Premier League hits and misses: Mikel Arteta's Arsenal job in threat, could Ferran Torres solve striker woes?
What now for Mikel Arteta after City rout? Plus: Brentford mix it up to succeed, hope for Crystal Palace after West Ham comeback, and Demarai Gray shows worth to Rafa's Everton
Sunday 29 August 2021 11:45, UK
Pointless Arsenal leave Arteta fearing for his job
The numbers do not make pretty reading if you are an Arsenal fan following Saturday's abject 5-0 defeat at Man City.
Sure, no one was really expecting anything other than another routine City win over the Gunners, especially given their dreadful start to the campaign and the fact the champions had won their last eight Premier League games in a row against them heading into Saturday's meeting at the Etihad.
- Man City 5-0 Arsenal - Match report and free highlights
- Mikel Arteta: We must all look in the mirror
- Get Sky Sports | Live football on Sky Sports
- Premier League fixtures | Table
- Stream the biggest moments on NOW for just £25 p/m
But even so, this was a particularly dispiriting display from Mikel Arteta's team, who looked vulnerable at the back, overrun in midfield and failed to muster a single shot on target in the entire game to leave the Spaniard fighting for his job after three straight losses without a goal.
Another reckless red card for his experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka clearly did not help Arteta's cause, but 20 months on from taking over at the Emirates and Arsenal are pointless in the Premier League and as far away from returning to their glory days as when he took over.
Arteta insisted he believed he was still right for the job, even though he admitted everyone at the club needed to "look in the mirror". Pep Guardiola certainly gave his protege his public backing.
But this is Arsenal's worst start to a season in 67 years and the pressure is mounting.
Richard Morgan
- Download the Sky Sports Scores App: Apple | Android
- The UK's No 1 scores app: Find out more
- Play Sky Sports Fantasy Football
Kane? Ronaldo? Torres!
Pep Guardiola has made the point plenty of times before and while Arsenal were woeful opposition on an afternoon Manchester City swaggered in the sunshine, his players underlined it emphatically here after all the transfer drama: no striker, no sweat.
City would not offer the kind of money for Harry Kane to make Tottenham talk, nor were they wholly convinced about what appeared in the end an agent-fuelled fling with Cristiano Ronaldo.
But being without a traditional centre-forward, given Sergio Aguero's injury woes, did them no harm for the most part last season and while Pep Guardiola insisted the club must keep striving for improvement, they have been able to smash a British transfer record.
Jack Grealish, as he is so wont to do, dinked this way and that before setting up Jesus. The Brazilian was impressive himself on the right flank. Ilkay Gundogan had freedom to roam.
But Ferran Torres, picked as a central striker again, starred, showing the sort of instinct and movement in behind that had Guardiola drawing comparisons with one of the most wily operators around.
"In this position, he makes a movement like the best strikers in behind; his movement is similar to Jamie Vardy," Guardiola purred of Torres. "He is very young. Manchester City did a great job buying him for a great price."
No Kane, no Ronaldo, but Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden to return - and a fascinating Torres-Jesus axis that now has chance to develop.
Kate Burlaga
Chelsea's mental toughness on show in resilient draw
What do you need to win a Premier League title? Skill and quality. Energy and speed. Game changers and strength in depth. A guaranteed goal-scorer and a manager who can win tactical battles and inspire his players. Chelsea tick all those boxes - and on Saturday evening, they showed they had another crucial characteristic: togetherness.
Around 43 minutes into their match with Liverpool, Gary Neville suggested they had just about produced the perfect away performance at Anfield: riding out the early storm, taking their chance when it came their way, and then asserting a measure of relative control.
A couple of minutes into stoppage time, that went out of the window. The penalty-kick and Reece James' red card for his goal-line handball was fiercely contested by Chelsea's players but when Mohamed Salah blasted in the equaliser, the match seemed to have flipped 180 degrees and certain to head Liverpool's way.
We expected a full-on onslaught as Liverpool attacked the Kop after the break and that's the way it was going. But Chelsea stood firm and as they continued to hold out, there was a growing feeling among their players of confidence, of belief that they could still leave Liverpool with a point.
It was a remarkable defensive display. Not just because they were able to shut Liverpool out for 45 minutes with a man less, but because they kept them at bay so comprehensively. The hosts struggled to fashion a clear-cut chance and were often restricted to speculative efforts.
