Brentford (0) 0 v 1 (1) Chelsea

                                                                      45 Chilwell

Yellows: (Referee A Taylor)  Canos                 Kovacic

Played Saturday 16 October 2021 at Brentford Community Stadium, attendance 16,940.

This was Brentford’s first Premier London Derby (PLDs) match defeat in 4, and a game they wondered how they did not win with 7 shots on target from Chelsea’s 1 from only 5 in all. The Bees were particularly strong in the last quarter and only a series of brilliant saves by the Blues’ keeper Edouard Mendy kept their clean score sheet. Chelsea were also reliant on a defender, Ben Chilwell to score. He is now their joint second top scorer with 2 goals, and 15 out of their 19 goals have been scored by defenders. 

West London was also busy with another London derby in the EFL Championship and although visitors QPR scored an away goal they went down 4-1 at Fulham who are now 2nd in the Championship, albeit 6 points behind Bournemouth now managed by Scott Parker.

                                            Arsenal (1) 2 v (0) 2 Crystal Palace

 8 Aubameyang                                                  50 Benteke, assist Ayew

 90 Lacazette                                                       73 Edouard, assist Olise

Yellows: (referee M Dean) Saka                         McArthur

Played Monday 18 October 2021, at The Emirates Stadium, attendance 59,475.

This was going to be a very happy return to the Emirates for Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira until fellow Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette scrambled a late equalizer for Arsenal. The Gunners’ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring but in between goals by the Eagles’ Christian Benteke and Odsonne Edouard gave them a distinct advantage. A competitive game was fairly fought with only 1 yellow card for each side compared to Vieira’s 100+ and 10 Reds in his playing days at the place he is still revered.

On Sunday 24 October 2021 it is West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur. There have been 2 home and 3 away wins in this fixture over the last 5 seasons. Spurs follow on from an away win at Newcastle United where the new owners at least had the decency to give Steve Bruce  his 1000th match as Manager before dismissing him. An equally decent person Hammers’ Manager David Moyes is only 5 matches from his 1000th and unlikely to go whatever the result, especially after their comfortable win in the Europa League! Meanwhile Spurs lost in the Europa Conference League through not respecting the competition.

Until next time “Keep Safe”, now more than ever, and enjoy your football, Andrew at PLDs.