Son shines as Chelsea's work in progress places Premier League title hopes at risk

Big-spending Chelsea still a work in progress

According to Chelsea's matchday programme before Nottingham Forest's arrival at Stamford Bridge, Mauricio Pochettino expressed his satisfaction with the development of his new team. Following a sluggish beginning to his tenure, back-to-back victories against Luton and AFC Wimbledon validated the Argentine's standpoint.

The results may not be inspiring, but there were small signs of encouragement in each game that give Pochettino optimism about Chelsea's future. However, the recent surprising loss to Forest at home is a significant setback that will undeniably affect the former Tottenham boss.

Nevertheless, Pochettino recognizes that his project with Chelsea will require time, as he aims to make his mark on a completely new squad comprised of young players. The average age of Chelsea's starting XI against Forest was 24.5, and there is no one more capable than the 51-year-old to guide their growth and development.

Pochettino will be confident of finding a winning formula and bringing his attractive style of football to Chelsea, but he won't be naive. Despite having already spent a record amount of money in the summer transfer window and surpassing the £1bn mark under the ownership of Todd Boehly, he understands that the club's hierarchy will expect to see clear improvements sooner rather than later. Dan Sansom

Forest will only get stronger despite Johnson's departure

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Nottingham Forest completed seven signings on Deadline Day. Although the departure of Brennan Johnson, who has been arguably their most crucial player since their return to the Premier League, was a big setback, Steve Cooper's team appears to have strengthened following the 22-year-old's move to Tottenham.

However, what makes this even more interesting is that none of the seven players signed by Forest on Deadline Day were included in Cooper's starting line-up when they surprised Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Out of the seven signings, only full-back Nuno Tavares was eligible to play in west London. The likes of Nicolas Dominguez, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Ibrahim Sangare, Divock Origi, and Andrew Omobamidele are yet to be integrated into the squad. With these additions, Forest already appear to be much better prepared to face the challenges of the Premier League compared to when they were promoted last season.

Despite the loss of Johnson, Cooper's summer business has left him delighted. After orchestrating Forest's first victory at Chelsea in over 28 years, he was rewarded with a serenade from the visiting supporters at the final whistle. This triumph was well-deserved and sets the foundation for future progress after the international break. Dan Sansom

Son shines in number nine role

Spurs' head coach, Ange Postecoglou, made the bold choice to deploy Heung-Min Son as the team's leader upfront for the first time during his tenure. This decision proved to be highly successful as Son delivered an impressive hat-trick at Burnley's Turf Moor, ensuring Spurs maintained their unbeaten streak in the Premier League and jump-starting his own season.

Prior to the visit to Burnley, the South Korean player had failed to score. However, a strategic change in position to number nine, previously occupied by Richarlison in Tottenham Hotspur's last four matches across various competitions, proved to be a catalyst for his improved performance within the dynamic 'Angeball' system. Notably, his exemplary leadership resulted in him registering the highest number of shots (5) and shots inside the penalty area (4) among all players in the commanding 5-2 victory against Burnley.

Son also linked up well with Manor Solomon, who took over Richarlison's position on the left. Solomon assisted Son in scoring his first two goals. Solomon was the most creative player in the match, creating five chances. With Son demonstrating his ability to play as a replacement for Harry Kane, it is likely that Richarlison will be benched for the upcoming home game against Sheffield United on Saturday.

Do we have to talk about VAR - again?

Despite Erling Haaland's magnificent hat-trick, it is VAR that continues to steal the limelight. This contentious system, originally designed to eliminate controversy, ironically amplifies it instead.

Phil Foden's corner in second-half stoppage time was promptly headed towards the goal by Nathan Ake - a perfectly executed play. However, Manuel Akanji, who jumped over the ball, did so while being in an offside position. It is indisputable that Akanji was obstructing goalkeeper Bernd Leno's line of vision, which is clearly stated as a violation in the rulebook. Surprisingly, on-field referee Michael Oliver completely missed this entire sequence of events.

One would assume that this is a glaring error, but that is not the case. "He clearly distracted the goalkeeper and interfered with his play," remarked former referee Mike Dean on Soccer Saturday. However, VAR surprisingly disagreed with this assessment.

The system is inherently flawed, as it is governed by judgments that are disconnected from the intricate details of each football match.

In the match against Fulham, Haaland made 17 touches on the ball. Out of those, three resulted in goals and one in an assist for Julian Alvarez. This remarkable performance is overshadowed by a persistent issue. Despite Haaland's undeniable talent, VAR remains a detrimental aspect of our sport.

