Lady luck allows
Wenger to silence critics
Arsenal deserved to win on Saturday. They were the better team for much of the 90 minutes, created more clear chances and, for once, out fought their opponents in every area. But big games are too often decided by key moments and it was a shame that this one at least started off that way. Arsenal’s opener should have been disallowed twice, firstly for an invisible foul and secondly for an offside. Spurs were right to be annoyed but their response was limp and “Spursy” even for them. They looked like a team bereft of ideas and they continue to strike a curious mix this year of looking unbeatable one minute and very easily beatable the next.
Arsenal deserved to win on Saturday. They were the better team for much of the 90 minutes, created more clear chances and, for once, out fought their opponents in every area. But big games are too often decided by key moments and it was a shame that this one at least started off that way. Arsenal’s opener should have been disallowed twice, firstly for an invisible foul and secondly for an offside. Spurs were right to be annoyed but their response was limp and “Spursy” even for them. They looked like a team bereft of ideas and they continue to strike a curious mix this year of looking unbeatable one minute and very easily beatable the next.
For Wenger there was a degree of karma here. Most punters
assumed Spurs would win convincingly and the Arsenal manager was finally
rewarded by both a solid defensive display and a match winning performance by
Ozil in a big match. The German was everywhere, pressing, tracking and
creating. How frustrating it must be to see what he remains capable of, when so
often he takes annual leave on key match days.
Arsenal have a very winnable run of fixtures between now and
Christmas, with only the ghost of Mourinho looming over a 6 game run. If they
can take this form forward and continue to strike a balance between defence and
attack they remain a side capable of anything.
And by anything I mean finishing 4th.
Pogback
A goal, an assist, a match winning performance. The return of Paul Pogba was so impressive it managed to condemn Zlatan to a mere foot note. The sign of a truly great player is how much a team struggles without them in it, and after a slow return to the Premier League it’s becoming increasingly clear that Pogba may well be that player after all. The Frenchman controlled the tempo of the match throughout, and displayed a range of passing that would have made Paul Scholes blush. United look a different side with him in it, which is a good job for their fans as they’ve been largely toilet of late. A front four of Lukaku, Rashford, Martial and the continually underrated Mata combine enough pace, power and guile to threaten any defence when on song. Newcastle started the match well but were blown away second half and could have ended up losing by more.
A goal, an assist, a match winning performance. The return of Paul Pogba was so impressive it managed to condemn Zlatan to a mere foot note. The sign of a truly great player is how much a team struggles without them in it, and after a slow return to the Premier League it’s becoming increasingly clear that Pogba may well be that player after all. The Frenchman controlled the tempo of the match throughout, and displayed a range of passing that would have made Paul Scholes blush. United look a different side with him in it, which is a good job for their fans as they’ve been largely toilet of late. A front four of Lukaku, Rashford, Martial and the continually underrated Mata combine enough pace, power and guile to threaten any defence when on song. Newcastle started the match well but were blown away second half and could have ended up losing by more.
United remain the only team with even a modicum of hope of
stopping Man City this season, and to do so it’s clear they need to keep their
main man fit and firing for the rest of the campaign.
That and, you know… actually beating Man City. Twice.
Good luck with that.
Wilson helps himself
as Terriers wilt
It’s been a long journey back to full fitness for Calum Wilson, but he was fully rewarded for his patience here with a terrific striker’s hat-trick. Wilson was superb and he and Josh King dovetailed to such effect that it made the wages currently being paid to the returning Jermain Defoe look farcically wasteful. Huddersfield meanwhile were woeful in the second half, so much so you had to keep checking that it was not them down to 10 men rather than the home team. Not only could they not take advantage of the extra man, they seemed to retreat into their shells and watch, statuesque as a superior, hungrier team consumed them.
