Seven notable things from the Premier League’s midweek round of fixtures…
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7) Arsenal’s Sanchez Reliance Is Becoming Dangerous
Despite Fraser Forster’s best efforts, Alexis Sanchez eventually broke the deadlock at the Emirates Stadium, scoring Arsenal’s 7th late goal of the season to win them the three points. These late goals are all well and good, proving the Gunners are fit and motivated to the death, but the addiction to last minute winners, especially those scored by Sanchez, is not a healthy one.
Arsenal should be looking to dominate whole games, not late nick them late on. Should the Chilean pick up an injury and those three points picked up at the end of games turn into one, things won’t be looking good at the Emirates.
6) Liverpool’s Summer Gets Worse Every Week
Liverpool’s summer transfer activity ranged from the questionable (Lazar Markovic) through the unnecessary (Adam Lallana) to the disastrous (Mario Balotelli), and now Reds fans are being haunted by moves they didn’t make as well as those they did.
Loic Remy was on the verge of a move to Anfield before his move collapsed – allegedly because of the player’s medical problems.
He certainly looked fit as he raced onto Cesar Azpilicueta’s long ball, muscled Jan Vertonghen to the ground and rolled the ball home for Chelsea last night.
Of course it’s too early to really condemn Liverpool’s decision – if Remy is forced to hang up his boots at the end of the season because of a chronic problem we’re not aware of it will have been the right one – but at the moment, it looks like a bad call.
5) Chelsea’s Future At Centre-Back Is Safe
Gary Cahill was forced off at half-time after picking up a head injury, and with Chelsea only two goals up at that point, there was a flicker of doubt amongst Blues fans.
But replacement Kurt Zouma, as he has several times already this season, filled in immaculately.
In fact at times one had to remind oneself that Cahill wasn’t on the pitch, so adept was the Frenchman’s stand-in act.
John Terry has at least another year in him, but once he’s gone, Chelsea fans can rest assured that their new man is ready and waiting to take over.
4) The Europa League Is A Curse
Everton drew against Hull City on Wednesday night and could easily have lost the game late on. Overall, Roberto Martinez’s men appear to have gone backwards since last year.
What’s changed since last season? Everton are in the Europa League. Despite adding some quality players in the summer, the Toffees are struggling to cope with the pressures of European football. We’ve seen many teams, Tottenham Hotspur especially, complain about this before, but the Merseysiders seem to be suffering especially badly.
Given this, it’s no surprise that teams try and avoid the competition.
3) Fraser Forster Should Be England’s Number One
The giant stopper kept Arsenal at bay single-handedly for 90 minutes last night, and even Gunners fans felt some guilt at having to watch the Southampton keeper trudge off as a loser last night.
Joe Hart is a fine player, but at the moment Forster looks even better. Perhaps it’s just Hart’s exposure to more Champions League and international football that exposes his weaknesses more regularly, but at the moment the Manchester City man looks far more error prone than England’s second choice.
Roy Hodgson has shown he’s not afraid to make big calls over new players in the England camp, and at this rate, it won’t be long before Forster gets a chance as number one.
2) Louis van Gaal’s James Wilson Decision Proves He’s The Right Man For United Job
Van Gaal has a squad full of very expensive players, and the United manager is under a lot of pressure to get the big names he demanded in the summer to perform.
It was refreshing, therefore to see Man United’s manager make the tough call of leaving Radamel Falcao out of the side for youngster James Wilson. While the Englishman didn’t score, he played well alongside Robin van Persie up front, and fully vindicated his inclusion in the side.
It will be encouraging for Man United fans, not only to see their own youth being given a chance, but also to know that van Gaal won’t let big names or transfer fees affect his thinking.
1) Sergio Aguero Is The Best Player In The League
Just in case it wasn’t obvious already. You can discuss Yaya Toure, Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez till the cows come home, but none of them are close to Aguero’s level at the moment.
From the moment the tyro stepped on the pitch against Liverpool back in August, he’s been absolute dynamite.
There is nobody in football at the moment who can score a goal like Aguero’s first last night. The acceleration, from a standing start, on his heels, to reach a ball moving away from him in a split second, was astonishing in itself.
To then nutmeg Sebastian Coates with ease, round him and fire a rocket shot that hit the back of the net before the Uruguayan had shut his legs? Sensational.