The weekend fixtures in Matchweek 7 gives us a lot to talk about with the Premier League unrelenting in its quota of intrigue and unpredictability.
Without further ado lets take a look at the talking points over the course of the weekend action.
3 Major Talking Points From Premier League Matchweek 7
ALTERNATE ROUTE TO SUCCESS FOR MANCHESTER CITY?
It is no secret an injury-hit Manchester City have failed to be as exuberant this season as we have come to expect of them. Without a striker for most part of the current season, Pep has had to use makeshift options as he tries to attain a level of consistency in his team’s results.
But with Aguero and Jesus finding it difficult to string together appearances and the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva struggling to get their creative juices flowing, City are increasingly having to rely on their backline as their USP.
Kyle Walker has been terrific while Joao Cancelo has looked comfortable while also being their most creative player at left-back. But what would please the manager and the fans most is the manner in which Ruben Dias has settled into this team. His partnership with Aymeric Laporte is looking promising and City are looking the most compact and defensively sound since Vincent Kompany’s departure.
With the usual avalanche of goals nowhere in sight as of yet, their formidable defence could offer the attackers some breathing space and the time to get their act together as the season progresses.
SHEFFIELD UNITED- ONE SEASON WONDER?
Chris Wilder was awash with praises and compliments throughout last season as he oversaw a stupendous return to the top-flight for Sheffield United. The Blades went toe to toe with the big guns and carved out a justifiable place for themselves in the Top 10, narrowly missing out on European football.
But there has been a seismic shift in the plotline this season. Sheffield brought in a couple of new names in hope of keeping the squad fresh but it has simply not clicked for Wilder this season. A single point from seven games in the Premier League sees them firmly entrenched in the relegation zone. And we are already seeing cracks appear in the squad dynamics with John Lundstram engaged in wage dispute after a single impressive term in the top flight.
Chris Wilder has his task cut out and will hope for a drastic turnaround in his team’s fortunes after the November international break.
A MORE MATURE ATTEMPT AT SUCCESS BY ARSENAL
Arsene Wenger’s teams generally played with abundant flair and panache. But his best sides always had a dominating presence in the middle of the pitch and leaders at the back forming a solid base from which the more creative talent could flourish.
This particular element was missing from his Arsenal team in his twilight years at the club and is an issue which the board has failed to address properly since. Managers succeeding him have failed to imprint their own style upon the team which in its period of transition lacked a calm and sorted presence as the head. Most of the approaches to steady the ship failed which made the club go back to the basics with the appointment of the young Mikel Arteta.
Impressive under Pep Guardiola and considered to be hugely influential in making sure Pep’s ideas resonated with the Manchester City squad, Mikel made an excellent impression in his interview with the Arsenal board thus landing the high pressure but lucrative job.
His immediate stats might not project an outright success with the former Everton midfielder mirroring Unai Emery’s start at the club to a large extent, but Arsenal have not looked this solid and assured in a long time.
A compact structure aided with minute detailed instructions for all the players to follow to the tee, Arteta has made sure Arsenal waste no time in indulging in smash and grabs and the bi-monthly collapse in the Premier League, as aptly displayed in their first win at Old Trafford since 2006.
The football is less exciting and the goals column will not be needing much attention, but this is a step which was needed for the Gunners to regain their identity in the long run.