No let-up for Solskjær’s side at Arsenal, a test of Wolves’ progress at Chelsea and plenty of spark in Selhurst’s ‘derby’Following their midweek heroics at the Parc des Princes, Manchester United’s players must “go again” for an away trip to Arsenal on Sunday, the outcome of which could have a huge bearing on either or both sides’ involvement in next season’s Champions League. For all Arsenal’s flakiness, looking at both sides’ run-ins following this encounter, it is hardly an exaggeration to say this is a “must win” game for United. Their final eight games include six against top-half-of-the-table sides , including Manchester City and Chelsea. After playing United, Arsenal face only two teams currently in the top 10, with seventh-placed...
Mkhitaryan makes a timely return to form, Bournemouth set unwanted record and Wolves should snap up JiménezHow do you deal with Manchester City? Take them on? Or get 11 players behind the ball and hang on for grim life. It was certainly a curious game at Bournemouth on Saturday – if you can call it a game. Eddie Howe’s side lost narrowly, 1-0, but it is hard to think of a more misleading scoreline. Bournemouth became the first club since Opta has been gathering data to fail to register a shot on or off target in a Premier League match. The home team never even won a corner. Kyle Walker, Manchester City’s right‑back, completed more passes than the entire Bournemouth...
By any reasonable measure Mauricio Pochettino’s side proved themselves up to the task by clawing back an ugly point from an Arsenal side playing more than ever in Unai Emery’s imageIt’s happened again, it’s happened again. Oh, Tottenham Hotspur. The harvesting of enough points to guarantee another season of Champions League football ahead of less frugal rivals: it’s happening again.On a mild north London afternoon Tottenham scragged their way to a bitty 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Wembley. For Spurs it felt like something more significant, an ugly point gained from behind, while playing for much of the afternoon with a ragged, brittle, angsty edge. Related: Aubameyang fluffs late Arsenal penalty to hand Spurs controversial draw Related: Romelu Lukaku strikes...
Stamford Bridge No 2 steps out for a rare appearance in a comfortable win for Maurizio Sarri’s improving teamYou can’t even, you can’t even, you can’t even make a sub. It took half an hour from kick-off for the Tottenham fans to find the best joke to date about Chelsea’s latest psychodrama on the theme of authority and control.And yet by the end that wheel had turned completely. It was instead the Chelsea fans who cheered their team and taunted the away support, after a performance of fire and purpose by a team that is constantly in the process of dying and resurrecting itself, west London’s own zombie FC. Related: Pedro strike and Trippier howler lift Sarri and give Chelsea...
Luke Shaw played a blinder but can still improve, Eden Hazard remains central to Chelsea and Deulofeu is coming of ageLuke Shaw’s display at Old Trafford was his best for Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, according to the interim manager. To see Mohamed Salah replaced on 79 minutes was all the evidence required. Solskjær said: “[When] they take Mohamed Salah off you know Luke Shaw has played a good game.” The left-back was a blur of defensive obstinacy. Solskjær said Salah’s threat meant Shaw could not attack as much as desired and this is understandable given the forward’s quality. But the prevailing caveat regarding Shaw’s contribution in most games is that he does not create enough when roving forward....