Five Takeaways From Premier League Matchweek 10
Today at 07:00 AM
Liverpool proved their title credentials by coming from a goal down to beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1 at Anfield. But Arsenal and Manchester City both lost on the same day while Nottingham Forest won once again.
A total of 27 goals were scored across 10 games during this matchweek. Without further delay, let's take a look at the 5 things we learned from the Premier League matchweek 10.
#Manchester City taste first league defeat since December
Dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Tottenham Hotspur in midweek, Manchester City suffered their first Premier League loss since December at the hands of Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Before the game at the South Coast, Pep Guardiola had labelled his team’s injury crisis an “emergency”. John Stones and Ruben Dias were added to the growing injury list before the game, so Guardiola had to go with a makeshift defence on Saturday.
Bournemouth were excellent from the onset and deservedly won the contest 2-1, thanks to goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson. And by doing so, they also ended City's 32-game unbeaten league run.
#Arsenal drifting away from the title race
Man City’s shock defeat to Bournemouth would have been celebrated in Liverpool, who went two points clear at the summit after their comeback victory against Brighton and Hove Albion, but Arsenal failed to capitalise on the situation at Newcastle United.
Alexander Isak's first-half bullet header was enough to condemn Arsenal to their second league defeat of the season and now leaves them seven points adrift of top spot. Before that, they had also become prey to Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
The 2024/25 campaign may just be 10 games old, but as history suggests there is very little room for error when going toe-to-toe with Man City in title races, there's acceptance in certain parts of the Arsenal fanbase that it is already over Mikel Arteta's side. Next up for the Gunners is a London derby against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and that is a game Arteta's men cannot simply return home without three points.
#Dominic Solanke makes a difference against Aston Villa
Aston Villa were good value for taking the lead in the 32nd minute via Morgan Rogers, thanks to Tottenham's uncertainty from defending set-pieces. Spurs were flat in the first half, failing to test goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez much.
A different Spurs side came in the second half and blew Villa out of the waters. Club-record signing Dominic Solanke made a telling difference. it was not only about goals but the Englishman pressed from the front, harried and hassled defenders, linked play and held the ball up very well. After Brennan Johnson equalised, the 27-year-old gave Spurs breathing space by notching the second and third goals.
Big Ange's Tottenham will have a better chance of finishing in the top four if Solanke is fit and scoring.
#Clock ticking rapidly for Julen Lopetegui
It is growing hard to ignore the numbers surrounding West Ham United. Julen Lopetegui's side have won three of their opening ten games and sit 14th in the table.
The Hammers were a goal down against Nottingham Forest, before Edson Alvarez's madness at the brink of half time saw them go a man down as well. The second half was all about Forest as the hosts gave no chance for West Ham to come back into the game.
Lopetegui, who replaced David Moyes at the helm and was backed wholeheartedly by the West Ham board in the summer, is running out of time to turn things around. Sections of supporters want the Spaniard gone already and failure to beat 16th-ranked Everton on Saturday will almost certainly spell the end.
#Chris Wood unstoppable for Forest
Despite a points deduction, Nottingham Forest narrowly beat the jaws of relegation in May under Nuno Espirito Santo. Six months later, the Tricky Trees find themselves third in the table thanks to remarkable work done by Nuno and his coaching staff.
Chris Wood's brace against Burnley on the final day of last season guaranteed Forest top-flight status, now he is being counted among the early contenders in the race for the Golden Boot. The Kiwi was once again on the scoresheet as Forest blew away West Ham 3-0 on Saturday, netting his eighth goal of the season.
What many thought would be another season fighting for survival could now be an unlikely charge for a European spot for Nuno and Co.
The post Five Takeaways From Premier League Matchweek 10 appeared first on Mad About EPL.
