With the latest round of Premier League fixtures concluded, we take a look at some key issues.
Arsenal bounce back
While it is somewhat difficult to focus on the positives at Arsenal, knowing that the current mood will be short-lived unless Arsene Wenger strengthens his slender squad, it has been a fantastic week for the manager and his players. Wenger has been left in bullish form by the comprehensive victory over Fenerbahce and superb counter-attacking display against Fulham, and said after his team's win at Craven Cottage: "Look, we lost one game since the beginning of March. That's why it was a shock. The media in general has brainwashed a little bit the Emirates."
He has a point, of course, and it's generally accepted that things are never as bad as they seem at Arsenal. Complaining about standing still appears churlish when inertia is 16 successive years in the Champions League, but it takes only a cursory glance at the Gunners' bench on Saturday to appreciate that the fear of being overtaken is increasingly vindicable. That Serge Gnabry, 16-year-old Gedion Zelalem (who looked a brilliant prospect in pre-season) and Emmanuel Frimpong were among the substitutes at Fulham shows that Arsenal are in desperate need of reinforcements.
Even if Wenger could boast a fully fit squad (pigs might fly), he would still be worryingly short of numbers to compete for four trophies and options to change the team's approach should they find themselves trailing 2-0 at half time in the home leg of a last-16 Champions League tie, for example. It is now Wenger's job to build on this momentum rather than risk it falling flat through injuries, a lack of motivation derived from a lack of competition and, eventually, fatigue.
MS
Defensive delight for Liverpool
A 1-0 victory that should have been more followed by a 1-0 victory that perhaps should have been less. Liverpool are learning important lessons ahead of a brace of difficult fixtures against Manchester United (at home) and Swansea (away).
It was very much an in-and-out job at Villa Park, evidenced by the Reds having just a single shot (a dreadful effort from Glen Johnson) in the 69 minutes that followed Daniel Sturridge's superb winning goal. Brendan Rodgers will be pleased with his team's ability to win ugly and the manager also deserves credit for the manner in which Liverpool earned their victory.
"It was a terrific win for us. I thought first half we had good control of the game and scored an excellent goal," said Rodgers in his post-match interview. "Obviously second half, we just needed to defend a bit deeper. Tactically that was the idea. In the first two games Aston Villa have been brilliant on the counter-attack and if you open up too much the spaces then they have players who can hurt you."
There will be plenty of occasions when Liverpool rely on their array of attacking talent this season, but this was not one of those days as big Kolo Toure came to the fore. The free transfer from Manchester City, who Rodgers affectionately describes as "funny to watch sometimes", was magnificent alongside Daniel Agger in a centre-back pairing that offers early promise. Indeed, it will be quite amusing when Toure keeps his place following Martin Skrtel's return to fitness.
MS
Sturridge the star
Rickie Lambert's goalscoring debut for his country had the 'breath of fresh air' merchants out in force earlier this month. Finally, an England striker we can get behind. But that
