Premier League
Premier League matchday two verdicts: who impressed, who faded, who still has work to do
Second-round Premier League performances brought fine margins, blunt lessons and a few early warning signs.
Early-season football can be deceptive, and the second round of Premier League fixtures offered a reminder of that old truth. Results mattered, of course, but the performances behind them told a richer story across the division.
Brighton were capable of troubling Chelsea and might even have won with a sharper edge, yet their openness on the counterattack was hard to ignore. In contrast, Chelsea were highly efficient: with just 26% possession and a total of 155 passes, they still delivered four goals and made their attacking bursts count. Defending remained the concern, as Emiliano Martínez admitted: “At the back, we need to bring the goals down.”
Elsewhere, Manchester City exposed Crystal Palace in a one-sided evening in which Pierre Sage said Palace “lost our hope” at points. Four goals conceded and only one shot on target left little room for optimism. Fulham also struggled badly, with Álvaro Arbeloa saying their defeat to Sunderland required fixes in “motivation,” “mentality,” “energy,” “focus” and “quality.”
Tottenham showed some promise before collapsing after the first goal went in, while Aston Villa were more organised than in their previous outing but still failed to register a shot on target. Unai Emery’s message was blunt: “Now, work, work, work.”
There were brighter notes, too. Ipswich Town deserved credit for taking the lead at Old Trafford before Manchester United’s quality told, with Gary O’Neil pointing to what his side could learn. Leeds United also earned a point after adjustments from Daniel Farke, prompting Keith Andrews to say: “Never underestimate Daniel Farke.”
At Anfield, Liverpool’s draw with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest followed a familiar pattern of twice falling behind and twice fighting back. Nottingham Forest, though, left with pride after Oliver Glasner called it “a very good performance.” Bournemouth again let points slip, while Everton’s late leveller at the Vitality Stadium was matched by off-field significance, with David Moyes saying: “Supporters aren’t always wrong.”
At the other end of the spectrum, Arsenal’s display at Villa Park was controlled rather than dazzling, while Brentford’s wasteful first half still left their manager reflecting that “it shows where we are at that we are disappointed coming away from Elland Road with a draw.” Hull City, meanwhile, had every reason to celebrate after their social media account summed up a smash-and-grab win in a single word: “Mauled.”
Arsenal News
Xhaka withdrawn from Switzerland squad after admitting forged Covid certificate
Xhaka is out of Switzerland’s squad after admitting he obtained a forged Covid-19 certificate in 2022.
Granit Xhaka has been taken out of Switzerland’s squad for the rest of this international window after acknowledging that he obtained a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022.
Xhaka said the decision was “not the right course of action” and described it as a “mistake.” He also issued an apology, but the matter has moved beyond a public statement. Before posting his message as an Instagram story, he had already been in contact with the Swiss Football Association (SFV).
The issue resurfaced after Blick ran the headline last Friday, ‘Did Xhaka buy a fake Covid certificate?’ The report said the document was obtained from a doctor in Lucerne. Police searched those premises in 2023 and “evidence seized.”
On Sunday, after the news emerged in Switzerland, Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris declined to address it directly, saying it was not his “area to speak about those problems or situations.” Xhaka had played the full 90 minutes in a 5-3 defeat to Manchester City, and had previously been an Arsenal player in 2022.
The prosecutor’s office in Lucerne confirmed to Blick that proceedings have been opened against Xhaka and the doctor involved. “The aim,” they say, “is to clarify whether there has been any criminally relevant conduct in connection with the possible fraudulent procurement of a false certification and/or forgery.” Xhaka is due to be questioned in early October.
The SFV said it “welcomes” Xhaka addressing the matter publicly and taking responsibility, after discussions with the national team legend on Sunday night.
“At the same time, we jointly concluded that it is in the team’s best interest to complete this training camp without him,” SFV president Peter Knäbel said. “Our priority now is to calm the situation and focus entirely on the team and the upcoming challenges in the UEFA Nations League. After the conclusion of this international match window, we will reassess the situation together with Granit and discuss the next steps.”
