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Manchester United's Michael Carrick (right) and Phil Jones dejected after the final whistle against Stoke. EMPICS Sport
Analysis

Battle of the underachievers and more Premier League talking points

Also, is Daniel Sturridge set to return and why Shane Long needs to start.

1. Arsenal defence still a concern

ARSENAL BECAME TITLE favourites with the bookies after an impressive 2-1 win over Man City last week.

However, as is often the case with the Gunners, just when people started to believe in them, they suffered a setback.

Against Bournemouth, they will be hoping to improve on a dismal performance that saw Arsene Wenger’s side suffer an emphatic 4-0 loss to Southampton.

Injuries to key players such as Francis Coquelin and Alexis Sanchez didn’t help matters, of course, but at St Mary’s, the Gunners showed some old familiar frailties.

Their defence never looked confident with Saints attackers Shane Long and Sadio Mane in the vicinity, while the ease with which Jose Fonte powered home a header for the third goal was also a big concern.

As good as Arsenal are going forward, on the evidence of Saturday night, their back four may end up costing them in the title race á la Liverpool two years ago.

2. Can City banish away blues?

Man City are just three points off leaders Leicester, who they face on Tuesday night.

Claudio Ranieri’s men suffered a disappointing loss to Liverpool on St Stephen’s Day, while Manuel Pellegrini’s side demolished Sunderland 4-1.

Whether they can do the same to the Foxes remains to be seen, but it doesn’t appear likely, given their poor run of form away from home of late.

The Blues have not won any of their past five Premier League matches, and their solitary goal against Arsenal was the first they had managed away from home in the league since the 4-1 loss to Tottenham back in September

3. Battle of the underachievers

Soccer - Chelsea v Watford Match Graphic A match graphic of the Chelsea v Watford match. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

Football writer Jonathan Wilson summed about the mood of anticipation about this match when he recently tweeted: “United v Chelsea on Monday may be the most unmissable clash of 6th v 15th in history.”

It’s not often it’s been said this season that Chelsea are the more in-form team going into a game, yet it applies in this case, given that the 2-0 defeat to Stoke meant Man United had lost four consecutive matches for the first time since 1961.

In Hiddink’s first game in charge against Watford on St Stephen’s Day, Chelsea were somewhat unlucky, as they had the better of the play while Oscar made a mess of a late penalty.

United, meanwhile, fully deserved their 2-0 loss at the Britannia, and Van Gaal has admitted his side are struggling to cope with the pressure of their current predicament.

“It is not so easy anymore and when you lose four matches in a row it’s much more difficult after the third match, it’s like that and the pressure of the environment shall increase,” he told reporters.

4. Time to give Shane Long first-team chance

Shane Long has shown admirable patience since joining Southampton and more often than not, having to play second string to Italy international Graziano Pellè.

With Pellè injured for the recent visit of Arsenal, however, Long capitalised on a first-team opportunity, scoring a brace and producing a man-of-the-match performance.

The Tipperary native led the line superbly, and look as good as any of the multitude of superstars in the Arsenal side on the night.

In total in his last seven Premier League starts, Long has managed five goals and two assists, and so surely now deserves an extended run in the first team, starting against West Ham on Monday evening.

5. Is Sturridge finally over his fitness issues?

It’s a testament to Daniel Sturridge’s abilities that Liverpool have been so patient with the player over an injury-riddled past 18 months.

This season, Sturridge has impressed on the rare occasions he’s been available to play, but the England international hasn’t featured since picking up another knock in the Reds’ 2-0 loss to Newcastle at the beginning of the month.

In total, Sturridge has started just 10 games over the past two seasons, and it’s getting to the point where people are starting to question whether he’ll ever be the same player who lit up the league in the 2013-14 campaign with a phenomenal 21 goals in 29 appearances.

However, ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Sunderland, Sturridge suggested he was set to return, as following the 1-0 win over Leicester, he tweeted: “I’m back training and good to go!!”

Upcoming fixtures:

Monday 28 December

Crystal Palace v Swansea – 15:00

Everton v Stoke – 15:00

Norwich v Aston Villa – 15:00

Watford v Tottenham – 15:00

West Brom v Newcastle – 15:00

Arsenal v Bournemouth – 17:30

Man Utd v Chelsea – 17:30

West Ham v Southampton – 17:30

Tuesday, 29 December

Leicester v Man City — 19:45

Wednesday, 30 December

Sunderland v Liverpool — 19:45

– First published 23.41, 27 December

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