Analysis

Arsenal look title-race ready but Man City look ordinary - Premier League hits and misses

Plus: Alexander Isak fired a hat-trick as Newcastle made it back-to-back 4-0 league wins with a comfortable victory at Ipswich, who have yet to win at Portman Road this season; Mohammed Kudus headed a second-half equaliser to earn West Ham a point in a 1-1 home draw against Brighton

Saturday 21 December 2024 20:42, UK

Arsenal look title-race ready

In what felt like a big day in the title race, Arsenal showed their mettle. So do they have what it takes to be right in the mix come May?

Firstly, they have a very good goalkeeper. David Raya showcased why he is a reliable No 1 between the sticks with five big saves and stopping 1.71 worth of expected goals.

Reason two: they are defensively astute. William Saliba and Gabriel did not have the best game at Selhurst Park but if a 5-1 defeat is an off day, it is a positive sign.

They also have the ability to play without Bukayo Saka, who limped off injured in the first half, and still score five goals. A few seasons ago they would have struggled with losing their best player. Saturday showed they have layers in this team. There have been enough positive performances recently to show they are not completely reliant on set-pieces, another key asset in their locker.

There is flexibility too. Kai Havertz operated efficiently as a midfielder, Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori could afford to be rested, while Gabriel Martinelli deputised well for Saka down the right. Opponents will be kept guessing.

In fact, Arsenal have shown they can cope with multiple injuries and still keep up. Their left-hand side of defence has been decimated to the point where Myles Lewis-Skelly has emerged as a reliable option. Suspensions and injuries have been regular but Arsenal are still in the race.

It is what separates them from Manchester City, where injuries have made an impact. All these factors could separate them and the rest come May.
Sam Blitz

Questions of Man City's mentality

Manchester City look ordinary - that feels like Pep Guardiola's biggest problem at the moment. A lot has been made of the impact Rodri's absence has had and rightly so. But now it feels much deeper-seated than a lack-of-personnel issue.

Erling Haaland spoke of a team devoid of confidence after the game and how that proves the once-indomitable City's humanity.

But when you point towards the fact that this is a team of winners, the current Premier League champions that have proved their salt time and time again, further questions are raised as to why their seasoned professionals haven't banded together to turn a tide of underwhelming football and disappointing results.

Kyle Walker, a stalwart under Guardiola, was introduced at half-time but to no avail. He was a shell of the shouty right-back that we've grown accustomed to down the years. Kevin De Bruyne was an unused substitute when his side's centre-forward was struggling to get involved in play. Ilkay Gundogan, City's 'Mr Reliable' of the past, unable to keep up with play since his return to Manchester.

Guardiola can argue that his team have what it takes to turn things around but at present, defeats in their last 12 games reflect not only his side's waning powers but their wearied mentality.
William Bitibiri

Don't forget about Murphy

Alexander Isak's first Premier League hat-trick will rightly take the headlines after Newcastle's drubbing of Ipswich but do not let that distract you from yet another stunning performance from Jacob Murphy.

The story of his last season was one of frustration, much like the rest of his team-mates. Often appearing in all the right places, just lacking the end product to finish off chances. That has all changed over the past week.

Murphy's goal against Ipswich was his third in two Premier League games. It had taken him 37 appearances before this run to match that tally.

Against Ipswich his contribution was much greater than just his goal, though. He was involved in Isak's first and set up the striker's third with a contender for assist of the season.

Having weaved through a number of Ipswich defenders inside the box, he backheeled it to Isak, hitting the ball into the ground to bounce it perfectly into his team-mate's path.

Newcastle are finding their best form of the season and Murphy has been key part of their resurgence.
Zinny Boswell

Time to start asking if Forest are the real deal

With almost half a season gone and Nottingham Forest refusing to budge from the top four, it's time to start asking how far they can actually go.

Nuno Espirito Santo says he doesn't look at the table but his selection was one of a manager with confidence in his team to make the most of their attacking talent and end Brentford's unbeaten home run - as they duly did.

Three defeats from four in late autumn would have halted many previous early pace-setters but Forest have bounced back with three wins from three - especially impressive coming at Old Trafford, the Gtech and at home to Aston Villa.

The spine of this Forest team is strong and Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo are as solid a defensive partnership as you will find across the Premier League. Up front, Chris Wood could easily end up on 15 goals or more.

A big question mark lies with where else goals will come from, given 43 per cent have come from the big front man so far.

But a bigger one is whether the likes of Manchester City, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester United will find form to knock Forest off their European perch or whether they can go on to recreate some flashbacks of the Brian Clough era this season.

Good teams build from the back and having done that, if Nuno can exploit the pace and quality of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Anthony Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White behind Wood more often - the trio have started less than half of Forest's games so far - there is no reason a European spot is not achievable.
Ron Walker

Kudus key to West Ham revival

West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui was purring post match about Mohammed Kudus' electric display in the draw with Brighton, secured thanks to the Ghana international's well-taken header, which means he has now either scored (two) or assisted (one) a goal in each of his last three Premier League appearances at the London Stadium.

Not surprisingly, Lopetegui was more keen to highlight Kudus' "improving" defensive contributions to his side's hard-earned point, although it was in attack where he really caught the eye, with him and Jarrod Bowen on the opposite flank the Hammers' most dangerous outlets going forward throughout the afternoon.

The duo combined for the hosts' equaliser and are surely key to any hopes Lopetegui may have of continuing West Ham's recent mini revival - and maybe even competing for a European place in the second half of the season.
Rich Morgan

Around Sky

Get Sky Sports

Upgrade to Sky Sports

****DO NOT USE - FOR NOW TV ONLY****

Not got Sky? Get instant to Sky Sports with NOW