Hits and misses: Gabriel Jesus, Harvey Elliott and Sandro Tonali all impress in Carabao Cup quarter-finals

Does this imply Arsenal do not want a brand new striker?

Your No 9 turning up with a hat-trick simply in time for Christmas in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Crystal Palace is the proper antidote when your assault is being questioned.

Arsenal’s current open-play slackness and their reliance on set-pieces introduced up the now-annual debate about whether or not a brand new striker is required in January. So what now with Gabriel Jesus wanting within the groove, for one half of soccer at the least?

Arsenal and Jesus proved in that second half that their challenge shouldn’t be a ‘striker’ one. Many claimed the Gunners wanted a ahead final January they usually ended up on 91 Premier League objectives – essentially the most of their historical past within the competitors.

What Arsenal have proved – which wants addressing – is there exists a reliance on Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. It’s a creativity drawback greater than a striker one.

Mikel Arteta’s aspect barely seemed like scoring till these two got here on in separate substitutions and offered incisive assists for Jesus inside minutes of arriving on the pitch.

So whether or not it’s enhancing the left-winger place or getting higher understudies for Saka and Odegaard – Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling did not impress however Ethan Nwaneri seemed promising – that’s the place Arsenal’s focus must be, if they’re to maneuver in January.
Sam Blitz

Palace will fancy Saturday’s rematch

Crystal Palace had been up for the cup, actually for 54 minutes anyway. Up till Jesus equalised, Oliver Glasner would have been beaming with how aggressive and diligently organised his group had been.

That was on present for his or her opening aim after simply 4 minutes as Jean-Phillipe Mateta chewed up and spat out Jakub Kiwior as they battled for a 50-50 ball from Dean Henderson earlier than the striker stored his cool in entrance of aim. We shouldn’t be stunned now by Mateta’s lethal ending.

It’s now 25 objectives in his final 35 begins for membership and nation – any striker, bar Erling Haaland, on the high degree would snap your hand off for such a return. Palace couldn’t fairly maintain their bravery out of possession as Arsenal finally picked their means by means of. Nonetheless, again at Selhurst Park on Saturday, confronted with the identical opponents, dwell on Sky Sports activities, this Palace group actually possesses the sport plan and aggression to make life tough for the Gunners once more. They might want to do it for 90 minutes this time, although.
Lewis Jones

Elliott shines in Liverpool win

On his first begin since Could, Harvey Elliott shone in Liverpool’s 2-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win at Southampton.

The midfielder scored what proved to be the profitable aim with a medical low first-half end.

Even on the age of 21, Elliott was one of many extra skilled gamers in a youthful group and he led by instance in midfield.

The Englishman made essentially the most passes within the remaining third (21) within the recreation as he put in a player-of-the-match efficiency.

“He’s been outstanding,” mentioned Sky Sports activities’ Don Goodman. “Not just the goal, his all-round work ethic with and without the ball. An excellent game.”

Now Elliott might be hoping his efficiency can earn him a beginning spot within the Premier League to develop into extra of a daily below Arne Slot.
Declan Olley

Defence-first – an indication of issues to return for struggling Saints?

The plan was clear for all to see from the beginning as Liverpool got here to St Mary’s for the second time inside a month: keep compact, with inflexible banks of 5 and 4, frustrate Liverpool, hit them on the counter when the openings arose and hope for the very best.

Beneath Russell Martin, Southampton appreciated to dominate the ball. However with little success – and, in the end, his sacking only a few days in the past – his interim substitute Simon Rusk knew that may not wash, notably towards, arguably, the most effective groups on this planet proper now.

For a very good 20 minutes, Liverpool attacked and attacked, however had been stored at bay. When clearances had been pumped lengthy, the followers reacted with cheers. Later, there have been courageous blocks that stored the eventual end result respectable.

The Saints followers had seen their group leak objectives like no one’s enterprise not too long ago – 11 within the final three Premier League video games, in actual fact – and to see the defensive fragility disappear, even considerably, was very well-received.

Is it an indication of issues to return? It’s onerous to say for positive till Martin’s everlasting substitute is appointed. Ought to they play in an analogous means within the Premier League, they could simply have the very early beginnings of a survival bid.
Dan Lengthy

Terrific Tonali turns it up for Toon

If Sandro Tonali is sad at Newcastle, he actually doesn’t look it.

The Italian midfielder appears to be lastly dwelling as much as the expectation and the worth tag at St James’s Park, along with his brilliance proving the distinction within the Magpies’ 3-1 win over Brentford.

The primary aim was distinctive, the cleanest of hits that confirmed the method he has at his disposal. His response and celebration exhibiting the bond he has cast with the Toon help – who supported him emphatically by means of his ban final season.

The second, the product of a well-worked routine from a nook, confirmed his intelligence and spatial consciousness. Away from the objectives, he and Bruno Guimaraes dominated in the midst of the park. It feels as if a particular partnership is forming between the 2.

If not his best show all-around in a Newcastle shirt, this was actually his most impactful. His high quality steered the sport of their course. If he might develop into the person who steers the membership to that long-awaited trophy, he won’t ever be forgotten within the metropolis.
Simeon Gholam

Schedule catches up with Brentford

“It is about getting the balance right in a tight week where we want to perform at our best in all three games.” That was Thomas Frank’s clarification beforehand for making so many modifications to the group that performed Chelsea on Sunday. Did he get it proper?

Brentford are again in motion towards Nottingham Forest on Saturday so frustration is comprehensible. “I have been quite vocal about the fact that I don’t think we had the optimal schedule but it is what it is. I have full belief this team can compete,” he mentioned.

Tellingly, Frank added: “And, by the way, a game is over 90 minutes not 60.” The issue was that by the point the Brentford boss turned to substitutes Bryan Mbeumo and Mikkel Damsgaard, Tonali had already put Newcastle two objectives in entrance.

Damsgaard was an actual shiny spark within the remaining half an hour of the sport, releasing Mbeumo to arrange Yoane Wissa for Brentford’s comfort aim. Mbeumo’s lovely move had lower the defence vast open in creating an opportunity for Wissa moments earlier.

Would it not have made a distinction had Frank felt capable of begin the trio? The Bees boss would level to the instance of Ethan Pinnock, requested to start out once more solely to drag up with a hamstring drawback early on. One thing needed to give. It was Brentford’s cup hopes.
Adam Bate