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Over the course of the last decade or so, stories like this have been about Alabama time and time again.

The flow of this story—the rebirth of the most successful football programs in recent memory following a lackluster result earlier in the year—goes something like this.

Alabama comes into a season with enormous expectations, as it did in 2025.

Alabama loses a game that it likely should have, which it certainly did against Florida State in the team’s opener, a result that suddenly feels like a distant dream.

Then, to tie it altogether, Alabama rallies with an emphatic triumph over a talented team, showing it is still very much alive and present.

We overreact. We recoil the other way. And football life goes on.Â

On Saturday night, playing on the road against unbeaten Georgia, a program it has an abundance of meaningful history against, the Crimson Tide delivered this 24-21 conquest and so much more.

This is the second overreaction, although it should serve as something more than that.

A month ago, we spent a full week dissecting the buyout of Kalen DeBoer. We wondered out loud if Nick Saban would come out of retirement to help his former program. We broke down how the Crimson Tide would afford this buyout—shoutout to monthly installments across many years— and if the program could move on from him as soon as a loss to Georgia, which seemed almost assumed at the time.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

This was the conversation. After the Seminoles dismantled Alabama in the opener, we questioned the coach. We questioned the talent. We questioned the quarterback. We questioned the direction of a team still adjusting to life after Nick Saban.

In fact, forget questioning. We buried this team.

We overreacted, as we often do, taking one outcome to the extreme. We decided then and there that this team was bad, and we did so without much thought.

A month later, Alabama is suddenly a threat to win every game it plays. Its quarterback, Ty Simpson, is now the second choice on the Heisman odds board. Three touchdowns against a top five team on the road will do that.

The weapons are healthy and robust. And the defense, which was the story in Week 1, appears to have turned a corner. All the negatives and concerns we had when the month began have largely been addressed as September ends.

We owe this team an apology, although we’ll never do that. We hate admitting when we’re wrong, and we certainly hate admitting when we’re wrong when it involves a program like this one—especially this specific one.

To be clear, that doesn’t mean all is perfect and the path is clear. Let’s address this very notion before things spiral too far out of control in the other direction.

Next week, the Crimson Tide welcomes Vanderbilt to town. Last year, the Commodores upended Alabama in one of the season’s most meaningful results. The following week, they head to Missouri to take on a feisty, unbeaten team.

There are still home games against Tennessee, LSU and Oklahoma. There are still road trips to South Carolina and Auburn.

This is one of the most difficult schedules in the country, and the likelihood of another loss, given how much talent they’ll encounter, is likely. Such is life in the SEC in 2025, which has more top-to-bottom depth than any conference in America.

David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

If nothing else, however, the result against Georgia was a reminder of sorts that could provide a handful of lessons.

A team’s season will never be defined in Week 1, no matter how big those moments feel at the time. For as tempting as it might feel to draw dramatic conclusions based on the outcome of 60 minutes, sometimes those emotions and reactions should be tempered.

Nothing about Alabama is tempered, nor will it be for the foreseeable future, whether the team is being coached by Saban or DeBoer. This program is a product of its own success, which is why these emotional seesaws swing so freely.

For at least one night and one week, however, Alabama is right where it needs to be. It has the right coach and the right quarterback, and it has all the ingredients a program needs to win big in the SEC and beyond.

Perhaps that will change. In fact, it could as soon as next week. If it does, the masses will flock to scream its demise from the rooftop. Then, when things are right again, the cycle will continue.

For at least right now, on the heels of a season-saving performance and a brilliant football game, those can wait.

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Masha Slamovich has responded to allegations that she was abusive in a relationship with former MLW star AKIRA in a new post on social media.

“Up until the beginning of this year, I was in a toxic and mutually destructive relationship,†Slamovich wrote in a statement on X. “We hurt each other deeply, and in private moments, failed to treat each other with the consideration and respect we both deserve. I take responsibility for my actions and I am sorry, embarrassed, and ashamed of the role I played in our relationship and the way things turned out.

“In the time since, I have sought help to reflect on this time and deal with conflict in more mature, healthier, and sustainable ways. I apologize to those that I let down, including my former partner. I hope he is able to heal. This will be my only statement on the matter.