That performance is in part down to the tactical skills of boss Thomas Tuchel, who used the half-time break to prepare his players for what was to come. But it is also a performance that was only possible because of the unity, spirit and determination of the group.
Perhaps the Champions League win has reinforced the self-belief and confidence of these Chelsea players. Or perhaps they have been able to create a tight bond through that achievement and their fight to make the top four in the Premier League last season.
Whatever it is, in Liverpool on Saturday they looked like a team physically, technically and mentally ready to mount a serious Premier League title challenge over the next nine months.
Peter Smith
Liverpool's poisoned chalice
In front of an expectant Anfield, Liverpool emerged unscathed and on level terms after the fiery conclusion to Saturday's enthralling first half of their showdown with fellow title challengers Chelsea.
The double jeopardy of Reece James' dismissal for a goal-line handball saw Mohamed Salah cancel out Kai Havertz's opener and meant Chelsea had to navigate the entire second half a man down.
The scale of the challenge was not lost on head coach Thomas Tuchel, who remarked after the game: "Can there be any harder challenge than going one man down at Anfield?" To answer his question, at this particular juncture, it would appear there is.
The platform was there for Jurgen Klopp's side but seize it they could not, and now the inquest begins into how Chelsea managed to leave Anfield with their unbeaten start to the Premier League season intact.
Make no mistake about it, Chelsea's defensive effort was inspired, but, with the exception of an early siege at the start of the second half, Liverpool failed to apply the relentless pressure we've come to associate with them when facing 11 men at Anfield, let alone 10.
Instead, James' dismissal was more of a poisoned chalice than a gilt-edged opportunity for Liverpool. It gave Chelsea the licence to shore up their defence with Thiago Silva, soak up the pressure, and give their title credentials an early-season boost.
It raised uncomfortable questions over Liverpool's ability to break down teams who are unwilling to play them at their game. Before James' dismissal, Liverpool thrived off the space afforded to them by Chelsea's ambition but were unable to pivot when the game switched in their favour.
The sense of injustice undoubtedly inspired Chelsea but nevertheless, rise to the daunting challenge they did. On this occasion, Tuchel found the answers whereas Jurgen Klopp couldn't quite.
Jack Wilkinson
Gray gives Everton new-found direction
The signing of Demarai Gray is the bargain buy of the summer transfer window at £1.7m, half a million less than what was then a British record fee the club spent on Tony Cottee in 1988. Everton's fine start to the season can in part be explained by how efficient they have been on transitions. This is a far more productive team than the one Carlo Ancelotti deserted back in June.
Last season, they were comfortable in possession but they weren't creating too many chances, but it's almost been the reverse this time around. With Gray joined by Andros Townsend on a free transfer, there is a new direct approach that has transformed the Toffees into one of the most potent counter-attacking outfits in the division.
At Brighton on Saturday, Gray scored in consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time since December 2017, when he did so for Leicester against Burnley and Newcastle. Where his maiden strike wasn't enough to secure all three points at Leeds last weekend, it provided the springboard for a victory that was richly deserved this time around.
Benitez said of Gray's vibrant display: "It's true he played well. He's working hard in the training sessions and I'm pleased because he's improving. He's got more confidence and he's always pushing to play. It's nice having players who always want to be on the pitch and the way they train to make sure the manager selects them."
These are still early days and Gray has never managed to record more than five goal involvements in a season. But having failed to make an impact at Bayer Leverkusen, the winger is determined to make up for lost time.
Ben Grounds
Some hope for Palace after character-filled comeback
At 3.45pm on Saturday, 1-0 down at West Ham and without a single shot of their own to speak of, the pressure was already rising on Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira
The Eagles have undergone a summer of turmoil, finally waving goodbye to a number of their ageing squad, but failing to replace most. Once again, three of their bench were youth players at the London Stadium, but there was still little time for excuses given the easy ride they had given the Hammers in the opening 45 minutes.
Palace have not always stuck by their bosses in the past - remember Frank De Boer's ill-fated stint in 2017? Halfway through what looked another tough afternoon, comparisons were ready to be drawn to his record-short 77-day spell at Selhurst Park.
