UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Late Night Champions League Football is Back!

 

A Managers' great endeavour, a footballer's wet dream and a fan's bragging rights. The Champions League trophy is up for contention once again.

It's common for us writers, bloggers and to some, naysayers to blabber on and on about how great fixtures never live up to the hype.

In truth, some never do, mainly due to all the talk, predictive chitchat and eventual watering down done in an attempt to create content (a conversation) around the game. All of which I am guilty of.

Yes, this is me repenting all my sins in an attempt to seem vulnerable and relatable but predominantly in the hope that today's fixtures are actually damn amazing.

Why am is so emotionally attached to today's fixtures?

Well, seeing that these games are set squarely on a night of love  & romantic passion. The expectation is that these matches will be so damn entertaining that I will somehow thank the gods for my nonexistent romantic life and eventually accept football as my one and only, true love.

Who am I kidding? Of course, it is.

Let's talk ball now!

 Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich

PSG Vs Bayern Munich is what we can conclusively define as a blockbuster game.  Yes, It is the major fixture within today's two games

Why? You ask.

Well, I am sure it has something to do with a trio of footballing superstars brought together with the sole purpose of winning The Champions League trophy, as well as the great arenas and us, the millions of fans chanting for our teams on the sidelines with our hearts in our mouths and smiles on our faces. 

This fixture is key and may act as a beacon as to whether the CL trophy will be headed to Paris for the very first time or to Germany for the 7th time.

Let's take a minute to remember how this fixture came to be

PSG would have hoped to have faced a slightly easier opponent in the last 16, but despite finishing level on 14 points with Benfica, they had to settle for second place in the group, as they lost out to the Portuguese giants on away goals scored.

On the other hand, The Bavarian giants made light work of a tricky group - which included Barcelona and Inter Milan - as they progressed to the knockout rounds without dropping a single point, and they now have the chance to win their first seven games of a Champions League campaign for the second time, after previously doing so in the 2019-20 season.

What has been the recent Run of Form by both Sides?

Bayern experienced something of a mini-crisis by their high standards when they returned from the winter break with three consecutive 1-1 draws, but a sense of normality has been restored in Bavaria in recent weeks.

Julian Nagelsmann's free-scoring side racked up four goals in victories over Mainz and Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal and Bundesliga respectively, before they warmed up for their midweek Champions League game with a comfortable 3-0 win over Bochum at the weekend thanks to goals from Thomas Muller, Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry.

 Christophe Galtier's side were aiming to return to winning ways when they travelled to the principality to face Monaco on Saturday, but as it transpired, PSG returned to the capital empty-handed following a dismal 3-1 defeat with all four goals arriving in the first half.

The Parisians still boast a healthy five-point lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table, but losing two straight games is far from an ideal way to prepare for a European meeting with Bayern Munich - a side that they lost to in the 2019-20 Champions League final.

What can we expect?

Both teams are endowed with immense attacking potential and a strong winning culture within their respective leagues. It will be a pacy affair thanks to the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Achraf Hakimi & Alphonso Davies

Both sides will fancy their chances in this game, but the stakes are sky high, and so are the pay cheques handed out to these players to perform tonight.

This fixture and the return of the UCL after 104 days is the real love story of Valentine's Day. 

AC Milan vs. Tottenham Hotspur

 AC Milan are set to play host to Tottenham Hotspur for the first leg of their last-16 tie. Both teams have not been at their best within their respective leagues.

What has been the recent Run of Form by both Sides?

Milan returned to winning ways with a narrow victory over Torino on Friday, while the visitors need to pick themselves up after being thrashed 4-1 by Leicester City at the weekend.

An unconvincing but precious victory helps alleviate some of the pressure that had been building on Stefano Pioli, but with his side 18 points adrift of league leaders Napoli and out of the domestic cup, the Milan boss needs a positive performance from his side in the Champions League.

Tottenham have been on life support too. After recovering from gallbladder surgery, Antonio Conte's return to the touchline looked set to coincide with a positive result when Rodrigo Bentancur gave Tottenham the lead in Saturday's away encounter against Leicester, but it turned out to be a forgettable afternoon for the North London club.

Nampalys Mendy, James Maddison, Kelechi Iheanacho and Harvey Barnes all got on the scoresheet to condemn Spurs to a heavy 4-1 defeat, which makes their 1-0 victory over Premier League champions Manchester City feel like a distant memory.

What can we expect?

