THE GAMES ARE coming thick and fast in the Premier League with eight more played today. There was no shortage of drama and Paul Fennessy and Ryan Bailey dissect the action with five talking points from Monday’s fixtures.
Were Man United really that good?
Man United’s performance today, earning a 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea, was undoubtedly an improvement on their recent capitulation against Stoke.
However, basics such as work ethic and passing to a teammate are the minimum standards required for a club with the ambition of United, so the under-fire players hardly deserve undue credit for belatedly fulfilling these simple tasks.
And while they managed to avoid losing a fifth consecutive game against a Chelsea outfit whose ambitions this evening were patently limited, the positivity the display seems to have subsequently generated in certain quarters fails to tally entirely with the evidence on the pitch.
Granted, it was the Red Devils’ best opening 45 minutes of football for a while, but the hosts faded badly after the break, and with the exception of the consistently lively Anthony Martial, increasingly lacked threat as the game wore on.
And while a sharp-looking Wayne Rooney produced an improved display, in comparison with the kind of poor recent form that saw him dropped for the Stoke clash, to describe his performance as “sensational,” as watching pundit Steven Gerrard did on BT Sport, is surely going over the top with praise.
- Paul Fennessy
Ozil spearheading Arsenal’s title bid
After a humbling defeat to Southampton on Saturday, Arsenal strolled to victory over Bournemouth this evening to move top of the Premier League.
The Gunners enjoyed a leisurely outing against Eddie Howe’s side with Mesut Ozil continuing his imperious form. The German notched his 16th assist of a remarkable season before sealing the win with a goal of his own.
Ozil has been pulling the strings for Arsene Wenger’s side all season and has become a central figure for the Gunners in their quest to win a first league title in 12 years – and you get the feeling it’s theirs for the taking.
Today’s win also saw Petr Cech set a new Premier League record for clean sheets (170) and both he and Ozil will be crucial in helping Arsenal remain at the summit from now until May.
- Ryan Bailey
Aston Villa need a miracle and quickly
After watching his side’s latest defeat, Aston Villa manager Remi Garde said January will be a crucial period in the club’s bid to avoid relegation – but at the moment they already looked doomed.
The Frenchman has yet to win in eight attempts since taking over from Tim Sherwood and Monday’s defeat at Norwich has deepened the gloom for Villa. They remain rooted to the bottom of the table and are now 11 points from safety.
Garde admitted his side didn’t even deserve to come away from Carrow Road with a point and they rarely looked like ending a club-record run of 17 matches without a league victory.
They are the league’s lowest scorers and managed just three shots on goal during the 90 minutes today, appearing devoid of any confidence or quality.
For Villa fans, there is little cause for optimism that their side can haul themselves out of the drop zone in the second-half of the season and their relegation fears only appear to be getting worse.
Their next outing, against 19th-placed Sunderland, has all the makings of a relegation six-pointer, not least because of both team’s league standing. Without a win since the opening day, Villa are in desperate need of three points and a spark.
In truth, they need a miracle and one to arrive quickly and they may not get a better chance than at the Stadium of Light against a similarly rudderless Sunderland outfit.
- Ryan Bailey
Can we start taking Tottenham seriously as title contenders?
In contrast with how they would have felt robbed amid the 2-1 loss to Newcastle at White Hart Lane a fortnight ago, Tottenham will come away from today’s match against Watford at Vicarage Road feeling as if they have stolen three points.
Despite a positive start that saw them go ahead through Eric Lamela’s composed finish, some lax defending by Eric Dier allowed Odion Ighalo to equalise with a toe-poked finish just before half-time.
For long periods thereafter, Tottenham looked poor — they struggled to open up their opponents or develop any real rhythm to their play and even after Nathan Ake was sent off for the hosts, you got the sense that the game could go either way, with Son Heung-Min’s clever flick ultimately winning his side the game in the dying moments.
Therefore, if Tottenham do succeed in their aim of finishing in the top four, they will likely look back on today’s hard-fought win as a vital moment in the context of the season.
They seem to lack the experience and consistency required to launch a sustained title challenge, but they certainly got the luck teams need over the course of a season today.
Moreover, with so many rivals persistently floundering, a much-coveted top-four finish looks eminently achievable.
- Paul Fennessy
McCarthy injury cause for concern
As we reach the turn of the year, the countdown to Euro 2016 will intensify with each passing month. Ireland fans will be keeping a closer eye on how the Boys in Green are faring across the water and the last few weeks have provided plenty of encouragement.
But the sight of James McCarthy hobbling off just 26 minutes into his injury comeback is not what Martin O’Neill wanted to see. The midfielder suffered a recurrence of the groin injury which sidelined him for the last five weeks and could now keep him out for an extended period.
McCarthy had made a bright start in Everton’s 4-3 defeat to Stoke, a game which also featured Seamus Coleman, Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters. While McCarthy continues to be plighted by injuries, there is grounds for optimism elsewhere.
Many of O’Neill’s squad are seeing game time with their respective clubs with the likes of Coleman, Shane Long, Wes Hoolahan and Robbie Brady all enjoying productive seasons.
Long may it continue.
- Ryan Bailey
