HANDBRAKE ON? WHAT EXACTLY DOES JERMAIN DEFOE MEAN BY EZE'S RESTRICTED STYLE OF PLAY?
Jermain Defoe slams £67.5m Eberechi Eze after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Brentford. Discover why the title race just got a lot tighter.
Jermain Defoe didn’t hold back after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brentford on Thursday. He called out Eberechi Eze, who just couldn’t get going in the game. Arsenal now sit four points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, but this result wasn’t what they wanted. Noni Madueke put Arsenal ahead with a header in the second half, but Keane Lewis-Potter levelled it for Brentford at their place.
Eze, who cost Arsenal £67.5 million over the summer, looked off the pace. He barely left a mark on the match, and Arteta pulled him off at halftime for Martin Odegaard. Since leaving Crystal Palace, Eze hasn’t nailed down a starting spot under Arteta. Defoe summed it up: Eze is “playing with the handbrake on.”
Asked if Arsenal’s performance felt out of character, Defoe said, “Yeah, I think so. It’s the pressure. But honestly, Brentford’s a tough place. When you go there, you know it won’t be easy, but you have to try and make it look easy. You’ve got to cut out mistakes and keep your focus high. Arsenal didn’t really do that. Brentford were better after the break, and I think Arsenal wasted the first half. Eze just wasn’t good enough. I get that he hasn’t played much and maybe isn’t match fit, but you still expect more from him. Arsenal felt different tonight, and I think that’s all about mentality.”
Theo Walcott, who used to play for Arsenal, agreed that Arteta won’t be happy with how things went. Walcott said, “After seeing Man City get the points the day before, there’s always that pressure; you’ve got to get the job done. It’s still in Arsenal’s hands, though. They’ve got plenty of games to close the gap if they need to. Everyone’s already eyeing that game when Arsenal faces City. But Arteta won’t be happy. Not with that. He’ll have issues with a lot of players tonight because they just looked off.”
ASTON VILLA WARNED UNAI EMERY AND MORGAN ROGERS COULD EXIT THIS SUMMER
Unai Emery and Morgan Rogers are reportedly set to leave Aston Villa if the club fails to secure Champions League football.
Aston Villa find themselves at a critical juncture this summer, with warnings circulating that head coach Unai Emery and standout player Morgan Rogers might be on their way out, assuming one key condition isn’t met. The club's initial momentum in the Premier League seems to be slipping as its chances of Champions League qualification dwindle amid a noticeable drop in performance.
Injuries and questionable recruitment decisions have clearly taken a toll on Emery’s squad, which once looked like surprise title challengers but now faces the possibility of finishing outside the top five. After a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United, Villa sits fourth in the league, trailing Liverpool by two points, with Chelsea not far behind in sixth place.
While there’s still a pathway via winning the Europa League, concerns about Villa’s transfer dealings have been raised. Alex Crook, talkSPORT’s transfer correspondent, expressed doubts about their recent market moves during a discussion with former Villa player Agbonlahor. Crook recalled last January’s window, when Villa made high-profile signings like Marcus Rashford and Marcus Asensio in a serious push for Champions League football efforts that ultimately fell short. This season, he felt the acquisitions lacked the same ambition or quality. The loan signing of Douglas Luiz, despite his familiarity with the club, raised questions since he was rejected by Nottingham Forest and Juventus. Similarly, Tammy Abraham’s form in Turkey left Crook unconvinced that his signing would elevate the squad.
There’s also speculation about Emery’s future tied closely to the team’s success. Crook suggested that if Villa miss out on Champions League football, Emery might not be staying around much longer. Agbonlahor was swift to agree, bluntly stating that Emery would likely be gone.
The uncertainty doesn't stop there. Morgan Rogers, despite having recently signed a new contract, could also be at risk of departure if Villa fail to reach Europe’s elite competition. Crook mentioned he is investigating whether Rogers’ contract includes a release clause, given that other clubs would be interested in the young England international. Agbonlahor backed this up, highlighting Rogers’ potential impact at the upcoming World Cup and implying that without Champions League football, Villa could lose both their manager and key talent, risking a slide to becoming a mid-table team, similar to Fulham.
The stakes couldn’t be clearer. Achieving Champions League qualification might not just define this season but shape Villa’s trajectory for the next several years. If they succeed and Emery remains, the club could build on a promising foundation. Fail to do so, and they face tough questions about ambition, retention, and their place in the Premier League hierarchy.
KONSTANTINOS MAVROPANOS EQUALIZER LIFTS WEST HAM OUT OF RELEGATION ZONE AT CITY’S EXPENSE
Manchester City fall nine points behind Arsenal after Konstantinos Mavropanos earns West Ham a vital 1-1 draw.
Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by a revitalised West Ham in a match that carried significant implications across the Premier League standings. Early in the game, Bernardo Silva gave City the lead with a deft chip, but Konstantinos Mavropanos responded before halftime with a headed equaliser, securing a crucial point for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
That goal did more than just lift West Ham out of the relegation zone; it also played a crucial role in the title race. Arsenal, Mavropanos’ former club, had already beaten Everton 2-0 earlier that day and now leads Manchester City by nine points after City’s second consecutive slip in the league. While Arsenal will take a boost from West Ham’s performance, Nottingham Forest, Nuno’s previous team, find themselves sliding into the relegation zone due to this result.
Despite the setback, Pep Guardiola insists the title chase is far from decided. After the match, he told TNT Sports, “It’s not over because we didn’t lose. We will continue. We have an incredible team spirit.” His midfielder Rodri shared a similar view, acknowledging the gap but emphasising their determination: “Maybe the title race is over, maybe not. We’re not giving up; we’ll keep fighting. It’s tough, but we’ve been through what it takes to win. We showed today a bit of the ups and downs of the season. Sometimes the final pass or strike makes the difference. Football is about goals, and we just couldn’t find the right finishers.”
Rodri also highlighted how City created chances and controlled much of the game, but couldn’t convert that dominance into more goals. That subtle difference often separates winners from the rest.
On the other side, Nuno Espirito Santo praised his team’s defensive effort in his post-match interview with Match of the Day. He described the defence as "heroic", pointing to the sacrifices made across the team. “The midfield worked incredibly hard, and the forwards helped by cutting off passing lanes to slow their play,” he explained. “Overall, especially in the first half, we were compact and limited City’s opportunities.”
This draw leaves both teams with clear messages moving forward: West Ham fights to stay safe, while City must regroup quickly if they want to keep pace with Arsenal’s commanding lead. As the season edges toward its climax, the smallest moments on the pitch could define who lifts the trophy. What do you think? Can City mount a comeback, or is the title race slipping away? Feel free to share your thoughts below.
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