We discuss the key talking points raised from another intriguing round of Premier League fixtures.
The perfect match?
After three matches without scoring from open play, the big question for Tottenham was whether Christian Eriksen could provide the subtlety they need in the final third against Norwich. The answer was a resounding 'yes' as the 21-year-old set up Gylfi Sigurdsson to open the scoring with a perfectly weighted pass and then played a key role in the Icelander's second.
Although he's not yet in Özil's league, Eriksen contributed 44 assists in 113 Eredivisie games for Ajax and created an astonishing 138 chances last season - the highest of any player in the league.
There is plenty of cause for optimism at Spurs despite Norwich's poor showing and with the Gareth Bale sideshow now over, Andre Villas-Boas can focus on combining impressive performances with an already healthy-looking set of results.
MS
Work in progress
The fledgling strike partnership between Southampton pair Rickie Lambert and Dani Osvaldo is the proverbial work in progress.
Only twice did Lambert and Osvaldo exchange passes in the area in Sunday's goalless draw with West Ham. The touch maps below demonstrate in terms of their movement and the spaces they occupy, both players appear to hold pretty similar ideas about dropping off the front. Being interchangeable is no bad thing, but unless you have quick transitions in the middle of the field it can leave sides flailing for a target to hit.
Lambert was relatively quiet, save for hitting the post with a near post header and a trademark effort in the second period where he opened up his body on the left flank to bend a right-footed shot that forced a solid stop from the outstanding Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Osvaldo, who scored 17 goals in 31 games for Roma last season, was guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance in the first half when a lack of cuteness in his finish from Luke Shaw's pullback allowed Jaaskelainen to make a sprawling save. Of more concern to Mauro Pochettino though will be whether they are too similar to forge an effective partnership.
Read our full match analysis here AD
No substitute for experience
Gareth Barry on his Everton debut was a revelation. Despite having harboured reservations about a lack of football pre-match he lasted 90 minutes and barely put a foot wrong. Composed and subtly inventive in possession, he persistently drove his new side forward, with his flailing block to prevent Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o from netting into an open goal in the first period typifying his overall performance.
After the game his manager spoke of how his new signing's performance was a 'master class' and how he is 'a perfect influence for Ross Barkley and James McCarthy'. During his time at City, only Michael Carrick (8125) attempted more passes than Barry (7561) in the Premier League and while both are often accused of being too safe in their choices, Barkley will benefit from being in the company of a man who treats the ball so tenderly. Around the hour mark, before he got a second wind for the final 15 minutes or so, Barkley lost the ball four times in succession. He'll learn though and only a true curmudgeon would begrudge Everton's new poster boy his moment in the sun.
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