Hang on. We’d seen that goal before, hadn’t we? We’d seen Martin Odegaard just there, lurking undetected in a pocket of space between defence and midfield. We’d seen Christos Tzolis drive inside and fire that exact pass into the centre. We’d seen Riccardo Calafiori’s decoy run and Kai Havertz intelligently leave it. We’d seen Odegaard’s little dart, the velcro control, the poise as he waited just a beat before pulling the trigger.

If Odegaard’s winning goal against Chelsea felt familiar, that’s because he’d scored a carbon copy against Manchester City in the Community Shield three weeks earlier. The same players, the same movements, the same outcome, with a world-class goalkeeper – then Gianluigi Donnarumma, now Emiliano Martinez – left beaten on the ground as the ball hit the net.

The prevailing question at the start of the season was not who would win the league so much as how Arsenal would win it. Will they roll out the 2025/26 blueprint, bludgeoning teams to death by a thousand corners, strangling possession, smothering all routes to xG? Or would we see something altogether more free-flowing and spontaneous now the weight of a 22-year wait had been lifted?

You can already feel a buzz in the air outside the Emirates, a sense that the brittleness of past years has disappeared in the wind. Music blaring from the megastore DJ could be heard down every road leading to Armoury Square three hours before kick-off. Inside, hundreds queued to buy an Arsenal scarf or pyjamas or a cushion with Declan Rice’s face on. Outside, content creators jostled for space while fans videoed fellow fans being interviewed by other fans on YouTube.

It is that strange time of the season when the leaves are still green and summer is clinging on. The transfer frenzy has only just ended and, really, we don’t know anything yet. The sample sizes are small and in this twilight window, we inevitably draw bad judgments. At exactly the same stage last year, three games in, the champions Liverpool beat the pretenders Arsenal and the title race was surely over.

What sort of Arsenal might we get? The first few games of the season had not served up a definitive answer, but this game felt different. It was no doubt influenced by Chelsea’s decision to play basketball, by Morgan Rogers’ early goal which forced Arsenal to show urgency, by Martinez, chief s***house of the Premier League, whose presence poked the Emirates into furious noise. Even so, this was a performance full of roving positions, slick interchanges and seamless rotations which felt thrilling at times, and Chelsea struggled to follow them.

There was a moment late in the first half when Havertz was on the right wing, Calafiori was galloping into the right half-space, Odegaard was the striker and Bukayo Saka was inside as the No 10. Only David Raya, Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes could claim to have been at their stations. And Odegaard’s goal was a product of a higher tempo that this Arsenal side had at times abandoned in the final months of last season, understandably so through tension, through fatigue, perhaps even through sheer fear at what they might lose.

It didn’t help that Arsenal played without this version of Odegaard last season, a campaign derailed by injury. He rediscovered his flow captaining Norway at the World Cup and has continued that form with three goals in four Arsenal games, if you like to count the Community Shield as a game. Where he has sometimes fallen into a rhythm of taking the easy option, being Arsenal’s playmaker on the fringe of a match, here there was a boldness to his runs, getting closer to Havertz, nearer the goal, demanding the ball in tight spaces where his close control can hurt opponents.

“He’s fit, his confidence is one of the highest that I’ve seen him and he has a point to prove,” said Arteta. “Kai the same, Bukayo the same. We missed so many attacking players last season for long, long periods, and I don’t know how many times they’ve played together, those three, in the last few years. Probably not much. You feel the chemistry that they have between them and what they can produce. You have to play with real intent and that’s what I loved seeing today. He was running forward, he took shots, he created so many situations for his teammates.”

Are Arsenal about to unleash a season of wild, entertaining chaos-ball? Probably not. Arteta is not about to abandon the positional principles that have served his coaching career so well. Arsenal will not play a team as frantic as this Chelsea side every week. But there is a paradox here, that the cohesion and connections in this team are so well honed by now, so sharply refined, that Arsenal can produce pre-planned patterns as mesmerising to watch and difficult to defend as anything off the cuff.

Perhaps this is the next evolution of Arteta’s team, to be as meticulously well-drilled in the disorder of open play as they are standing over the certainty of a set-piece. The fact Odegaard scored the same goal twice in a month suggests that, even within the confines of their manager’s highly tuned system, Arsenal might be unlocking some new attacking verve.

Nigerian clubs recorded contrasting results in the CAF inter-club competitions on Sunday, with Rangers International held to a 1-1 draw by AS SOBEMAP, while El-Kanemi Warriors claimed a convincing 3-0 win over UDIB.

