Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend | OneFootball

Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend, featuring Arsenal’s open-play issues and the elephant in the room of Manchester City’s rebuild.

Do Arsenal have open-play issues?

Consecutive draws leave Arsenal off the pace in the Premier League title race, with the Gunners frustrated at home to Everton this weekend. Much has been made of Arsenal’s set-piece threat and their formidable record from dead-balls has even seen set-piece coach Nicolas Jover celebrated with a mural.

Arsenal, however, are not firing on all cylinders from open play. The North Londoners have not scored from open play in three league games and the failure to sign a clinical centre-forward in the summer could come back to haunt them. Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, the club’s leading scorers, have just five goals each.

Fulham face fight to keep hold of Robinson

As the winter window prepares to open, Fulham will face a fight to hold on to Antonee Robinson. The American won the club’s Player of the Season accolade in 2023/24 and has started the new season in even better form. He recorded two assists in the 2-2 draw at Liverpool this weekend to make it six for the season – the most of any defender. Only Buikayo Saka and Mohamed Salah have set up more goals than the left-back, who leads the division for crosses into the penalty box and ranks third for tackles won.

One of the most well-rounded full-backs in the league, the Fulham flyer could find himself on the shortlist of wealthier clubs. Manchester United and Liverpool have been linked and transfer talk around the 27-year-old is sure to ramp up next month.

Forest business deserves its flowers

Nottingham Forest’s spending extravaganza after promotion to the Premier League made headlines as 21 new players arrived at the City Ground during the summer of 2022. After consolidation over the last two seasons, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has taken a more considered approach of late.

Their summer business included the arrivals of Nikola Milenkovic and Elliot Anderson for a combined net outlay of around £28m. At the weekend, the duo starred as Forest climbed into the Premier League’s top four. Milenkovic powered home a header for the equaliser against Aston Villa before Anderson teed up the winner for Anthony Elanga.

The latter was arguably the best player on the pitch as Forest scored two late goals to turn defeat into victory. It’s been scattergun and chaos at times in past transfer windows, but Forest’s sensible summer signings have the Tricky Trees dreaming of Europe.

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Manchester City need verdict on Premier League charges

Pep Guardiola admitted at full-time that Manchester City’s slump is getting worse and worse. A late collapse in the Manchester Derby extended their torrid run to one win in 11 games and talk has now turned to an imminent rebuild at the Etihad.

Recent financial accounts show there is huge room for investment but the elephant in the room remains the club’s charges for alleged historic breaches of financial rules. A hearing into the 115 charges against the Premier League champions has taken place and an independent commission is now expected to arrive at and publicise a verdict next year. For City, clarity on that situation – regardless of the outcome – is imperative.

Planning a rebuild with uncertainty over their future is an almost impossible task, with prospective targets sure to approach negotiations with caution given the potential implications of a guilty verdict.

Postecoglou earns badly needed ‘Principles Derby’ win

Southampton were perhaps the perfect opponent for Spurs to bounce back this weekend. The North Londoners were a goal up inside 37 seconds and five to the good at half-time, as Ange Postecoglou’s men emphatically answered their critics at St Mary’s.

The clash had been dubbed the ‘Principles Derby’ with Postecoglou and Southampton counterpart Russell Martin unrelenting in their beliefs.

Martin fell on his sword after this damaging defeat, sacked by Southampton, and Postecoglou will want to ensure that he is not next. The fluctuations in Tottenham’s performances need addressing but this can be a building block. A Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United in the week can ignite their season.

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