Everton are getting more confident

The ongoing discussion surrounding Everton's ability to score without Dominic Calvert-Lewin leading the line has reached its saturation point. However, it seems that the Toffees' players have finally grasped this reality. Displaying newfound vigor, they have netted an impressive four goals in the span of a week, signaling Sean Dyche's side is finally experiencing some much-needed fortune in front of the net.

It seemed to be a typical day for the Merseysiders as Arnaut Danjuma squandered numerous opportunities in the first half, resulting in Everton falling behind. However, in contrast to their previous matches against Fulham and Wolves, Danjuma and Everton managed to capitalize on their chances, resulting in an increasing xG tally.

Both Danjuma and Beto are newcomers to Everton, and Dyche acknowledges the need for improved "clarity" in their attacking strategy. However, if this is only the beginning, the final outcome could be quite promising.

Archer can take Sheff Utd the distance in survival hunt

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Cameron Archer celebrates scoring his goal against Everton

Sheffield United's survival hopes hinge on the crucial task of keeping new goalscoring sensation Cameron Archer fit and in top form, according to Paul Heckingbottom. He couldn't have asked for a better debut, indeed.

Archer showcased his vibrant and precise gameplay, reflecting the eagerness that had built up during his time on the sidelines at Aston Villa. Once given the opportunity, he unleashed his skills without any restrictions, making use of his chance at just 21 years old.

What is particularly satisfying for the Sheffield United manager is that, despite Everton continuously creating scoring opportunities and successfully netting two goals from close range, Archer managed to contribute to the team with exceptional long-range strikes, both in terms of goals and assists.

The more comfortable Archer is at creating the magic moments, the better chance the Blades can have of staying up.Sam Blitz

Stubborn Brentford refuse to lie down

The team, led by Thomas Frank, continues to show resilience despite their recent streak of home draws. Despite the disappointment of yet another tie, Frank expressed his satisfaction with the team's attitude as they managed to secure a point in an impressive manner. Despite missing several opportunities and hitting the post on three occasions, Bryan Mbeumo demonstrated the composure that had been lacking throughout the game by scoring a crucial equalizer in injury time.

Brentford's equalizer was not unexpected considering the pressure they had put on Bournemouth. Since joining the Premier League, only Manchester City and Brighton have scored more stoppage-time goals than the Bees. Additionally, Frank's team remains unbeaten this season and has only lost one of their previous 18 Premier League matches at home.

Bournemouth were just the latest team to discover how difficult it is to beat Frank's Brentford.Joe Shread

Solid foundations helping West Ham flourish

West Ham secured their third consecutive victory of the season, maintaining their unbeaten start, with a 2-1 triumph over Luton. This win showcased not only their resilience but also their impressive skills.

Despite facing a determined Luton team, who were playing their first home game of the season and had the support of an enthusiastic crowd, David Moyes' team had to put in a lot of effort. However, after withstanding an initial onslaught, West Ham displayed a level of play that even caught the attention of Gary Neville.

"I was highly impressed by the backbone of West Ham," he informed We. "From Michail Antonio leading the attack, to Kurt Zouma anchoring the defense, and with Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse controlling the midfield, as well as Lucas Paqueta adding fluidity - it's a truly formidable spine. Moyes faced immense pressure last season, but now it seems like he has a solid foundation to build upon and achieve a successful season."

The Hammers' current points tally now equals their highest ever start to a Premier League season, matching the 10 points earned in 1999/00. This also marks manager Moyes' best start in the competition, as he previously earned 10 points from four games with Everton in the 2006/07 season.

The foundations look extremely solid in east London as the Hammers eye another successful season.Oliver Yew

Hatters should take heart from determined display

Luton Town's passionate fans delighted in their first taste of top-flight football since 1992, creating an uproar in the stands. Although Rob Edwards' team didn't quite replicate the same level of energy and intensity in their performance, particularly in the attacking end, they still demonstrated enough to suggest that Luton will pose a challenge for any team visiting Kenilworth Road this season.

Undoubtedly, this campaign will be a grueling one for Luton. They lack the financial resources for significant signings or a flashy stadium, and they haven't splurged millions in the transfer window. However, they do possess a fighting spirit and relentless determination.

They are not here just to be counted. Luton aims to surpass expectations but will soon have to face the challenges of the Premier League.

With three games played and no points earned, there is no need to despair. Despite conceding possession and territory for most of the game against West Ham, the Hatters still outperformed their opponents in terms of expected goals. Edwards will need to address some issues during the international break as life in the top leagues is tough. However, it is too early to dismiss Luton. They still have much more to offer.