As Erik Ten Hag struggles to improve every area of his squad, he is most worried about two of his quality world-class players.
Casemiro is one of the best defensive midfielders I have had the privilege to watch. Marcus Rashford was always exciting, moving forward and could beat defences and score goals. Together, they formed the focal points of Manchester United’s revival period.
What has happened to both of them? They are playing without confidence, easily dispossessed and losing tackles and focus. Ten Hag is under pressure to drop both which was unthinkable 12 months ago.
He has an alternative for Rashford in Alejandro Garnacho, who was impressive against Brentford. Casemiro is different and United have no one who can completely replace the defensive midfielder.
Sofyan Amrabat was signed as cover for Casemiro but Ten Hag is seriously considering drafting him into the starting line-up as a replacement for the away game at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United after the international break.
Casemiro’s form has been worrying for some time and his performances well below what we know he is capable of. Against Brentford, he was careless with the ball and lost it several times after poorly judging his passes. The coach took him off at half time, which for a player of his reputation, experience and ability is embarrassing.
Although only 31 years of age but slowing down, he was still able to control midfield by reading the game more than being athletic and speedy. Opposition players are targeting him as a weakness…perhaps Real Madrid anticipated this would happen when they shocked the football world by selling him.
Amrabat looked a very competent player in the second half against Brentford, making 64 attempted passes and finding his target 94 per cent of the time. He also had 75 touches of the ball. Ten Hag admits Amrabat’s true test will come when he completes a full 90 minutes.
Klopp despairs at set-piece nightmare
Against Brighton, Jurgen Klopp was furious inside his technical area after Liverpool gave away yet another free kick.
Brighton’s Solly March took the kick and his captain Lewis Dunk put the ball into the net with only 12 minutes to go to earn the Seagulls a draw. Klopp could not hide his disappointment. Only four clubs have given more fouls in the Premier League.
Klopp said: “Defensively, we should not have allowed them so many set-pieces and we definitely would have had more chances. That is one area we have to improve. It is difficult to defend all of them. We did defend nearly of them but one is enough.”
Now the coach has to wait until after the international break to once again work with his defence again in defending set pieces. Most of his players are on international duties.
Big Scott serves up a double whopper
Erik Ten Hag had Scott McTominay earmarked for the exit door in January. He would have gone in the summer had a big enough offer arrived in the postbox.
Everything has now changed and Ten Hag was first to praise his midfielder for his performance against Brentford, even scoring in extra time. McTominay arrived on the pitch in the 87th minute for Sofyan Amrabat and he scored twice to give United victory.
After the game Ten Hag said: “Every player has his price (£45m) but Scott has a big value, sporting and also economic. No one matched that value and I am happy to have a player like him in the squad. He is Man United in every way. Every minute he will fight for the team.”
Why the Gunners are stronger this season
From my point of view, the only good thing about an international break is that it gives me more time to talk to people inside the clubs because many of the players are away with their national teams and assistants, trainers and staff have more time to talk.
It seemed a good opportunity to explore why and how Arsenal are stronger this season. Beating Manchester City for the first time in 15 matches is an indication of their progress under Mikel Arteta. At the end of last season Arteta addressed his team in their hotel before the last game away at Nottingham Forest.
He sensed the disappointment in his players. Five days earlier he had witnessed his team’s collapse against Brighton which more or less ended Arsenal’s dream title win. The Gunners consequently lost 1-0 at Forest’s City Ground.
Will Arsenal last the distance this time?
Arteta’s team are definitely better this season. In the match against Manchester City, William Saliba shackled Erling Haaland and he never got a shot at goal.
A back injury had put Saliba out of the team last time out. Many inside the club believe his absence doomed their final efforts. Arteta studied City’s structure and as a result, moved Jorginho in next to Declan Rice and they effectively shut the door on through passes to Haaland, who was taken out of the game for much of the match.
Arteta and sporting director Edu have also gone for bigger players this year. Kai Havertz is 6ft 4ins and Declan Rice 6ft 1ins. They believed the Gunners lacked physical presence last year and needed more power and height to improve the team.
Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Havertz have done well so far this season but the possible addition of Brentford’s Ivan Toney in January would make them a foot taller and the Gunner’s believe the transfer is likely to happen.
Having spent £200m, many at the club are worried there might not be enough cash in the bank to pay around £80m for Toney. Also, that amount will limit what the club are allowed to spend next summer.
Some people are pointing a finger at Arteta for the continuous injuries to Arsenal players. His training regime is tough, very tough and players often arrive for matches feeling tired which makes them less able to ride the tackles during a game.
Jurrien Timber is out for the majority of the season and Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli have already missed crucial games. Saka, I am told, is expected to be fit for the Chelsea game.
Saliba had to withdraw from the French team during the break with a painful big toe problem but Arsenal’s medical team are convinced they can get him fit in time to play against Chelsea.
Goalkeeper David Raya is one player supporters at the Emirates Stadium would like to see dropped on his current form. Aaron Ramsdale sitting on the bench seems ridiculous and a player of his ability is getting frustrated that Arteta keeps giving Raya preference.
Raya’s long ball distribution has been far from perfect and passing out from the back has seen him get into all sorts of trouble. He almost allowed City’s Julien Alvarez to score with his lack of control.
Fans are criticising him from behind his goal and that hasn’t helped his confidence. Arteta appears to regard the on-loan Raya as his number one…millions of Arsenal fans do not agree and they want Ramsdale back.
Nowhere to go for Phillips at city
Covering for Rodri, arguably Manchester City’s most important player, has meant Kalvin Phillips has been confined to the bench for much of his Light Blue’s career.
Rodri’s suspension for a foolish push on Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White’s throat meant that Phillips had a chance to shine for three games. Those games are now finished but Pep Guardiola is still not convinced he is good enough to start each game.
In truth Phillips has been okay but not outstanding. Against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup, he didn’t do very much, just enough. He was not selected against Wolves because Rico Lewis was excellent against Leipzig in the Champions League where he played with Rodri.
Against Wolves, Mateo Kovacic played alongside Matheus Nunes and neither played well but instead of turning to Phillips, coach Guardiola brought on teenager Oscar Bobb. Lewis was again selected against Arsenal and Kovacic was used again with Bernardo Silva moving into a more defensive role.
Guardiola said he crowded the midfield to make up for the loss of Rodri which he considered a better option than trusting Phillips. It is almost impossible to think Phillips will be given many more opportunities and a transfer in January looks like his best option.
Bad news on Chelsea’s Chilwell
Chelsea’s coach Mauricio Pochettino has commented on Ben Chilwell’s injury, saying: “I think it is bad news. The doctor told me it is a bad injury but we need to assess it in the next few days and we’ll see the period he is going to be out of the squad.”
Chilwell’s injury has now been scanned and the results are, as expected, not encouraging. It is likely he will be sidelined for the next couple of months. Pochettino does have options at left-back, however.
He pointed out that Marc Cucurella has been used as cover for right-back Malo Gusto’s suspension and Reece James’ injury while Ian Maatsen has been limited to playing further upfield.
Watkins opts for Villa
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has committed his long-term career to the club by signing a new five-year contract. He joined from Brentford in 2020 and has just entered the final two years of his current deal.
Coach Unai Emery has coached Watkins to a new level of performance and only Erling Haaland and Mo Salah have scored more goals since his arrival at Villa Park.
England manager Gareth Southgate watched as Watkins scored his second hat-trick of the season when Villa thrashed Brighton 6-1 and has selected him for the October internationals.
Mac Allister will stick to his No6 role
Liverpool’s new signing Alexis Mac Allister was criticised for his poor performance against Brighton. His mistake led to the south coast’s team scoring first. The Argentinian had never played in the No6 role before going to Anfield.
However, he said this week: “It would be easy for me to say ‘it’s not my position’ but Jurgen is giving me his support and I try to do the best I can. I think I have improved a lot defensively in the last couple of years and I think it’s a job that I can do very well.”
