EPL evaluation: Arsenal danger one other misplaced season, moods differ in Manchester

Following each weekend of Premier League motion, theScore examines a very powerful developments and largest speaking factors to emerge from the slate of matches. Under, we dissect Matchweek 21 of the 2024-25 season.

Reinforcements will not assist Arsenal

An Arsenal win appeared like the one potential consequence on the Emirates Stadium at halftime. After they cruised to a 2-0 lead, no person anticipated the dialog after the sport to deal with Arsenal falling out of the title race once more, or their shortcomings within the switch market final summer time. However, hours after leaders Liverpool turned a draw right into a win with a last-second purpose, Arsenal went the other way.

The dent Arsenal made in Liverpool’s lead after their midweek north London derby win disappeared after a disastrous eight-minute spell price them two helpful factors. After the 2-2 draw, Mikel Arteta spoke enviously of Liverpool’s depth after saying Arsenal are actively trying to enhance in January. However after failing to maintain up with the Premier League leaders this weekend, it is doubtless too late for reinforcements to affect the title race; Arsenal sit six factors again of Liverpool, who’ve a recreation in hand.

Arteta complained a couple of lack of attacking choices off the bench. Not like Liverpool, he did not have a Darwin Nunez to show to late when Arsenal wanted a purpose. It has been an space of concern a lot of the season, as Raheem Sterling was the one senior attacking possibility accessible after Gabriel Jesus’ season-ending harm. However even earlier than issues went downhill, it was obviously apparent Arsenal had been paying the value for neglecting different areas that ought to’ve been addressed final summer time.

Their depth was examined earlier this season when a number of stars had been sidelined with accidents. Suspensions had been additionally a problem, with William Saliba lacking a defeat to Newcastle United on account of a ban in November. That was across the time Arsenal dominated themselves out of a league title. Liverpool had been simply too good on the time for the Gunners to slide in such a way.

The scenario is extra dire now. A worrying harm for Saliba makes issues worse.

Saturday’s recreation supplied a glimpse of what life would appear like with out the French center-back. And it is not fairly. Thomas Partey was moved from midfield to right-back, whereas Jurrien Timber assumed center-back duties. There was hardly something to complain about till Aston Villa’s two fast targets put a highlight on Arsenal’s patchwork squad.

Partey turned a legal responsibility, dropping sight of his marker, Ollie Watkins, whose volley introduced Villa degree. Arsenal squandered probabilities to win late – and had an injury-time purpose chalked off by VAR – reigniting calls to signal a striker. However even including a ahead, midfielder, and defender at this level would not be sufficient to reverse Arsenal’s fortunes in what’s changing into one other misplaced season.

Fast free-kicks 📝

Do not overlook TAA’s half in huge Liverpool win

Nunez’s super-sub look is the story of the match. He got here off the bench to attain two stoppage-time targets and double his total Premier League tally to tighten Liverpool’s grip on first place. However at 0-0, when Brentford threatened to grab the initiative in Saturday’s entertaining conflict, few visiting gamers confirmed as a lot attacking intent as Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The proper-back pressured Mark Flekken to scramble for one shot – his fourth of the match – that narrowly missed within the 83rd minute earlier than his one-two with Harvey Elliott preceded Nunez’s essential first strike. Liverpool additionally didn’t capitalize on a few of Alexander-Arnold’s trademark fizzed deliveries earlier within the match, and his defensive frailties weren’t evident because the Bees targeted on Bryan Mbeumo’s clear superiority over Kostas Tsimikas on the opposite flank. Nunez will dominate the headlines, however Alexander-Arnold’s urgency in Brentford’s half was pivotal within the 2-0 victory.

United’s colossal clean-up

Antony appears to be on his manner out, albeit briefly, however Ruben Amorim might be discarding Erik ten Hag’s costly errors for a while. The middle-backs are flat-footed, the auditions on the wing-back positions have gone poorly, there’s little creativity from the getting old midfield, and there are few who can end in assault. Plus, Sunday’s 3-1 residence defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, make clear a rising concern in purpose. Andre Onana’s errors occur too usually, negating any advantages gained from his ball-playing means. His newest gaffe, a spilled low cross that ultimately fell to the ft of Georginio Rutter, put the sport out of United’s attain.

Is Foden fastened?

