Premier League winners and losers
Ozil in command at No 10
Mesut Özil played 17 minutes of Arsenal's draw with Leicester and 70 minutes of their victory over Watford, during which he hit some sumptuous passes,
mesmerised Watford's defence with his movement and scored their third goal with a crisp header after an incisive burst into the box. Such commanding form at the start of his season has brightened Arsenal optimism after the defeat by Liverpool and Özil's performance for Germany in the world champions' 3-0 victory over Norway at the beginning of their 2018 campaign can only hearten them further.
Mesut Ozil congratulates Thomas Muller after setting up the striker's first goal to put Germany 1-0 ahead against Norway Credit: Getty Images
In Oslo, Özil, in the No 10 shirt he has long coveted at last after Lukas Podolski's retirement, set up Thomas Müller's first goal with a cute, cushioned left-foot pass that nutmegged Jonas Svensson and ran the game with his passing from a position in front of Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira. With Julian Draxler, Müller and Mario Götze darting all around the Norway penalty area and exchanging positions with stupefying speed, Özil's vision in finding them and courage in looking to locate them in tight positions, instead of hitting far safer passes out to the full-backs flying up the flanks, exemplified a playmaking performance of commendable vitality and maturity.
Will Mkhitaryan miss out?
Henrikh Mkhitaryan missed Armenia's 1-0 defeat by Denmark in Copenhagen on Sunday and the national side's captain was already back in Manchester as the match unfolded. United's £27m attacking midfielder had been injured in the 38th minute of a friendly against the Czech Republic on Wednesday in Ostrava when he ran straight into Marek Suchy after knocking the ball past him.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (@HenrikhMkh )My dear fans, I appreciate much that you worry about me, thank you! I'm now back in Manchester for treatment and hope to be fit very soon!
Mkhitaryan left the field with a thigh injury that the Armenia FA's doctor said was "not encouraging" and would normally take seven to 10 days to heal, which should give him a fair chance of playing in the Manchester derby on Saturday. As he is yet to start for Manchester United, coming off the bench in all three Premier League victories, and with Jesse Lingard back to full fitness, his possible absence may not be as devastating as it soon should be once he establishes himself as a first-team regular.
Should champions turn to Kapustka?
Claudio Ranieri told 19-year-old Poland wingerBartosz Kapustka, when he signed him during the summer, that it would take time for him to get used to the intensity and pace of the Premier League and integrating him into the team would be a long process. Consequently, he has only one match-day squad appearance so far this season, as an unused substitute in the opening day defeat by Hull.
Bartosz Kapustka opens the scoring for Poland against Kazakhstan Credit: EPA
Yet the right-footed, left-winger looked worthy of a place, at least on the bench, for the champions at Anfield on Saturday during his goalscoring performance for Poland in their away draw against Kazakhstan. His raids infield from the left-flank and his anticipation and calm finish to turn in the opening goal can only enhance the £7.5 million signing's increasingly impressive claims.
The eye of Snod
Fans of Leeds United, Norwich and Hull need no encouragement to eulogise about the throwback qualities of Robert Snodgrass, who makes up for what he lacks in pace with Scots 'gallus' aplenty and a wand of a left foot. There are few players for whom you would afford the benefit of the doubt when they score with such an outrageous goal as Snodgrass's first in his hat-trick against Malta. "Definitely a cross," we would have said but one cannot be sure with Snodgrass and the fact that he did rise an eye towards goal convinces this correspondent that he definitely meant it.
Robert Snodgrass scores his second from the spot for Scotland Credit: PA WIRE
He used his eyes as well to deceive the goalkeeper when converting a penalty farcically awarded by the referee and produced his most dominant performance yet in a Scotland shirt even if the opposition's defence would give George Graham nightmares. It would probably be heretical to compare him with the great Forest and Scotland winger John Robertson but a few more performances like the four with which he has started the season for club and country and such praise would not be as exaggerated as it may currently appear to be.
Xhaka sees red (again)
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was sent off for Switzerland on Tuesday - his seventh red card since April 2014 - after booting an opposition player in the balls and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will be praying there is no repeat of the incident when his side host Southampton this Saturday.
Arsenal FC (@FFArsenal )Xhaka's superb tackle on Nani
Wenger new what he was getting when he signed the 23-year-old Swiss, who has a fiery reputation having been sent off more times (three) than any other player in the Bundesliga last season.Without Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese were lambs to the slaughter in the Group B opener, with both goals coming in the opening half hour. But, with his side sailing to a memorable and straightforward victory, Gunners new boy Xhaka managed to get himself a second yellow card in the 90th minute for this clumsy challenge.If Xhaka carries this stupidity into Premier League clashes he could prove more a hindrance than a help.
Arsenal FC (@FFArsenal )Xhaka's sent off for the Swiss
Big Rom back with a bang
Jeered off by their own supporters when they lost a friendly to Spain in Brussels last Thursday, Romelu Lukaku ensured jeers turned to cheers on Tuesday night. The Everton striker scored two headers to set Belgium on their way to a 3-0 win in Cyprus and a first victory for new coach Roberto Martinez at the start of their qualifying campaign.
Romelu Lukaku heads home for Belgium Credit: EPA
Lukaku, who played under Martinez at Everton, put Belgium ahead after 13 minutes with a diving header, after a shot from Thomas Meunier had been touched on to the crossbar by Cyprus goalkeeper Constantinos Panayi and bounced back into the path of the striker.
The second goal came in the 61st minute as the keeper saved Carrasco's effort but the ball ballooned up in the air and Lukaku easily converted with a simple nod in. The third followed 20 minutes later when Panayi parried a stinging effort from Man City's Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard picking up the rebound and unselfishly squaring for an easy tap-in for Carrasco. Chelsea playmaker Hazard was brought down in the last minute to allow substitute Blues team-mate Michy Batshuayi the chance to score from a penalty... but Panayi saved his spot-kick.
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