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Every week we feature three fascinating things to watch out for in big Premier League matches, in association with Betfair Soccer … Bettor podcast only.
Chelsea face an important moment after a mini slowdown
Liverpool’s falling point in Fulham on Sunday, and the ease with which Scott Parker’s team got through them in the first half, has strengthened the case for Chelsea to seek the title this year. In fact, it seems more and more that they are the strongest team in the competition. Frank Lampard probably won’t have a better chance of winning the Premier League.
And this Christmas period is of increasing importance, especially since Chelsea have started to slow down a bit. They were poor in the 1-0 loss at Goodison Park, in which Kai Havertz again looked awkward in possession and Timo Werner disappeared for long periods once again. There is nothing to be alarmed about, these things happen, especially in a grueling season like this one, but there is a danger that Chelsea will become a habit, especially with Hakim Ziyech out for a while longer.
Wolves Away is the kind of game Chelsea could slowly find, and after that comes a potentially grueling showdown with West Ham this weekend before games against Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester City. It’s a tough winter race, and if the cold starts at Goodison Park on Saturday, Lampard needs his team to thaw out fast.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team were unlucky enough to lose to Villa, and aside from an incident at Anfield, it has been their usual stoic this season. As new Chelsea signings continue to find their place, we can expect a low-scoring game in Molineux.
Roll back the draw on 5/14
Forced changes could unblock something for Arsenal
Arsenal have fallen into their current crisis with remarkable speed, and a report from Football.London suggests this week severe divisions in the locker room (some players have become mentally disconnected, media leaks abound as teammates fall) are to blame for the stalemate on the field.
Mikel Arteta is clearly responsible for a large part of this, even if other important figures at the club have ensured that it is a near impossible job for the Arsenal manager. From David Luiz supposedly fighting with him, to Arteta who excludes Mesut Ozil and Sokratis, to refusing to play William Saliba, to bad public relations like the memorable crossover talk and ‘pure math’, the Arsenal manager’s big plans they are falling apart.
But he is also a victim of how the pandemic has affected the Premier League. The congested match roster means there is virtually no time to work on tactics in the week, and considering that Arteta’s approach requires fine-tuned positional training, it’s no wonder the team has slumped so much. In June, Arsenal were one of the most disciplined and structured teams, with and without the ball, in the country. Now, with no time to work on the system, they are a chaos of individuals.
One of the biggest complaints directed at Arteta is the unwillingness to try new things, to take risks with more creative players who break lines. Like his mentor, Pep Guardiola, he suffers from an anxious need for control that tends to choose confident technicians over unpredictable creators. Trust Granit Xhaka but not Dani Ceballos; Willian but not Reiss Nelson.
His hand could be strained on Wednesday, when more members of his Europa League team are likely to be chosen to keep things fresh for Saturday’s game at Everton. Europa League players won six of six in the group stage, yet rarely did performances in UEFA competition lead to more playing time in the Premier League.
He leads the 4-1 victory over Rapid Wien. Alexandre Lacazette kept his place as a retired forward, with mixed results (if we’re kind), but Nelson, Pablo Mari and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, playing central midfield, were not rewarded for excellent, high-paced displays.
Nelson, Ceballos and Maitland-Niles have a chance to face Southampton on Wednesday and he could provide the jolt the Gunners need. All three are assertive, they play in the turn and with their heads up, seeking to slip a progressive pass to the last third. They won’t be following Arteta’s rhythmic model, but right now that can only be a good thing.
If it’s a much changed XI from the one he lost at Burnley, then Arsenal return to beat Southampton in 5/4.
No more Mourinho pretending if Spurs win at Anfield
After the 0-0 draw with Chelsea earlier in the month, José Mourinho dismissed talks about a Tottenham title challenge this season. describing his team as a ‘pony’ in a horse race. That is the right tactic, of course, why pressure your players so early? – but there comes a point where you can’t use that line without smiling.
Beat Liverpool on Wednesday and the Spurs will go from pony to horse, that’s for sure. Their lost points at Selhurst Park felt like confirmation that they wouldn’t have enough this year, only for Liverpool’s draw at Fulham to change the narrative once again. Clearly, no one is going to put together a series of victories. If that’s the case, why not back Tottenham?
They could even have the upper hand at Anfield. Liverpool aren’t pushing like they used to, allowing opponents (like Fulham at the weekend) to fight back at the heart of their injury-stricken defense. With Harry Kane going down, confusing Fabinho, and Heung-Min Son spinning behind Liverpool’s tall wingers, Mourinho’s side has a chance to take a three point lead and emphatically announce themselves as challengers to the throne.
Back Spurs / double chance of a tie on 10/11 (Betfair).
Odds are correct at time of publication. 18+ Play responsibly. Visit begntaciónware.org
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