Arsenal their very own worst enemy as Michael Carrick’s dream Man Utd begin continues – Premier League hits and misses

Arsenal are their very own worst enemy

Arsenal appeared in full management of their assembly with Manchester United when Lisandro Martinez turned Martin Odegaard’s cross-shot into his personal internet within the first half. However when cool heads have been wanted, they as a substitute allowed chaos to take over.

Bryan Mbeumo’s equaliser got here from a evident error by Martin Zubimendi however it was the second time he had bought in behind Arsenal’s defence within the eight minutes after the opening purpose. Bruno Fernandes had spurned a great opportunity moments earlier too. Arsenal can’t say they weren’t warned, in different phrases.

Their composure was shattered they usually spent the remainder of the sport struggling to choose up the items, their edginess mirroring the temper amongst their followers. Arsenal are Premier League leaders however it doesn’t really feel that means contained in the Emirates Stadium proper now.

Patrick Vieira questioned the facet’s psychological power afterwards however essentially the most damning evaluation got here from a former Manchester United captain. “They have to get back to basics and embrace this challenge instead of being frightened of it,” mentioned Roy Keane.

The concern stems from the style during which their earlier title challenges have ended. More and more, it’s seeping into their performances. Goalless attracts with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest weren’t disastrous however alarm bells are beginning to ring now.

This was the primary time since December 2023 that Arsenal have conceded three objectives in a sport however the method during which they shot themselves within the foot felt acquainted. They’ve developed a behavior of creating issues tougher than they must be.

They nonetheless have a four-point cushion. However this can be a group and fanbase struggling to shake off the bags of earlier seasons.
Nick Wright

Carrick’s dream Man Utd begin can hold getting higher

Manchester Metropolis – tick. Arsenal – tick. Michael Carrick could not have wished for a greater begin as Manchester United head coach – and it may hold getting higher.

Carrick has breathed new life into United, unleashing their forwards from Ruben Amorim’s stale 3-4-3 formation and restoring the membership’s ‘DNA’ – quick wingers and attacking soccer in opposition to the 2 finest sides within the Premier League.

He boldly threw on Benjamin Sesko because the injured Patrick Dorgu’s substitute late on on the Emirates with the rating at 2-1, when it could have been simple to go for the industrious Mason Mount to assist Luke Shaw stifle Bukayo Saka.

Sesko went down the center and the attack-minded Matheus Cunha was shifted to the left, together with his successful purpose coming from when he was in a position to drift into area earlier than curling in.

“We’re not getting carried away,” mentioned Carrick, however some Man Utd followers left the Emirates singing “we’re going to win the league”. They now sit inside the highest 4 and whereas a title problem is impossible, securing a Champions League spot is far more achievable.

And Man Utd’s subsequent 5 fixtures are inviting: Fulham, Tottenham, West Ham, Everton and Crystal Palace.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not lose in his first 11 video games, successful 10, when he took over on an interim foundation in 2019. It was a run that earned him a three-year contract.

With 15 matches remaining, one other former Man Utd participant can stake his declare for extending his time in cost.
David Richardson

Konsa is England’s finest defender

Is Ezri Konsa the perfect English centre-back within the Premier League proper now? It is onerous to argue in opposition to it.

Newcastle away is a ferocious fixture. Konsa, as a substitute, made it look calm. That, greater than something, is the mark of top-level defending.

What stood out wasn’t crunching tackles or sliding blocks, it was his positioning. Konsa was all the time the place Newcastle did not need him to be. He learn the sport two or three seconds faster than these round him.

There is a maturity to his defending now that implies a participant who really understands danger. When to step out, when to carry the road. It was a efficiency that oozed class and intelligence.

This wasn’t a one-off, both. Konsa’s consistency has been quietly wonderful for a while, which maybe explains why he began six of England’s World Cup qualifiers.

Proper now, Konsa is taking part in with authority, composure and a footballing mind that elevates these round him.

If England are in search of a defender they’ll belief when the strain rises this summer time on the World Cup, Konsa is making a compelling case.
Lewis Jones

If Spurs are in a relegation battle, Palace are too

Crystal Palace have had six tough weeks.

Marc Guehi has left for Man Metropolis, Oliver Glasner has introduced he’ll depart the membership on the finish of the season and hypothesis about Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future is rife – to not point out their embarrassing FA Cup exit by the hands of non-League Macclesfield.