Both teams will approach the game with extreme caution. However, there will be a sense of  renewed optimism as the players  look to put up a fight for the sake of their fans and their deflated spirits

Conte is charged with lifting his players for a meeting with an AC Milan side, who have been far from their best in 2023. This game might shock us with the raw passion and or nothing all-or-nothing spirit nothing spirit players will put forward

 Expect a thriller in Milan.

2022/23 Premier League January transfer Window: Top 10 Exciting signings

This is without a shadow of doubt the greatest January transfer window in the history of Premier League Football. The 2023 January transfer window opened on 1 January and closed at 23:00 GMT on 31 January.  Premier League clubs spent a record  €824,807,000, smashing the previous record of  €486,456,794.41 set in the 2018 January transfer window.

For comparative context, La Liga clubs have spent a total of €20m in the January transfer window. 😅

Here are the top 10 clubs with the most spent in the January transfer window:

1️⃣ Chelsea: €363.6m

2️⃣ Southampton: €63.25m

3️⃣ Arsenal: €60.3m

4️⃣ Bournemouth: €56.2m

5️⃣ Newcastle: €49.35m

6️⃣ Liverpool: €42m

7️⃣ Leeds: €41.2m

8️⃣ Marseille: €40m

9️⃣ Wolves: €38.51m

🔟 Leicester: €31m

Everton F.C. ends the January Transfer Window being the only club in the Premier League not to make a signing.

On this list, we rank the top 10 most exciting prospects. Therefore, this list will be heavily skewed toward attacking talent only because forward players have a greater excitement potency.

This is not in an attempt to downplay the potential of the defensive accusations made within this window. We are yet to see these players perform within the league. Therefore, a more comprehensive piece on the best PL players signed in the 2023 January transfer window is within the pipeline.

Here are the top 10 most exciting🌡 Premier League transfers in the January window. The transfer fees have all been sourced from transfermarkt.com for consistency purposes.  

10. Marcel Sabitzer (Bayern Munich ➡️ Manchester United) (Loan)  

Manchester United signed Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich until the end of the season with no buy option. 

The Bayern Munich midfielder, 28, joined the Red Devils on a deal until the end of the season on the deadline day of the January transfer window. He did not have to wait long to make his debut for his new club, coming off the bench in the 81st minute to help United see out a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

Sabitzer brought a calming presence to a fixture which had grown increasingly frantic following Casemiro's red card in the 70th minute. Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford had put United two goals up but Jeffrey Schlupp pulled one back for the Eagles after the Brazilian's dismissal to set up a nervy finish.

9. Anthony Gordon (Everton F.C. ➡️ Newcastle F.C.) Fee: €45.60m

Newcastle unveiled 21-year-old Anthony Gordon from Everton in a deal worth around $55M. 

Most shots on target in the Premier League this season:

◎ 12 - Erling Haaland

◎ 12 - Aleksandr Mitrović

◉ 12 - Anthony Gordon

 Gordon is a left winger on the rise, electric on and off the ball, and not afraid to lunge a tackle in. Anthony Gordon has been yellow-carded as many times as he has contributed to goals in his Premier League career (10). Maybe lay off the tackles Gordon.

He is a consistent performer, a perfect fit for this up-and-rising Newcastle F.C. side.

8. Arnaut Danjuma  (Villarreal CF  ➡️ Tottenham F.C.) Loan Fee: €3.00m

Spurs made a late move to hijack Everton’s deal for Arnaut Danjuma from Villarreal. The LillyWhites signed Arnaut Danjuma on loan from Villarreal for the rest of the 2022/23 season. A Loan move without any mandatory clauses.

Danjuma has been impressive for Villareal in the UCL:

Arnaut Danjuma in the league and UCL since 2020/21:

◉ 82 appearances

◉ 29 goals

◉ 10 assists

16 goals with his right foot, and 13 goals with his left.

Arnaut Danjuma scored on his Spurs debut, enabling Spurs to see off Preston F.C. and proceed into the 5th round of the FA Cup. It doesn't get better than that!

7. Dango Ouattara (FC Lorient  ➡️ A.F.C. Bournemouth) Fee: €22.50m

Dango Ouattara vs. all other U21 players in Ligue 1 this season:

◉ Most assists (5)

◉ Most big chances created (6)

◉ Most shots (52)

◉ Most take-ons attempted (61)

◉ Most tackles (41)

◉ Most through balls completed (3)

An exciting talent is set to make his Premier League debut for Bournemouth. 

