theScore examines the most important developments and discusses the biggest talking points from Saturday’s busy slate of action in England’s top flight.
Onana’s all-action debut
Amadou Onana is going to be a lot of fun to watch this season for Everton supporters and neutral onlookers alike.
The 20-year-old midfielder, signed earlier this week from Lille for a reported €35 million, made an eventful debut in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa. He came off the bench with roughly 10 minutes remaining at Villa Park, but, for better or worse, that was all the time he needed to become the central figure.
Trying to wriggle out of a tight situation with virtually his first touch in the Premier League, Onana lost possession in midfield, and that turnover allowed Villa to race down and score the eventual match-winning goal. Welcome to your new digs, kid.
Not deterred, though, the Senegalese-born midfielder bounced right back. Like, literally. From the ensuing kickoff, he created Everton’s tally – an own goal from Lucas Digne – with an excellent burst into the penalty area, showing off some quick feet in the process.
He nearly followed that up with a 96th-minute equalizer, too.
Some players may have withered after making such a glaring error just minutes into their first match for a new club, but not Onana. That bodes well for Frank Lampard and Everton, who desperately need someone capable of dictating matches and offering impetus and drive from midfield.
Alex Iwobi, reinvented as a No. 8, is perfectly cromulent in that position, but in his all-action cameo, Onana showed he can be the focal point of the positional group for the Toffees.
Arteta’s plan is coming together
Gabriel Jesus exchanged passes with Gabriel Martinelli on the left side, Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka caused chaos in and around the penalty area, and Oleksandr Zinchenko tucked into midfield when his teammates pushed forward, offering protection against the counterattack when Leicester City managed to get the ball.
Arsenal played spectacular one-touch football in Saturday’s 4-2 win, giving the fans a lot to savor on a sunny day at the Emirates. Mikel Arteta’s players, operating in a fluid 4-3-3 formation, ran circles around the visitors for over an hour. They brought the manager’s vision of progressive football to life and looked like a real team.
Arteta’s system looks a lot like Pep Guardiola’s at Manchester City. The forwards are constantly on the move, the midfielders join the rush when they can, and the defenders push up to challenge for the ball. It’s not perfect, but it’s highly effective.
Even when the Gunners stumbled, they made quick amends, scoring within two minutes of the restart each time they conceded. They contested possession and won the ball back in dangerous positions. Arteta will have loved every minute of it.
Jesus’ two-goal performance certainly stood out, but his teammates made a great impression as well. A series of quick passes allowed the Brazilian to score in the first place, and a header in his direction set him up for his second. Arsenal just seemed to click.
It’s early in the Premier League season, but they’re proving to be a coherent unit. If they find a way to be consistent, they’ll have no problem finishing in the top four.
Leicester could be in some trouble
Brendan Rodgers has a daunting job on his hands to get Leicester back on track.
There’s no shame in losing to a rejuvenated Arsenal team, especially one that was absolutely raring to go in its home opener, but, after being a thorn in the side of England’s top clubs for some time, the Foxes have clearly fallen off the pace of the league’s better teams.
Not long ago, Leicester was in direct competition with the likes of Arsenal for European places. The gulf on Saturday was very clear, though. Those halcyon days appear to be gone.
And it could get worse before it gets better.
“Not at this moment,” Rodgers said when asked after the match if there could be any new signings on the horizon for his team. “We’re just trying to work with the players we have.”
Leicester have signed only one senior player so far this summer – veteran goalkeeper Alex Smithies arrived on a free transfer – and could yet lose standout defender Wesley Fofana. Two games into the new campaign, it’s not time to smash the panic button just yet, but there’s reason to be concerned.
Kyle Walker’s unique role
Pep Guardiola loves himself some inverted full-backs, but this is perhaps the most extreme example of the tactic we’ve seen during the Spaniard’s Manchester City reign. Kyle Walker is a “full-back” in name only right now.
One of the key cogs in Guardiola’s tactical approach, Walker has been asked to adopt an aggressive interior position this season, tucking all the way into central midfield, just in front of the defenders, when in possession.
