September 7, 2026, Rashford, Shaw, Gabriel and Odegaard in the Spotlight

September 7, 2026, A Day of Pundit Praise

Welcome to our This Day in Football roundup. On this Monday the Match of the Day studio dissected four key moments from the Premier League weekend.

Rashford and Shaw’s Left‑Side Sync

Ashley Young highlighted the chemistry between Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw as United fought back to a 2-2 draw with Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Young argued the partnership could be the catalyst United need to climb the table.

Rooney on Gabriel’s Lucky Escape

Wayne Rooney warned that Arsenal’s Gabriel was ‘extremely lucky’ to stay on after a hard challenge on Chelsea’s Emi Martinez. The incident reignited the debate over VAR consistency and defender discipline.

Odegaard Takes the Helm

Rooney turned his attention to Martin Ødegaard, praising the Norwegian’s desire and control as Arsenal out‑classed Chelsea at the Emirates. Ødegaard’s ability to dictate tempo was described as the defining factor in the win.

“Ødegaard owned the midfield, he set the rhythm and forced Chelsea to chase,” Rooney said.

These talking points underline how early‑season performances are already shaping the narrative for the 2026/27 campaign.