1) Will Gunners rue their misplaced leads?
The adage that 2-0 is soccer’s most threatening scoreline has lengthy since been distributed with however Arsenal are creating a just right case for bringing it again. For the second one week in a row Mikel Arteta’s facet frittered away a hard earned two-goal lead in a way unbefitting of name hopefuls – the one time a crew on the peak of the Premier League has ever executed so. There’s nonetheless time for them to place that proper however after a seven-game profitable streak, the sense of halted momentum will wish to be recovered earlier than the shuttle to Manchester City subsequent Wednesday, from which Arsenal should get a end result to be able to keep away from disappearing into To set up City’s rearview. Should they fail to take action, it may not be this season’s losses that reason them maximum remorseful about. This used to be the fourth time Arsenal have grew to become a lead right into a slightly determined draw; all 4 have come towards warring parties that are meant to had been swatted apart very easily. If Arsenal’s epic win over Bournemouth ultimate month confirmed how a seesawing mystery can depart you considering your identify’s at the trophy, the ultimate two weeks have demonstrated the way it could have the other impact too. Alex Hess
2) Antony presentations what he can be offering United
Antony has proven all over the season that he’s supremely proficient. The Brazilian winger has the power to reason issues by way of chopping in from the touchline, gliding previous defenders and generating talents others can simplest dream of. The former Ajax guy, on the other hand, has been inconsistent, petulant and overly excitable at the ball. Against Nottingham Forest he used to be in the precise position on the proper time to provide Manchester United the lead and created the second one thru some nice talent and a wonderfully weighted cross. There have been examples of his flaws, too: he used to be ceaselessly predictable as a result of the weak spot on his proper foot, he dribbled the ball out of play with some useless talent and he didn’t assault the again put up for crosses. What we can’t put out of your mind is that he’s simplest 23 and in his first Premier League season. His positives outweigh the negatives and he has proven that he could make a distinction at United for years yet to come. Will Unwin
3) Mudryk nonetheless wishes time to regulate
Mykhailo Mudryk is fast and, sadly, that is about all it’s been conceivable to mention of him since his £89m transfer to Chelsea in January. Of all of the idiosyncratic signings Chelsea have made, he’s the one that has raised eyebrows probably the most. His help for Conor Gallagher’s deflected opener used to be his 2d for Chelsea, the results of a surging run that – possibly, checked out within the kindest conceivable gentle – advised he’s starting to acclimatise to the Premier League. But there stays a loss of precision, his recreation a sequence of panicked flurries slightly than transparent selections. Which is affordable sufficient – he’s simplest 22. He had began simplest 33 video games within the Ukrainian league earlier than his transfer to London. It is a large step up, in addition to a transfer to a brand new tradition. It must take time to settle and there may be promise there. But that charge manner there may be instant expectation, and that might not be wholesome. Jonathon Wilson
4) Europe in sight for resurgent villas
It felt just a little absurd given Aston Villa have been 3 issues off the ground of the desk coming near November, however the query inevitably got here Unai Emery’s method after a 7th win in 8 suits: is a overdue push for the highest 4 conceivable? “Not now, not now,” spoke back Emery, attempting and failing to quell the giddiness. “Now we can think to be a candidate for the Europa [League] Positions but the top four are difficult. Villa’s evisceration of Newcastle leaves them six points behind Eddie Howe’s side, who have a game in hand and a far superior goal difference to Villa. The top four is probably out of reach but with Manchester United, Tottenham and Brighton among three of Villa’s final five matches, for now it is an unlikely prospect that remains very much alive. Ben Fisher
5) Patience pays off for Cherries
Pulling Bournemouth six points from the relegation zone is an achievement, should it be seen out, to mark Gary O’Neil as one of the managers of the season. Such success derives from his club keeping faith and not panicking, having already sacked Scott Parker, when collecting only two points between Christmas and mid-February. Since running Arsenal close in a 3–2 defeat on 4 March, O’Neil’s men have been one of the Premier League’s in-form teams. Tottenham were beaten by a team prepared to defend in numbers for great lengths of time, but with attacking quality on the break. Dominic Solanke was excellent while fellow goalscorers Matías Viña and Dango Ouattara were astute January signings. O’Neil himself is no Premier League naif, having played more than 200 games for five clubs. He is also realistic. In victory, while unsure why Tottenham’s staff offered no post-match handshakes, he was careful to acknowledge the “fine margins” that put Bournemouth in such a strong, unexpected position. John Brewin
