Talking Points: This week’s Premier League notes
Joyeux Anniversarie, Arsene Wenger
With Arsene Wenger losing his 500th and 1000th games in charge of Arsenal against Chelsea, anniversaries do not quite work out well for him. However a thrilling first half performance against clueless and sluggish Chelsea set up a perfect anniversary treat. Moreover, it felt rather like a highlight reel of Wenger’s Arsenal career.
His eleven showed quick-fire passing and excellent movement to carve up Chelsea’s defenders. Alexis Sanchez seems to have taken to the number nine role, and watching the Chilean tangle David Luiz and Gary Cahill’s legs were inspiring. The manager will certainly feel good about the emergence of another reliable defensive partnership in Laurent Koscielny and Shokdran Mustafi. They were strong when they needed to be, and were the anchor the club has been looking for.
It was a blistering first half performance followed by a professional second half display. The match showed that Arsenal can hold their nerve against their rivals. His best years might be behind him but Wenger reminded everyone why he is known as “Le Professeur”.
City In Cruise Control
Goals from Sergio Aguero and a sublime solo effort from Raheem Sterling ensured Manchester City continued their perfect start to the season. It is almost frightening to see Pep Guardiola change a disinterested squad of players into league beaters. Particularly impressive is how has rejuvenated players’ careers, especially with Sterling. The former Liverpool player seems to have reborn after being scapegoated for England’s poor Euro 2016 performance.
Manchester City are not without drama. Kevin De Bryune‘s hamstring injury will overshadow their win and the question here is if they can continue to win games without their key man. With Sterling, Aguero, David Silva and company in fine form, the effects of his absence will be minimal.
West Ham Struggling To Settle In
Another loss at their taxpayer-funded stadium was a sad indictment of where West Ham are currently. Defensively they are all over the place, unable to retain any shape or style and look quite limp upfront with Zaza failing to flatter. West Ham look a little lost and, as their new shiny stadium, currently lack any real identity or style. It does not help the fans’ continued protest against seating arrangements and stewards are adding pressure on the East London side—and by the sounds of things, it might be escalating. One can hope they can have their own Super Saturday moment and triumphantly seal three points soon.
Flourishing Liverpool Continue To Entertain
A 5-1 win over Hull means Liverpool have scored 24 goals in eight league games. It is a further credit to Jurgen Klopp’s managerial talent to turn an uninspiring Brendan Rodgers led Liverpool into the high tempo machine they currently are. Other keen recipients of Liverpool’s excellent start include Sadio Mane with his sharp pace and finishing. Adam Lallana has shown an excellent work rate and pressure, while Phillipe Coutinho has demonstrated an eye for stunning long range goals. Even playing the likes of Jordan Henderson and James Milner out of position has shown no disadvantage on the players or the team. For their attacking flair, Klopp’s men still lack defensive cohesion—maybe a reconciliation with Mamadou Sakho could fix that.
United Bounce Back Against Champions
Losses against Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford let the memes roll in and joke that Jose Mourinho was already at the third-season stage of the ‘Mourinho Managerial Cycle’. Facing Leicester City was a potential banana skin for United, but a first half demolition was enough to settle nerves and quiet the Einsteins. A 4-1 win including Paul Pogba’s sharp header will silence fans calling him an overpaid haircut merchant and showed an alternative United side without Wayne Rooney can still win games. Leicester need to rethink their approach to set pieces and re-approach their games against bigger opponents.
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