He is, in actuality, a deep-lying central midfielder when City have the ball, as showcased in Saturday’s 4-0 stroll against Bournemouth:
(Source: WhoScored)
With Kevin De Bruyne nearby, in advance of Walker, this leaves the winger – on Saturday, it was Riyad Mahrez – high and wide, giving him a chance to isolate against the opposition full-back and, ideally, create chances for Erling Haaland. City figure to have the ball more than their opponent in almost every match they play this season; they enjoyed nearly 70% of the possession in Saturday’s comfortable victory.
Walker’s incredible speed makes him the perfect player to adopt this role, since he can easily recover if there’s a threat on the counterattack down his vacated side of the pitch. That wasn’t much of a consideration against a Bournemouth side that rarely threatened, though.
How this tactic will work, and what tweaks Guardiola will make against more dangerous opposition – if any – will be fascinating to monitor all year long.
De Bruyne is a cheat code
This is far from groundbreaking analysis, but not taking a moment to marvel at De Bruyne’s performance against Bournemouth would do everyone a disservice.
He may have been red-faced from the scorching heat in England, but the brilliant Belgian midfielder, as usual, was the coolest man on the pitch. The way he created a sliver of space with a quick body feint, and then used that tiny opening to arrow an outside-of-the-boot finish perfectly into the bottom corner for his goal, was simply sublime. Few other players in the world could have done the same with such precision. He followed that up with a classic assist on Phil Foden’s goal, first seeing the passing lane and then sliding the ball through with pinpoint weight to hit the Englishman in perfect stride.
So much of the focus surrounding Manchester City this season has centered on Haaland, and rightfully so; the Norwegian is a transcendent talent who could, when the dust settles, go down as one of the most dominant strikers of all time.
But, at least for the moment, De Bruyne is still the player that stirs the proverbial drink for Guardiola’s team.
United’s problems are all too familiar
David De Gea may have cost Manchester United three points on Saturday, but he’s not to blame for the club’s biggest problems. In truth, De Gea is one of the most vocal critics of his team’s performances. He calls a spade a spade, and he takes losses on the chin.
Embarrassed by his own performance, De Gea asked to speak with the media following the 4-0 loss to Brentford, and he took full blame for the result. If only Harry Maguire, United’s captain for the past two-and-a-half years, would do the same.
The issue begins here. There isn’t enough accountability in the dressing room to sustain a turnaround in fortune. There are too many players from different regimes with varying degrees of attachment to the club. It’s all patchwork, and it’s been that way for a while. Erik ten Hag is trying to stamp his authority onto this team, but issuing fines for lateness isn’t enough. The entire culture has to change.
When the Red Devils conceded to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, referee Paul Tierney might as well have called the game then and there. United dropped their heads again Saturday. They didn’t fight back with a vengeance; they just surrendered to the result.
There were 72 minutes remaining in the game when United trailed 2-0. Cristiano Ronaldo knew this. He told his team to rev up their engines and go again. United had enough time to right their wrongs. Instead, they lost track of the ball on a corner kick, conceded a third, and, with numbers forward and their guard down, yielded a fourth off a counterattack they could do nothing to stop. They didn’t pay attention to detail.
Lisandro Martinez, Ten Hag’s signing from Ajax, looked lost. Maguire could’ve been sent off. Jadon Sancho was anonymous. The game passed by Fred, Bruno Fernandes, and Luke Shaw. They were all passengers on the pitch – and, for many, not for the first time.
That’s Ten Hag’s problem. The majority of his players are either not good enough or simply not interested. They certainly can’t play the kind of pressing football that he wants to see. United lack a spine and an identity, and until they find both, they’ll continue to drift into irrelevance.
Breaking down thrilling EPL title race with 10 games left
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One of the most intoxicating title races in Premier League history is, mercifully, ready to resume.
The quirks of the calendar – an FA Cup weekend succeeded by an agonizing international window – means the titanic tussle between Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City will have been on hiatus for a full three weeks before it gets back underway on Sunday.
But there are no more impending interruptions. With 10 matches remaining for each title contender, we’re barreling toward a resolution to the type of three-way battle that’s exceedingly rare in England’s top flight. There’s never been a season in the Premier League era where three teams went into the final day with a chance to hoist the trophy. This could be it. The last time it happened was the 1971-72 campaign, when Derby County won an incredible four-team fight, narrowly beating Leeds United and, ominously, Liverpool and Man City to the crown. We’re overdue for that kind of drama.
