Arsenal versus Manchester United on Sunday is a mouth-watering prospect. Both managers are anxious to claim a strong foothold at the top of the table.
There is no doubt that Mikel Arteta brought much of the grief on himself in a 2-2 draw with Fulham last time out. Replacing captain Martin Odegaard was a mistake and the weakness left behind after his substitution was highlighted by Gabriel Martinelli.
He said after the game: “Martin has a lot of qualities and there is no one more important in the dressing room and on the pitch. People might not see it but he is very vocal. We trust him on and off the pitch.”
Mikel Arteta believes Odegaard will play an essential role against Manchester United. Gabriel Jesus could be available but Jurrien Timber and Mohamed Elneny are out with long-term injuries.
Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko have come through training and Arteta is looking at bringing them into the game. Raphael Verane, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount are definitely out.
All eyes will be on new man Rasmus Hojlund who has settled into the Emirates this week and Arteta has considered putting him in the strike force.
Many are criticising Arteta asking why he keeps tinkering with his team and playing with no recognised striker when Eddie Nketiah is ready to play?
Erik Ten Hag is not looking forward to visiting the Emirates.
Against Arsenal, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund pre-season, United pressed aggressively but when that forward movement is beaten and they lose the ball several players have struggled to get back and often Casimero has been left stranded upfield which opens up the centre for opponents to control and counter-attack.
Arteta has recognised this and Arsenal have trained this week to move quickly into the open spaces. Ten Hag organises his team to make a ring around the opponent’s box 35 yards out and uses every outfield player. The danger is obvious when a successful counterattack is launched. Ten Hag intends to use that strategy again so this game could be a real roller coaster of a ride with plenty of action.
Chelsea's Raheem Sterling celebrates with teammates during a past match
Chelsea's Raheem Sterling celebrates with teammates during a past match
Image: XINHUA
Sterling back to electric form
I wrote last week about how Raheem Sterling’s recent Chelsea performances have risen to the level he achieved at Manchester City following a meeting with Mauricio Pochettino in his office during pre-season.
Sterling was again man-of-the-match against Luton last weekend. I can reveal that during the meeting, Pochettino suggested that Sterling also works with a nutritionist and lighten his physique by losing some muscle and weight. This resulted in a more protein-based diet.
Sterling also told his coach how frustrated he was last season when he played in seven different positions under Thomas Tuchel and then Graham Potter, including a false nine and striker. He was also unhappy playing with his back to goal and found link-ups and assists difficult in some of those positions.
Pochettino responded by creating a new role for the winger. Pochettino was impressed with Sterling at the meeting and asked him for suggestions regarding tactics and strategies for the team.
He subsequently positioned Sterling on the right of an attacking trio in a 3-3-4 system and suggested that he target the space between defenders which resulted in his current electric performances; weaving, dribbling and cutting inside defenders. Sorting out a hamstring niggle completed the return to form.
Beto could be the answer to Everton's goal drought
Sean Dyche has not panicked after seeing his team sitting bottom of the PL without scoring a single goal in three games.
His main striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is once again injured, this time with a facial fracture and is likely to miss four or five games. Beto has arrived from Italian side Udinese and Dyche believes he is the answer to Everton’s goal-scoring problems.
The 25-year-old Portuegese has signed a four-year contract. He trained with his new teammates on Tuesday and scored in their 2-1 Carabao Cup win over lowly Doncaster. “I can bring courage, I can bring confidence and my biggest thing is effort. I love to score goals and I am here to help,” said Beto.
He was working in a Lisbon Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant only three years ago and his rapid elevation to the elite of football has made him even more determined to succeed at Everton. Beto scored 21 Serie A goals in two seasons and when I made contact, he revealed that his all-time idol Samuel Eto’o played for Everton and that has made the move even more special.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the Premier League trophy
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the Premier League trophy
Image: XINHUA
Pep pulls the strings from sickbed
Pep Guardiola might have been in his home recovering in Barcelona from surgery but make no mistake he pulled the strings in City’s win over Sheffield United.
