Gyokeres and Sesko find the Premier League tough

I pointed out some weeks ago that scoring regularly in the Portugese Premeira Liga for Sporting Club is not the same as starting in the Premier League where the quality of play is higher. Sure enough, Arsenal’s new signing Viktor Gyokeres endured a painful debut in front of the travelling supporters and was withdrawn after […]

I pointed out some weeks ago that scoring regularly in the Portugese Premeira Liga for Sporting Club is not the same as starting in the Premier League where the quality of play is higher. Sure enough, Arsenal’s new signing Viktor Gyokeres endured a painful debut in front of the travelling supporters and was withdrawn after 54 minutes to loud jeers and boos from the terraces.

Some of the supporters were Arsenal fans but the home crowd were also booing because the striker chose a move to the Gunners rather than United. He could find his touch again but it is going to be a tough challenge for Mikel Arteta.       

During his 60 minutes on the pitch he created no chances, did not make any shots on goal and managed only 21 touches of the ball and only three were in the opponent’s half.

Manchester United’s Benjamin Sesko, signed from RB Leipzig, was marginally better but he also found that even with a 6ft 5in frame you don’t push the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes around and he found it difficult to make an impression despite one decent header and another weaker one.

Mikel Arteta was forgiving after the match and protected his new man Gyokeres saying it would take time but he will settle in well and produce the goals long term. He put an arm around Gyokeres in the dressing room as he delivered a congratulatory pep talk to his players after their victory but the Arsenal supporters are not that forgiving with Gyokeres as they demand results this season and life at the top of the Premier League is going to be a tough battle.

 

Tottenham are going places under Thomas Frank

One thing is for certain: Tottenham are going to be much harder to play against under Thomas Frank than his predecessor Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs opening game was an easy introduction for Frank because it is difficult to see how Burnley will not struggle this season and it could easily end in disaster for them again as per their previous 12-month stint with the elite under Vincent Kompany when they could do nothing to prevent getting beaten week after week. I sympathise with the Burnley supporters but I cannot see things improving.

Postecoglou had his supporters at Tottenham but quite honestly, Frank is an upgrade on the Australian and it was easy to see that Spurs are already more organised and carry better structure in their formation. Many will say “yes, but that was only Burnley” however, last season Tottenham were beaten at home by Ipswich and Leicester and look at what happened to them.

Frank has already made a massive impact on the Tottenham team. Can you ever remember Richarlison playing better, even in his Everton days? The Brazilian, who signed for Spurs and promised so much but delivered so little, is suddenly rejuvenated with two goals and one of them a crowd pleaser with a bicycle kick. Tottenham are going places this season and their fans are growing in confidence.

 

Sunderland back with a bang!

After a long wait for top level football, Sunderland supporters had a lot to cheer about as the Black Cats made their opening match in the Premier League a warning to opponents that they are here to stay and are not easy prey at the Stadium of Light. With an almost unheard-of coach Regis Le Bris, Sunderland issued a note of caution as his team look down on the rest of the Premier League this week, second only to Manchester City and level with Tottenham.

Eight new names appeared on Sunderland’s team-sheet which provided them with the newest signings in the first weekend of action.

 

United must sign a top-level goalkeeper

Do Manchester United need a new goalkeeper before the transfer window closes? Unquestionably the majority of supporters I talked to at Old Trafford on Sunday voiced a unanimous “Yes”!

With Andre Onana not even in the squad against Arsenal, the job of protecting the United goal went to Altay Bayindir and it was his error that gifted Riccardo Calafiori the chance to head the Gunner’s goal. Bayindir looked uncertain, hesitant and weak.

The answer could lie with two of the world’s top keepers. Both PSG’s Euro 2020 medal winner Gianluigi Donnarumma and Villa’s Argentine World Cup winner Emi Martinez are available and have been linked with a move to United. Both keepers are dominant in the goal area, they are big characters, big personalities and command respect. Ruben Amorim needs to push his board of directors and his recruitment team one more time to bring in a solid goalkeeper because although United are tipped to do well this season with a refreshed squad the clock is ticking for the manager and early season failures will definitely see him shown the exit door.

 

Goals galore and Woods is off again…scoring at will

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo told us before the match against Brentford that Chris Wood would be scoring regularly again this season after working hard with him in training to improve his sharpness. Sure enough, two goals including a fifth minute effort which had the King Power Stadium supporters on their feet was his team’s fastest goal in their Premier League history. It is the third successive season the striker has scored with his first touch of the ball.

 

Man City vs Tottenham

What a fascinating match with City starting their campaign with four goals and Tottenham scoring three.

John Stones is back in the heart of City’s defence but he and Ruben Dias, Rico Lewis and Rayan Ait-Nouri will find Tottenham’s revitalised Richarlison a handful if he can repeat his heroics displayed against Burnley where he slotted home two goals much to head coach Thomas Frank’s delight as he and the forward have been working hard together. Frank’s great strength is man-management and taking the often fragile Brazilian, gaining his trust and respect paid off handsomely in Tottenham’s first game. 

Tottenham’s attacking midfield of Mohammed Kudus, Pape Matar Sarr and Brennan Johnson will be very strong and head coach Thomas Frank has been working on set pieces and his trademark long throws to test the middle City pair, the impressive Tijani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez. Incoming Reijnders caught the eye in his opening game last weekend and has settled into life at the Etihad exceptionally quickly.

Upfront City’s Jeremy Doku, Bernado Silva and Oscar Bobb did well enough to keep their places but with Nunes, Marmoush and striker Cherki all available, Pep Guardiola has plenty of options.

Erling Haaland will test the Tottenham defence and Frank could revert to a back three in which case he could bring in Kevin Danso who played well against PSG alongside Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. The Tottenham coach knows this match is a real test of where the team is and I am hearing that new signing Joao Palhinha could come in for Lucas Bergvall and he will bring quality and experience in tackling and moving the ball upfield to his forward line. He also offers good protection for the backline given City’s strength going forward.

City start as favourites but this could be a tough battle.