6) Guardiola sounds Bayern warning
As with all the great managers, Pep Guardiola knows his public utterances are effectively team talk. After victory over Leicester a message was sent to Manchester City that the bust-up between Sadio Mané and Leroy Sané may be seized on by Bayern Munich as the X-factor required to overcome their 3-0 deficit in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second legs. “Sometimes you need conflict to make the team more together. It’s not a weak point, it will be a strong point against us. I know this club perfectly,” said the former Bayern coach. “I can imagine the situation against City – Bayern will do their best. If it was the opposite and we had lost 3-0 and didn’t win [against Leicester] and there was some conflict, the team would say it is a final for us and we know exactly what we have to do.” Mané, who received a one-game suspension for hitting Sané, missed Saturday’s draw with Hoffenheim but is free to play against City. Jamie Jackson
7) Dyche effect fades in Goodison gloom
Everton collected six points from Sean Dyche’s first three games in charge and have gathered only six more from their last eight outings, yet the manager denies performances are on a downward spiral. “You may have noticed we have been playing some pretty handy teams,” used to be his pithy reaction when the course of go back and forth used to be put to him on Saturday. Fulham arrived at Goodison Park at the again of a five-game dropping streak and departed with a club-record 6th away win in a top-flight season. Dyche’s ways – deploying two in a central midfield weakened by way of the absences of Amadou Onana and Abdoulaye Doucouré – and his crew variety (Neal Maupay, not more must be mentioned) helped the Fulham reason. But it used to be the air of resignation that pervaded Goodison, amongst avid gamers and enthusiasts alike, that used to be probably the most alarming signal for a membership edging ever nearer to dropping its top-flight standing after 69 years. “I still believe there is a very good group of players here,” Dyche insisted. “You look at the group and think, ‘Right let’s take it on.’ It is right there in front of us. As is an ominous-looking fixture list. Andy Hunter
8) Hammers show steel needed to stay up
West Ham will finish comfortably clear of relegation if they replicate their final hour against Arsenal a handful more times. This was David Moyes’ football at its best: aggressive, direct when it needed to be, smart and not without flourishes of beauty. They bettered the visitors in midfield and Michail Antonio, waging war on the visiting centre-backs throughout, was irrepressible in attack. They had been in action under 72 hours previously in Gent, and were without arguably their two best centre-halves through injury, but for long spells it looked as if they – rather than a flat Arsenal – were the team that had lacked European distraction. Showings like this have proved all too rare in recent months and Moyes’ job has been hanging by a thread. He may wonder whether a vigorous end to the campaign will secure a stay of execution, and could also be excused for wondering why the Hammers have not turned out more such displays. Nick Ames
9) What next for Wolves with safety close?
When Julen Lopetegui took over as manager of Wolves, they were bottom of the table with 10 points and eight goals from 15 games; Since then, he has played 16 times, accumulating 24 points and 18 goals. After an impressive win over Brentford, their relegation worries look almost assured. But next season, their aim will not simply be to stay up because now, Wolves not only have some good players but the right person leading them. That the same appears to apply to almost all the teams above them demonstrates two things about England’s top division. The good news is that most clubs are on an upward trajectory, so matches in 2023-24 should be high-level and ultra-competitive; But the bad is that this reflects a damaging, Super League-style financial dominance – which explains why a figure like Lopetegui left Spain for a piece of it. Daniel Harris
10) Eze plays his way into England frame
It is no coincidence that Eberechi Eze’s return to form has coincided with Crystal Palace’s incredible transformation under Roy Hodgson. The 24-year-old has played every minute of the three successive victories since Hodgson replaced Patrick Vieira and is now Palace’s top scorer in the league with seven. Why Vieira appeared to lose faith in Eze – who was restricted to just one start in the two previous months – remains a mystery but his successor certainly has faith in the player he signed from QPR in 2020. Asked whether the winger could once again be on England’s radar after missing out on the provisional squad for Euro 2020 due to injury, Hodgson insisted Eze’s future is in his own hands. “Yes, why not? If I was him I would be saying, ‘I’m so good that I’m going to make that my ambition,’” he mentioned. “But the only way that he will do that is by producing more and more of these performances and hoping that Steve Holland and Gareth Southgate come to the same conclusion and think this is a guy that could help us out.” Ed Aarons