1. Chelsea ruthlessly show-up Arsenal’s attacking issues
THERE WAS A key moment late in Sunday’s clash when Diego Costa picked up the ball wide left, completely isolated and with a couple of Arsenal defenders surrounding him. His pace took him through the channel and his close-control ensured possession wasn’t cheaply surrendered. Finally, Eden Hazard made up the ground and darted into the penalty area. Costa slipped a precise pass inside, Hazard evaded one tackle and with only Szczesny to beat, he thumped the shot narrowly over the bar.
It was a counter-attack that a Wenger side in its pomp would’ve conjured. Pace, energy and intelligence. Instead, Arsenal were undone by those characteristics on Sunday. They mustered just one shot on target and too many of their creative, attacking players failed to ignite once more. At one stage during the second half, Alexis Sanchez picked the ball up in the middle of the park, turned and looked to exploit the space in front of him. He raced towards the Chelsea area but Welbeck offered little movement. Instead, he fed it wide to Ozil. The ball was held-up, Chelsea got numerous bodies back and the attack ended with Cazorla having a shot blocked from distance. Everything lacked purpose and when there was a hint of an opening, the final pass failed to find its target. If Arsenal’s big players seemed to be dragging their feet through treacle, Chelsea’s glided and bounded over the Stamford Bridge turf.
Hazard’s penalty was a game-changing moment. It was individuality. The Belgian took it upon himself to create. The self-belief and the execution hinted at what Arsenal’s offensive players lack. Costa, a ready-made, goal-getting striker (the kind Arsene Wenger wanted but didn’t get), did little except score. An immensely economical attacker, he’s now scored 9 times in the Premier League from 22 shots on goal.
Ozil was signed because of his ability to create something from nothing but he's drifted from game to game so far this season. John Walton / PA Archive/Press Association Images
John Walton / PA Archive/Press Association Images / PA Archive/Press Association Images
The big problem for Wenger is that his side contains a distinct lack of individuals, despite spending big money on them. Ozil should be Chelsea’s Hazard – weaving his magic wand when his side needs it most. Instead, it was another invisible performance from the German, all too easily disappearing from games on a regular basis now.
Meanwhile, for all the midweek positivity, Welbeck remains an incredibly raw ‘striker’ or scorer of goals. Over the last two seasons, his work ethic, not his scoring rate, assured him of first-team opportunities and that says much. To expect him to suddenly lead the line with authority and ruthlessness is wildly optimistic. Yet, without any suitable alternative, that’s what Arsenal have to do now.
There was a reason Wenger wanted Luis Suarez last year. He wanted a consistent striker, capable of scoring 25 goals a season. And much to his chagrin, Mourinho managed to pick one up for a dirt-cheap fee.
2. De Gea brings some much-needed order to Man United’s chaotic world
As well as he played in contributing a goal and an assist, even Angel Di Maria will probably concede that David de Gea was a more deserving recipient of the man-of-the-match award, which ultimately eluded him earlier today.
De Gea was inspired as he made a collection of superb saves to push Manchester United to victory against Everton. Richard Sellers / EMPICS Sport
Richard Sellers / EMPICS Sport / EMPICS Sport
Manchester United have had a difficult year, but De Gea is arguably the one player who has consistently maintained the type of standards expected at the illustrious club, and on today’s evidence at least, it’s difficult to think of a more accomplished goalkeeper in the Premier League, arguably barring Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois.
3. Liverpool win but problems persist
Ignoring the obvious absences of the departed Luis Suarez and the injured Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool’s defeat of West Brom yesterday was scarcely distinguishable from their matches last year.
Brendan Rodgers has plenty to ponder as his side continues to huff and puff early doors. Peter Byrne / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Peter Byrne / PA Wire/Press Association Images / PA Wire/Press Association Images
As was often the case in 2013-14, they showed several excellent moments in attack and still only scraped a victory, with Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson in particular, excelling. Moreover, they all too often appeared jittery at the back, as was starkly evidenced by Dejan Lovren’s rash challenge to concede a penalty, before the Reds restored their advantage and unconvincingly overcame late Baggies pressure to secure all three points.
