5 learnings we took from this previous weekend’s Premier League motion, that includes Chelsea’s unlikely title tilt, the issue with Arsenal’s set items, Man Utd’s massive concern, and what Man Metropolis want within the switch market.
Wait, Chelsea are literally title contenders?
When Liverpool’s journey to Everton was known as off on Saturday morning because of Storm Darragh, it felt like this previous weekend was the right alternative for his or her title rivals to make floor within the desk. As an alternative, Manchester Metropolis and Arsenal needed to accept a degree in opposition to Crystal Palace and Fulham respectively.
It appeared like Chelsea would additionally fall additional behind after going two targets down after simply ten minutes at Spurs, however they pulled off a shocking comeback to win 4-3 and shut the hole to first place to only 4 factors.
Enzo Maresca insists his aspect are too younger and inexperienced to win the Premier League, and which will but show to be the case. However on this unusual and unpredictable season, the Blues might need the juice to push Liverpool all the best way this 12 months.
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Set piece mastery gained’t be sufficient for Arsenal
A lot has been manufactured from Arsenal’s set piece menace this season, a lot in order that Nicolas Jover has change into a vaunted determine within the Premier League. And never with out cause; they’ve scored 20 league targets from set performs in 2024, their joint-most in a calendar 12 months since 2009.
Fulham appeared to get a deal with on them within the first half of their encounter at Craven Cottage. Marco Silva discovered an efficient technique by having his males defend the area that Gunners run into as an alternative of man-marking the people.
Arsenal adjusted after the break and it paid off. Relatively than run in direction of the close to put up, they ran a display on the again put up, permitting Kai Havertz to go the ball to William Saliba, who tapped in for the equaliser.
It was one more spectacular scheme, however Mikel Arteta’s aspect appeared in any other case blunt in assault. Of the two.03 anticipated targets they generated in opposition to Fulham, solely 0.29xG of that got here from open play.
Their nook routines are an amazing device to have within the backpocket, particularly in opposition to a cussed defence. However it appears like Arsenal at the moment are overly reliant on them to beat the opposition.
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Man Metropolis should make midfield signing in January
Pep Guardiola should have hoped his aspect had turned a nook in midweek. After being Nottingham Forest comfortably, Manchester Metropolis appeared again on monitor after a torrid run of outcomes. It appeared a false daybreak, nonetheless, as acquainted flaws had been uncovered on this weekend’s draw at Crystal Palace.
The Rodri-sized gap within the Manchester Metropolis midfield continues to be uncovered and whereas the blame cannot be solely positioned on the Spaniard’s absence, the problems within the engine room are obvious. Time and time once more Palace discovered room to drive on the Metropolis defence, with the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne missing the vitality of previous seasons.
Plugging the gaps and discovering a strong base needs to be of paramount significance because the switch window opens subsequent month. Discovering a participant who suits the proper profile and is attainable is one other matter, however Metropolis should search. As issues stand, their season is in peril of changing into a battle for the highest 4.
Nook concern for Man Utd
If Manchester United had labored on defending set-pieces within the days after being uncovered on the Emirates in midweek, you wouldn’t have recognized. It took simply two minutes for Nottingham Forest to open the scoring at Outdated Trafford as Nikola Milenkovic powered in from Elliot Anderson’s supply.
United opted for zonal marking with blockers on the Forest targets, however it was a plan that backfired as Milekovic bulldozed his approach in to plant previous Andre Onana. Having conceded twice from corners in the course of the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, it was one other set-piece that undid the Purple Devils early on in opposition to Forest. No aspect within the Premier League has conceded from extra corners (7) than United this season. Amid a wealth of issues to repair, that is an apparent one for Ruben Amorim.
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The race for fifth is gripping
The Premier League desk makes for fascinating studying in the mean time, and never simply on the high. Nottingham Forest presently sit fifth after 15 video games, however solely two factors separate them from the crew in tenth, Fulham. Spurs and Newcastle are simply 5 factors adrift in eleventh and twelfth respectively.
If this season has so far confirmed something, it’s that the center lessons of the highest flight are thriving. Aston Villa are as soon as once more within the combine for Europe, whereas Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford and Fulham – all Championship golf equipment throughout the final decade – are proper there with them.
Even accounting for the potential of Tottenham, Newcastle and Man Utd resurging within the second half of the marketing campaign, there’s each likelihood that the aforementioned unlikely lot might qualify for subsequent season’s Uefa Europa League or Convention League. They’ll actually dare to dream.
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