5 issues we discovered from the Premier League weekend, that includes Arsenal’s open-play points and the elephant within the room of Manchester Metropolis’s rebuild.
Do Arsenal have open-play points?
Consecutive attracts depart Arsenal off the tempo within the Premier League title race, with the Gunners pissed off at house to Everton this weekend. A lot has been product of Arsenal’s set-piece menace and their formidable file from dead-balls has even seen set-piece coach Nicolas Jover celebrated with a mural.
Arsenal, nonetheless, aren’t firing on all cylinders from open play. The North Londoners haven’t scored from open play in three league video games and the failure to signal a scientific centre-forward in the summertime might come again to hang-out them. Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, the membership’s main scorers, have simply 5 objectives every.
Fulham face combat to maintain maintain of Robinson
Because the winter window prepares to open, Fulham will face a combat to carry on to Antonee Robinson. The American received the membership’s Participant of the Season accolade in 2023/24 and has began the brand new season in even higher kind. He recorded two assists within the 2-2 draw at Liverpool this weekend to make it six for the season – probably the most of any defender. Solely Buikayo Saka and Mohamed Salah have arrange extra objectives than the left-back, who leads the division for crosses into the penalty field and ranks third for tackles received.
Solely Nuno Tavares (8) has registered extra assists than Antonee Robinson (6) of defenders in Europe’s prime 5 leagues this season. 🧙♂️
One of the well-rounded full-backs within the league, the Fulham flyer might discover himself on the shortlist of wealthier golf equipment. Manchester United and Liverpool have been linked and switch speak across the 27-year-old is certain to ramp up subsequent month.
Forest enterprise deserves its flowers
Nottingham Forest’s spending extravaganza after promotion to the Premier League made headlines as 21 new gamers arrived on the Metropolis Floor throughout the summer season of 2022. After consolidation during the last two seasons, Forest proprietor Evangelos Marinakis has taken a extra thought of strategy of late.
Their summer season enterprise included the arrivals of Nikola Milenkovic and Elliot Anderson for a mixed web outlay of round £28m. On the weekend, the duo starred as Forest climbed into the Premier League’s prime 4. Milenkovic powered house a header for the equaliser in opposition to Aston Villa earlier than Anderson teed up the winner for Anthony Elanga.
Elliot Anderson’s recreation by numbers vs Aston Villa:
43 touches30/32 passes completed12 duels won8x possession received (most)6 touches in opp. box4 probabilities created (joint-most)3 take-ons accomplished (most)2/2 tackles won1 shot1 help
Baller.
The latter was arguably the perfect participant on the pitch as Forest scored two late objectives to show defeat into victory. It’s been scattergun and chaos at instances in previous switch home windows, however Forest’s smart summer season signings have the Tough Timber dreaming of Europe.
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Manchester Metropolis want verdict on Premier League prices
Pep Guardiola admitted at full-time that Manchester Metropolis’s stoop is getting worse and worse. A late collapse within the Manchester Derby prolonged their torrid run to 1 win in 11 video games and speak has now turned to an imminent rebuild on the Etihad.
Current monetary accounts present there’s big room for funding however the elephant within the room stays the membership’s prices for alleged historic breaches of economic guidelines. A listening to into the 115 prices in opposition to the Premier League champions has taken place and an unbiased fee is now anticipated to reach at and publicise a verdict subsequent yr. For Metropolis, readability on that state of affairs – whatever the consequence – is crucial.
Planning a rebuild with uncertainty over their future is an nearly not possible process, with potential targets positive to strategy negotiations with warning given the potential implications of a responsible verdict.
Postecoglou earns badly wanted ‘Rules Derby’ win
Southampton have been maybe the right opponent for Spurs to bounce again this weekend. The North Londoners have been a objective up inside 37 seconds and 5 to the nice at half-time, as Ange Postecoglou’s males emphatically answered their critics at St Mary’s.
The conflict had been dubbed the ‘Rules Derby’ with Postecoglou and Southampton counterpart Russell Martin unrelenting of their beliefs.
“Excellent by the gamers”
Ange Postecoglou was pleased with his Tottenham aspect as they obtained their greatest ever win underneath him 👏
Martin fell on his sword after this damaging defeat, sacked by Southampton, and Postecoglou will need to guarantee that he’s not subsequent. The fluctuations in Tottenham’s performances want addressing however this generally is a constructing block. A Carabao Cup quarter-final in opposition to Manchester United within the week can ignite their season.
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