Slamovich faced allegations of domestic violence this week

On Tuesday, a friend of former MLW star AKIRA released dozens of screenshots that alleged Slamovich had been abusive during their relationship. The images were not verified at the time, but AKIRA later issued a statement on his past relationship with Slamovich and the allegations. Despite commenting on the matter, AKIRA did not mention Slamovich by name.

Sports Illustratedâ€s Jon Alba later reported that TNA has opened an internal investigation regarding the allegations against Slamovich.

As a result of the allegations, West Coast Pro announced that Slamovich has been pulled from its upcoming “How The West Was Won†event on November 1. In addition, Prestige Wrestling also removed Slamovich from the lineup for its Roseland event on October 5. Slamovich was originally scheduled to face off with Shayna Baszler, but has since been replaced by Dani Luna.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic violence, please call The National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. You can also find more ways to get help on their official website.

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• Tom Hamilton

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  Tom Hamilton

  Senior Writer

  • Joined ESPN in 2011
  • Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours
  • Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018

• Mark Ogden

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  Mark Ogden

  Senior Writer, ESPN FC

Sep 21, 2025, 03:41 PM ET

LONDON — Gabriel Martinelli‘s injury-time equalizer saw Arsenal snatch a 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Erling Haaland‘s first-half strike looked to be enough to secure a key win for Pep Guardiola’s side at their fellow title challengers, but the strength of Arsenal’s bench again proved to be enough to get the breakthrough as Martinelli lobbed Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 93rd minute of the match.

For so long it looked as if City’s defensive stand was going to frustrate Arsenal. Haaland’s goal was from a rare City attack, while Arsenal had plenty of possession but failed to turn that into clear-cut chances. That was until Martinelli’s neat, lofted effort flew over Donnarumma’s head into the corner of the net. — Tom Hamilton

Arsenal show character but miss out on statement victory

After a summer of largesse in the transfer market that established a squad depth to rival any in the sport, this was meant to be the afternoon when Arsenal underlined their title credentials. Having lost to Liverpool already, Arsenal could not afford to drop further points to City.

They showed more life in the second half, but the first half was a turgid performance from Arsenal as they mustered only one shot on target. They looked devoid of inspiration and played in front of City’s back four, rather than finding a way to tease the door open. They lacked creativity in midfield and a cutting edge up front. Noni Madueke frequently found himself constrained to the byline, and though he managed to get his crosses away, they inevitably found a player in blue. Arteta’s changes at halftime, introducing Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze, gave Arsenal more life, but still City’s back line stood firm and frustrated Viktor Gyökeres, who barely got a sniff of a decent chance.

Gabriel Martinelli scored in the 93rd minute to salvage a draw for Arsenal vs. Manchester City. Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Ultimately, the strength of Arsenal’s bench saw them through. The introductions of Eze, Saka, Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri gave them enough impetus to force a late breakthrough by Martinelli. But what will concern Arteta is how they left it so late to break down City’s defense. This was an opportunity missed for Arsenal. — Hamilton

Haaland now the complete forward

Remember when former Manchester United captain Roy Keane disparagingly suggested that Erling Haaland was “like a League Two player” because of what he offered — or more pertinently, what he didn’t — when he wasn’t scoring goals? Those comments were made in March 2024 after Haaland had produced a poor performance for City. At the time, Keane wasn’t on his own in thinking that the prolific goal scorer needed to do more for the team.

Haaland has always racked up goals, and he has scored so many that even a coach as demanding as Pep Guardiola has been willing to make allowances, simply because he is capable of winning games with one flash of genius. But Haaland has evolved as a player as well as a striker, and the 25-year-old’s ninth-minute goal at the Emirates Stadium showcased just how much more he now has in his locker.

The Norway international started the move for the goal inside his own half by winning the ball and laying it off to Tijjani Reijnders before sprinting forward and leaving marker Gabriel chasing his shadow. Reijnders then burst forward and returned the ball to Haaland, who took a touch before beating David Raya with his right foot. It was the kind of goal that Haaland might not have scored 18 months ago when Keane made his critiques. — Mark Ogden

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1:56

Is the ‘new version’ Manchester City working?

Shaka Hislop analyses Manchester City’s changes in their style of play.

