Welcome to Luis Miguel Echegaray’s model new column for Yahoo Sports activities. Every week, LME brings his distinctive voice and perspective to the most important tales in world soccer. Right this moment, he breaks down Saturday’s motion and the return of the Premier League after the worldwide break — from Arsenal’s spectacular squad and victory to Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez standout efficiency.
Arsenal, nagged with accidents, proceed to impress
On Saturday, Arsenal kicked off the weekend’s Premier League motion as Mikel Arteta’s males hosted Nottingham Forest. The Tough Timber had simply mentioned goodbye to Nuno Espírito Santo earlier within the week and nearly instantly welcomed Ange Postecoglou in order that they entered Emirates Stadium in transition, realizing full nicely that the very last thing they wished was a visit to a spot that they had by no means gained a Premier League sport. It additionally didn’t assist that Postecoglou had solely two coaching periods earlier than this sport, however once more, I criticized Forest’s determination to fireplace and rent so late within the worldwide break in order that they have solely themselves accountable. They had been proper to be frightened about their journey to North London as a result of Arsenal got here out victorious with a simple 3-0 outcome, making it a seventh straight house win in all competitions in opposition to Forest with an mixture rating of 21-2. With these three factors, the Gunners went prime of the desk, at the least briefly till different outcomes got here to floor.
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However right here’s my largest level in regards to the win and the way it differs from another season, therefore why I’m bullish about Arsenal’s professional run for the Premier League title. They lastly have a squad that may generate outcomes and create a Championship-level id. You couldn’t say that final season. Rotation is now a welcomed phrase.
On this sport, for instance, Arsenal didn’t have the companies of Bukayo Saka or William Saliba — two key gamers within the beginning XI. As well as, Christian Norgaard, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus had been additionally out while Declan Rice didn’t even begin the sport in opposition to Forest. To make issues worse, the extremely vital Martin Ødegaard needed to come off injured attributable to his ongoing shoulder downside. So Arsenal do have a ready checklist within the therapy desk.
However due to the nice work of their new sporting director Andrea Berta, who did an exquisite job within the switch market this summer season, Arsenal now have new names that not solely fill an area, however they’ll additionally ship. Eberechi Eze, in his house debut Saturday, earned an help, offering a aim for his or her different summer season signing Viktor Gyôkeres, who scored for the third time this season. That was in between two targets from one other new participant, Martín Zubimendi, who bagged his first-ever brace Saturday, which included a implausible volley to open the scoring.
Then there’s Noni Madueke, who may simply be the decide of the lot. His transfer to Arsenal from Chelsea was a masterstroke as a result of in each sport, he causes a lot mayhem on the fitting wing, a spot often occupied by the aforementioned Saka. With the added fusion of his work with England, he’s at present going by means of one of the best second of his profession. And to assume that simply earlier than the switch, there was really a gaggle of Arsenal followers who had been absolutely in opposition to the transfer and even made an precise #NOTOMADUEKE petition with a view to nullify the switch. I do consider Noni deserves your apologies.
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And we haven’t even talked about Myles Lewis-Skelly or the spectacular new Ecuador middle again Piero Hincapié and even the younger stars Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman.
So that you get my level. It is a very deep squad, a powerful one, that hopefully — for the sake of Arteta and Arsenal followers — is able to face something thrown at them. The goal, in fact, is the Premier League title.
Bournemouth: Andoni Iraola’s Cherries blossoming
Because of an Antoine Semenyo penalty (questionable?) and an Alex Scott opener, Bournemouth gained 2-1 in opposition to Brighton, who did undergo some key accidents within the opening thirty minutes. Regardless, Vitality Stadium was rocking because the Cherries have began their season in great trend. After dropping the primary sport of the season to Liverpool — a efficiency, by the best way, that pushed the defending champions till the ultimate minutes — they’ve now gained three straight league video games and ended the day in fourth**** place within the desk.
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To be sincere, this spectacular begin isn’t surprising as a result of we may all see what Andoni Iraola was constructing from the get-go, particularly final season. What’s spectacular is the style of the victories and the squad’s degree of cohesion and togetherness.
“We have got our construction, everyone knows what we’re doing and it is a credit score to the lads that the membership have introduced in. Unbelievable,” mentioned Scott after the sport, talking of the workforce and the brand new arrivals to the membership. “They’ve settled in so nicely and we’re enjoying like we all know we are able to.”
