The first mid-week games of the Premier League season highlight how a single aspect of the game can be turned into strength as a hyped Manchester United fan base is left bitter after its cherished new manager fell to the Dark Art Kings in London

Pep Guardiola will not have to hurt himself again as Manchester City have their smiles restored in a dominant display in the Ethiad, while Liverpool showed great prowess in attack but left to rue what could have been had they seen out their lead.

A Flash of the Real Score

Set-piece kings Arsenal inflicted a first defeat on Ruben Amorim on his third Manchester United game as Mikel Arteta becomes the first Arsenal handler to win four straight games against the Red Devils.

Manchester City returned to winning ways thanks to great efforts from Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku while Liverpool almost made it away with the points at Newcastle United until a Jaoimhin Kelleher's error allowed the host back in.

Chelsea taught harsh lessons to clueless Saints, who can't help but shoot themselves in the foot again as Jadon Sancho produced his first Chelsea goal in an emphatic win.

Here are the narratives of the mid-week edition of the Premier League review as Chelsea and Arsenal close the gap on Liverpool to seven, while the former also replaced the latter in second place.

How it Happened under the lights 

Corner Kings Arsenal hands Ruben Amorim first L

Arsenal probably wasn't at their best yesterday but when you had 13 corners in the same game your opponent had none, then you definitely have earned the right to produce moments from them. Fortunately for Mikel Arteta's charge, they had men of timber and caliber.

Ruben Amorim said after the game that they lost to corners and that corners had ruined the game. However, if your team hasn't been dominated, how could they have given away 13 corners and not have one of their own?

Corners don't come out of a hat like a rabbit; they're a byproduct of sustained threat and continuous pressure, forcing your opponent within 20 yards of their goal while attempting shots, crosses, and cutbacks.

Sometimes, the game flows beautifully, and other times it’s a chess match. Great sides have to be able to deal with both situations when they arise and Arsenal, on the night, made the most of their chances from set-pieces.

Manchester United conceded five big chances to Arsenal, who missed three of them. It could have been a different story had the host been clinical enough, though it is worth consolation for Ruben Amorim that he has lost in this way, given he is a few weeks on the job, but it takes nothing away from Arsenal's win.

If the former Sporting boss knew this was the Arsenal way of attack and he couldn't stop them from scoring twice with it, even in the absence of their only player to have scored all the corner goals this season, then he left a lot to be desired.

Nevertheless, last night was reminiscent of one side being well immersed in a manager’s implementation and the other right at the beginning. But credit to Arsenal, the set piece is another great trait to have in your arsenal. If it is legal, it can be integral.

Jaoimhin Kelleher let Liverpool down, but Madley denied Newcastle 

There's a reason Alisson Becker walks into that Liverpool team whenever he is fit, and that's because every manager wants to be on the safe side

Liverpool went into the stadium where rivals would expect them to drop points, but if you had asked how many goals they scored before asking for the full-time score, you'd have thought they won the game, but no, they didn't.

That schoolboy error from Caoimhin Kelleher now means a nine-point gap lead is reduced to seven. But it's fair given their close rivals, Arsenal and Manchester City, have also dropped points in Saint James' Park, yet that's unfortunate because it makes them even, and that's not what Liverpool needs at this time.

Kudos to Mohamed Salah, who was directly involved in all three Liverpool goals, ensuring Newcastle United were never out of sight, even as Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon continuously put the Reds' defense on their heels.

Albeit Virgil van Dijk is one of the Premier League’s all-time best defenders, the fact that he doesn't get close enough to his markers allows the rapid forwards to have their way, while he doesn't get blamed.

Watching him open space in comparison with other top defenders in the world today leaves a lot to be desired, though each with their own style, but at times, closing the gap when defending has proven a successful way of frustrating attackers.

Overall, you'll also have to give credit to Newcastle United for not giving up even after going behind after leading twice against arguably the best team in the world at the moment.

In the end, it finished with a referee controversy as Andrew Madley ended the game too soon while Newcastle United was on the attack, with Isak and Willock in a two-to-beat-one situation against Virgil van Dijk.

Chelsea corrupts vulnerable Saints

Enzo Maresca was on hand to put an end to Southampton's back-to-back wins against Chelsea, denying them of make it three just as he did when he liberated Leicester City last season

Southampton have never looked like a top-flight team since their return, and their rampant visitors took full advantage of the opportunity presented to expose their frailties, again.

From a cheap corner goal to another error leading to a goal and then a ridiculous red card, they all summed up how their season is going.

Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, and Jadon Sancho all took the opportunity to shine in a much-changed Chelsea team, while goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen was also outstanding on his first Premier League appearance.

Regulars Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez all also put in impressive shifts and did enough to see Chelsea move up to second, even after Arsenal's win over Manchester United.

The Blues have now scored 57 goals in 22 matches across all competitions this season, the best goals-per-game ratio in a single season in the club's history.

Enjoying their best season in a while under Enzo Maresca, and it looks like it's only going to get better as the season progresses.

Belgian duo have the Cityzens smiling again

A tree does not make a forest, is the saying, but last night, Forest learnt the harsh reality that a restored piece can restore cohesion amidst chaos.

Kevin De Bruyne returned to the Manchester City XI and led their march to a first win in eight as Nottingham Forest's impeccable starts to the season started to crumble with a third defeat in four.

With a goal and an assist in the opening half-hour, the former Bundesliga Player of the Season had the hosts on their way to a routine win. However, for a team without one in seven and in the context of their only draw in that run, nothing is done until the time is up.

Fellow Belgian Jeremy Doku also added a goal to his assist for De Bruyne's goal to make it three before the hour mark, and Pep Guardiola ensured the steam is turned off in the game before withdrawing his star men.

A positive response to the defeat to Liverpool over the weekend, and even so, the league leader dropped points at Newcastle.

The priority at City is turning things around, but as the defending champions with four consecutive titles, you can never be ambitious in having your sights on the crown despite the mess surrounding you.

Liverpool has the advantage; now you chase

With Manchester City back to winning ways and now nine points behind the league leaders with just 14 games into the season, the defending champions are not ruled out of the race, yet they'll have some catching up to do.

For Arsenal and Chelsea, sustaining momentum by winning all their game until Liverpool's next drop points will be good for their hopes of keeping up with Arne Slot's charge. How much that will prove difficult is not far-fetched, but these are the tasks if you want to be a champion.

For Liverpool, they've already worked well to establish their advantage and now have to fight to keep hold of it. How they respond to dropping points when they take on Everton in the Merseyside derby this weekend will also have a lot to say about their title credentials.

Aside from Tottenham Hotspur, the Reds do have a fairly easy run in December, and keeping their advantage until the turn of the year will be decisive. Thankfully, they have Mohamed Salah, the best player in the world, fighting their battles at the moment.

As for Manchester United, whether or not Ruben Amorim will succeed at the club can not be quantified by a defeat at Arsenal, three games into the start of his spell. Like the Portuguese said ahead of the game, the storm will come. So let's see how they respond.

Manchester United faithful may have to be patient for longer because the upcoming run of games isn't favorable, but even at that, evidence of progress will be demanded. Nonetheless, Amorim will be here for some time.