Premier League Matchweek 25: Key lessons from the weekend
 |
| Antonio Rudiger is the first Chelsea center back to score twice in a Premier League match since John Terry did so against Fulham in April 2013. |
Chelsea need experience upfront
Regardless of what you see in the news, Frank Lampard is currently doing an unbelievable job at Stamford Bridge and his decision to avoid panic buying in the just-concluded winter window is nothing short of bravery.
The Blues rallied at the King Power Stadium to earn a point late on with Antonio Rudiger heading home twice from two Mason Mount crosses.
Having to depend on goals from other quarters can be ideal for any team but the strikers must take responsibility.
Olivier Giroud was blocked from making a January exit as they couldn’t get a replacement but it might be time for the former champions to look into his direction for help.
Confidence is everything for a striker and with Tammy Abraham struggling at the moment, false 9s and wannabees have to take the back seat and give room to experience.
It’s time to call on Olivier Giroud and Mitchy Bashuayi, Abraham is burned out, he needs time off, he needs to refill his gas, Lampard should oblige him.
And should anyone be wondering if Olivier Giroud still has anything to offer, tell them there must be a reason Inter Milan wanted him in the just concluded window, as well as Jose Mourinho,
Reality check for Arsenal… Lacazette needs to sit
 |
| Jay Rodriguez has the ball for Burnley, with a sea of Arsenal players close behind him during Burnley 0-0 Arsenal at Turf Moor. |
No right-thinking Arsenal fan would take to twitter to start #ArtetaOut just yet, at least for a long time to come because it just doesn’t happen overnight.
From the ashes of the Emery tragedy comes an opportunity for Arsenal to regroup and start all over from scratch.
They did some meaningful businesses in the just concluded window, getting Pablo Mari from Flamengo and an experienced Cedric Soares from Southampton at right-back but as it was seen in the stalemate at Turf Moor, it goes beyond defensive frailties.
A clean sheet away from home is such a huge rarity at Arsenal and it’s laudable that the team is unbeaten since the home loss to Chelsea.
Failing to win at Burnley, where they have enjoyed unbelievable success in time past raises questions.
Mikel Arteta may be trying all he can to maintain balance and keep everyone happy but he has to realize that nice men don’t achieve much.
Alexander Lacazette isn’t firing, let him sit games out, it’s increasingly killing to see Aubameyang languishing on the flanks when Arsenal’s best chances only happen when the Gabonese drifts to the middle, come on Mikel.
Should we be worried about Sheffield?
 |
| John Egan takes aim with an effort as Sheffield United try to find a way through the Crystal Palace rearguard during Sheffield's 0-1 win at Palace. |
Forget the limping United, Chelsea, and Leicester for a while, ignore the touchline drama of Jose Mourinho and City’s title concession, how about the fantastic job Chris Wilder is doing at Sheffield?
They’re fifth and with a very realistic hope of making it to Europe, now it feels like we’re having a repeat of the 2015 Leicester… Should we be worried?
Sheffield went to Selhurst and beat Palace, a team that does well with defending.
And you can’t even ignore the shrewd business they keep on doing to deliver on a low budget.
Tactically, they keep things simple, compact and seemingly indestructible, no star name, just a bunch of dreamers who fight for each other and cover like life depends on it.
Wherever they finish, they have more battles to fight, Dean Henderson is only on loan from United and you wonder if he’d be allowed to join the Blades in the summer.
He has kept the most clean sheet in the league and it’s just February.
A team of the season contender?
Images via premierleague.com
COMMENTS