Ahead of a busy Wednesday of action in the Premier League, W2W4 looks at the main storylines to keep an eye on.
Can Arsenal make use of Ramsey while he’s still around?
If Sunday’s win over Tottenham convinced a few doubters that this Arsenal team now look like the real deal, a victory at Old Trafford would erase another psychological block left over from the dregs of the Arsene Wenger era. The Gunners haven’t beaten United at their home in the league since 2006, unable to defeat their old enemy even in the very darkest days of their post-Ferguson funk.
Their best chance of doing that might be to make full use of a player who won’t be around for too much longer. Unai Emery confirmed at the weekend that the decision not to offer Aaron Ramsey a new contract is final, and the Welshman will be leaving, either in January or next summer. This was shortly after Ramsey proved his worth, changing the game after coming off the bench against Spurs, setting up two goals and generally being the sort of dynamic presence that fits with this new Arsenal.
As United have shown a few times this season, they can crumble if a team goes at them, which combined with their defensive problems (Jose Mourinho picked Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic at the back in the 2-2 draw with Southampton) points to an aggressive approach being the way to go.
Ramsey’s rise to prominence coincides with the brilliant form of Arsenal’s two strikers, with Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang notching up three more goals at the weekend. So how about an ambitious forward line of those two, with Ramsey just behind them? It would be a bold move, but the way things are going under Emery, he seems bold enough to make it.
Aaron Ramsey was pivotal in Arsenal’s victory over Tottenham.
Should Spurs be worried about Lloris?
It’s been nearly seven years now that Tottenham, for all the myriad problems they’ve encountered, knew they could at least rely on their goalkeeper. Hugo Lloris was the comfort blanket they needed, so reliable that they had one less thing to worry about, but France’s World Cup-winning captain has now become something of a concern.
Just this season his mistakes have cost them in the Champions League and at home: games against Barcelona, Crystal Palace, PSV and Cardiff spring instantly to mind as ones where he has been erratic.
Against Arsenal too, Lloris’s confused decision-making showed itself, this time in a more subtle way. His limp attempts at saving their second and third goals was not the only problem with Tottenham’s performance against their rivals, but the thought that their defenders can no longer entirely rely on the man behind them is a significant concern for coach Mauricio Pochettino, at a time when Spurs need all the help they can get to keep pace with those around them.
Liverpool could do with a convincing performance
Being more mature, winning while playing badly, enjoying a little luck: call Liverpool’s start to the season what you will, it’s certainly impressive that they’ve managed to keep on Manchester City’s coattails, as Pep Guardiola’s side strides imperiously through the Premier League season.
At some point, though, it would be nice to see them truly blow an opponent away, rather than grinding out the points. Jurgen Klopp wants to move away from being irresistible one minute then fragile the next, which is entirely understandable. But at this stage they have managed to eke out points while appearing slightly unconvincing.
What better team than Burnley to reverse that? Sean Dyche’s men are only a point off the bottom having lost five of their last six, and are shipping goals at a prodigious rate. Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Co. will rarely have a juicier opportunity.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek continues to be among the goals for Chelsea.
Will Loftus-Cheek get his chance?
Perhaps we focus too much on Ruben Loftus-Cheek because he’s an increasingly rare Englishman in the Premier League, but it is difficult to see what else the midfielder can do to get a regular run-out for Chelsea.
His strike against Fulham was his fifth goal in his last six appearances, and while three of those were against BATE Borisov in the Europa League, he’s been doing exactly what a fringe player should do: impressing on the rare occasions when he is picked.
Loftus-Cheek will reportedly make a decision about his immediate future soon, and may seek another loan away from Stamford Bridge in January, but that might depend on mow many more chances Maurizio Sarri gives him. He deserves more, certainly.
Has the Wolves bubble burst?
It must have been easy for those around Wolves — the players, the fans, the hot dog sellers — to get a little carried away with the hype surrounding them in the opening weeks of the season. Talk that Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were the best team to ever get promoted to the Premier League was giddy but not without basis, given how they played in those first couple of months.
Things have changed. They’ve lost five of the last six, all of a sudden their defence looks shaky and therefore their toothless attack (just 13 goals in 14 games) is further exposed. Friday’s defeat against Cardiff must have set the alarm bells ringing louder, and while they have enough of a gap between themselves and the bottom for now, they need some results soon.
For Chelsea’s visit on Wednesday, Nuno must find some of the confidence that came with that early run. If they can get that, and attack their visitors, they might still have a chance. But if they play as meekly has they have been, their slip down the table will continue.
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