Brian Brobbey struck three times against Manchester City on Sunday, and Sunderland still lost. City won 5-3 at the Etihad to extend a perfect start of five wins in five, but the story out of the weekend was not the leaders pulling clear. It was how easily a newly-promoted side kept finding their net.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson said the pattern would not survive against tougher opposition than a promoted side.
“There’s no way Manchester City win the league,” Merson said.
He argued that City can score their way past most opponents but not the elite, and that a defense capable of shipping three at home to Sunderland will be picked off by title rivals. The good work going forward, he said, was undone by disorganization at the back.
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Enzo Fernández, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo twice and Erling Haaland scored for City, with Haaland’s late finish extending his run of goals against every Premier League opponent he has faced. Brobbey replied from the 12th minute onward with a hat-trick completed inside the hour. The Sky Sports match report shows City led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 in the first half alone.
Maresca’s Chelsea shadow
Merson then turned to the head coach. Enzo Maresca was appointed City manager this summer after Pep Guardiola’s departure, and Merson thinks the Italian’s Chelsea period is the tell.
“I remember what Enzo Maresca was like at Chelsea and he won’t like that result. He doesn’t like chaos.”
Maresca did not push back on the direction of the criticism.
“I prefer to win 1-0 than 5-3,” the head coach told reporters, per the Sky Sports match report.
Arsenal stumbled first, Merson still backs them
City only overtook Arsenal because the champions lost 3-0 at Brighton on Saturday, their first league defeat of the campaign. Pascal Gross and Charalampos Kostoulas struck from range in the first half before Chema Andrés headed in a corner.
Merson’s issue with Arsenal was not the result but the team sheet. He questioned Mikel Arteta’s decision to start Bruno Guimarães ahead of Myles Lewis-Skelly, and could not see why the manager had reshaped the side for such a difficult away game. His verdict on the title race was that Arsenal remain the team to catch, even after a 3-0 defeat.
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