The broader issue is not vaccination itself. In Switzerland, vaccination was never a legal requirement, though proof of vaccination was needed for access to certain venues or travel. The central question is the alleged procurement of false or forged official documents.
Man Utd
Neville Questions United Work Rate After Fulham Draw
Neville criticised United’s work rate after Fulham, while Carrick rejected claims about their energy.
Manchester United’s draw with Fulham has intensified scrutiny around their approach, with Gary Neville labelling the performance as the “ultimate criticism” a team can face. The former defender said Michael Carrick’s side did not do enough without the ball, following a week that already included elimination from the Carabao Cup at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion.
Carrick tried to keep the discussion focused on the broader picture, but Neville was blunt in his assessment of United’s movement and intensity. “I’ve never seen a Man Utd team walk out of possession as much as that,” Neville reflected. “Michael has just said there was nothing wrong with the team’s energy. Michael has got to stop defending them.
“I get why he’s defending them; he’s loyal, he wants his players to work for him, and obviously there’s a long way to go in the season.
“Both teams were the same. I called them mannequins. I’ve never seen a United team walk around as much as that. No alertness, no aliveness. No ‘on your toes.’ You should always be on your toes.”
Neville continued: “Very rarely do I say a team doesn’t work hard or is lacking in effort. That’s the ultimate criticism you can give a group of players.
“I’m always very careful to say that, but in those first 15 minutes of that second half, Man Utd and generally for the first 60 minutes, were a genuine disgrace. Nowhere near good enough without the ball.”
Goalscorer Cunha offered a different explanation, pointing to energy rather than effort. “In the beginning of the second half, Fulham put in more energy than us and we cannot accept this,” Cunha said, after United covered six kilometers less than Fulham across the full game.
Limited energy has been an issue for United all season, and the numbers back that up. They rank 20th in time at high intensity, 20th in sprints and 20th in time sprinting, while also sitting 17th for time walking.
Asked if he agreed with Cunha’s view, Carrick was unconvinced. “I don’t, particularly.
“The way we finished the game … it didn’t look like that for me. I was quite happy with the way we finished the game. We kept pushing. I don’t think that’s an issue, no.”
Chelsea
Palmer’s England setback could strengthen Chelsea’s early-season momentum
Palmer’s England setback may disappoint him, but Chelsea can benefit from his extra rest.
Cole Palmer must wait a little longer for another chance to convince Thomas Tuchel on the England stage, but the delay may suit Chelsea just fine.
Palmer has not featured for England since March 2026 and missed this summer’s World Cup. A strong start to the 2026/27 season had earned him a recall, and Tuchel accepted that he deserved the opportunity to show he belongs in the squad full-time. That opportunity now looks set to slip away for the time being.
Inside Chelsea, there will be sympathy for the player, but also a clear sense that his absence from international duty could help club matters. The mood around the team is not especially bright after two defeats and a draw, yet Palmer has been one of the clearest positives under Xabi Alonso.
His return to form has been reflected in the numbers. Four goals and two assists in seven games represent an encouraging opening stretch, and Palmer himself has spoken about enjoying his football again in Alonso’s fluid forward line. Tactics have helped, but so has the value of a proper summer break.
Last season was hindered by the lingering effects of a groin injury, and his output dropped to 11 goals and three assists in all competitions. Given that context, being left out of England’s World Cup squad was painful but not unexpected. It also created the long recovery period he needed.
For the first time in months, Palmer was able to step away from the demands of match football and focus purely on recovery between May and August. That pause has clearly paid off in the opening weeks of the campaign.
Chelsea supporters wanted to see him back on the international stage, but few would oppose another three-week break if it produces the same level of sharpness. Tuchel, though, has made his stance clear. He values the same core of players and prioritises what he sees from them in an England shirt.
Since Tuchel arrived in January 2025, Palmer has played only 158 minutes for England across three appearances. Injuries and poor form have limited his chances, while others have moved ahead by making the most of their own opportunities.
Palmer has already worked his way back into Tuchel’s thinking once this month, and could do so again by maintaining his goals and assists for Chelsea. For now, however, the bar appears higher after another international window away from England.