With Sturridge among others still to return, the Anfield club can only get better in attack. Nevertheless, the Russian Roulette style of play that their all-too-vulnerable defence facilitates, and which was evident in abundance again yesterday, will continue to undermine their development, particularly against superior teams to West Brom.
4. Toure still worth accommodating in starting XI despite justifiable criticism
Yaya Toure has often been described as a ‘luxury player’, and yesterday’s game provided a perfect illustration of why the Ivorian is regarded as such a brilliant-but-flawed footballer.
His passing and work-rate were far from exemplary as Manchester City laboured to a late 2-0 win over Aston Villa, but the star showed why he remains invaluable to Manuel Pellegrini’s side with a vital goal that broke the deadlock after 82 minutes.
Toure cropped up with a goal just when his side needed it the most against Aston Villa. Martin Rickett / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Martin Rickett / PA Wire/Press Association Images / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Moreover, 20 goals in 35 league appearances last year is proof — if any were needed — of his phenomenal ability and importance to the team.
The complaints about the star have become more voluminous of late with City struggling to replicate last season’s title-winning form, but his knack for continually coming up with all-important goals makes him virtually undroppable despite recent criticisms of the 31-year-old former Barcelona player.
5. Eriksen becoming firmly established as Tottenham’s main man
At £11million, Christian Eriksen seemed like one of Tottenham’s less notable signings amid that now-infamous summer of excess prompted by Gareth Bale’s departure last year.
Yet just over 12 months on and he is widely regarded as Tottenham’s most astute purchase of all their seven 2013 pre-season signings, while he remains arguably the only one who can be adjudged an outright success at this point.
The tweet above highlights his stats and how they compare favourably with Arsenal’s much more expensive signing, Mesut Ozil, while the Dane has continued in a similar vein of form this season.
Against Southampton today, he stepped up once again, producing a sweet strike to score his second goal of the season and hand Spurs a vital win.
Arsenal's offensive issues and 4 more talking points from this weekend's Premier League
1. Chelsea ruthlessly show-up Arsenal’s attacking issues
THERE WAS A key moment late in Sunday’s clash when Diego Costa picked up the ball wide left, completely isolated and with a couple of Arsenal defenders surrounding him. His pace took him through the channel and his close-control ensured possession wasn’t cheaply surrendered. Finally, Eden Hazard made up the ground and darted into the penalty area. Costa slipped a precise pass inside, Hazard evaded one tackle and with only Szczesny to beat, he thumped the shot narrowly over the bar.
It was a counter-attack that a Wenger side in its pomp would’ve conjured. Pace, energy and intelligence. Instead, Arsenal were undone by those characteristics on Sunday. They mustered just one shot on target and too many of their creative, attacking players failed to ignite once more. At one stage during the second half, Alexis Sanchez picked the ball up in the middle of the park, turned and looked to exploit the space in front of him. He raced towards the Chelsea area but Welbeck offered little movement. Instead, he fed it wide to Ozil. The ball was held-up, Chelsea got numerous bodies back and the attack ended with Cazorla having a shot blocked from distance. Everything lacked purpose and when there was a hint of an opening, the final pass failed to find its target. If Arsenal’s big players seemed to be dragging their feet through treacle, Chelsea’s glided and bounded over the Stamford Bridge turf.
Hazard’s penalty was a game-changing moment. It was individuality. The Belgian took it upon himself to create. The self-belief and the execution hinted at what Arsenal’s offensive players lack. Costa, a ready-made, goal-getting striker (the kind Arsene Wenger wanted but didn’t get), did little except score. An immensely economical attacker, he’s now scored 9 times in the Premier League from 22 shots on goal.
The big problem for Wenger is that his side contains a distinct lack of individuals, despite spending big money on them. Ozil should be Chelsea’s Hazard – weaving his magic wand when his side needs it most. Instead, it was another invisible performance from the German, all too easily disappearing from games on a regular basis now.