Pep Lijnders’ influence at City starting to show

It was a surprise when Guardiola hired Pep Lijnders as his new assistant this summer, calling upon Jurgen Klopp’s former coach at Liverpool to help get his team back on track after last season’s failure to win a trophy. Klopp’s Liverpool had been a real thorn in City’s side, but it was their brand of rapid counterattacking football that Guardiola was so keen to adopt, prompting him to recruit Lijnders, sources told ESPN.

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Sources said Lijnders has been repeatedly drilling the City squad on the training ground in an effort to fast-track their evolution into a counterattacking side. The fruits of his labour are beginning to show. Last week, City beat Manchester United 3-0 with only 45% possession in the whole game. At the Emirates, the Blues had 33%, the lowest ever for a Guardiola-led team.

Despite building his reputation as a master of the passing game, Guardiola has spotted a change in tactical trends, and City are having to move with the times. Haaland’s goal was an example of their ability to counter quickly. With the pace of Haaland and Jérémy Doku in the team, they continued to hit Arsenal on the counter in this game. — Ogden

Donnarumma shows quality despite late misstep

The Arsenal supporters took a disliking to Gianluigi Donnarumma pretty early on. He likes to take his time while evaluating the options at his disposal, much to the ire of the Arsenal supporters inside the Emirates. He didn’t look the remotest bit bothered as the boos rained down on him. Eventually he was shown a yellow card in the 75th minute after his latest display of time-wasting, but the whole charade was a snapshot of the unflappable mentality that has made him one of the finest goalkeepers in the world.

– O’Hanlon: First-month grades for all 20 Premier League teams
– Report: Gabriel Martinelli rescues Arsenal draw vs. pragmatic Man City

He must also be such a calm presence for the defenders in front of him. City had a makeshift right back in Abdukodir Khusanov, and had young left back Nico O’Reilly on the opposite side of the back four. It was also fascinating to see him warming up. Donnarumma and the coaches were focusing on crosses, and he spent a good amount of time flying through the air, punching crosses clear.

It was a precursor for what they anticipated would be a set piece bombardment from Arsenal. Those skills were called upon as Arsenal’s corners peppered his goal as he repelled anything and everything hurled his way from the set pieces. But his positioning will be questioned for Arsenal’s equalizer as he gave enough space for Martinelli to lift the ball over his head and into the net. — Hamilton

Ødegaard’s absence felt by Arsenal

Arsenal have dropped points in two Premier League games this season, and Martin Ødegaard hasn’t started either of them. The Gunners’ captain was restricted to a substitute appearance in the 1-0 defeat at Liverpool because of a shoulder injury, and he missed this draw against City completely because of a recurrence of the same problem.

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2:40

Hislop: Gyökeres hasn’t done something to even critique

Shaka Hislop discusses how Viktor Gyökeres fits in Arsenal and how he can contribute to the team’s title fight.

Arsenal have been able to overcome the absence of Ødegaard against lesser opponents, but when they are facing the top teams, they really miss his craft and guile. Arteta now has a squad of real depth with at least two players for every position, but he has no direct replacement for Ødegaard. Without the Norway midfielder, Arsenal don’t have a midfielder capable of controlling the play or unlocking opposition defenses through the middle of the pitch. When Ødegaard misses out, Arsenal play everything out wide, and the best teams know how to deal with that.

Against City, Martinelli’s late equalizer rescued a point and saved the Gunners from a costly defeat against a title rival. But if Arsenal are to win the Premier League, they need Ødegaard back and for him to stay fit. — Ogden

Statement performance from O’Reilly

Last weekend, Nottingham Forest had a dreadful time trying to contain Noni Madueke. They had Morato at left back in the first half; Neco Williams faired a little better after the break, but Madueke was lethal. A week later, it fell to O’Reilly to marshal Madueke, and he did an outstanding job. O’Reilly is more naturally a midfielder, but has been used at left back under Guardiola. Madueke was frequently forced to the byline, and his cutbacks found City players rather than anyone wearing red. In the second half, O’Reilly had Saka to deal with and again, managed to keep a lid on his threats.

It was also fascinating to see how O’Reilly was used in attack, frequently slotting into midfield with Jeremy Doku maintaining the width. It was similar to how Guardiola’s used John Stones in the past. The 20-year-old was substituted off in the 87th minute utterly exhausted, and bruised, but he was outstanding. On this evidence, Rayan Aït-Nouri will have competition on his hands for the left-back spot when he comes back from injury. — Hamilton

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