Another Premier League weekend with compelling narratives, mixed emotions and little change at either top or bottom – although that only tells half the story.
For there were still Premier League highlights aplenty to devour and some performances worthy of high praise.
Let’s start on Merseyside where a ‘double bluff’ penalty save caught my eye.
Jordan Pickford had the Everton fans roaring his name as he defied Newcastle and former Blues youth product Anthony Gordon at Goodison Park.
His first half spot kick heroics, plus another stop to deny the same player in the closing stages, demonstrated that the Toffees have not lost the character and doggedness that pulled them through an unprecedented tough spell last term.
Sandro Tonali also saw an effort hacked off the line by Senegal midfielder Iliman Ndiaye but it was far from one way traffic as the hosts had an early goal disallowed, while Idrissa Gueye blazed over with the goal at his mercy.
A gritty and resilient Everton is exactly what they need right now to climb away from the lower part of the table.
Slowly, they are recovering from an horrendous start.
Talking of which, it was pleasing for this SBOTOP reporter to back a draw and be vindicated, even if I did predict it to be a high scoring affair!
One side which is showing few signs of recovery is a team I tipped for the drop.
Conceding five and scoring three at Brentford on Saturday meant Wolves have endured their worst league start for 60 years.
They conceded after just 75 seconds in west London and, despite briefly levelling on two occasions, were undermined by some truly woeful defending.
It was a game the Wolves manager Gary O’Neill described as his worst as a coach and has since vowed to make changes for their next encounter when, in a fortnight’s time, they have the unenviable task of hosting champions Manchester City – a contest they won 2-1 last season despite having just one effort on target (the opener was an own goal).
They have now conceded 21 goals in their first seven league games this season – two more than relegated Sheffield United had at this stage last term.
The last time Wolves picked up only one point from their opening seven games of a league season was 60 years ago, when they ended up finishing second bottom in the old First Division.
There were also important wins on Saturday for Liverpool and newly promoted Leicester – 1-0 against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth respectively – while West Ham are finally up and running under Julen Lopetegui.
The arrival of a manager with real European pedigree, having won the Europa League with Sevilla, had naturally lifted expectation levels within the ranks of the Hammers.
A slow and unconvincing start had caused deflation but on Saturday, albeit against a team who are favourites for the drop with Premier League betting odds, they secured their first home points of the campaign.
Again though, the boys from East Anglia deserve some kudos and, although beaten 4-1, there was a bright spot with the continued form of Liam Delap.
The striker, who was named in the England under-21s squad last week, has scored four of the six goals Ipswich Town have netted in the first seven matches of the Premier League season.
Following on from his double against Aston Villa a week ago, he is already looking a very good £20 million purchase from Manchester City.
Last season’s top two both won at home but it was harder than many predicted.
Bukayo Saka was the hero for Arsenal who fell behind to newly promoted Southampton at the Emirates and then, with the Gunners 2-1 in front, survived a double scare as the Saints twice hit the woodwork moments before the winger, who had created the hosts’ first two goals, made the contest safe with the third.
It meant the North Londoners became only the second club in Premier League history to record 400 home wins. Another milestone for the home team saw Kai Havertz become the first Arsenal player to score in seven consecutive home appearances in all competitions since Robin van Persie in March 2012.
City were given a fright of their own as Fulham took the lead at the Etihad Stadium and then scored late on to ensure the outcome remained in doubt until the final whistle.
In between, a player who is amongst the front runners to replace their ‘metronome’ Rodri, netted twice to stake his claim for a regular stating berth amongst Pep Guardiola’s charges.
Mateo Kovacic ensured they overcame a first-half deficit before Jeremy Doku hit a stunning winner in second half. It punished wasteful Fulham who would have emerged with at least a point but for failing to capitalise on three big chances.
Onto Sunday and three more games including, at Villa Park, a showdown with plenty at stake.
In many ways it was a bit after the Lord Mayor’s show and all that following Aston Villa’s memorable midweek victory over Bayern Munich and Manchester United’s 3-3 draw in Porto.
The contest ended goalless between two well matched sides and, despite a few headlines in the seconds immediately following the game which said it was an underwhelming point for the visitors, it was quite the opposite – a decent point, restricting a dynamic Villa to just one effort on target, at the end of a week in which the pressure has been unwavering.
Unlike some online responses which are almost uniformly negative, the true fans at games continue to be supportive of their manager and the reaction from United fans towards manager and players was universally warm.
The final word of the weekend goes to two members of the goalkeeping union, Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest) and Robert Sanchez (Chelsea) who were both outstanding during a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
An impressive result for Forest as they continue their fine start to the campaign and a game which highlighted the importance of having a reliable custodian.
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