That three sides have converged this way at all is, frankly, remarkable.
These are the three best teams in the country by an enormous margin. They’re the only ones with an expected goal difference per game of plus-1.0 or greater this season. The next best mark, surprisingly, belongs to Mauricio Pochettino’s erratic Chelsea team at plus-0.36. So, yeah, it’s not close.
The three of them are also on a tear and show no signs of slowing down. Arsenal have won all eight of their league games in 2024, scoring 33 goals in the process; Liverpool have collected 22 of a possible 27 points in that time; reigning champions Manchester City have racked up 23 of 27 points. They’ve combined for just one loss since the calendar flipped – Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat against Arsenal in early February.
The only sides that look capable of halting their progress are each other, which makes this weekend’s clash between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad all the more significant.
Euro 2024 playoffs: Miraculous Ukraine comeback, big result for Wales
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Wales, Greece, and Poland registered statement wins Thursday, joining three other teams in next Tuesday’s playoff finals for the three remaining places at Euro 2024.
Ukraine staged an incredible late comeback against Bosnia and Herzegovina in its semifinal to keep its Euro dream alive.
The highest-placed team in FIFA’s rankings that’s no longer in contention to reach the tournament in Germany is 60th-placed Finland.
Here’s how the playoff semifinals across Path A, B, and C played out.
Path A
Mateusz Slodkowski / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Poland 5-1 Estonia
Estonia barely stood a chance. Down to 10 men as early as the 27th minute, the northern Europeans could only muster a consolation goal in a 5-1 loss to Poland. The Polish achieved the rout without Robert Lewandowski getting on the scoresheet and remain unbeaten in 21 Euro qualifiers at home, a magnificent run dating back to September 2006. Poland is trying to make up for a poor qualifying campaign in which it finished third in Group E, four points behind the Czech Republic and Albania. The country hasn’t missed the Euros since 2004.
Wales 4-1 Finland
The Red Wall might descend on Germany this summer. Wales’ raucous supporters have legitimate hopes of traveling to another major tournament after the Dragons scorched Finland without the retired Gareth Bale and with Aaron Ramsey, 33, on the bench after more injury problems. Teemu Pukki gave the visiting team some hope just before halftime following well-taken finishes from David Brooks and Neco Williams. But Wales needed just 73 seconds of the second period to restore its two-goal cushion via Brennan Johnson’s tap-in. Daniel James took advantage of a defensive error before rounding the goalkeeper in the 86th minute to give the host a resounding victory.
Playoff final: Wales vs. Poland, Tuesday 3:45 p.m. ET
Path B
David Balogh – UEFA / UEFA / Getty
Israel 1-4 Iceland
Iceland’s Albert Gudmundsson stole the show with an emphatic hat-trick against Israel on Thursday. His stunning free-kick into the top right corner canceled out Eran Zahavi’s opening goal for Israel, and he created a nice cushion for his country with a pair of markers in the final 10 minutes. Just before that, Zahavi blew an incredible opportunity to equalize the match at 2-2, missing a penalty awarded for handball against Iceland’s Gudmundur Thorarinsson. A red card to Israel’s Haim Revivo didn’t help the trailing side. Iceland is now a game away from making only its second-ever appearance at the Euros following its quarterfinal run in 2016.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Ukraine
Ukraine scored twice with just minutes remaining in regulation to snatch what seemed to be a sure victory from Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday. Bosnia controlled play for most of the match and took the lead in the 56th minute when Mykola Matviyenko turned in Amar Dedic’s shot into his own net. But a colossal defensive lapse cost the Bosnians a chance to make it a record four countries from the former Yugoslavia at Euro 2024. Roman Yaremchuk came off the bench to equalize in the 85th minute and teed up Artem Dovbyk’s sensational winning header three minutes later to turn the playoff semifinal on its head. Ukraine now faces Iceland with a third consecutive Euro appearance at stake.
Playoff final: Ukraine vs. Iceland, Tuesday 3:45 p.m. ET
Path C
GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE / AFP / Getty
Georgia 2-0 Luxembourg
Two clever finishes from Budu Zivzivadze in Tbilisi assured Georgia of a place in Path C’s final – and all without the help of suspended talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. But it wasn’t that simple for the host. Luxembourg thought it equalized during the second half, only for the goal to be eventually snatched away due to Maxime Chanot’s apparent foul 45 seconds earlier. Luxembourg’s Chanot was controversially sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, and Zivzivadze effectively ended the match six minutes later with his second strike. Kvaratskhelia is available for the final.