Dango Ouattara's game by numbers vs Nottingham Forest:

100% of tackles won

49 touches

7 touches in opp. box

6 duels won

5 shots

1 chance created

1 assist

0.29 xG

The first player to assist on their Premier League debut Bournemouth. ⚡️

6. Kamaldeen Sulemana  (Stade Rennais F.C. ➡️ Southampton F.C.) Fee: €25.00m

Ghana's Kamaldeen Sulemana is only 19 years old. He is Southampton's Most Expensive signing in history.  

Most take-ons completed during the 2020/21 Danish Superliga season:

◉ Kamaldeen Sulemana (121)

◎ Tosin Kehinde (61)

Sulemana is a slippery midfielder with a godly left foot. He has an exceptional eye for the assist pass and will find the back of the net with his thunderous leftie if given the chance.

5. João Félix ( Atlético de Madrid ➡️ Chelsea F.C.) Loan fee: €11.00m

 After completing a loan move to Chelsea, João Félix was sent off in his debut Vs Fulham F.C. An unfortunate event following a spirited performance by the Portuguese international.

 João Félix's game by numbers vs Fulham

76% passing accuracy

40 touches

6 duels won

6 shots

4 fouls won

4 shots on target

2 possession won

2 successful dribbles

1 chance created

1 red card

0.77xG

He will now have to serve a three-match ban.

Although this is not the debut the player wanted or expected, there were a lot of positive takeaways and the Chelsea faithful will be looking forward to his return.

4. Cody Gakpo (PSV ➡️ Liverpool F.C.) Fee: €42.00m

Cody Gakpo agreed to a six-year deal with Liverpool early in the January Transfer window. Speaking to Liverpool press after the deal, The Dutchman said he spoke to Virgil van Dijk as soon as the official bid from Liverpool was submitted to PSV. His National Dutch teammate was a vital piece in his recruitment.

However, his time at Liverpool has not been as impressive as his time at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Speaking to the press, this is what the former Liverpool legend had to say about Gakpo's situation:

Michael Owen on Cody Gakpo:

“I feel sorry for him actually because he’s coming into a team that is really inconsistent and drained of all the confidence that we’ve seen in the past.”

3. Mykhailo Mudryk  (FC Shakhtar Donetsk ➡️ Chelsea F.C.) Fee: €70.00m

Mykhailo Mudryk hit a top speed of 36.63 km/h against Liverpool. The fastest speed recorded in the Premier League this season. 

Mykhailo Mudryk's Premier League debut Vs Liverpool by numbers:

35 mins

100% tackle success

14 passes attempted

13 passes completed

7 duels won

4 touches in the opp. box

4 x possession won

3 tackles made

2 take-ons completed

1 foul won

1 shot

No player on the pitch completed more dribbles.

Unfortunately, the forward lasted only 45 minutes on his home debut against Fulham, coming off at half-time for fellow new arrival Noni Madueke.

Pundits and haters alike were quick to get on Mudryk's case, claiming the player is already a flop. However, I believe there is much more to the speedy winger, I would keep an eye out for him if I was you.

2. Enzo Fernández (S.L. Benfica ➡️Chelsea F.C.) PL Record Fee: €121.00m

Chelsea made Enzo Fernández the most expensive signing in Premier League history. The Ex-Benfica man and World Cup winner made his Premier League debut against Fulham F.C. In fact, he cost more than the entire Fulham starting XI combined. 

In his debut, he was comfortable in possession, quick to make the forward pass and defensively alert.

Enzo Fernández's Premier League debut by numbers:

100% aerial duels won

74 passes

10 x possession won

9 duels won

8 passes into the final ⅓

6 tackles made

3 clearances

2 fouls won

1 chance created

1 shot

0 fouls

He made more tackles than any other player on the pitch.

1. Leandro Trossard (Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.  ➡️ Arsenal F.C.) Fee: €24.00m

Arsenal signed Leandro Trossard from Brighton for a total £27m package. Four and a half year deal. 

In his starting debut for The Gunners, Leandro Trossard created more chances (2) than any other player on the pitch in the first half Vs Man City

 Leandro is one of the best-attacking players outside the 'big six', during his three-and-a-half years at Brighton.

Four players have won possession in the final ⅓ 20+ times in the Premier League this season:

◎ 24 - Kevin De Bruyne

◎ 21 - Jack Harrison

◎ 21 - Martin Ødegaard

◉ 20 - Leandro Trossard

Now Arsenal have two of them

His Premier League (3.5 years) experience coupled with his speed & dribbling prowess places him on top of the pile.

The Belgian international is 28 Years Old, a player in his prime, playing for a team yearning for glory and silverware.

