They say that the Premier League table not lies. But particularly at this phase of the season, it can definitely state the porkie.
Arsenal may sit only two points after round six behind champions Manchester City, but for much of Sunday day the storm clouds were gathering across the Emirates. And even in the wake of their gutsy comeback win over Aston Villa after Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ arguably-harsh dismissal, there’s the sense that Arsenal, fourth position or not, are currently stumbling.
The defence is no such thing. The midfield is misshapen. The captaincy is open along with the sight and noise of Granit Xhaka being booed off was both unedifying and eloquent testimony of their lovers’ unease.
The feeling stays that Unai Emery has left questions unanswered. What’s Arsenal team? What is their creation? In midweek, Emery said that Mesut Ozil was»rested» despite the playmaker completing just 71 minutes of first-team football in 3 months. He had been lost, missed in favour of Bukayo Saka. Rested, you state?
Transferring to Old Trafford next, Arsenal’s season is at a crossroads. Without leadership in Emery, their destination is uncertain.
Pete Gill
«For now we’re focusing on performance not where we are in the table,» said Brendan Rodgers after Leicester’s come-from-behind triumph over Tottenham in the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday. «In February or March period we are going to have look.» Who’s he trying to kid? Fans are not reluctant to check at a Premier League table which reveals them sitting at third place.
Rodgers is right to point out it but there’s nothing especially misleading about Leicester position. This really is a well-coached team with quality in the full-back positions and a strong spine because of the ever underrated Jonny Evans in defence as well as also the evergreen Jamie Vardy front. Nevertheless, it was James Maddison that saw off Spurs’ presence.
Not a lot of players in the Premier League are enjoyable to watch and his sweet attack to win the game on was a fitting finale to another enjoyable functionality. This was typical of his own fortune when the internet was discovered by the still uncapped playmaker which Gareth Southgate had departed. He will get that cap shortly.
Adam Bate
West Ham after their 2-0 triumph over Manchester United joined in the top four leicester. What a promising beginning that was by Manuel Pellegrini’s team as conceding five to Manchester City on their first match. The defence, led by the exceptional Issa Diop, has been a strength — not conceding in seven hours of football.
Declan Rice is providing fantastic protection before these and Mark Noble dictated matters against United. Ahead of them, Andriy Yarmolenko is making up for lost time and Sebastien Haller has the hold-up ability to offer an attacking platform against which Felipe Anderson and Pablo Fornals may impress. Individuals but an organised team unit.
«We didn’t allow them to make chances and we attempted to regain the ball as large as we could,» said Pellegrini. «It isn’t important if we play Manchester United or any significant group, we must hope that we’re able to beat them.»
They are surely earning the trust of fans. It’s two decades because West Ham ended in the top six but expects are at present high again.
Adam Bate
Not that beating Manchester United on your turf is exactly what it once was. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s negative are currently without a win seven Premier League games away and despite limiting West Ham’s chances they deserved nothing greater than defeat at the London Stadium, this was the absence of intensity and creativity to their drama.
Should anybody expect? Solskjaer was without Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial, while Marcus Rashford trudged off the pitch having a groin problem. Given the summer earnings of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku, that abandoned United relying to a forward line of Daniel James, Angel Gomes along with Jesse Lingard. How is it come to this?
United’s battles will reignite debate about the manager and also the Glazer family’s ownership of the team, but in the short term there appears no simple solution. The expectation is that Mason Greenwood will return for the match against Arsenal on Monday Night Football but those children, however talented, are still children.
United seem short of what is required.
Adam Bate
Tottenham’s performance off to Leicester wasn’t so turgid — that they played an active role in a fun contest between two teams that were ambitious. However, it will still be an issue for Mauricio Pochettino his negative continue to figure out ways to come out on the incorrect side of those matches. The await some Premier League away win now dates back to January.
After surrendering two-goal leads in their past two away fixtures against Arsenal and Olympiakos, Spurs appeared to conquer despite top Leicester midway through the second half. The VAR check on Serge Aurier’s aim was a real talking point — Heung-Min Son was offside from the narrowest of margins but what happened then wasn’t great at all.
There were attempts to maintain calm and control the contest, however, Pochettino’s players couldn’t contain Leicester. It is a issue now. The bigger fear is the uncertainty surrounding this group. Spiritual Eriksen has been discredited. Dele Alli was out of this squad. What’s the best team? What is the best formation? Clarity was dropped at Spurs.
Adam Bate
There was no lack of clarity in the Etihad Stadium after on Saturday afternoon as Manchester City demolished Watford together with five goals in the first 18 minutes. They settled for 8-0 in the end. By City’s extraordinarily significant standards that was some statement after their defeat into Norwich. It is their largest Premier League win under Pep Guardiola.
Such has been the margin of victory it is perhaps inevitable that inquiries about the validity of their Premier League come up from the immediate wake. This is a product which prides itself on the belief that all results are possible. Had Paris Saint-Germain or Barcelona run up such a dent then some would have been swift to scoff.
And yet, what produced this result eye-opening is how odd it still is. Even though City’s football is so good that they could beat many clubs 8-0 the reality is that they don’t. Quique Sanchez Flores’ Watford were woeful, devoting all sorts of different objects within a performance which had little to take action. They shouldn’t be let off the hook so easily.
Adam Bate
When there was a worry for Manchester City over the weekend, then perhaps it was the sight of Chelsea’s supporters applauding their team from the Stamford Bridge pitch the subsequent day. Frank Lampard’s team gave it a move against Liverpool on Sunday but they were still beaten 2-1 as Jurgen Klopp’s league leaders made it 15 Premier League wins in a row.
There was no blank sheet for Virgil van Dijk and the defence. No goals from either Mohamed Salah or even Sadio Mane. However, it was no issue for Liverpool. This time it was Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino on goal to maintain their five-point lead over the reigning champions at the peak of the Premier League table. Where are they likely to drop points?
Chelsea are in transition and waiting for a home win but they are still fifth favorites for the name. The trip there must still rank among one of the more demanding assignments that Liverpool will face. However, it is another one chalked off. If they could negotiate the next three — Leicester, Manchester United and Tottenham — City will have to be concerned.
Adam Bate
Marco Silva place Everton’s third league defeat in four matches down to a lack of personality and a nervousness in possession leading to, but the criticism is going to be levelled at the Portuguese.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored this year was highlighted by the striker’s omission against his former club Sheffield United after being handed a beginning against Bournemouth the weekend, but Silva scattergun approach to pick.
Silva has stuck owing into his religion at a 4-2-3-1 formation, but using Chris Wilder’s well-drilled facet benefitting from more Everton issues when defending set pieces, the prior Watford boss threw on two strikers and winger Theo Walcott instead of his own captain Seamus Coleman in what could best be described as a 3-2-5.
Pep Guardiola has taken the same way when Manchester City have been behind, but Silva lacks quality from his squad along with the Everton fanbase has come to be increasingly entangled.
Loads of personality will be needed with Manchester City following at Goodison Park.
Ben Grounds
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