This summer season, Bournemouth spent £120 million on new gamers, which is across the center of the desk when discussing expenditure, however additionally they generated roughly £206 million in participant gross sales, notably Ilya Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez, who went to Liverpool. So it is a nicely run membership with nice ambition however the final key to all of it is Iraola, whose system is so nicely suited to the gamers he has at his disposal. There’s no celebrity at Bournemouth, however there are some actually, actually proficient, extraordinarily agile and technically gifted gamers with a variety of promise.
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Veljko Milosavljević, the 18-year-old Serbian who got here from Crimson Star Belgrade for £13 million, is an effective instance. He changed the injured Bafodé Diakité (additionally a brand new arrival and the membership’s second most costly signing) on Saturday and helped his facet with a powerful win in opposition to the Seagulls. And he had solely three periods previous to Saturday. The sort of unity and tactical understanding permeates all through the workforce. Then you might have spectacular gamers resembling Antoine Semenyo who on his finest day can do absolutely anything. He earned an help and a aim. Evanilson is one other one who is sweet at main the entrance line. Now, I gained’t go on as a result of I do know that Iraola needs chilly water to be poured on any sort of untimely hype.
“It is a good begin, it is a good quantity of factors however nonetheless now we have our moments,” he mentioned after the win. “We’ll make errors. We have to construct nonetheless. Everyone seems to be getting extra minutes however each sport is costing us rather a lot. We’re managing nicely but when we do not maintain the main target these small particulars can go the opposite method. We’ve to remain humble.”
And the Basque supervisor is right, there’s an extended option to go, particularly while you apply a high-press system that always challenges itself in a marathon-esque Premier League season.
However so far as this early begin is anxious? The cherries are certainly blossoming.
Villa followers: All is forgiven, ‘Dibu’
If me and my work, you’ll be conscious of my unconditional love for Aston Villa Soccer Membership. It’s an excellent factor that it’s unconditional as a result of this begin of the season has been lower than desired. On Saturday, Unai Emery’s facet drew 0-0 in opposition to an in-form Everton and earned a hard-fought level even if they’re nonetheless looking for their first aim, which is an undesirable hunt that stands alone throughout England’s prime 4 divisions. There’s sadly a determined must spark creativity as followers are getting stressed and to make issues worse, gamers which can be often relied on to create this bolt of offensive lightning usually are not delivering. Morgan Rogers, for instance, who had an awesome worldwide break with England, has been very flat for his membership. I feel it has come to the purpose that Emery ought to bench him, simply so he can notice that his place within the beginning XI isn’t assured. However it’s not simply him. Ollie Watkins, John McGinn — all leaders of the membership must step up with a view to assist earn their first victory of the season.
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Regardless, from a defensive standpoint, the draw in opposition to Everton was devoted and dedicated and had been it not for Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez, Villa would have misplaced Saturday. The Argentine got here again to the lineup after his desired transfer to Manchester United didn’t occur and to be sincere, I didn’t know what to anticipate as soon as the mud had settled. I posted a final week mainly stating that the connection between him and Villa followers was extraordinarily fragile. So this sport was crucial. He knew he needed to ship.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez clears underneath strain from Everton’s Jack Grealish in the course of the Premier League match on the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool. Image date: Saturday September 13, 2025. (Picture by Tim Markland/PA Pictures through Getty Pictures)
(Tim Markland – PA Pictures through Getty Pictures)
And that’s precisely what he did in opposition to the Toffees, producing some majestic saves, which had been quintessentially Dibu. He denied one other former Villan — Jack Grealish — within the first half, as his volley was denied by Martínez’s legs, after which later within the sport, he made a exceptional cease from Michael Keane’s header after Grealish’s cross.
His efficiency helped Villa earn some extent and cemented his place as soon as once more with Villa’s fanbase. “He performed a implausible match,” mentioned Emery after the sport. “He wanted earlier than the match to really feel snug, to really feel assured. We had been attempting to introduce him once more in all the pieces beginning along with his mindset, to be snug. He did a implausible match.”
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On the finish of the sport, Martínez walked towards the away part, thanking the followers by kissing the badge on his shirt and pointing to the truth that all is nicely, he’s right here and he’s prepared to offer all the pieces. There’s completely no denying that he undoubtedly lived as much as this sentiment.