1<\/p>\n
Arsenal can make title statement at Villa<\/p>\n
Arsenal\u2019s recent memories of Aston Villa are of awkward opponents. Mikel Arteta\u2019s side squandered a two-goal lead at the Emirates Stadium when the teams last met, in January<\/a>, Arsenal dropping two points, their title charge dented. With such little margin for error, it was the kind of day that boosted Liverpool and crystallised the sense that the Gunners would come up short. Villa also defeat Arsenal in 2023-24, abruptly halting Arteta\u2019s six-game winning streak. Now Arsenal are in a different position, at the summit with a five-point lead \u2013 and six clear of Unai Emery\u2019s team. Victory at Villa Park on Saturday, against a side that have lost only once in the league since August, would offer another significant indication that this could be the season Arsenal take the crown. Ben Fisher<\/p>\n Ollie Watkins earned a point for Aston Villa at the Emirates in January as the visitors stalled Arsenal\u2019s title tilt. Photograph: Hannah McKay\/Reuters<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n \u00dcnal can freshen up Bournemouth\u2019s attack<\/p>\n Bournemouth have looked tired recently and Tuesday night\u2019s loss to Everton<\/a> meant they have collected one point from their past five games. Andoni Iraola did his best to freshen his side up by leaving Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier out of the starting lineup for that match but it was seemingly detrimental. Junior Kroupi has failed to score in the past five matches, while Evanilson has only one goal all season. It might be time to re-energise the attack by bringing Enes \u00dcnal in for a first start in almost a year, having missed a long period with a second cruciate ligament injury of his career. The former Manchester City youngster scored a minute after coming on in the 2-2 draw with West Ham last month and the only way he will rediscover his form is by getting into a rhythm, which requires minutes. Saturday against Chelsea could be ideal, even if Iraola deems him only fit enough for the first 45, allowing him to unleash Kroupi or Evanilson after the break. Will Unwin<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Dyche deserves credit on Everton return<\/p>\n The end for Sean Dyche at Everton came with his team one point above the relegation zone<\/a> after defeats to Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth extended a dismal run to one win in 11 games. He departed only in January but it already feels much longer. Everton\u2019s first Premier League win at Bournemouth<\/a> in midweek was a necessary response to the home mauling by Newcastle and another demonstration of the club\u2019s improvement under David Moyes. The Friedkin Group were clearly correct to part company with Dyche but, when he faces his former club for the first time with in-form Forest, there surely will be appreciation for his considerable achievement of keeping Everton afloat before things turned sour. As Everton manager Dyche had to deal with two points deductions for financial breaches that preceded his reign, an absentee owner and board<\/a>, takeover distractions, a negative net spend on transfers and reduced wage bill \u2013 plus the threat of administration had the club been relegated on his watch in 2023 and 2024. When he sets foot inside a completed Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time on Saturday, Dyche\u2019s role in enabling Everton to enjoy an ambitious new era must be recognised. Andy Hunter<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Can City tighten up against Sunderland?<\/p>\n Manchester City cannot stop scoring \u2013 32 league goals so far this season \u2013 and in Tuesday\u2019s helter-skelter 5-4 victory at Fulham<\/a> could barely stop conceding. Yet while Pep Guardiola found it an unenjoyable watch<\/a>, their overall defensive record of 16 conceded is broadly fine. While the manager might wish the number let in to be nearer to Arsenal\u2019s seven, Aston Villa, who are third, have shipped 14, Chelsea (fourth) 15, and Crystal Palace (fifth) 11. Sunderland arrive having been breached only 14 times and Wednesday\u2019s 1-1 draw with Liverpool underlined why they have the same points total (23) as Palace. A good test, then, for each protagonist awaits on Saturday. Jamie Jackson<\/p>\n Samuel Chukwueze\u2019s quickfire double for Fulham exposed Manchester City\u2019s defensive frailties. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The Guardian<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Van de Ven will be needed to tame Thiago<\/p>\n Micky van de Van was left out for the 2-2 draw at Newcastle<\/a> on Tuesday with Thomas Frank eager to manage his workload over a hectic period for Tottenham. The head coach\u2019s thinking may have centred around the prospect of facing Igor Thiago at the weekend. Few centre-backs are quicker in world football and the Dutchman will need all his pace and physicality to deal with the Brazilian, who already has 11 league goals this season, second only to Erling Haaland in the Premier League scoring charts<\/a>. With Slavia Prague coming up on Tuesday, 90 minutes for Van de Ven against Brentford could be more important to Tottenham thana Champions League match they will be favourites to win. Thiago was also only a substitute in midweek, coming on for the final half-hour against Arsenal, with Keith Andrews possibly thinking he could play a significant role in the weekend\u2019s more winnable clash. WU<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Wissa to herald Newcastle tactical rejig?