It is said that the Premier League table not lies. But at this stage of the season, it can certainly say the porkie.
Arsenal could sit just two points after round six behind champions Manchester City, except for much of Sunday day the storm clouds were gathering menacingly over the Emirates. And even in the aftermath of their comeback win over Aston Villa after Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ dismissal, there’s the feeling that Arsenal position or not, are stumbling.
The defence is not any such thing. The midfield is tacky. The captaincy is unresolved and Granit Xhaka being booed off’s sight and sound has been once both unedifying and eloquent testimony of their fans’ unease.
The sensation persists that Unai Emery has made questions unanswered. What’s Arsenal team? What is their creation? In fact, Emery stated that Mesut Ozil had been”rested” despite the playmaker finishing just 71 minutes of first-team soccer in 3 months. He had been lost, overlooked in favour of 18-year-old Bukayo Saka. You state?
Transferring to Old Trafford Arsenal’s season is at a crossroads. Without clear direction in Emery, their destination remains uncertain.
Pete Gill
“For now we’re focusing on performance not where we are in the desk,” said Brendan Rodgers after Leicester’s come-from-behind triumph over Tottenham from the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday. “In February or March period we will have a look.” Who is he trying to kid? Foxes fans aren’t scared to check.
Rodgers is appropriate to point out it but there’s not anything especially misleading about the raised position of Leicester. This really is a well-coached team with caliber in the full-back rankings along with a strong spine as a result of the ever underrated Jonny Evans in defence as well as the evergreen Jamie Vardy front. However, it was the existence.
Not a lot of players in the Premier League are far more enjoyable to watch and his strike to win the match on was a fitting finale to another functionality that is enjoyable. This was typical of his fortune when the playmaker found the net which Gareth Southgate had already departed. He will get that first cap soon.
Adam Bate
West Ham after their 2-0 triumph over Manchester United united in the top four leicester. What a promising start this has been Manuel Pellegrini’s team because conceding five to Manchester City in their first game. The defence, led by the outstanding Issa Diop, has ever been a power – not conceding in seven minutes of soccer today.
Declan Rice is providing excellent protection before them 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 capability to provide an attacking platform against which Felipe Anderson and Pablo Fornals will impress. Individuals but an ordered team unit too.
“We did not permit them to create chances and we tried to regain the ball as large as we could,” said Pellegrini. “It isn’t important if we play Manchester United or any major team, we have to hope that we can conquer them.”
They’re certainly earning the confidence of fans. It’s two decades because West Ham finished in the top six but expects are now high again.
Adam Bate
Not that beating Manchester United in your turf is exactly what it was. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side 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 lack of strength and creativity for their play.
Should anyone expect? Solskjaer was without Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial, while Marcus Rashford trudged off the pitch having a groin Issue. Considering that the summertime time earnings of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku, that abandoned United counting to a forward line of Daniel James, Angel Gomes along with Jesse Lingard. Can it come to this?
United’s battles will reignite debate concerning the director and also the Glazer family’s possession of the club, however in the brief term there seems no simple solution. The expectation is that Mason Greenwood will reunite for the game against Arsenal on Monday Night Football but these children, however talented, are still kids.
United look.
Adam Bate
Tottenham’s performance off to Leicester was not so turgid – they played an active role in a fun competition between two teams that were ambitious. But it is going to nonetheless be a concern for Mauricio Pochettino that his side continue to find ways to come on the incorrect side of those games. The await some Premier League away win currently dates back to January.
After surrendering two-goal contributes to their past two away fixtures against Arsenal and Olympiakos, Spurs appeared to conquer despite leading Leicester midway through the second half. The VAR check on Serge Aurier’s aim was a real talking point – Heung-Min Son had been offside from the narrowest of margins but what happened then was not very good in any respect.
There were attempts to maintain calm and control the contest, however Pochettino’s gamers could not include Leicester. It’s a problem now. The larger fear is the uncertainty surrounding this group. Christian Eriksen has been discredited. Dele Alli was out of this squad. What is the ideal team? What’s the formation? Clarity has been dropped at Spurs.
Adam Bate
There was no lack of clarity at the Etihad Stadium later on Saturday afternoon as Manchester City demolished Watford with five goals in the first 18 minutes. They settled for 8-0 in the finish. By City’s extraordinarily high standards this was a statement after their defeat Norwich. It’s their biggest Premier League win beneath Pep Guardiola.
Such was the margin of victory it is perhaps inevitable that queries about the validity of the Premier League appear in the immediate aftermath. This is a item that prides itself to the notion that all results are not possible. Had Paris Saint-Germain or even Barcelona run such a score then some might have been quick to scoff.
And what created this result so eye-opening is how unusual it still is. While City’s soccer is so great that they could beat many clubs 8-0 that the reality is they don’t. Quique Sanchez Flores’ Watford were woeful, conceding all kinds of unique goals within a performance that had little to recommend it. They shouldn’t be allowed off the hook so easily.
Adam Bate
When there was a worry for Manchester City during the weekend, maybe it was the sight of Chelsea’s supporters applauding their group off the Stamford Bridge pitch the following 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 not any blank sheet for Virgil van Dijk along with the defence. No goals from either Mohamed Salah or even Sadio Mane. Nevertheless, it was no problem for Liverpool. It was Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino on goal to keep their five-point lead on the reigning champions on top of the Premier League table. Where are they going to fall points?
Chelsea are in transition and waiting for a first home win but they are still fifth favourites for the title. The trip there should still rank among one of the more demanding missions that Liverpool will confront. However, it is just another one chalked off. If they can negotiate the three – Manchester United Leicester and Tottenham – City will truly need to get concerned.
Adam Bate
Marco Silva place Everton’s third league defeat in four games down to an anxiety in ownership leading to and a lack of personality, but the criticism is going to be levelled at the Portuguese.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored this year was highlighted by the young striker’s omission against his former club Sheffield United after being handed a starting berth against Bournemouth Silva scattergun approach, although the weekend to selection.
Silva has stuck resolutely to his religion at a 4-2-3-1 creation, but with Chris Wilder’s well-drilled facet profiting from yet more Everton problems when defending set pieces, ” the prior Watford boss withdrew on two strikers along with winger Theo Walcott set up of his captain Seamus Coleman in what might best be called a 3-2-5.
Pep Guardiola has often taken the same way when Manchester City are behind, but Silva lacks quality from his group and the Everton fanbase has become entangled.
Lots of character will be required with Manchester City adjacent at Goodison Park.
Ben Grounds
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