Manchester United V Arsenal

Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta confirmed that in training he has worked on the players creating more space, making quality passes and keeping their composure. Compared with last season, the team spirit is very high. One of the main beneficiaries of this work is Grant Xhaka. Arteta has pushed him further upfield and hopes he will pose […]

Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta confirmed that in training he has worked on the players creating more space, making quality passes and keeping their composure.

Compared with last season, the team spirit is very high. One of the main beneficiaries of this work is Grant Xhaka. Arteta has pushed him further upfield and hopes he will pose a constant threat taking shots outside the penalty area which will test David de Gea.

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Arteta’s main man these days is captain Martin Odegaard and the manager admires his vision, creative space awareness and drive. Arsenal suffered in training before the game last weekend with Zinchenko injuring his left knee and Thomas Party hitting his right thigh and Arteta has had to alter his training routine for the first time this season. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale emphasized that the Gunners are no longer easy to push over and said, “We’re aggressive in pushing from the front. There are a lot of ways to show aggression, in tackles, winning headers and constantly pressing. A lot comes from energy of Gabriel Jesus and he sets the standard.” With William Saliba at centre-back, Ben White at right back along with Takehiro Tomiyasu, Arteta has three defenders available who average 6ft 3ins. Xhaka and Odegaard are dominating in midfield and holding the team together. 

Erik ten Hag says his United team is now working the way he wants it to. Sancho and Malacia are playing well together and during practice this week Cosimiro indicated he is likely to replace McTominay. 

Ten Hag has found the defenders he trusts and the midfield and forwards he believes will keep United winning before he can bring further signings into the club. Being benched has been a bitter pill for Ronaldo to swallow but his problem, at 36 years-of-age, is that he doesn’t do what Ten Hag demands which is running tirelessly from end to end, attacking one minute and defending the next whilst constantly setting up counter attacks. Ronaldo will always get games simply because of his incredible scoring record and ability but his stay at United is not going to last and the arrival of Antony from Ajax could eventually speed his departure. Against a fast-paced Arsenal attack Ten Hag is thinking of Verane, Martinez, Malacia and Casimiro. Matching them against Jesus, Odegaard, Saka and Martinelli will undoubtedly test both teams. Ten Hag intends to play Rashford, Sancho, Fernandes and probably Elanga against White, Saliba, Magalhaes and Tierney and the prospect is mouth-watering. 

Everton v Liverpool 

Providing he remains 100% fit Roberto Firmino will keep his place in the Liverpool starting line-up against Everton this weekend after proving his value after many had forecast that his days at Liverpool were over when Sadio Mane left and the lethal trio of Sane, Firmino and Salah was broken up. Jurgen Klopp proved everyone wrong by keeping Firmino as part of his strike force and the Brazilian made three assists and scored twice displaying some excellent skills. As Klopp said this week, “Firmino’s biggest asset is finding space in which to work and making that final killer pass.”

That will severely test both Coady and Tarkowski at the back.

I am receiving news from Anfield that a deal has been agreed to bring Jude Bellingham to the north west and he could join as early as next January. Manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he is way behind in the transfer merry-go-round. His injury list has seriously affected the Red’s poor start to the season. 

Everton’s Frank Lampard is dreading this derby as they sit in the bottom three with only 2 points after 4 games. A morale boosting draw at Leeds midweek I fear will not be enough. Lampard will rely on Demari Gray, Dwight Mcneil and Alex Owobi as his strike force but much of his attention this week has been fighting to keep Anthony Gordon. 

Chelsea v West Ham

Chelsea currently lack focus and direction and were exposed in their midweek 1-2  loss to Southampton. Fortunately Raheem Sterling seems to be hitting top form and scoring goals. Thomas Tuchel said of Raheem Sterling this week, “It’s up to us to provide him with opportunities. He is struggling a bit with his confidence and his dribbling but his excellent talent is obvious.”

Tuchel has decided to move James from right-back to wing-back. However returning to a 4-4-2 formation has given him a headache because he cannot accommodate both Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta. Cesar has been stand-out in training but was cruelly exposed in the midweek loss to Southampton and Tuchel cannot ignore that he is looking at a back four to accommodate both players in the team. Reece was taken ill during the week so the problem went away temporarily. 

West Ham’s David Moyes believes his new signing Lucas Paqueta can take the Hammers up to a new level. 25 year-old Paqueta arrives from Lyon and the Brazilian international signed a deal until 2027. Moyes says Paqueta can bring goal scoring quality to his frontline after West Ham netted only one goal in four opening matches this season. Moyes said, “He is a proven international at the highest level and once he settles in the Premier League I think he will make a big difference.”

Tammy impresses at Roma

As it to prove Thomas Tuchel wrong, Tammy Abraham’s forced move to Jose Mourinho’s Italian side Roma has been a resounding success. Tammy has scored 28 goals in 56 appearances! Perhaps Tuchel had his striker solution at Stamford Bridge and didn’t realise it after exiting Lukaku and Werner.

Passionate Forest here to stay 

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has ploughed much his fortune into rebuilding promoted Nottingham Forest, the proud city which stands on the River Trent and is back in the big league after many years. He looked on in pride at the eighteen players who have come through the revolving door at Forest and when they actually get to know each other’s names and walk onto the pitch as a unit this will be a formidable team. Coach Steve Cooper nearly gave up on signing Morgan Gibbs-White but from what I saw in the match against Tottenham I can see why he persisted and got his own way. Gibbs-White tormented the Spurs players and alongside ex-United forward Jesse Lingard and Brennan Johnson the trio will trouble even the best defenders. Cooper recognises that Forest lack pace at the back and will attempt to sign yet another player to plug that gap. The midweek 6-0 thrashing by Manchester City highlighted that but it has not dented coach Steve Cooper’s confidence. As commentators on the match said, “Erling Haaland is going to do this to a lot of teams this season.” The good thing about this Forest team is their ability to keep the ball and possession football is their ultimate weapon. They lost at home to Spurs but it is the home games, with a passionate crowd that will keep the club in the Premier League.