Rangers Held to Draw in Abeokuta

Rangers International were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against AS SOBEMAP of Benin Republic in the first leg of their CAF Champions League first preliminary round tie at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta.

The Nigerian champions took the lead through defender Chidozie, who continued his impressive goalscoring form to put the Flying Antelopes ahead.

AS SOBEMAP, however, responded strongly, with Emmanuel Ali scoring the equaliser to deny Rangers a home victory.

The draw leaves Rangers with work to do in the second leg as they look to secure a place in the next round.

Rangers are hosting their continental matches in Abeokuta because of the ongoing renovation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

The second leg will take place in Benin Republic on September 11, with coach Fidelis Ilechukwu and his players needing a strong performance away from home.

El-Kanemi Warriors Shine Against UDIB

El-Kanemi Warriors, meanwhile, enjoyed a more positive outing in the CAF Confederation Cup, beating União Desportiva Internacional de Bissau (UDIB) 3-0 in Ikenne.

The Maiduguri-based club stepped up their performance after a goalless first half, scoring three times after the break to secure a comfortable victory.

The result gives El-Kanemi a strong advantage heading into the second leg in Bissau next week.

The Warriors will now look to protect their three-goal lead away from home and complete their qualification to the next stage.

With Rangers facing a tough return leg against AS SOBEMAP and El-Kanemi holding a healthy advantage over UDIB, Nigeria ended Sunday’s CAF fixtures with mixed results.

After weeks of delays and behind-the-scenes attempts to cobble something meaningful together, UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, Utah finally has a championship main event: Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong for the vacant women’s flyweight belt.

Wait, what? The flyweight belt that Valentina Shevchenko has defended a whopping nine times since 2018 across two title runs? That’s now vacant? When announcing Silva vs. Cong, they cited a “Bullet” injury but didn’t really get into details on how the belt was put back up for grabs. A statement from Shevchenko’s coach Pavel Fedotov gave a bit more info.

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“We were supposed to fight on October 3 against Natalia Silva, but due to an injury to the ligaments in the shoulder and back, we decided not to push things and postpone the fight,” Fedotov wrote (via Ushatayka). “Given that the recovery will take a long time, we’ve made the decision to temporarily vacate the belt, and once she recovers, she will fight for it again.”

PLDT’s Savi Davison during a game against Creamline in the PVL Invitational Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Nxled made its first-ever PVL Finals appearance thanks to dethroned champion PLDT.

Already out of title contention, the High Speed Hitters played spoiler and denied the Creamline Cool Smashers’ bid to claim the last ticket to the title match with a 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12 win on Sunday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Nxled did its part in the first game by beating Farm Fresh before PLDT’s comeback victory sealed the Chameleons’ place in the final against Thai club EST Cola.

READ: PVL: Nxled beats Farm Fresh in must win, awaits fate

PLDT coach Rald Ricaftort and Savi Davison after stunning Creamline. #PVL2026 @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/aoznLaky9e

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 6, 2026

Nxled, PLDT, and Creamline actually finished the elimination round with similar 3-2 records, but the Chameleons held the tie-break with 10 points.

Nxled takes on top seed EST Cola in the winner-take-all final on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

PLDT mounted a 13-9 lead in the fifth set after Kianna Dy’s clutch kill. With Jaja Santiago-Minowa entering the rotation, she made it a two-point game before Dy scored again off the block to reach match point, 14-11.

Minowa saved a point, but Savi Davison ended the match with a cross-court hit. Davison unleashed a new career-high 37 points on 35 attacks and two blocks. The reigning Invitational MVP also had stellar floor defense with 24 excellent receptions and 18 digs.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get the result we wanted,” said PLDT coach Rald Ricafort in Filipino.

“But the mindset of the players and the team is that we’re not going to pick and choose which games to fight for. Especially against Creamline, they’re a very challenging team to play against. They really bring out the best in each of us. So we’re going to take this win, keep fighting, and prepare for them again on Tuesday.”

Kianna Dy and Jovy Prado had 14 points each. Mika Reyes had 11 points, highlighted by five blocks. 

Creamline missed the Invitational Finals for the second straight time despite adding Minowa, a former league MVP and resident Japan SV.League import.

Minowa tallied 25 points built on 15 kills, nine blocks, and an ace. Jema Galanza had 20 points, 16 digs, and 16 excellent receptions, while Michele Gumabao added 11.

PLDT and Creamline battle for bronze on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

The Vikings will be looking to overcome some widespread doubt about their abilities (or lack thereof) in 2026. Doing so will largely come down to answering some questions.

