Manchester City capitalize on Arsenal slip-up
Manchester City head into the international break sitting three points clear at the summit of the English Premier League table following a perfect weekend of football action. Enzo Maresca's side capitalized fully on reigning champions Arsenal suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat against Brighton on Saturday. The English club responded in style by edging out Sunderland 5-3 in a thrilling encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Enzo Maresca makes brilliant start
Taking over the managerial reins from Pep Guardiola in the summer was always going to be an unenviable task for Enzo Maresca, especially after enduring a Community Shield defeat against Mikel Arteta's Arsenal in August. However, the Italian coach has orchestrated an impressive response, guiding Manchester City to seven consecutive victories across all competitions. This remarkable start makes Maresca only the sixth manager in Premier League history to win his first five matches in charge at a club, joining elite names like Carlo Ancelotti and his predecessor Guardiola.
Goal fest and defensive concerns
Sunday's fixture against Sunderland provided plenty of talking points for the football world. Antoine Semenyo bagged two goals and an assist, Rayan Cherki delivered a delightful performance, and Enzo Fernandez scored his maiden goal for the club. Meanwhile, star striker Erling Haaland netted a late effort to ensure he has now scored against all 25 Premier League opponents he has faced. Despite the attacking brilliance, conceding three goals against a resilient Sunderland side, including a hat-trick from striker Brian Brobbey, highlighted certain defensive frailties that Maresca will need to address.
Next fixture
Following the conclusion of the upcoming three-week international hiatus, Manchester City will face a stern examination of their title credentials with a challenging away trip to take on unbeaten Liverpool on Sunday, 11 October.
Photo : Ank kumar — BY-SA 4.0, via wikimedia
