Tottenham
As a Premier League neutral (or as near as it is ever able to be), there is plenty to enjoy about this Tottenham team playing well. The side selected against Manchester City was the youngest in the Premier League this season (with an average age of 24 years and 40 days), breaking their own record. Having a front six aged 19, 21, 23, 23, 23 and 22 is extremely unusual in Europe’s ‘big four’ leagues, more common in Dutch and French football. In Dele Alli and Eric Dier (plus Harry Kane up front), they also have an English core. That can only be good news for Roy Hodgson.Yet the greatest thing about Tottenham in recent weeks is the sense that the club is finally pulling in the right direction. Many supporters will celebrate the departure of Franco Baldini, but it is from the pitch that the most positivity can be drawn. Heung-Son Min’s arrival has ignited a spark of understanding in the final third, the vital missing link between attack and midfield. For too long Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli were forced to carry out that task alone, but they can now concentrate on other roles.
I’m a soppy sod, but I watched on with a huge grin as an inexperienced Spurs side responded after falling behind (aided by a huge slice of offside fortune, it must be said), and then exploited the weaknesses of their opponent to maximum effect.
The second-half performance was precisely the blueprint that Mauricio Pochettino is working from. Possession was won by pressing the opponent with the ball, those not tasked with the press closing off the passing options to force the mistake. When the ball was won, Spurs immediately attacked at pace. Having pacey options like Clinton N’Jie and Chadli makes that possible deep into matches, and N’Jie assisted the fourth goal with brilliant skill and vision.
One of the benefits of such a young team is that they should be able to fight until the last. Spurs beat Crystal Palace and Sunderland in the final quarter of the match, and powered over City in the latter stages.
The mood among Tottenham supporters was one of resignation during August, but three consecutive victories have reversed that. Long-suffering supporters may opine that the hope will kill you in the end, but you’d rather be hoping and failing than never hoping at all.
Erik Lamela
A standing ovation from the White Hart Lane crowd. It seems highly patronising to congratulate a £30m player on an impressive performance, but we might finally be seeing the benefits of a player settled in England and enjoying his football. It’s just a shame it’s taken over two years.Arsenal strikers
The top section of Friday’s Big Weekend column focused on the struggles of Arsenal’s strikers:‘Arsenal’s lack of goals is an oddity. They are registering more shots per game than last season (20.2 vs 16.1), shots on target (6.8 vs 6.0), shots in the penalty area (12.2 vs 9.0) and shots in the six-yard box (1.5 vs 0.9). Their shot accuracy is slightly down (50.0% vs 51.7%), but that does not explain the incredible loss of chance conversion, down from 16.2% to just 6.1%. Basically, they’re just missing chances and coming up against inspired goalkeepers. Something has to give.’
Something did give. Having registered a chance conversion of 6.1% until Saturday, Arsenal promptly scored five goals. Each of their three forwards found the net – that will make the manager a happy boy.
Wenger will also be reassured that there is still more to come from his attackers. Between them, Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott had 16 shots against Leicester. That’s a figure beaten by only four teams (Southampton, West Ham, Liverpool and Manchester City) this weekend.
Alexis Sanchez
It was worth the wait. Following a run of 10 Premier League games without a goal, Sanchez treated us to a 90-minute show of just what we’ve been missing.Various people on this site have written at length about why the Chilean is perhaps the country’s most enjoyable player to watch as a neutral. Anyone left unconvinced should be forced to watch Sanchez’s third goal. A dink round the defender and snapshot, taken so early that Kasper Schmeichel had no chance to settle himself for the dive. As Arsene Wenger described in midweek, it is this “explosive” aspect of Sanchez’s game which makes him a) so watchable, and b) so wonderful in tandem with the insouciant Mesut Ozil. The German’s assist for Sanchez’s second was something to behold.
As a statistical aside, it was also the fourth hat-trick scored by an Arsenal player against Leicester in the Premier League (Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and, of course, Dennis Bergkamp with the others). That is a joint record with Manchester United players vs Newcastle.
Manchester United
When analysing United’s performance against Sunderland on Match of the Day, the panel’s points were overwhelmingly negative, and not without reason. Louis van Gaal’s side were again disturbingly pedestrian during the first half, the stupor lifted by Memphis Depay’s first Premier League goal. I have mentioned United’s first-half dirge before in this column and, until Depay struck, it looked like being five first-half goals in their last 13 league matches.Yet in the debate over their style or accused sluggishness, there is only one undeniable truth: United are top of the league. For the first time since the departure of Alex Ferguson they are looking down from the top of the perch.
No side deserves to be showered with praise for beating this Sunderland, but praise is comprised of nothing but empty epithets. All that matters is achievement. If United have reached the top of the table without playing their best, that is more of an issue for the other 19 managers than for Van Gaal.
This United squad is far from perfect, but their own flaws are matched by those around them. United’s Achilles’ heel was supposed to be in attack, but the arrival of Anthony Martial has relieved that fear. It’s now nine goals in their last three league games, more than any other team.
Van Gaal has continuously played down United’s chances of winning the title this season, but with Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea all suffering their own headaches, there should be no doubt that United are contenders. You don’t sit top of the table at the start of October for nothing.
Daniel Sturridge
Matt Stead wrote here about the potential impact Sturridge’s return could have on Brendan Rodgers’ chances of Anfield redemption, but it’s worth reiterating just how impressive his link-up play was with Philippe Coutinho after such a long time out. It’s no exaggeration to say that Liverpool’s second goal against Villa was steeped in their 2013/14 vintage. Pass, pass, pass, outrageous finish.Christian Benteke has taken ten shots for Liverpool this season, and 50% have been off target. Daniel Sturridge has taken five so far. Not only have all five been on target, but two have been goals. While Coutinho has laboured to a miserable 4.76% conversion rate this season, Sturridge’s is almost ten times higher. Patience must be afforded with Liverpool and England’s best out-and-out striker after such a long lay-off, but it’s sure nice to see him back.
Brendan Rodgers
This came in just before my”Oh s**t, I really need to start reading this” deadline, but Rodgers saying “I am the same guy who nearly won us the league, but better” might just be my new favourite Brendan Rodgers quote.Sadio Mane
A much less publicised goal drought is over. Mane had not scored in the league since his record-breaking hat-trick against Aston Villa in May.
The attacker’s goal against Swansea complements his three assists already this season. Less ‘Mane the moment’ and ‘Mane the last six months’. Doesn’t quite have the same ring, I grant you.
Source : http://www.football365.com/news/premier-league-winners-and-losers-5
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