Solanke scorpion stuns City as Man United produce more late heroics

Summary of Solanke scorpion stuns City as Man United produce more late heroics

by The Athletic

55m•February 2, 2026
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Overview of Totally Football Show — "Solanke scorpion stuns City as Man United produce more late heroics"

This episode of The Athletic’s Totally Football Show (1 Feb) wraps up a chaotic Premier League weekend: Spurs came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Manchester City thanks to Dominic Solanke’s stunning second-half “scorpion” finish; Manchester United produced another late escape to beat Fulham 3-2 under Michael Carrick; Arsenal cruised 4-0 at Leeds and sit six points clear; there were dramatic comebacks, VAR disputes and worrying patterns for a few big clubs. Hosts and guests (James Richardson, Daniel Taylor, Duncan Alexander, Colin Miller) break down the key results, tactical trends and what it means for the title, European places and relegation fight.

Weekend roundup — key results and headlines

  • Spurs 2–2 Manchester City: City 2–0 up at half, Spurs mounted a second-half comeback; Dominic Solanke’s second goal described as a remarkable “scorpion”/backheel flick. City’s second‑half frailty highlighted.
  • Arsenal 4–0 Leeds: Comfortable away win, set-piece goals and strong collective performance. Arsenal move six points clear at the top.
  • Manchester United 3–2 Fulham: United came from behind twice; Benjamin Sesko scored a late winner as Carrick’s run of wins continues.
  • Chelsea 3–2 West Ham: Chelsea overturned a 2–0 half-time deficit to win after heavy first-half pressure from West Ham.
  • Liverpool 4–2 Newcastle: Liverpool dominant late; governing talking points about Newcastle’s game management.
  • Nottingham Forest 1–1 Crystal Palace: Forest held on with ten men; an important point in their survival fight.
  • Brentford 1–0 Aston Villa: Brentford won despite going down to 10 men; Villa had a controversial disallowed equaliser (ball out of play earlier).
  • Bournemouth 2–0 Wolves; Brighton 1–1 Everton (Beto equaliser in 97th minute); Sunderland v Burnley to follow on Monday.

Deep dives — matches that mattered

Spurs 2–2 Man City

  • Story: City looked dominant and 2–0 up at halftime but collapsed in the second half — a worrying pattern (record of second-half losses highlighted).
  • Spurs: Conor Gallagher’s energy and Solanke’s two goals (the second an improvised flick that looped over Donnarumma) gave Spurs a valuable point.
  • Implication: City’s perceived identity/consistency is questioned; Arsenal’s lead stretches and title race dynamic shifts.

Manchester United 3–2 Fulham

  • United under Michael Carrick: third win under Carrick, resilience to come through late despite being pegged back.
  • Match moments: Casemiro and Matheus Cunha contributed; Fulham’s Kevin goal and Raul Jimenez penalty forced drama; Sesko’s composed winner was decisive.
  • Takeaway: United’s momentum grows; tendency to have less possession but get results noted.

Arsenal 4–0 Leeds

  • Arsenal controlled the game, scored from set-pieces and open play; a substitute/stand-in wide player (brought in after Saka’s warm-up injury) impressed.
  • Significance: Arsenal look confident and consistent — “shackles off” mentality noted by speakers — crucial ahead of midweek Cup tie with Chelsea.

Chelsea 3–2 West Ham

  • Chelsea were battered first half but made strong tactical/ personnel changes to overturn the game.
  • West Ham: started aggressively but failed to close games out previously — trend of dropping points from winning positions discussed.
  • Managerial/ stylistic points: rotation and bench quality debated; in-game adaptation praised for Chelsea.

Major themes & analysis

  • City’s second-half fragility: panel flagged multiple second-half defeats this season, suggesting a loss of the old game-control identity.
  • Title race: Arsenal now have a clear cushion; panel suggests City are not in the same consistent frame as recent seasons, making Arsenal favorites if they avoid major slip-ups.
  • Momentum and management: interim/early tenure managers (Carrick at United; some managers newly in place) can produce immediate form boosts; tactical reactions at halftime proved decisive across matches.
  • VAR and officiating debates: Controversy over Villa’s “equaliser” that followed a moment when ball had gone out of play — prompted wider debate about how far VAR should intervene (corners/throw-ins etc.).
  • Physicality, set pieces and squad depth: Premier League increasingly influenced by physicality and set-pieces; squad rotation and bench quality becoming more visible in results.

Notable players & moments

  • Dominic Solanke (Spurs): two goals, the second an extraordinary improvised finish — moment of the weekend.
  • Conor Gallagher (Spurs): energy, key involvement in comeback.
  • Benjamin Sesko (Man United): late winner, smart finish.
  • Casemiro (Man United): influential presence in midfield.
  • Arsenal stand-in winger (referred to as Madueke/Maduweki in discussion): big impact when called on; Gabriel Jesus (or G. Jesus as referenced) scored.
  • Chelsea substitutes and Robert Sánchez: tactical changes and goalkeeper’s interaction with fans noted as part of turnaround.
  • Beto (Everton): late equaliser (97th minute) on his birthday.

VAR, rules and controversies

  • Brentford v Villa: Villa’s supposed equaliser was disallowed after VAR determined the ball had gone out of play seconds earlier — reignited debate on scope and consistency of VAR interventions (corners, throw-ins, long sequences).
  • The panel discussed practical implications of expanding VAR checks (e.g., throw-ins) and the risk of fragmenting the flow of the game.

Relegation & European race implications

  • Forest, Leeds and West Ham: the relegation/escape battle remains tight; Forest picked up a useful point with ten men.
  • Top six/champions league race: a six-way fight for European spots feels likely; United, Spurs, Villa, Liverpool, Chelsea and others competing — United’s form under Carrick adds spice.

What to watch next (fixtures to note)

  • Sunderland v Burnley (Monday) — Burnley’s poor run continues.
  • Spurs at Manchester United (next weekend) — big for top-five ambitions.
  • Chelsea vs Arsenal (Carabao Cup semi, second leg midweek) — cup tie with league implications and fresh narrative.
  • Man City host Newcastle (midweek) — title-relevant.
  • Leeds v Forest (Friday) — key relegation-six-pointer.

Key takeaways

  • It was a rollercoaster weekend: late goals, big comebacks and dramatic individual moments changed the landscape.
  • Arsenal strengthened their title position; City’s vulnerability has become a consistent talking point.
  • Momentum under interim managers (Carrick at United) and halftime tactical adjustments swung several matches.
  • VAR and officiating controversies will continue to be flashpoints as marginal decisions immediately influence results.

For listeners who want more: the show promises a European edition on Tuesday with Champions League coverage and further tactical analysis.