The Premier League season kicked off, Crystal Palace lost their appeal and Jack Grealish joined Everton. Five Things From the Week covers all that and more.
1. Manchester United looked better, but far from complete
Arsenal went into Old Trafford and kept a clean sheet without ever getting out of second gear. They capitalized on Manchester United's mess of a goalkeeping situation via a set piece and saw out the remaining 77 minutes. Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were dangerous until they got into the final third, just like the numbers suggested they might be. The attack was more cohesive, but there was never a point where Arsenal were truly uncomfortable.
Generating 22 shots against the best back line in the Premier League is a really good sign. It only matters so much if the ball doesn't go into the net though. Maybe Benjamin Šeško settles in and becomes that guy. Mbeumo and Cunha might find their excellent form from last season. Sunday's defeat was just one data point. It could prove to be a trend, or it could be an aberration. History suggests the former. Ruben Amorim better hope it's the latter.
2. Sunderland stole the show
It's not just that Sunderland marked their return to the Premier League by beating West Ham 3-0. It's that they did so while keeping a clean sheet, winning the xG battle and putting more shots on target. They controlled the game without dominating possession and scored in different ways. The stadium was electric. It was everything Régis Le Bris could have hoped for and then some. The Black Cats looked like they belonged.
Getting off to a good start is crucial for any promoted team trying to survive. Very few manage to dig themselves out of a hole. Sunderland visit Burnley and host Brentford next, so a nine-point August isn't out of the question. Neither is them losing five in a row and being nailed to the bottom of the table. Saturday’s victory could be a sign of things to come or the highlight of the season. If nothing else, they gave their fans a glorious day to remember.
3. Crystal Palace were stuck in a really tough spot
Crystal Palace were always fighting an uphill battle in their attempt to win back their Europa League spot through appeal. At UEFA’s deadline, they had an owner who was also heavily involved with Lyon. It doesn't matter that John Textor no longer has any connection to Palace, nor does it matter that the chances of both clubs qualifying for the Europa League were miniscule at that point. Palace had to prove Textor didn't have controlling influence, which is a difficult task.
In a world where multi-club ownership groups regularly get multiple teams into the Champions League, the optics of Palace losing their appeal look awful. It feels incredibly unfair. That being said, the same workaround was available to Textor. He didn't use it. The objective of these rules is not to take a once-in-a-life experience away from Palace and their fans, but that's what happened. As is too often the case, it is the smaller clubs who are being punished.
4. Everton are quietly having an excellent transfer window
Everton had three obvious needs to address this summer: a striker, a midfielder to replace Abdoulaye Doucouré and another creative player. Check, check and check. Thierno Barry scored 11 goals in La Liga for Villarreal in his age-21 season. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall impressed Enzo Maresca enough during their time at Leicester City that the Italian manager brought him to Chelsea. Jack Grealish officially joined on loan Tuesday with the goal of making England’s World Cup squad next summer.
The only teams to beat the Toffees in the Premier League after Jan. 15 were Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool. They have raised their ceiling considerably while many of the teams around them have lost key players (Brentford and Bournemouth) or done nothing (Fulham). A top-half finish is a realistic goal, and it would not be shocking if Everton find themselves fighting for European qualification.
5. Two London clubs could be in trouble
Brentford and West Ham lost their opening games by a combined score of 6-1. Both trailed 3-0. They faced a newly promoted team (Sunderland) and a team that seems poised to take a step back (Nottingham Forest). As lopsided as they were, one defeat on the road isn't a big deal. The issue is that points might be extremely difficult to come by in the next couple months. That's a recipe for a very quick managerial change.
Brentford’s first home game against a non-Big 6 club that did not qualify for Europe is Nov. 29. West Ham’s is Oct. 18 against Brentford. The Hammers have just one more before Dec. 27. Keith Andrews has had the deck stacked against him from the start, and Graham Potter hasn't done much to instill confidence at West Ham. If either club is sitting in the relegation zone at Thanksgiving, are they willing to stick with their manager? The concerns coming in were validated on the opening weekend. It could get bad fast if they aren't addressed.