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Bruno Fernandes wasn’t Manchester United’s problem against Fulham. All in all, he was good by the standards of his position. It’s just that Manchester United need him to be better than that. If he isn’t the best playmaker in the league, their attack is toothless.

Manchester United's big problem: When Bruno Fernandes isn't brilliant, Red Devils are ordinary

A fortunate equalizer at Fulham masks deep structural issues for Michael Carrick as his attack struggles when Bruno Fernandes isn't at his best

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FT Fulham 1, Manchester United 1 - In the end an avalanche of mediocre shots overwhelmed Fulham, who looked the better team in a pretty ordinary contest. The best you could say for United is it didn't get dramatically worse.

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Such an impressive game from Iwobi with and without the ball. He showed game intelligence in his every action, his movement to receive the ball creating space for himself and others. Can't shake the sense that United made him look even better but he is a high grade PL pro.

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Not sure the TV cameras will have spotted how abysmal United's defending of their left flank was just there. Robinson advances, Mbeumo does not track at all. Iwobi moves infield and through it all Dalot seems trapped with decision paralysis, taking the worst of many bad options.

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It should be frightening for United how easily Fulham are driving passes between their lines. Iwobi, Garcia and King very mobile in their positioning and too often their opponent is several steps behind.

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Most non-penalty expected goals allowed in a game in Europe's top five leagues this season Racing Santander - 4.38 vs. Barcelona Manchester City - 4.25 vs. Sunderland Athletic Club - 4.23 vs. Barcelona Valencia - 4.08 vs. Barcelona Stuttgart - 4.06 vs. Bayern Munich

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James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Can scarcely imagine a more perfect for Fulham (h)

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Weird one, before today Arsenal had allowed six shots that Opta judges as low pressure (i.e. defenders not really closing down) across their first four PL games. They've allowed three just in that first half against Brighton. They've conceded twice.

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James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Something deeply uncomfortable about some of the noise being made about a 15 year old footballer. However good he might eventually grow up to be, he's a kid. He is entitled to the space to be that for a fair while yet.

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TV cameras pick up a placard held aloft by one of the Tottenham fans. "Please score a goal" it says.

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FT Tottenham 0, Everton 0 - Some boos at the end of a game that started so brightly for Spurs. Roberto De Zerbi giving Tel a dressing down on the pitch that *seems* to the way he was receiving the ball. There was one particular attack where he knocked the ball backwards under no pressure.

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An hour played here at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Half of Spurs' 0.34 xG has come from Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson.

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HT Spurs 0, Everton 0 - Tottenham still the better team but lacking some of the burst from earlier in the game. 21 touches in the penalty area really ought to result in more than 0.32 xG.

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Strong start by Tottenham. Van Hecke's passing very zippy from deep. Gray and Fernandes swapping in and out of the right half space quite nicely. Spurs just need better shot selection.

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In his last two games, Martin Odegaard has 2.03 expected assists and 0.87 expected goals. Yeah I'm thinking he's back.

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Usually those "he has to score that" chances are missed way more frequently than you think. Saka, however, has to score that. Opta currently has the xG at 0.7, the best chance Arsenal have had in a competitive game this season.

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He's not the defender he was but Ben White is so valuable going forward. He has received more line breaking passes than any PL defender this season except Antonee Robinson. That's to say nothing of his syncing with Saka and Odegaard, who are those few % better with White.

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James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

You would think Raphinha had been playing CF his whole career. Maybe the best attacker in Europe so far this season.

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Enzo Maresca's football. It's just... there. You simply cannot deny that when Maresca is in charge, football matches are played to their completion.

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Martin Odegaard already has more shots on target in the box in the Premier League this season than last. On current trajectory he’ll match his 2025-26 xG around 21:30 on Saturday. Odegaard heard the complaints. He kept the receipts. He’s out to make his critics look quite foolish.

Arsenal's best summer addition might be Martin Odegaard at his best as captain dazzles vs. Chelsea

The midfielder was locked in on Sunday as the hosts came from behind to knock off the Blues

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The Emirates Stadium serenades Morgan Rogers with chants of "you should have signed for a big club"

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Zubimendi and Hincapie coming on

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2-1, Odegaard. Brilliant. Give Havertz an assist.

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Chelsea have committed nine fouls so far. Since the start of the 2024-25 season they have only matched that number once in the first half of a Premier League game (10 vs. Bournemouth in January 2025). They are hitting Arsenal hard.

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HT Arsenal 1, Chelsea 1 - This game would corner you at a party and aggressively hector you about the production on What's the Story Morning Glory for two-plus hours

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The flappiest of hands from the world's No.1

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I sometimes wonder if I've seen Arsenal doing something this season and just assumed 'mark of champions that'. However the quality Arsenal have shown a goal down, the control and composure... mark of champions, that.

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Less of a back five for Chelsea but not quite a four. Neto is effectively a man marker on Calafiori. That could open up some interesting avenues for Arsenal given that Calafiori will go just about anywhere.

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Interesting (though not revolutionary even for themselves) idea leaving four high when defending an Arsenal corner. It's not entirely clear that having fewer defenders against the best set piece attack on the planet is a great strategy when it results in an unmarked first header.

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Will we never find out the truth about Chelsea, free from the lies and obfuscations of game state?

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The Arsenal anthem jacket designer, drawing up another stone cold classic

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Half a dozen or so inflatable UCL trophies held aloft in the away end

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James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Afternoon from the Emirates Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz Chelsea XI: Martinez; Acheampong, Lacroix, Fofana; Neto, James, Lavia, Hato; Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro

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Reposted by James Benge

I had thoughts ahead of Arsenal v Chelsea - What is going on with where Chelsea put their wing backs and midfielders? - Is Alonso up for an Arteta-esque job? - Can you recreate part of the star forward in Eze? - Rogers is impressing but without the ball

Arsenal vs. Chelsea burning questions: Arteta vs. Alonso at the top, Gunners' left wing, Rogers' price tag

Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso bring their lifelong friendship from San Sebastian to the London derby as the Gunners look to defend their crown against a rebuilding Blues squad.

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James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 05/09/2026