An motion packed weekend of Premier League soccer noticed Arsenal and Man Metropolis drop factors, Man Utd’s struggles proceed and Chelsea win a seven-goal thriller in opposition to rivals Tottenham.
Listed here are six observations from the weekend’s motion…
Arsenal’s reliance on set items
“Set piece once more ole, ole” sang the Arsenal followers after scoring from one other nook within the 1-1 draw with Fulham, however are Arsenal turning into too reliant on set items? The Gunners created simply 0.3 anticipated objectives from open play in opposition to Fulham, in comparison with a whopping 1.73 from set performs. It’s in fact a optimistic that Arsenal are so dominant from corners however there have been events this season the place they’ve struggled to show their dominance typically play into clear reduce possibilities. Their draw with Fulham was one other one.
Free scoring Brentford
Solely Chelsea have scored extra objectives than Brentford within the Premier League this season, following Thomas Frank’s aspect’s 4-2 win over Newcastle on Saturday. Regardless of shedding Ivan Toney in the summertime, Brentford’s attacking play has improved and this was the fifth straight dwelling recreation that they’ve scored at the least three objectives. Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa each took their Premier League objective tallies to 9 for the season whereas Kevin Schade scored his fourth. They could nonetheless have but to win away from dwelling, however no aspect will relish a visit to the Gtech Neighborhood Stadium.
The massive moments are going in opposition to Postecoglou
The stress on Ange Postecoglou has elevated additional after his aspect once more blew a two-goal result in lose 4-3 to rivals Chelsea, that means Spurs have now misplaced seven of their 15 Premier League video games this season. The actual fact is that it’s one other lead blown however he’s not being helped by some huge moments going in opposition to him. Spurs generated six huge possibilities to Chelsea’s three, lacking 4 of them with the worst coming by means of Heung-Min Son when he raced clear by means of on objective at 2-2 and bent large of the publish, gave away two disastrous penalties and misplaced Cristian Romero to a different harm after 20 minutes of the sport. Postecoglou shouldn’t be exempt from criticism however the gamers should take their justifiable share of accountability too, whereas accidents haven’t helped.
United must spend
One other defeat for Manchester United on Saturday once more laid naked the truth that Ruben Amorim must be backed within the switch market if he’s to enhance issues. United have already spent considerably over the previous few seasons however have really obtained worse, with some enormous errors within the switch market whereas Erik ten Hag was within the dugout. Sporting director Dan Ashworth has now departed the membership following a protracted effort to convey him in from Newcastle and the membership’s minority proprietor Sir Jim Ratcliffe publicly criticised the membership’s recruitment in an interview with fanzine United We Stand forward of the loss to Nottingham Forest. That a lot is obvious on the pitch, and it is a squad which wants an overhaul.
Guardiola’s restricted choices
Man Metropolis have gained simply certainly one of their final 9 video games in all competitions following their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday. Pep Guardiola once more took the chance to and that a few of those that made the squad are additionally removed from full health. their bench, it’s straightforward to grasp why Guardiola was so eager to make this level. Metropolis had two goalkeepers on the bench in Ederson and Scott Carson, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish who’re each struggling for health, and 5 youthful gamers. “Give me my gamers again and we’ll do it,” Guardiola stated. “But it surely’s not attainable proper now and I don’t suppose it’s going to occur for a very long time.”
Chelsea look to have gotten their cash’s value in any case
A lot was manufactured from how a lot Chelsea spent on their midfield trio of Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez when the group had been struggling. Lavia missed virtually the whole lot of his first season on the membership by means of harm, whereas Caicedo and Enzo struggled to settle straight in to the aspect after their £100m+ strikes from Brighton and Benfica respectively. However all three at the moment are trying just like the gamers Chelsea thought they had been signing. Lavia impressed within the first half in opposition to Tottenham with some sensible passes into the ahead gamers earlier than being compelled off by means of harm, which isn’t . Caicedo has been among the best midfielders within the league this season and Enzo has been on a fantastic run of type late, scoring a incredible objective in opposition to Spurs. All three have been instrumental in Chelsea’s enchancment this season.