Pep Guardiola began his preparation for Wednesday’s essential Champions League journey to Paris Saint-Germain after simply over an hour had elapsed at Ipswich City. With the rating already 5-0 in Manchester Metropolis’s favor, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden had been withdrawn with three targets and three assists between them. Foden’s latest type is a large bonus; the attacking midfielder battled a virus earlier within the season, and he did not rating his first Premier League purpose till Dec. 21, however he has now helped his staff leap as much as fourth place. Foden is on 5 targets and an help over his previous three league appearances following his brace and alluring go for Mateo Kovacic’s strike within the 6-0 win at Portman Highway. The second half of Metropolis’s marketing campaign may enhance drastically with an on-fire Foden in Guardiola’s ranks.

Everton, Spurs on totally different trajectories

Ange Postecoglou’s stubbornness may be detrimental, and he ought to take blame for that, however components outdoors his management have arguably contributed extra to Tottenham’s regression. Eleven gamers are out injured, together with a number of key elements of the defensive group, and the recruitment has been inexcusably poor. For instance, the drop-off in high quality from center-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero is appreciable, and it was emphasised when, for Everton’s second purpose Sunday, Iliman Ndiaye versus Radu Dragusin resembled a speedboat dodging a deflated dinghy. Dragusin, a 12 months into his Spurs stint, seems far beneath the required customary.

It was definitely Everton’s day, and there have been loads of positives within the first league win of David Moyes’ second coming. Other than Ndiaye’s run and end, Dominic Calvert-Lewin turning Archie Grey inside-out twice earlier than scoring his first purpose since September was an enormous enhance. Everton had been genuinely good, and virtually adventurous, within the opening half of their 3-2 victory.

Van Nistelrooy’s reign already turning poisonous

Tensions boiled over at Leicester Metropolis after their survival hopes had been dealt one other blow. Lower than per week after the Foxes had been held goalless in defeat to Crystal Palace after producing 21 pictures, coach Ruud van Nistelrooy was topic to chants of, “You don’t know what you are doing,” at King Energy Stadium whereas his squad confronted an attacking barrage in a 2-0 loss to Fulham.

The 2 residence performances had been vastly totally different, however the outcomes had been precisely the identical. Van Nistelrooy’s determination to take away Leicester’s greatest participant, Bilal El Khannouss, from Saturday’s recreation proved to be the final straw for a fan base that loudly discredited Van Nistelrooy’s teaching talents afterward. At this level, followers are justified in questioning whether or not Leicester would’ve been higher off if Steve Cooper was nonetheless in cost. They’ve misplaced seven of their final 9 video games and sit 18th – two positions decrease within the desk than they had been when Cooper was fired in late November.

Star performer 🌟

Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth)

England’s hottest staff was no match for Justin Kluivert. Newcastle United – in the hunt for their tenth straight win – had been humbled 4-1 at residence towards Bournemouth, with Kluivert producing his greatest efficiency of the season at his dad’s previous stomping floor. Whereas Dutch nice Patrick Kluivert struggled at St. James’ Park throughout his spell at Newcastle, targets weren’t practically as onerous to return by for Saturday’s hat-trick hero within the northeast of England.

Over 20 years after Patrick scored his lone purpose at St. James’ Park, Justin wanted simply 44 minutes to surpass his dad’s file, netting a first-half brace. His second purpose was cleverly taken, as Kluivert opted for precision over energy. However his third was the very best of the lot, sealing three factors with a blistering shot in harm time earlier than establishing the Cherries’ fourth purpose. The hat-trick was his second of the season – and, by far, his most spectacular after scoring a hat-trick of penalties in a recreation earlier this marketing campaign. Kluivert’s 10 targets put him within the dialog for the Premier League Golden Boot.

Greatest XI 😎

(Supply: FotMob)

Spotlight of the weekend 🎥

Confidence was pulsing by means of Kluivert’s veins as he formed to shoot for his very good third purpose.

Stat of the weekend 🔢

Brentford had been harmful on counter-attacks, however Liverpool had been persistent on the different finish. The match was goalless till Nunez broke the impasse within the 91st minute; nonetheless, there was a complete of 48 pictures in an attractive end-to-end fixture in west London.

Social media second 📱

Match of the Day’s iconic Saturday night time slot on BBC One is in danger following studies {that a} Manchester United legend with a depressing managerial file may be part of the punditry staff.

The place we stand 👀

View extra stats right here.