Martin Ødegaard’s claim that “all of the teams are good” has already been tested by three weeks of Premier League football, and matchday three offered more evidence that quality in this division is abundant, but perfection remains elusive.

Across the round, several teams produced encouraging spells without turning them into clean, controlled wins. Some were left to regret missed chances, others survived by narrower margins than expected, and a few drifted into the familiar territory of being competitive without quite being convincing.

At one end of the scale, Liverpool were pushed hard by Ipswich, with Gary O’Neil admitting: “I hate having to talk about good performances when you don’t get points because you need to maximize them,” while Ipswich could not consistently threaten a side that still looked vulnerable at times.

Aston Villa’s visit to the MKM Stadium was harder to explain. Unai Emery insisted the match had gone exactly as intended, although the performance raised obvious questions about how a game plan can survive without even a shot on target.

Chelsea began sharply, with Morgan Rogers’s second-minute volley setting the tone after a set-piece routine, but Arsenal gradually took control. Chelsea created almost nothing after the interval, while Martin Ødegaard’s winner underlined the difference between a bright start and a complete performance.

Elsewhere, Hull’s seven points from three games drew a playful Champions League reference from Sergej Jakirović, while Tottenham remained stubbornly in the middle ground. Roberto De Zerbi’s side were held to a goalless draw that suited neither heaven nor hell.

There were also reminders that strong starts can unravel quickly. Bournemouth led 2-0 at St. James’s Park before another late setback, while Everton earned a point thanks to Ainsley Maitland-Niles’s 96th-minute strike and Manchester United were undone by Everton’s set-piece threat after a flat first half.

Elsewhere, Brighton “woke up too late,” Nottingham Forest were left frustrated by a disallowed goal, Brentford needed a triple half-time change to find a response, and Leeds experienced a textbook game of two halves. Sunderland, meanwhile, secured a different outcome from the same spot and the same goalkeeper, when Enzo Le Fée produced a far better penalty than he had before.

For Manchester City, Erling Haaland again provided the decisive edge, as Coventry’s resistance made the result far less straightforward than expected.

Manchester United may have to postpone their pursuit of Leicester City teenager Louis Page until the January window after the two clubs were unable to settle on a transfer fee before the summer deadline.

The 18-year-old midfielder had attracted attention after emerging in the same period as fellow breakout youngster Jeremy Monga. In contrast to Page, Monga was taken by Manchester City in July, while Leicester will keep hold of Page for now.

According to The Athletic, Page “made clear” that he wanted to join Manchester United, having initially drawn interest from Arsenal earlier in the summer. Even so, the discussions did not produce an acceptable agreement before the closing stages of the window.

The fee structure reportedly became the main sticking point. Page was expected to command more than the $16.9 million (£12.5 million) package Manchester City agreed for Monga. Leicester, however, were said to want almost that amount guaranteed, with the total rising to $20.3 million (£15 million) once add-ons were included. Talks will now need to continue.

A move would not have seen Page depart immediately in any case. The plan was for him to stay at Leicester on loan for the rest of this season, where he would have gained first-team experience in League One.

That means the situation has not changed greatly. If Page still favours Manchester United, the club should retain an edge over other interested sides such as Arsenal. January is now the next realistic opportunity for any deal to be completed.

Manchester City are reported to be pursuing Jeremy Monga, a 16-year-old winger who primarily operates on the left flank. The Athletic says City are “working to complete a deal” for the teenager. Leicester will be able to offer Monga a first professional contract on his 17th birthday next week, which will allow the Foxes to command a transfer fee.

That fee is thought to be in the region of £10 million ($13.4 million). That figure is claimed to be too high for Arsenal, and sources suggest the price has left the door open for Manchester City to move in. The Gunners had been in “club-to-club contact” with Leicester, but are now described by Fabrizio Romano as being “definitely out of the race.”

The report credits Manchester City’s new boss Enzo Maresca with “driving” interest in Monga. Maresca was reportedly aware of the youngster from his time in charge at Leicester. Monga did not make a first-team appearance while Maresca was manager during the 2023–24 season, but he apparently left an impression on the Italian coach.

How Monga would fit into Manchester City’s plans next season is unclear. Jérémy Doku is established on the left wing, and City have a group of versatile attackers who have been used to fill in across the front line. Omar Marmoush and Phil Foden are named among those capable of covering wide positions, which leaves uncertainty over an immediate path to regular first-team minutes for the youngster.

The situation centres on Leicester’s ability to demand a fee once Monga signs his first pro contract and whether Manchester City will be prepared to meet that valuation. Arsenal’s earlier interest, their club-level contact with Leicester, and City’s reported drive to conclude a deal are the key developments in this transfer story.