Premier League Week 4: It’s Taking Shape.

KEY LESSONS

MANCITY: INTENSITY, HUNGER AND STYLE- CITY could only manage a 1:1 draw with WOLVES this week, this supports the suspicion that they are having problems with maintaining the same standard set last season. The intensity has dropped and looks like PEP has tweaked his approach this season. City seems to be playing more expansive football, which leaves gaps behind and between the lines. They do not look as compact. But as feared the most worrying factor I have identified is that the team seems to have lost a little bit of hunger. The earlier PEP fixes these problems the better chance he has to win it back to back and have a team to be genuine contenders in this year’s CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.

ARSENAL: STILL FAR OFF- Arsenal picked up their first win of the EMRY ERA with a 3:1 win over HAMMERS. The defensive frailty is still obvious not helped with EMRY looking to push his fullbacks high up the pitch to support attack, and having XHAKA n GWEN as the 2 holding midfielders, who are not naturally suited for defensive duties and coverage in that area of the pitch has not helped either. Arsenal, were cut open several times and were only lucky to have ended the first half, level after falling behind. On another hand the team seems to have improved in CHARACTER, having come from behind the second time in 2 games, and actually won this one. This is one of the positives of the EMRY ERA. The biggest challenge EMRY has now is to sort his best starting 11, considering that the team always looks better balanced each time a few substitutions are made, especially the balance TORREIRA brings to the team. Another positive of EMRY, is that unlike what is usually obtainable in arsenal for so many years, he makes early and effective substitutions.

WEST HAM: YET TO CLICK– the HAMMERS have lost 2 consecutive games (3-1) after taking a lead. PELLEGRINI has a huge challenge of maintaining the focus of his team especially when they take a lead. As good as the team has quality going forward, they look very vulnerable defensively or when they lose possession. Secondly, putting away chances created has to be improved upon, no doubt there is quality in the squad, and need to start to pick up points, before it gets into crisis situation. 3 losses out of 3 is definitely not good enough.

LIVERPOOL AND TITLE CHALLENGE: there are early positive signs that LIVERPOOL will be serious title contenders this season, if they can sustain the quality of focus they have shown so far, they have won games in both spectacular form and tend to be able to grind out results as well. The only goal of this one coming from the signature high press and intensity style of play. BRIGHTON HOVE ALBION from the back of a 3-2 home win of MAN UNITED gave LIVERPOOL a very difficult game. This team looks solid and well-structured throughout their games. They play with defensive consciousness and pick their moments to attack.

100% WATFORD: so far surprise team of the season. They have secured a 3 wins out of 3, with some solid performances and show of character and resilience.

CHELSEA AND SARRI BALL: against NEWCASTLE, Chelsea gave a solid controlled performance to maintain their 100% win to the start of the season. With 81% possession the BLUES won the game, taking full control after surrendering their lead to a quality goal. Nevertheless, there are areas of improvement, they tend to be occasionally exposed defensively, having surrendered a lead twice now in the course of 2 games and lacked width until WILLAIN was introduced and this meant they struggled to stretch the game and found it difficult to create chances, even with their large possession of the ball.

Analysis written by,
Reginald Uche.
Reginald@fauntee.com