he couldn’t convince referee Chris Kavanagh or VAR to punish the Arsenal defender.

Manchester United thought they had picked up a hard-fought win at Everton in the earlier kick-off on Sunday as Benjamin Sesko bounced off the bench to head the visitors back in front after Tyrique George’s strike cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s brilliant solo opener.

But a game of great goals saw a goal of the season contender fly into the top corner off the boot of Ainsley Maitland-Niles from 25 yards in the 96th minute to snatch Everton a point.

The former Arsenal man was making his Everton debut off the bench having returned to England at the age of 29 following three years at Lyon. There were plenty watching who forgot he existed, but he will forever be remembered in Premier League and Everton folklore now.

United conceded both goals at a joint XG of 0.07, but it’s the poor game management and positional awareness that sparked the chances of those goals in the first place.

Michael Carrick’s side have shipped six goals in three games against Hull City, Ipswich Town and Everton – all teams very likely to end the season in the bottom half of the table.

On Friday night, Liverpool picked up their first win under Andoni Iraola as Alexander Isak’s brace in the opening 10 minutes ended the 2-0 contest before it had really started.

And it was another memorable game for Cody Gakpo, who chipped in with two assists, just days after his proposed £80million move to Manchester City broke down. Potentially a stroke of genius, or very much luck, from the Reds.

Manchester City limped over the line in a game they were expected to run riot in against Coventry City at the Etihad on Saturday, but they were fortunate to get away with the 1-0 win.

After Gianluigi Donnarumma almost scored the most embarrassing of own goals and Taiwo Awoniyi put a one-on-one chance wide, Erling Haaland headed home the only goal of the game after Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth misjudged the cross. Donnarumma had to deny Loum Tchaouna and Ellis Simms from equalising in the second half as City limped over the line.

But the biggest surprise package of the season so far, Hull City, are still yet to concede three games into their return to the Premier League.

Hull beat Manchester United and Coventry in their opening two games and held a toothless Aston Villa side to a goalless draw on Saturday. The Tigers end the weekend 3rd in the table, behind City and Arsenal and a place ahead of Chelsea.