And now, if Tottenham are being talked about in conversations in regards to the battle in opposition to relegation, the Eagles – stage on factors with Spurs, however a spot beneath in fifteenth – should be, too.

For the reason that 2-1 win at Fulham on December 7, it is now eight with out a win within the Premier League.

Certainly, they’ve now did not win any of their final 11 matches throughout all competitions (D4 L7), which is each the longest present winless run of any Premier League facet and the Eagles’ longest winless run since a run of 13 between January and March 2023.

They’ve picked up two factors within the league throughout that run and scored solely three objectives, whereas transport 18.

There have been loads of indicators they’ll keep away from being dragged into the mix-up because it takes form within the coming weeks, however proper now, they simply want a win, and with tough journeys to Nottingham Forest and Brighton up subsequent, it is onerous to see the place it’ll come from.
Dan Lengthy

Damsgaard damage a priority as Brentford lack creativity

As Rob Inexperienced put it, Nottingham Forest have been unspectacular however efficient. However that was greater than sufficient to blunt Brentford for under the second time on dwelling soil this season.

The hosts had two gilt-edged possibilities earlier than half-time, tried 35 crosses however solely compelled Matz Sels into one actual save throughout 90 minutes on the Gtech. They confronted a Forest facet taking part in peak Sean Dyche soccer for a lot of the sport, however one they performed into the arms of.

Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic will head and kick all the pieces away all day. Brentford didn’t transfer Forest round sufficient, and on the uncommon event they did manufacture one thing from a intelligent cross they almost scored.

The timing of the guests’ two objectives, book-ending the sport as they did, couldn’t have been significantly better and confirmed up a Brentford assault which laboured however had few concepts to fight the guests’ low block.

Brentford won’t face Dyche each week. However shedding Mikkel Damsgaard to a suspected knee damage won’t assist their trigger given a scarcity of actual inventive options in midfield. Keith Andrews himself mentioned it had been a delight to observe the Danish midfielder play – and he’ll hope greater than anybody that his prognosis is just not critical.
Ron Walker

Newcastle’s summer time signings fail to fill the Isak void

Newcastle’s summer time recruitment in ahead areas was meant to melt the blow of life with out Alexander Isak. As an alternative, it is beginning to underline simply how onerous he’s to switch.

The two-0 defeat to Aston Villa felt like a case research in attacking shortfall. Loads of effort, loads of working however little or no incision. When the sport wanted a spark, Eddie Howe turned to his bench and bought no actual carry.

Jacob Ramsey, Anthony Elanga and Nick Woltemade – a mixed value of £175m – have been all given alternatives however the sport handed them by. Ramsey regarded misplaced, Elanga’s tempo by no means translated into finish product and Woltemade regarded remoted in opposition to Villa’s centre-backs.

In the meantime, Yoane Wissa, one other summer time recruit, could not discover area to threaten from the beginning.

That is the place Isak’s absence looms giant. He would not simply rating objectives, his motion and intelligence gained Newcastle video games. With out him, the assault appears flatter, simpler to comprise and extra predictable.

Recruitment is all the time judged over time, however proper now the early proof suggests Newcastle have not discovered the best mix to cowl for Isak’s distinctive profile.
Lewis Jones

Estevao excites for Chelsea

Joao Pedro was the participant of the match at Crystal Palace however Estevao continues to excite. The 18-year-old Brazilian turned the youngest Chelsea participant to attain and help in the identical Premier League match since Neil Shipperley in 1993. Totally different occasions.

His purpose within the 3-1 win was very good, displaying not simply tempo however ability and power to carry off a top quality defender in Tyrick Mitchell. The end was emphatic, ramming the ball past Dean Henderson. No surprise Chelsea supporters wish to see extra of him.

This was Estevao’s first purpose because the win over Barcelona in November, though Chelsea as a complete have been a bit out of kinds since then. This was a primary Premier League away win since beating Burnley that month, ending a run of 5 with out a win.

There are a plethora of choices for Liam Rosenior within the attacking positions at Chelsea. That, coupled with some health points, has led to Estevao making extra of his appearances off the bench than from the beginning since shedding to Leeds in early December.

However Estevao’s potential far outstrips that of his friends in Chelsea blue – not only for the long run however the right here and now. No participant has scored extra objectives for the membership on the similar age through the Premier League period. His impression at Selhurst Park looks like simply the beginning.
Adam Bate