In particular, onlookers will want to know how things get sorted out at quarterback. Kyler Murray is now the QB1, meaning he’s working into the best situation he’s ever been in within his NFL career. Minnesota does have a football team beyond just the modestly-paid passer who is looking to play well in the Twin Cities.

The Vikings Will Be Looking to Answer Some Questions

Question No. 1 — Can a Draft Class Finally Be Helpful?

Caleb Banks doesn’t lack for potential. However, there’s some concern about his lack of polish, a possible problem that has commonly been described as a “pad level” issue.

All of LB Jake Golday, DT Domonique Orange, CB Chuck Demmings, and FB Max Bredeson have ignited optimism in training camp and the preseason. How that translates to the regular season is somewhat murky. Others, such as OT/OG Caleb Tiernan, S Jakobe Thomas, and RB Demond Claiborne, have struggled more.

Already, a draftee has been set free. 7th-Round Center Gavin Gerhardt has been cut and released from the practice squad. The Vikings are desperate for youth to shine, but they’re down to eight out of nine draftees.

Question No. 2 — Can Health Cooperate at Key Positions?

So much of last year’s problems could get worked back to health.

Consider, for instance, positions other than quarterback. Each of the top two edge rushers, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, missed time. So did the OT starters, LG1 Donovan Jackson, and C1 Ryan Kelly. Aaron Jones had injury issues and so did Josh Metellus. Blake Cashman played well but wasn’t out there the whole time. All of these absences added up.

And then, of course, there were the quarterback injuries. Needing to start a UDFA rookie in Max Brosmer was never in the plan. Can Kyler Murray start all seventeen games? He has never been mistaken for Cal Ripken out there.

Question No. 3 — Can the Vikings Achieve Playoff Success?

There can be no playoff success unless a few issues get fixed. Most notable is the lack of balance on offense between the passing and ground game. At some point, the issue needs to get fixed.

Usually, the Vikings’ defense has been a stingy crew but that’s not always so. There have been times when runners have consistently found running lanes, creating a scenario where it’s tough for Brian Flores to get his guys off the field. Again, something to monitor.

Bringing things down to football basics might involve looking at the trenches in the final tournament. Losing to the Giants following the 2022 regular season and Rams following the 2024 season was largely the result of the Vikings getting walloped at the line of scrimmage. Fixing that reoccurring issue is a must.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc competes at the start of the race during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit in Monza, northern Italy on September 6, 2026. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza was halted after just two laps on Sunday after Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc slid off the track and smashed into barriers.

The Monegasque, who is a two-time winner at Monza, lost control on the exit of the parabolica at the end of lap two, going straight into the gravel and flying sideways into the barriers.

Leclerc stepped out of the car, looking winded but otherwise unhurt.

READ: F1: Charles Leclerc rules British Grand Prix, Ferrari gets 250th win

Huge impact for Charles 🎥

A reminder that he’s out of the car and okay#F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/AYTRyQn0gI

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 6, 2026

The race was red-flagged with Mercedes’ George Russell in the lead, having overtaken pole-sitter Pierre Gasly of Alpine.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was third ahead of Franco Colapinto in the second Alpine.

Lewis Hamilton, who started fourth, lost ground when he was forced off the track by teammate Leclerc at the first chicane, and was running eighth.

READ: Charles Leclerc signs new multi-year deal with Ferrari in F1

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli began at the back of the field after exceeding the permitted number of power unit changes but had already moved his way up to 12th in his Mercedes by the time the race was suspended.

The race will resume once the tire barrier has been repaired.

On the same day that a college football game consisted of one second more than 60 minutes, another college football game had five minutes fewer than the usual amount.

Like many early-season games featuring an established program against an FCS slappie, Saturday’s game between Arizona State and Morgan State turned into a blowout. Andwith the Sun Devils leading 70-7 after three quarters, the two teams agreed to shrink the fourth quarter to 10 minutes.

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“I’ve never been a part of a game like that,” Arizona State coach Kenny Dilligham told reporters after the game, via Bailey Leasure of ArizonaSports.com. “I didn’t even know that was legal, but I learned something today. When he asked to shorten it. I said, ‘Whatever he wants, we’ll do.’”

Arizona State had scored 28 points, 21 points, and 21 points in the first three quarters, respectively. Neither team scored in the final 10 minutes, which consisted of 19 total plays.

It’s a strange outcome, to say the least. And it opens the door to a situation in which certain potential wagers would be undermined by a 60-minute game shrinking unexpectedly to 55 minutes.

