Arsenal present their mettle, what’s unsuitable with Aston Villa? Premier League hits and misses

The Sky Sports activities soccer writers analyse Saturday’s Premier League motion as Arsenal present they’re up for a title battle and Tottenham enjoy Man Metropolis’s distress.

Tottenham’s season simply bought the kickstart it wanted

The place has this Tottenham been? Spurs love a Man Metropolis scalp, however this was one thing altogether totally different as they romped to a 4-0 win.

Underneath Pep Guardiola, Man Metropolis have conceded extra targets and misplaced extra Premier League video games in opposition to Spurs than every other opponent, and none as humiliating as their most up-to-date.

James Maddison was a revelation. Dejan Kulusevski chic. Ben Davies, a stand-in for the injured Cristian Romero, didn’t put a foot unsuitable.

Pedro Porro, as soon as on Man Metropolis’s books, was wonderful too, and has now scored extra Premier League targets than every other defender since his debut in February 2023 (8).

All spherical, Spurs had been scintillating – the primary time this season they’ve actually behaved like a group that belongs within the prime six.

A lot can be written about Metropolis’s demise however credit score have to be given to Ange Postecoglou for masterminding such a rout. Nobody noticed it coming, least of all Pep.

“A spectacular day, spectacular result,” mentioned Gary Neville. Jamie Redknapp referred to as them the league’s “great entertainers”.

Tottenham might have lastly arrived this season – higher late than by no means.
Laura Hunter

Arsenal present their very own title battle is way from over

With the hole at 9 factors, some accused Arsenal of being too far-off from the highest even at this early stage. Their 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest was the kind of end result which said they will not go wherever.

Arsenal seemed like their previous selves once more. This was far more just like the group we noticed final season who dominated video games and gave little or no away on the different finish.

Because the Gunners seemed much more potent from open play than earlier than the worldwide break, their very own objective was barely threatened. David Raya didn’t face a shot heading in the right direction, whereas all Forest’s photographs got here from set-pieces.

Arsenal might have benefited from a little bit of day off throughout the break however the return of Martin Odegaard can’t be ignored as an element for this enchancment. “When he’s on the team, you can sense something that is different,” mentioned Mikel Arteta after the sport. “You can’t put your finger on it, you can sense it.”

The mix with Bukayo Saka down the correct opened up a Forest group seeking to frustrate with a low block. It took quarter-hour to carve open that recreation plan. Objectives early in every half bought Arsenal the ‘recreation state’ they needed.

Arteta’s Arsenal had a blip in December after which had a break, recovered and went on a run to return inside two factors of the title. With a beneficial fixture listing till the brand new yr, Arsenal look in place the place they can’t be dominated out.
Sam Blitz

Villa are too straightforward to play in opposition to

It’s exhausting to be too essential of Unai Emery on the subject of analysing his tenure at Aston Villa however one factor is changing into a fear – it’s too straightforward to create high-quality possibilities in opposition to them. It’s now only one clear sheet of their final 17 video games after Crystal Palace managed to attain twice of their 2-2 draw at Villa Park. They’ve now conceded 31 targets in that interval to a per recreation common of 1.82. Solely Wolves and West Ham have conceded extra targets in that point.

For a group that has European aspirations, that’s method under the usual required. Till Emery finds a repair, Villa will proceed to wrestle to match final season’s highs.
Lewis Jones

Chelsea for the title?

A late penalty, blocking their very own gamers’ photographs off the road and a number of other different missed possibilities – however Chelsea nonetheless cruised to a 2-1 victory over Leicester.

It’s a testomony to the impression Enzo Maresca has had on the squad within the brief time he has been on the membership since parting methods with Leicester after final season.

One thing is constructing at Stamford Bridge and their capability to ease previous opponents – in video games they need to win like this – has given them a level of management within the race for the highest 4 and possibly even an out of doors probability of the title itself.

With Cole Palmer’s high quality, which was not even wanted right here, in addition to the power in depth they’ve round him, Chelsea can compete with the perfect this season.

One level off Metropolis and 5 off Liverpool on the time of this win. Given the present struggles Pep Guardiola’s aspect have been experiencing and the drop-off the Reds suffered final season – is it too unrealistic for the Blues to have one eye on the title race now?
Patrick Rowe

Toothless Everton are going nowhere quick

Forward of Saturday’s recreation Sean Dyche referred to as for Everton to get the fundamentals proper in opposition to Brentford. He can not imagine his request was answered after one other toothless show for his or her third goalless exhibiting in a row within the stalemate.