For all the coaching courses, tactics boards and philosophical jargon of management, the one thing Vieira could not give to his players during that half-time break was confidence.
The Eagles' first shot on target of the day turned into their first goal of the season. Their second pegged West Ham back onto level terms only 102 seconds after the hosts had retaken the lead. You don't get moments like that without showing character.
"Games like today give us confidence and give us belief," said a relieved Vieira after full-time, perhaps only disappointed that Marc Guehi's late miss denied his side all three points in the end. "I think we have to realise the changes going on at our football club."
Fate has not played Vieira a kind hand. Palace are not ready-made for success, and are weaker than during the era of Roy Hodgson, whose mid-table finishes were seen in some quarters as overachievements.
Perhaps this is a turning point, Vieira will certainly hope so. Two wonderful goals have buried memories of Palace's dreadful opening hour at the London Stadium.
More poor performances, like the dismal defeat to a second-strong Watford in the Carabao Cup in midweek, will bring them straight back to the surface.
Ron Walker
Brentford's show of dexterity encouraging
Many Premier League newcomers will employ an unapologetic style - usually the one that got them up. It's often bold, or it can be negative.
But not for the first time in their first three games, Brentford showed they can do it both ways, opening the game up in the first half and keeping watertight in the second.
In Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo, they have two real outlets if they do need to place a shell around their goal and go longer - Toney's presence in particular is apparent, getting involved in a team-high 17 duels and a match-high 10 aerial clashes in Saturday's draw at Villa.
Rico Henry and Sergi Canos also have the engines to push high and wide when attacking but do the defensive work when needed. Both noticeably held back after half-time.
Thomas Frank felt the only thing missing was their quality and composure in the final third, but sitting in the top half and with just one goal conceded all season, the early signs are encouraging.
This Premier League season will bring plenty of nasty surprises for Brentford, and Frank is aware of that, but the fact they've shown variation to their game suggests they will be amenable rather than naïve.
Gerard Brand
Saint-Maximin so important to Newcastle
Newcastle were tepid in the first half in their draw against Southampton and were lucky not to go a goal down had Moussa Djenepo not missed from point-blank range. Steve Bruce agreed and said "the first half wasn't good enough. I accept that."
But he was also right to say they were far better in the second. A large part of that was down to the pace and unpredictable nature of Allan Saint-Maximin.
Saint-Maximin was the shining light for Newcastle with his goal and assist capping off a fine individual display. His forward partnership with Wilson was a constant threat to a frail Southampton backline.
The 24-year-old sprinted towards the home supporters when he scored what looked to be the winner in the 90th minute and it was clear for all to see just how much he is adored by the club's passionate fanbase.
Going forward, Steve Bruce will surely be looking for ways to get the Frenchman more involved in the game. Against Southampton, Newcastle's 5-3-2 formation - which saw them have only 35 per cent possession and concede 22 attempts on goal at home - made it difficult for Bruce's side to get forward as regularly as he will have wanted them to.
Perhaps a formation adjustment may help get their star player more involved because it was once again evident on Saturday that he is the club's prized asset.
James Kilpatrick
Break coming at the right time for Leicester
It was far from pretty for Leicester at Norwich, but they showed plenty of character as they battled to a 2-1 victory at Carrow Road.
The win means Leicester have started with two wins from their opening three games and after a start where they have been far from their best, Brendan Rodgers was left pleased with his side.
"I am delighted with three points. We showed a lot of resilience and spirit, especially towards the end," he said. "In terms of football, I don't think we were anything near our best, but it will come over the course of the season once we get fitter and more precise with our passing. It was always going to be difficult, we lost last time we were here so delighted with the three points, the mentality and the way we dug in to show the moments of quality we needed."
Leicester's task against Norwich was made harder by the loss of full-back Ricardo Pereira, who was forced off with a hamstring injury after playing a big role in Jamie Vardy's opener.
He becomes the latest in a growing list of injured players at Leicester. Jonny Evans, new signing Jannik Vestergaard, Ryan Bertrand, James Justin, and Wesley Fofana were all absent from the victory at Carrow Road.
However, with the Premier League set to pause for the international break, it has come at just the right time for Leicester as they look to patch up their squad and make the improvements Rodgers craves.
Oli Yew
