Arsenal Will Need Home Fans Again
The euphoria after Arsenal’s victory over Chelsea that booked their place at Wembley in next month’s Carabao Cup final showed how desperate their supporters are for success, and Mikel Arteta felt they deserved praise for sticking with his side during a nervous second half at the Emirates.
“They brought so much energy and belief to the team in different moments,” he said. “It wasn’t easy because it was a late kick-off, windy, rainy, cold and they responded. The energy was very good from the beginning. I sensed it was different and they are on board.”
Arsenal’s players will need the fans again when they face Sunderland today having experienced the power of a passionate home crowd in November’s 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light.
Régis Le Bris’s side are the only Premier League team still unbeaten at home this season and remain a threat, even if they have won only twice on the road.
*Arsenal v Sunderland, Saturday.
Man U Revival Offers Stern Test For Spurs
Manchester United are unbeaten in three games under Michael Carrick and Tottenham are unbeaten in four under Thomas Frank.
While Carrick has overseen three victories, Spurs have two Premier League draws alongside Champions League wins.
After Sunday’s last-gasp 3-2 win against Fulham at Old Trafford, Carrick was asked if his Midas touch could continue for his remaining 14 Premier League matches. In the interim manager’s calm way he smiled and said, in essence, there are no guarantees.
But factor in a reinvigorated and re-engaged home crowd and even a draw for Spurs looks like a tough ask.
*Manchester United v Tottenham, Saturday.
Rosenior Deserves Better Than Mockery
Liam Rosenior is the youngest of seven British managers in the Premier League – and yet despite establishing a fine reputation as a coach, there is an apparent thirst to dismiss his credentials at every opportunity.
He has seen the online comparisons to Will from the Inbetweeners and David Brent. His tactics were widely denounced after Chelsea were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at Arsenal on Tuesday.
Some, presumably, will have even taken delight in the 41-year-old’s clunky touch at the Emirates Stadium going viral.
It is not the first time an English coach has been derided and is unlikely to be the last.
This week Rosenior was asked about facing another British coach in Wolves’s Rob Edwards, flying in the face of that age-old question about homegrown managers getting opportunities. But when they get them, why is there a desperation to drag them down?
*Wolves v Chelsea, Saturday.
Wirtz Coming Into Best Form For Slot
Recent evidence suggests Liverpool should be a different proposition on Sunday to the team Manchester City encountered at the Etihad in November and Florian Wirtz most certainly will be.
The potential £116m signing was still without a Premier League goal or assist when the sides last met and ineffectual during Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat.
He was not alone in that regard. Wirtz’s influence and impact is rising, however, and an improved understanding between the Germany international and Hugo Ekitiké has contributed to Arne Slot’s side scoring 10 goals in their last two home games.
“I think he did not improve that much on the ball because from the start he was special,” the Liverpool head coach said. “But off the ball I see the biggest improvement. The Premier League is about both.”
Had last summer worked out differently, Wirtz could have been lining up for City against a Liverpool defence containing Marc Guéhi. The champions need their playmaker to remind Pep Guardiola of what might have been.
*Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday.
Villa Seek Attacking Boost At Vitality
Given they sit just a point behind Manchester City, Aston Villa cannot be considered out of the title race.
But having lost two of their last three league games, at home to Everton and 10-man Brentford, they are now looking down not up, with the clubs below them – Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool – all improving.
When out of form and under pressure, there are many fixtures preferable to Bournemouth away: Andoni Iraola’s men are, er, “in a good moment” and will ask searching physical questions of players who have appeared tired in recent weeks.
Of the sides in the top seven, Villa have scored the fewest goals, so it was no surprise they used the transfer window to bring in two attackers.
With the hamstrung Ollie Watkins only a maybe for today’s game, they’ll be hoping Tammy Abraham and the returning loanee Leon Bailey can quickly integrate into Unai Emery’s system, sparking the required attacking improvement.
*Bournemouth v Aston Villa, Saturday.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Arsenal fans get behind their team during last Tuesday’s League Cup victory over Chelsea.