The Toffees plundered 27 photographs in opposition to the Bees, however simply 5 heading in the right direction throughout 90 minutes, and just one which gave Mark Flekken any actual concern.

Issues are slowly enhancing on the again, although they may simply have discovered themselves 1-0 down when it was nonetheless 11 vs 11, however they only can not discover a option to improve their productiveness in entrance of objective.

Everton have three of the 30 worst anticipated targets per shot data from particular person video games this season, out of a area of greater than 230.

What extra can Dyche do? Do Everton have the personnel to create extra? Dominic Calvert-Lewin at current seems nowhere close to the participant he as soon as was. Dwight McNeil is productive however not an everyday goalscorer.

His greatest hope could also be Iliman Ndiaye, who was their brightest spark within the opposition field. However that may be a lot to ask of a participant who shouldn’t be an out-and-out ahead, and who has scored 5 top-flight targets in his complete profession.
Ron Walker

Leicester struggles laid naked by Cooper

Leicester’s moments of high quality in opposition to Chelsea had been fleeting – however, after they did arrive, they finally didn’t have sufficient expertise within the last third to make them depend.

First-half possibilities fell to Wilfred Ndidi and Kasey McAteer, who each pulled their efforts extensive to the frustration of supervisor Steve Cooper on the touchline.

“What I felt needed improving in the first half was when we got the ball. We created two good chances after a tough 30 minutes,” he mentioned after the sport.

“We give away the goal and it’s a game we have to try get back into. Half-time was about doing better with the ball and believing in ourselves.

“In the second half, we could have done more in the final third, but we did create the first penalty decision and the second. It’s about capitalising on your moments.”

A collection of counter-attacks after the restart resulted in disappointing last passes or the offside flag halting the Foxes of their tracks. It simply was not sufficient – and the house crowd let that be recognized.

The late penalty from Jordan Ayew papered over a few of the cracks from this Leicester show. Leicester want extra going ahead if they’re to keep away from the drop this season.
Patrick Rowe

‘Unbelievable expertise’ Cunha able to mixing it with easiest

Wolves supervisor Gary O’Neil was gushing in his post-match reward for Matheus Cunha after the ahead’s double helped the guests to a convincing 4-1 win at high-flying Fulham, saying: “He’s an incredible talent and there’s no limit to where he can get to ability wise.”

If folks doubt that assertion, then they need to watch Cunha’s imperious show on the Cottage that nearly single-handedly dragged the guests again into the competition after falling behind early on, together with two goal-of-the-season contenders and an help for his or her essential go-ahead objective.

“Bernardo Silva and Martin Odegaard are top without the ball – Matheus’ numbers are as good as anybody,” O’Neil added of Cunha, with solely Erling Haaland (17) having scored extra Premier League away targets because the begin of final season than the Brazilian (14).

And if O’Neil can hold the 25-year-old performing like this for the remainder of the marketing campaign, then certainly Wolves will solely be heading in a single route.
Richard Morgan

Glasner will get it spot on with Sarr and Mateta

An indication of a shrewd operator on the subject of administration is one who can discover options to issues. Oliver Glasner was with out Eberechi Eze, Eddie Nketiah, Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada at in opposition to Aston Villa – all 4 would have began in an excellent world.

Glasner didn’t make excuses, he discovered a method.

His method was to play very on to Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta to show Villa’s high-line and his entrance two delivered his plan to perfection. They had been each borderline unplayable. Mateta together with his hold-up play and Sarr together with his direct and excellently-timed operating. That was on present for the primary objective the place Mateta performed by way of his strike associate to open his account for the Premier League season. Villa merely couldn’t deal with them.
Lewis Jones

Pedro making the distinction for Brighton

Fabian Hurzeler says Joao Pedro is the “difference” for Brighton. The striker could be the distinction in reaching the Champions League.

“Every team has a player that makes the difference,” mentioned the younger Brighton boss after Pedro scored and assisted of their 2-1 victory at Bournemouth.

“I judge him how he works for the team and you also have to see how hard he worked to come back. He made the difference for us – he proved that in the last game and he proved that today.”

Pedro has 4 targets in solely six Premier League appearances this season. He has began simply 4 video games attributable to damage but has little subject in contributing. The 23-year-old netted 20 occasions in 40 appearances final season and can go near that complete once more.

Brighton are with out European soccer this time period which might encourage a push for the highest 4. Pedro can be on the coronary heart of it.
David Richardson