Meanwhile, for all the midweek positivity, Welbeck remains an incredibly raw ‘striker’ or scorer of goals. Over the last two seasons, his work ethic, not his scoring rate, assured him of first-team opportunities and that says much. To expect him to suddenly lead the line with authority and ruthlessness is wildly optimistic. Yet, without any suitable alternative, that’s what Arsenal have to do now.
There was a reason Wenger wanted Luis Suarez last year. He wanted a consistent striker, capable of scoring 25 goals a season. And much to his chagrin, Mourinho managed to pick one up for a dirt-cheap fee.
2. De Gea brings some much-needed order to Man United’s chaotic world
As well as he played in contributing a goal and an assist, even Angel Di Maria will probably concede that David de Gea was a more deserving recipient of the man-of-the-match award, which ultimately eluded him earlier today.
The Manchester United goalkeeper pulled off a string of important saves as the Red Devils earned a hard-earned win over Everton to take them up to fourth in the league.
Not only did the Spanish international become the first goalkeeper ever in the Premier League to save a Leighton Baines penalty, but he also pulled off a marvellous reaction stop in the dying moments to deny Everton a share of the spoils.
Manchester United have had a difficult year, but De Gea is arguably the one player who has consistently maintained the type of standards expected at the illustrious club, and on today’s evidence at least, it’s difficult to think of a more accomplished goalkeeper in the Premier League, arguably barring Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois.
3. Liverpool win but problems persist
Ignoring the obvious absences of the departed Luis Suarez and the injured Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool’s defeat of West Brom yesterday was scarcely distinguishable from their matches last year.
As was often the case in 2013-14, they showed several excellent moments in attack and still only scraped a victory, with Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson in particular, excelling. Moreover, they all too often appeared jittery at the back, as was starkly evidenced by Dejan Lovren’s rash challenge to concede a penalty, before the Reds restored their advantage and unconvincingly overcame late Baggies pressure to secure all three points.
With Sturridge among others still to return, the Anfield club can only get better in attack. Nevertheless, the Russian Roulette style of play that their all-too-vulnerable defence facilitates, and which was evident in abundance again yesterday, will continue to undermine their development, particularly against superior teams to West Brom.
4. Toure still worth accommodating in starting XI despite justifiable criticism
Yaya Toure has often been described as a ‘luxury player’, and yesterday’s game provided a perfect illustration of why the Ivorian is regarded as such a brilliant-but-flawed footballer.
His passing and work-rate were far from exemplary as Manchester City laboured to a late 2-0 win over Aston Villa, but the star showed why he remains invaluable to Manuel Pellegrini’s side with a vital goal that broke the deadlock after 82 minutes.
Moreover, 20 goals in 35 league appearances last year is proof — if any were needed — of his phenomenal ability and importance to the team.
The complaints about the star have become more voluminous of late with City struggling to replicate last season’s title-winning form, but his knack for continually coming up with all-important goals makes him virtually undroppable despite recent criticisms of the 31-year-old former Barcelona player.
5. Eriksen becoming firmly established as Tottenham’s main man
At £11million, Christian Eriksen seemed like one of Tottenham’s less notable signings amid that now-infamous summer of excess prompted by Gareth Bale’s departure last year.
Yet just over 12 months on and he is widely regarded as Tottenham’s most astute purchase of all their seven 2013 pre-season signings, while he remains arguably the only one who can be adjudged an outright success at this point.
The tweet above highlights his stats and how they compare favourably with Arsenal’s much more expensive signing, Mesut Ozil, while the Dane has continued in a similar vein of form this season.
Against Southampton today, he stepped up once again, producing a sweet strike to score his second goal of the season and hand Spurs a vital win.
It was a big goal for both Eriksen and Tottenham, as it proved the catalyst for their first win in five matches, in the process enabling Mauricio Pochettino to gain some much-needed respite in the form of a victory against his former club.
Hazard and Costa on the mark as Chelsea sink Arsenal in a tetchy London derby
Eriksen winner gives Pochettino vindication as Spurs topple Saints
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