Premier League 2019/20 Matchweek 26 Round-up & Highlights: Part Two

The weird matchweek 26 is lasting 12 days and is the gift that keeps on giving. It started last Saturday and ends this Wednesday with the rescheduled Man City vs West Ham game. Here are the highlights from this weekend’s games, including a five-goal thriller at Villa Park, unlucky Chelsea, and a victorious Arsenal. We know… brace yourselves.

• EPL Matchweek 26 Round-up Part One

Chelsea 0 – 2 Manchester United

Frank Lampard’s men were left feeling robbed when Manchester United beat them by two goals to nil at Stamford Bridge, with contribution from VAR decisions that went against them.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer managed two consecutive victories over Chelsea for the first time since the 1987/88 season, a win that got his squad just three points away from their four-placed opponents.

Anthony Martial opened up the scoreline in the last minute of the first half with a super-assist from Aaron Wan-Bissaka. And captain Harry Maguire guided in a header from a Bruno Fernandes corner in the 66th minute.

However, Chelsea had leveled the score. Twice. Kurt Zouma made it 1-1 but his goal was ruled out for a push by Cesar Azpilicueta somewhere else on the pitch … please! And then Olivier Giroud had scored another leveler in the 76th minute, but his header was ruled out because his toe was in an offside position. Meh.

And that’s it for the Big One of the weekend. Were Manchester United the better team? Were Chelsea better than what the final result reflected? Was this even a good game? We’re not sure any more …

Aston Villa 2 – 3 Tottenham Hotspur

How can we say this so it doesn’t sound too ridiculous? Spurs traveled to Villa Park this Sunday for a five-goal Premier League thriller that was largely decided by three players.

Here is how it went: Toby Alderweireld scored an own goal in the ninth minute to put Aston Villa ahead, but then redeemed himself when his equalizer went past Pepe Reina less than 20 minutes later.

Foward to seconds before the break and enter Bjorn Engels, who gave away a penalty and Son Heung-min got the ball in the back of the net regardless of Reina’s brilliant initial save. 

BUT! Engels went from zero to hero when he scored for 2-2 in the 53rd minute. It didn’t end there. It was his mistake that led to Heung-min’s winner that crushed Aston Villa’s hearts in injury time of the clash.

Norwich City 0 – 1 Liverpool

Liverpool beat Norwich City with a single goal by injury-ridden Sadio Mane, who came on in the 60th minute just to remind Liverpool fans what they have been missing for weeks. The Senegalese star scored the winner in the 73rd minute and put Jurgen Klopp’s men 25 points clear.

Welcome back, Sadiooo!

Arsenal 4 – 0 Newcastle United

Arsenal scored four goals (said nobody in ages) to thrash Newcastle United at home on Saturday. The Gunners have drawn 13/25 games, a Premier League record so far into the season, so we were ready for another dull point from the Emirates.

The first half was exactly what we expected, but Mikel Arteta must have said something at half time because goals started reigning in from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (53′), Nicolas Pepe (57′), Mesut Ozil (90′) and Alexandre Lacazette (90′ + 5).

Shout-out to Bukayo Saka, just for being awesome and for this: 

Sunday’s victory puts Arsenal six points behind Tottenham Hotspur in the tenth position with 34 points.

Here are the final standings at the end of Part One of matchweek 23. See you next weekend for the second half and stay tuned to find out when the postponed Man City vs West Ham clash will take place. Make sure to bet with 22Bet!