JUST four days after losing in the Carabao Cup final, Arsenal get the chance to make a statement with a better display against Manchester City in the Premier League.
Arsene Wenger’s side were condemned for their display at Wembley as Pep Guardiola won his first City trophy, and with the gap to fourth growing, this looms as a crucial clash to save face.
Western United recorded its first win of the season with an exhilarating 5-4 victory over Perth Glory at GMHBA Stadium.
In one of the craziest games in A-League history, an incredible eight goals were scored in just 28 minutes of second-half football.
The Saturday afternoon clash came alive as the all-time A-League record for second-half goals was broken after eight hit the back of the net.
The last of which came courtesy of Western United midfielder Steven Lustica, who lashed home a loose ball in the area to give his side its first win of the season.
“At 4-3 I turned to Richard Garcia (Perth coach) and said we’re part of something that’s going to be re-run for the next twenty years,” Western United coach Mark Rudan said.
Rudan’s side were dominant early and went into the break 1-0 up thanks to Spaniard Victor Sanchez who steered home his first A-League goal after some excellent work down the left from Connor Pain.
From there the clash descended into chaos.
Glory coach Richard Garcia made two changes before the second half kicked off to try and get his side back into the contest and it worked immediately as substitute Carlo Armiento equalised and then set up Bruno Fornaroli two minutes later to put Perth ahead.
Mark Rudan witnessed that move come off and decided to try it himself, bringing on Dylan Pierias off the bench. The change saw the youngster net twice in the space of four minutes to regain the lead.
Olyroos youngster Nick D’Agostino then headed home his third goal of the season to draw Perth level but either side of another goal from the substitute Armiento, Western United would strike back.
Defender Tomoki Imai broke forward to score one of them before Lustica finally ended one of the most dramatic games Australian domestic football has seen with the winner.