It’s been a long journey back to full fitness for Calum Wilson, but he was fully rewarded for his patience here with a terrific striker’s hat-trick. Wilson was superb and he and Josh King dovetailed to such effect that it made the wages currently being paid to the returning Jermain Defoe look farcically wasteful. Huddersfield meanwhile were woeful in the second half, so much so you had to keep checking that it was not them down to 10 men rather than the home team. Not only could they not take advantage of the extra man, they seemed to retreat into their shells and watch, statuesque as a superior, hungrier team consumed them.
Huddersfield look toothless away from home. Only Crystal
Palace (literally, toothless) have scored less away from their own fans and
they now have Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea in their next five fixtures. The
Terriers remain in mid table, 2 points ahead of Bournemouth, but the momentum
was only with one team here. Huddersfield need to regroup and fast before being
dragged into the relegation battle many expected them to be contesting.
Pulis finally pays
the price for pessimism
2 wins in 21 matches saw Tony Pulis become the latest Premier League manager to bite the dust this weekend, following a spectacularly inept showing against a resurgent Chelsea. West Brom haven’t kept a clean sheet in 7 matches and when you lose your single, compelling selling point as a manager… you’re basically fucked.
2 wins in 21 matches saw Tony Pulis become the latest Premier League manager to bite the dust this weekend, following a spectacularly inept showing against a resurgent Chelsea. West Brom haven’t kept a clean sheet in 7 matches and when you lose your single, compelling selling point as a manager… you’re basically fucked.
West Brom have averaged less than a goal a game under Pulis,
taking in over 100 league games. He is a manager who regards attacking with
casual disregard and that sort of pragmatism is usually only acceptable when
results are the trade-off.
Solomon Rondon, their main striker, has more bookings that
goals this season and has now scored just twice in over 1000 minutes. Summer
signing Jay Rodriguez has just two himself, despite playing almost every minute
of the season. Shorn of last season’s 20 goal star forward, Gareth McAuley,
West Brom have tumbled into the Abyss.
Quite literally given they seem to have appointed Gary
Megson as their new manager. A man who I’m pretty sure died several years ago
and has merely been reanimated. Still, if he can do a similar job on this West
Brom side, he may well be remembered a hero after all.
Forgotten Chelsea
stars continue to light up league
Team of the Weak
Lossl – one save,
four conceded. Yes he was unprotected but none of the goals conceded were
unstoppable.
Keane – allegedly a player Everton paid £25m for.
Hegazi – terrible performance from start to finish, the nadir of which was arguing with the referee for rugby tackling Hazard to the floor.
Cresswell – shot of confidence and bereft of quality.
Fernandez – symbolising Swansea’s lot at the moment and bang out of form.
Sissoko – absolutely bollocks, not worth the price of the shirt he’s in, let alone £30m.
Krychowiak – like Hegazi, has only served to make West Brom a worst side than last year.
Arnautovic – at this point, I almost half expect him to just sit down during a match.
Eriksen – was completely outshone by Ozill; Spurs need him to find his international form and fast.
Carroll – booed off by his own fans and was lucky to last that long.
Ibramimovic – returned to the team at the age of 36, some 2 months ahead of schedule and didn’t score with his one, incredibly difficult chance. Pathetic.
Keane – allegedly a player Everton paid £25m for.
Hegazi – terrible performance from start to finish, the nadir of which was arguing with the referee for rugby tackling Hazard to the floor.
Cresswell – shot of confidence and bereft of quality.
Fernandez – symbolising Swansea’s lot at the moment and bang out of form.
Sissoko – absolutely bollocks, not worth the price of the shirt he’s in, let alone £30m.
Krychowiak – like Hegazi, has only served to make West Brom a worst side than last year.
Arnautovic – at this point, I almost half expect him to just sit down during a match.
Eriksen – was completely outshone by Ozill; Spurs need him to find his international form and fast.
Carroll – booed off by his own fans and was lucky to last that long.
Ibramimovic – returned to the team at the age of 36, some 2 months ahead of schedule and didn’t score with his one, incredibly difficult chance. Pathetic.
Happy Hunting