But it also opens the door to a new universe of potential prediction markets: Will the game be shortened by the agreement of the teams for reasons other than the weather?

“It’s far too late for those decisions to come. It’s too late. All I can do is just try and turn up. I’ll get up tomorrow morning and I’ll give it my best.”

He added: “It’s never over until it’s over. I don’t know how many points it is now, but I’m sure it’s 60, 70. It’s an amount that, with the pace that they have, it’s a very, very difficult amount to close out.”

Ferrari were left answering similar questions about who should take priority following the team’s performance at the Dutch Grand Prix last month.

Hamilton, who is two places higher than Leclerc in the championship, was left frustrated in Zandvoort, as he felt the team took too long to move Leclerc – who was third and on a differernt strategy – out of the way so he could challenge for a podium, as he was on fresher tyres and quicker.

When they eventually did pit Leclerc, Hamilton responded over team radio: “Great way of wasting time, good job”. He later apologised for his comments.

But the first-lap incident between the pair in Italy seems to have only intensified Hamilton’s concerns.

Speaking after his lap-two crash, Leclerc crash was “it was way too close into turn one” between himself and Hamilton. He added that he was unaware whether the pair had made contact.

“I was quite a lot on the inside kerb and tried to make the corner, which I didn’t do it tight enough,” said Leclerc.

“And then I only saw in the mirrors what happened, which is never what you want between two cars of the same team.”

However, Hamilton said: “I was ahead in turn two by the ethics, I was ahead. There was no ‘we’ in it.”

When asked if Ferrari fans should be worried the dynamics between himself and Leclerc may turn into a team-mate feud, he said: “Look, I don’t race dirty. I’ve always raced clean and fairly and always left space. So I don’t think they should be worried about me.

“I’ve come into the team and tried to be respectful of space and definitely not put the team in jeopardy. I stand by that and that’s all I can talk about.”

Team principal Frederic Vasseur said the incident between his two drivers was “not good”. But he also was keen to stress that every team on the grid has to manage intra-team tensions.

“Now, to see if we have a team order or whatever, I think that the comparison that I made was that last year, [Oscar] Piastri was leading McLaren at this stage of the season, and if McLaren put everything on Piastri, [Red Bull’s] Max Verstappen would have been champion.

“For sure, at one stage you have to make a decision, but I think it was too early to make a decision before Monza. Now we have time to discuss with the guys.”

Hamilton said Ferrari needed to look at how they communicate.

“If we continue to travel the same path, we get the same result,” he said. “And it’s like we keep getting the same result. We’ve got to change things because it’s not helping us to move forward. I think they’re receptive to it and we’ll take it offline.”

Cork’s Shane Sweetnam aboard Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z triumphed in the $500,000 first Grand Prix of Major League Show Jumping Season 6 in Toronto, Canada, last night.

With a total of 30 combinations taking on the Juilherme Jorge-designed 1.60m course in the 5* Kubota Grand Prix, the triple combination late in the track caused problems for a number of the competitors.

Colombia’s Ilan Bluman and Acajou set the standard when they produced the first clear round in 80.85 seconds. By midway in the class, they were the only combination qualified for the second round jump-off.

Shane Sweetnam and Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z were the next to leave every fence intact, with the Irish combination jumping clear, and stopping the clock in 78.66 seconds to force a jump-off.

American Kent Farrington and Descartes SR produced the third clear round, setting up a three-horse jump-off from the original field of 30 starters.

Jump-Off

Sweetnam and Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z stopped the clock in 39.08 seconds to take control of the class and put the pressure on Farrington.

With Farrington still to come as the final combination in the jump-off, Sweetnam knew there would be little room for error.

“It’s something I’m always trying to figure out, as I finish second to Kent a lot” recounted Sweetnam after winning the 5* competition.

The US rider returned with Toronto history on his side. A Grand Prix winner in Season 3, the World No. 2 entered the ring with a chance to add another title to his record.

Last to challenge Sweetnam’s time, Farrington and Descartes SR had the pace to take the lead, but the penultimate fence came down. Four faults left the pair in second, Farrington’s third consecutive runner-up finish in the Toronto Grand Prix.

Shane Sweetnam was delighted with Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z’s performance as he is still early in his 5* Grand Prix career.

“This is only his second 5* Grand Prix and the last one he did was in Monterrey (MLSJ Finals), which he was also clear in” said Sweetnam of his mount.

With Sweetnam and Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z securing the opening Grand Prix win of Season 6, the League will now move to Traverse City, Michigan, USA, for Leg 2, September 10- 12.

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