Premier League: One turbulent night in Manchester and other stories - Matchweek 3 Review
Jose Mourinho was frustrated on Monday night as his team struggles to find the net against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. Photo credit: Getty Images |
A brand new Arsenal
Unai Emery may only be three matches old at the dugouts at Arsenal but the pressure is already evident in the air, his wards were taught harsh football lessons on day one by arguably the best lecturers around, Manchester City; the second was more like it, pegged back by two quick goals but managed an equalizer before Marcus Alonso’s schooled left leg dealt them a bloody blow.
Against Westham, Arsenal were poor, from all areas but the managed to grind out a result, so what did they do differently?
On another day against a more interested opponent Arsenal would have lost, the chances that fell to Robert Snodgrass and Antonio in the first half were enough to kill off any game but they fluffed it.
Pressing and building from the back are the main characteristics of Emery’s game plan but it will take time to perfect it, one thing the fans can be glad for is the fact that the team for once got a result despite not playing well at all, a sneak peek into the recent past speaks exactly otherwise, Arsenal used to play well and lose, when they don’t play well they still lose, result matters in this age, they will take the result against Westham with both arms.
Aubameyang and Lacazette can play together, does Emery know? Geundouzy seems to be the fulcrum for now, but the Xhaka beside him doesn’t help him, can Torreira start alongside the youngster?
The Chelsea Abrahamovic wants
News broke out on Monday that Roman Abrahamovic has put some significant parts of Chelsea stakes up for sale, yet to be denied or confirmed but whichever way, this is the best times of his Chelsea reigns.
Roman Abrahamovic has always loved total football, unfortunately, none of his many managers at Chelsea was able to achieve that until Maurizio Sarri came to town; the Russian billionaire got Luiz Felipe Scolari, it didn’t end well, in fact all his managers were always with respect to recent victories or trophies, but Sarri was hired on the ground of gameplay, his Napoli side was regarded as the most exciting team to watch in Europe last term but they were usurped by Juventus.
Chelsea enveloped Newcastle throughout the victory at St James’s Park on Saturday, although they had to work for the fortuitous winning goal, but the unbelievable total number of passes broke premier league records.
The team is ticking, well around Jorginho and the ever mesmerizing Eden Hazard. It’s still early days but this Chelsea team will impress everyone, including their restless owner.
Sinking Mourinho and his press gaffes
Jose Mourinho is a bad loser, no doubt about that. Events leading up to the white wash at Old Trafford on Monday Night Football saw divided opinions within the ranks that matter, while some want to see the back of the boisterous Portuguese manager, Jose Mourinho, the other half were planning to fly a banner of contempt against the vice chairman, Ed Woodward.
Everyone knows it’s a game of results, Mourinho was lively and confident in his pre-match conference but things went south on the pitch; his defenders were overrun by a purposeful Spurs attack, Lucas Moura made them work from the word go and he just couldn’t accept the fact that he lost so cleanly.
Whatever it was that he told the boys at halftime didn’t work because the manner in which they went cold in the second half beats even the neutrals; after Harry Kane’s header, which left more to be desired from Phil Jones, one of the three shake ups at the back that left only Luke Shaw from the defeat at Brighton.
The second was another defensive blunder, how they allowed Moura to shoot in between two defenders must be answered, and the third? Oh dear Lindelof! He was nutmegged by the Brazilian playmaker with just one swerve of his left leg, at the end, they went down without a reasonable fight.
Heading into the post-match conference, Mourinho was bullish and rude, he stormed out after reminding the pressmen he has won more titles than all present premier league managers combined, a statement of fact but needless and worthy of stirring barrages of attacks from other managers.
Kane and Mane, to star this season?
From the three matches played so far, some players have shone brightly, some we know will soon fade off, but the likes of Harry Kane and Sadio Mane will push till the end.
For the golden boot race, early season favorites, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is yet to break his dock, he seems to be suffering from confidence crisis especially after missing sitters against Chelsea on matchweek 2.
Sergio Aguero weighed in an intelligent hatrick against Huddersfield but couldn’t break down Wolves, he will always be on the contender list as he closes in on Thierry Henry’s record as the highest scoring foreigner in the premier league.
Richarlison raised lots of hopes in his first two games, scoring three times but got sent off early against Bournemouth, he’ll sit out three games and that means others have head start; Roberto Pereyra is another early bloomer with three goals but for how long?
Harry Kane is known to have a slow start but he’s firing already, his September is approaching, who will stop him?
Mohammed Salah seems out of gas, and maybe luck so far but he has a goal, will he fire again like last season?
Spurs new hero, Lucas Moura is on three goals, is he the new king?
Romelu Lukaku missed a sitter against Leicester, he did against Brighton but managed a fine header to half the deficit before Pascal Gross fired in from the spot to end any hopes of a fight back, he had an open net against Spurs to send his team ahead but he managed to shoot wide when scoring looked easier, he certainly won’t be called when highest goal scorers are mentioned.