GOAL US unpacks the main weekend storylines from the Premier League, La Liga and other top competitions in The Euro XI
The European season is unfolding in style. Finally, pictures are starting to form. One game is a fluke, two games is perspective, three, though, is when shapes become clearer, lines are drawn. We now know, for example, that Arsenal aren't that much different from last year. We know, too, that Liverpool have a bit more bite to them than we thought.
It is clear, too, that Xabi Alonso might be a good manager, Barcelona lack depth, and Man City will be up-and-down and then end up finishing third. There's a lot to break down: storylines to follow, sketches to make sense of, goals to enjoy.
GOAL US presents The Euro XI, with 11 key observations from the weekend.
Getty Images Sport1Serves you right, Mikel
So Mikel Arteta decided to show up and play for a draw. Snooze. We've heard this story before. But this was a seriously painful way of playing football, when Arsenal showed up to Anfield with four centerbacks and three defensive midfielders, as well as a Victor Gyokeres up front.
What, exactly, are you supposed to do with that in an attacking sense? Well, Arsenal were very, very good defensively. But everything else was fiercely unwatchable. Seriously, did anything happen for most of that game? Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai delivered the right foot of karmic justice, absolutely one into the top corner from 35 yards to secure a 1-0 win. Good.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport2Man City are so done
Right? The Cityzens looked like world beaters when they put four past Wolves to open the season. In Tijjani Reijnders they had Kevin De Bruyne 2.0. Erling Haaland was back scoring goals. Title on. Except it's very much not.
Since then, they have lost two in a row, including a 2-1 defeat to a wonderfully well-drilled Brighton team. James Milner, 39, scored the equalizer, which is admittedly funny. City will still probably finish third.
Getty Images Sport3The world is better when Jack Grealish is smiling
Is it possible to dislike Jack Grealish? If it is, no one seems to know how. He is football's perfect court jester – except he's like, really good at this sport. Grealish is an immense talent, a true maverick in an era of robots.
His role in the extended Premier League cinematic universe has always been that of the best player on a mid-table team, the undisputed main man that can convince a manager to make an exception to his system. And he was at it again for Everton, assisting two in a convincing win for the Toffees. Grealish is smiling. So are Everton fans. Somehow, everything just feels fine as a result.
Getty Images4Newcastle need a striker
Stop me if you've heard this one before: Newcastle could use a No. 9. Of course, the Alexander Isak saga has clouded their whole season so far. He was their undisputed superstar. He didn't want to play for them, and now he plays for Liverpool. It's all wonderful content. Now, though, they're left with a big German fella who has to score all of the goals. He didn't play at the weekend, but he will need to start banging 'em in to dispel the ghost of Swedish striker past.