He talked throughout the match by phone and masterminded the move which allowed Rodri more space to operate upfront with Mateo Kovacic moving out of defence and higher upfield. City’s European Cup winning scorer Rodri is keen to add more goals to his arsenal of talents.
He has, in fact, either scored or assisted in three of City’s goals from their first four matches. While Guardiola sorted out his back problem his chief assistant Juanma Lillo watched the game and rarely moved into his technical area as he listened to Guardiola through earphones with his other assistants joining in.
West Ham going places with improved squad
Hands up all those who expected West Ham to be joint second in the table after the opening three games. Not many, I guess.
However, the Hammers appear to have spent wisely after pocketing £105million for selling Declan Rice. Coach David Moyes has assembled a good squad. Their influential import James Ward-Prowse was the best player on the field and even opened the scores in the win against Brighton, themselves a formidable opponent.
Edson Alvarez is the other important arrival and the way he protected his defence was excellent. His Mexican teammate Emerson Palmieri said: “He is an animal. He works very hard and even without the ball, he is unbelievable.”
Alvarez has delighted supporters and now Mohammed Kudus has joined the Hammers. He scored 18 goals for Ajax last season. The Europa League and the Premier League could be happy hunting grounds for West Ham this season.
Cancelo begins reign in Spain
Joao Cancelo was travelling to Spain as I wrote this column and his loan move to Barcelona is almost certainly going to result in a permanent move.
Manchester City exchanged documents with Barca and the full back’s fee is expected to be £20million. It is Cancelo’s second loan spell in seven months as he played for Bayern Munich at the end of January.
Certain members of staff at Maine Road are still uncertain why Cancelo was moved out after playing such an important role in 2020/21. However, his reaction to being left on the bench last season resulted in a heated exchange with Guardiola and a move was mutually agreed.
Bayern Munich decided not to sign him permanently after the loan period and Barcelona have taken the opportunity to take him to the Nou Camp stadium.
Doku joins pal De Bruyne at City
When Jeremy Doku scored his first goal for Belgium in a 5-1 win over Iceland, it was behind closed doors due to Covid-19. Kevin De Bruyne fed him the pass, he cut inside on his right foot and fired the ball home.
De Bruyne described 21-year-old Doku as a “diamond in the rough” and now, three years later, Pep Guardiola has put them together at Manchester City after signing Doku for £55million. Liverpool thought they had a deal for the youngster in 2018 and even met his family and introduced him to Jurgen Klopp, Steven Gerrard and Mo Salah.
Young Doku wasn’t interested because Romelu Lukaku had sent him a video warning him against leaving Anderlecht too early in his career. Doku is a confident young player, who was nicknamed at Anderlecht’s Academy as “The King of the Dribbles” and “The Arrogant One”.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou recognised the potential of Yves Bissouma from his first training session. He was Antonio Conte’s first signing when he became coach but suffered a difficult season last year.
The 26-year-old has now started all three games for Postecoglou and was excellent again in the win at Bournemouth. James Maddison might have been the star but Postecoglou is coming to rely more and more on Bissouma.
Baleba joins Brighton from Lille
Brighton and Hove Albion have a very smart recruitment team and following receipt of £105m from Chelsea for Moises Caicedo they have replaced him by signing Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba.
When I spoke to my Brighton contacts, I was assured that manager Roberto De Zerbi is very confident that Balebo will be the future of the club and emphasised how good the former Lille player is.
A five-year contract will tie him to the Amex Stadium. He made his debut in Ligue 1 at only 19 years-of-age and he made 19 appearances last season.
Kalajdzic delights Wolves boss O’Neill
Wolves have started with a mixture of good fortune and bad luck but now coach Gary O’Neill is getting them onto a more even path and a typical example is Sasa Kalajdzic.
The striker is still getting back to full fitness after sustaining the dreaded crucial ligament injury on his Wolves debut almost a year ago. He is still not playing every minute of every game. However, the Austrian proved with his opening goal that he could be the answer to the departed Raul Jimenez.
O’Neill said at the after-match interview: “It was really fitting that Sasa got to have a really big moment after going through a tough spell and fighting his way back. But it is more about the group and nice to get the win to let them know we are on the right track.”