<\/p>\n Given that Eddie Howe is a former Burnley manager and his Turf Moor counterpart, Scott Parker, is a one-time Newcastle midfielder, old memories will certainly be revived when the teams meet at St James\u2019 Park. Howe hopes to finally welcome a new face with his \u00a355m summer signing from Brentford, Yoane Wissa, believed to be aiming for a seat on the home bench Wissa has finally recovered from the knee injury sustained on international duty with DR Congo in September that has delayed his Newcastle debut. He has not been included in the Congolese squad for next month\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations, leaving him free to help revive Newcastle\u2019s inconsistent Premier League<\/a> campaign. Might his arrival herald a change of formation, with Nick Woltemade dropping back from a No 9 to a No 10 role? If Parker\u2019s Burnley strugglers could do without facing Wissa, they will also doubtless be hoping that Sandro Tonali fails to recover from injury in time to anchor the home midfield. Louise Taylor<\/p>\n More than three months after his arrival, Yoane Wissa could finally make his Newcastle debut on Saturday. Photograph: Serena Taylor\/Newcastle United\/Getty Images<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Should Slot start both Isak and Ekitike?<\/p>\n After Sunday\u2019s win over West Ham, Liverpool endured another difficult 90 minutes against Sunderland<\/a> in midweek. Mohamed Salah was brought on at half-time in an attempt to bring inspiration to a struggling side, but did not change much about the performance. Arne Slot is doing his best to turn the situation around but finding the answers is not straightforward. Opponents are losing the fear of facing the Premier League champions and Leeds\u2019 confidence will be boosted after seeing off Chelsea<\/a> on Wednesday, with Elland Road sensing blood when Liverpool visit. Slot might want to give Daniel Farke something to think about, and an intriguing proposal would be to start Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in the team; the Frenchman can play off one of the wings, with the ability to cut in and provide greater support for the Swedish striker, offering a little surprise for Leeds\u2019s defence in the process. WU<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n Brighton must be more ruthless<\/p>\n For half an hour of Brighton\u2019s home game against Aston Villa, it seemed like everything had clicked for Fabian H\u00fcrzeler. Unai Emery\u2019s side had no answer to their hosts\u2019 intensity as Brighton took charge thanks to two slightly fortunate goals. But Villa showed their experience to find a way back as Brighton suffered a first home defeat<\/a> in the Premier League since losing to the same opponents in April. H\u00fcrzeler acknowledgedhis team will have to be much more ruthless \u2013 starting with struggling West Ham\u2019s visit to the Amex on Sunday \u2013 if they are to mount a serious challenge to qualify for Europe next season. \u201cA game takes 90 minutes and that\u2019s what we have to do better. Thirty minutes is not enough,\u201d H\u00fcrzeler said. \u201cWe can fight these kind of battles but it\u2019s about doing the small margins right.\u201d West Ham\u2019s late point at Old Trafford on Thursday showed they can punish teams who do not finish them off. Ed Aarons<\/p>\n Fabian H\u00fcrzeler was left frustrated by Brighton\u2019s collapse against Aston Villa. Photograph: Stephen Flynn\/ProSports\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Chukwueze deserves a Fulham start<\/p>\n Fulham did not enjoy hosting Crystal Palace last season. Palace won 2-0 at Craven Cottage in the league and returned a month later to claim a 3-0 victory<\/a> in a one-sided FA Cup quarter-final. Fulham should be full of optimism for their latest meeting, though, after almost pulling off a comeback for the ages against Manchester City on Tuesday. They are playing well at home and fans will be hoping that Marco Silva starts Samuel Chukwueze. The Nigeria winger has made telling impacts from the bench in both of Fulham\u2019s past two home games. He came on to create the winner against Sunderland<\/a> with a brilliant cross and was influential after his introduction at half-time against City, scoring twice. Silva should consider finding space for Chukwueze in his starting XI. Jacob Steinberg<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Cunha a painful sight for toothless Wolves<\/p>\n This time last season Southampton were haemorrhaging goals, shipping five against Chelsea and Tottenham in consecutive weeks. Wolves have the worst defence in the division this campaign \u2013 conceding 29 so far \u2013 but since Rob Edwards took charge they have made things tougher for opponents, even if all three matches have ended in defeat. If Leeds back up their victory over Chelsea with a win over Liverpool on Saturday, Wolves could be 15 points from safety by the time Manchester United come to town on Monday, when Matheus Cunha could face his former club for the first time. Cunha had his flaws, moments of ill-discipline or petulance chequering his Molineux story, but he troubled opposition defences in a way that Wolves have failed to do so this season, including United when he scored in this fixture last season<\/a>. Wolves have been timid opponents, scoring just seven goals in 14 games; that must change against United if they are to avoid further ignominy. BF<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"1 Arsenal can make title statement at Villa Arsenal\u2019s recent memories of Aston Villa are of awkward opponents.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":328354,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[563],"tags":[64,63,596,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-328353","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=328353"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328353\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/328354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=328353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=328353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=328353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}