Greece 5-0 Kazakhstan
Anastasios Bakasetas lashed home a penalty, Dimitrios Pelkas headed into the net’s roof, Fotis Ioannidis tapped in from close range, and Dimitrios Kourbelis added another header. And that was all before halftime. Kazakhstan’s impressive 2022-23 Nations League campaign and notable Euro 2024 qualifying wins over Denmark, Northern Ireland (twice), and Finland suddenly seemed ages ago, as Greece recorded its biggest halftime lead since October 1978 (5-0 against Finland). Aleksandr Marochkin’s embarrassing own goal in the 85th minute made Kazakhstan’s day even worse.
Playoff final: Georgia vs. Greece, Tuesday 1:00 p.m. ET
Look: Nike unveils beautiful kit selection for Euro 2024, Copa America
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Nike released a stunning batch of threads ahead of Euro 2024 and Copa America on Monday.
Days after Adidas launched its lineup for the summer’s top two tournaments, Nike followed suit with an array of colorful designs.
The U.S. manufacturer also announced redesigns for Canada and Poland, even though they’ve yet to qualify for their respective tournaments. The Canucks face Trinidad and Tobago in a one-off Copa America qualifier on Saturday, while Poland must navigate a four-team playoff to reach Euro 2024.
(All images courtesy of Nike)
Euro 2024
Croatia
Home
The square-shaped design that gives Croatia its unique look gets a slight upgrade. The home shirt features larger squares than ever before.
Away
Croatia’s away shirt plays on the national flag, with the traditional checkered pattern now on a slant.
England
Home
Influenced by England’s 1966 training gear, the home shirt has a classic feel with a rich blue collar and gorgeous trim along the cuffs.
Away
England embraces a deep purple hue for its away selection. The crest stands out with a contrasting off-white tint that makes the three lions pop.
France
Home
France’s home shirt may have the biggest crest of all of Nike’s offerings. The oversized rooster defines this shirt as much as the royal blue that’s made France’s kits a crowd-pleaser.
Away
The pinstripes mirror the colors of France’s national flag and span the width of the shirt in a simple, yet elegant design.
Netherlands
Home
Nike could’ve offered anything orange here, and it would’ve been perfect. But the Netherlands has something bolder and better to wear. The zig-zag pattern adds edge.
Away
The orange collar and cuffs pop alongside the three shades of blue Nike has chosen to create the abstract design on this work of art.
Poland
Home
Poland dedicates premium real estate on the country’s home shirt to its imposing crest.
Away
Poland’s away shirt is a daring choice. The graphic treatment adds texture, giving it a rugged feel while separating from the red tones of years past.
Portugal
Home
With possibly the best home shirt in Nike’s collection, Portugal leans heavily into its traditional red-and-green motif with a polo collar and thick cuffs. The logo sits prominently as well. A smash hit.
Away
Here’s another winner. Portugal’s away strip has a stunning textile imprint that gives off a cool summer vibe.
Turkey
Home
This is a menacing look. Turkey will look like a whirring red army with these imposing shirts.
Away
The classic red band returns to Turkey’s away uniform. Like the others, it features an oversized crest in the middle of the shirt.
Copa America
Brazil
Home
Nike goes big with Brazil’s crest and adds an intricate design to the same yellow hue the Selecao have used for decades.
Away
Brazil’s secondary strip feels like the beach. A horizontal wavy pattern covering the entire shirt mimics the country’s picturesque coastline.
Canada
Home
The only blemish in Nike’s lineup. Why is there a circle around the swoosh? And why are the shoulders so much darker than the body? None of it makes sense.
Away
The 13 pinstripes are supposed to represent the 10 provinces and three territories that make up Canada. Unfortunately, the rest of the shirt looks incomplete.
United States
Home
The United States men’s national team gets a classic home shirt with patriotic detailing along the color and sleeves.
Away
The gradient works perfectly with the red shorts the U.S. will wear at the Copa America.