This is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing Premier League campaigns in recent memory. The destination for the Premier League is still undecided, and a handful of clubs still feel as though a top-four finish is within their grasp while eight teams will still be fearful of relegation this season. A round-up of the biggest taking points from what could well be a season-defining weekend for a number of clubs.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
Missed opportunities
For the second successive week, Arsenal failed to convert a 2-0 lead into all three points. The Gunners found themselves 2-0 up inside 10 minutes against West Ham United courtesy of goals from Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard.
However, the leaders were pegged back just before the break after Said Benrahma scored from the spot. Bukayo Saka had the chance to establish a two-goal advantage when Arsenal were awarded a penalty but his effort failed to hit the target. Just moments later, Jarrod Bowen scored the equaliser.
Mikel Arteta will likely be frustrated by his side’s inability to create anything in the second half. It was the same story at Anfield last week. The Gunners mustered an Expected Goals total of 0.41 when the penalty is excluded. You would expect a much higher total with the Premier League title on the line.
Why aren’t Arsenal looking for winners?
Haaland is inevitable
It was always a matter of when and not if Erling Haaland would match the Premier League record for goals in a 38-game campaign. Mohamed Salah held the record with 32 but Haaland tied that with his double against Leicester City.
Prior to the game on Saturday, Haaland had gone on to score two or more goals in 44% of the games in which he had scored a single goal for City. Pep Guardiola subbed Haaland off at half-time, preventing him from breaking the Premier League record with yet another hat-trick.
He now has the chance to set a new English top-flight record in the potential title-deciding clash with Arsenal.
Even though he only played for 45 minutes, he was the top-rated player on the FotMob app with 8.5.
Stoppage-time Spurs
For the third time in their last four Premier League matches, Spurs dropped points in stoppage time. Had they been able to hold out in all of these games, they would be five points better off and sat in fourth position in the Premier League.
Instead, Cristian Stellini’s side are fifth, three points off the Champions League pace having played a game more.
Spurs perhaps didn’t deserve to lose against Bournemouth on Saturday but it is what happens when you miss chances while allowing the opposition to create dangerous moments throughout. The hosts had 24 shots and missed two big chances while the Cherries had just nine shots but converted all three big chances.
Injuries have limited what can and cannot be done by Stellini during his interim time in charge but the inability to see out games needs to be addressed while Spurs still have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
Villa’s rampant run continues
Aston Villa have now won five consecutive matches in the Premier League and are unbeaten in eight. The way in which they put an in-form Newcastle United side to the sword was perhaps their most impressive performance under Unai Emery. Heading into the game, Eddie Howe’s side had won five on the spin, scoring 13 in the process and conceding just four goals.
After a blip in February, they had firmly established themselves as a genuine contender for Champions League football yet they were blown away by an in-form Ollie Watkins.
Villa romped to a 3-0 win and in the process became the first team in the Premier League to score three goals in a single game against Newcastle United this season. Watkins netted a double against the Magpies and now has 11 goals in his last 12 appearances.
The new manager bounce
Chelsea fans expected a new manager bounce when Frank Lampard replaced Graham Potter at the helm. Yet three matches into Lampard’s spell as interim boss, the Blues are winless. In fact, they have scored just one goal – Conor Gallagher’s deflected effort against Brighton on Saturday – and they have conceded five goals.
The worrying thing for Chelsea is that the Seagulls arrived at Stamford Bridge and dominated. Roberto De Zerbi’s side had more of the ball, had three times as many shots as the hosts and racked up an empathic Expected Goals haul of 2.94. The away team created five big chances to Chelsea’s zero in what was no doubt a humbling defeat for Lampard in front of a home crowd expecting a response.
A new look Liverpool
The Trent Alexander-Arnold experiment continued for Liverpool in their 6-1 win over Leeds United. Though the Reds started in their traditional 4-3-3 shape, Alexander-Arnold once again played as an inverted full-back, forming a double pivot alongside Fabinho when the away side had possession.
The No66 put on a passing clinic, finishing the game with a 91% success rate from the 136 passes he attempted at Elland Road. He also claimed two assists in one of his most dominant on ball displays of the season. Could it be the new norm for Klopp’s men?
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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