Trossard will fit immaculately into the Arsenal ranks and act as the perfect partner and mentor for fellow left-winger Gabriel Martinelli.

22/23 Premier League: Team of the Season (Mid-Season)

 

The  Premier League is the most-watched sports league in the world, broadcast in 212 territories to 643 million homes and a potential TV audience of 4.7 billion people.

If you are one of those 4.7 billion people, you and I both understand the sheer talent and hard work required by the players to perform in this league

As we move past the mid-point of the Premier League season ( Match-day 19 of 38), it's only right to recognize the crème de la crème in the Premier League, players that have risen above the rest in the season so far.  

Here is the Team of the Mid-season

FORMATION: 4-2-3-1

GOALKEEPER

GK: Nick Pope ( Newcastle United F.C.)

Newcastle United have kept the most clean sheets (11) in the Premier League this season and no team has conceded fewer goals (11). Nick Pope has been decently protected by his defenders this season, but he has been alive to the challenge when called to action.

DEFENDERS

R.B: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United F.C.)

No defender has provided more Premier League assists this season than Kieran Trippier (4). Kieran Trippier has played more passes (163) into the final third than any other player in the Premier League this season. Kieran Trippier has played more passes (189) into the opposition box than any other player in the Premier League this season. 

CB: William Saliba (Arsenal F.C.)

William Saliba has won possession more times (70)in the defensive third than any other player in the Premier League this season and has made more ball recoveries in total than any defender. At only 21 years, Saliba has been over and above any defender in the league. His physical capability, passing ability, and goal-scoring affinity in set pieces have been vital to The Gunners this season.

CB: Fabian Schär (Newcastle United F.C.)

 After signing a new two-year contract at Newcastle United in the summer, Fabian has been as tidy as a whistle at the back for Newcastle United. The Swiss International has been front and centre in ensuring the Newcastle backline does not leak any goals. Evident in their 11 clean sheets this season.

LB: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool F.C.)

Andy Robertson becomes the defender with the most assists in Premier League history (54). The Scotsman has been phenomenal, the same cannot be said of the Liverpool team this season. 

MIDFIELDERS

DM: Rodri (Manchester City F.C.)

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has had a total of 1791 touches of the ball this season. The next player, Thiago Silva, has had almost 300 touches less than the Spanish International. Pivotal!

The 6"foot 3" defensive midfielder proves why he might be the most influential player within the Pep Guardiola system. Comfortable in possession, isn't afraid to tackle, is an amazing ball passer, and is 26 years young. Rodri is an absolute gem!

DM: João Palhinha (Fulham F.C.)

João Palhinha is a ball-winning machine. He leads the Premier League table in tackles(89), twenty-two more than the next player in line. He joined very recently in the summer and I ranked him highly in the Top 10 Premier League summer Transfers piece. The Portuguese behemoth has already found a place within the rising Fulham F.C. side. 

C.M: Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal F.C.)

Words cannot express how difficult it was for me to decide who to place in this creative position within the team. Martin Ødegaard & Kevin De Bruyne are currently tied in the number of goal contributions (13) this season. The truth, however, is that Ødegaard has been more influential within his team, captaining Arsenal to first place, eight points adrift from the chasing Manchester City.

The Gunners captain was awarded the Premier League Player of the Month for November and December for his troubles. He also scored a phenomenal long-range strike at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to secure three points and drown their North London rivals in the Derby. Iconic!

FORWARDS

R.W: Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United F.C.)

 

Nine goals and an assist in the books for the 28-year-old Paraguayan. Miguel has been impressive with his dribbling and eye for goal.

Newcastle United are currently in 3rd position in the 2022/23 English Premier League, with 38 points from 19 matches played. They have won 10 matches, drawn 8, and lost 1. Miguel has been a big part of this success.

L.W: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United F.C.)

The forgotten star-boy has risen once again. Marcus Rashford has been on fire lately, and no one can seem to stop him.

Marcus Rashford has been on another level since the World Cup:

Burnley: ⚽️

Forest: ⚽️🅰️

Wolves: ⚽️

Bournemouth: ⚽️

Everton: ⚽️🅰️🅰️

Charlton: ⚽️⚽️

Man City: ⚽️

 

C.F: Erling Haaland (Manchester City F.C.)

Erling Haaland is the quickest player in Premier League history to reach 20 goals. Compared to his meteoric rise, it's almost surprising the Norwegian giant isn't at 30 goals. Which speaks volumes of his talent.

Most goals scored for Premier League clubs across all competitions this season:

◉ 27 - Erling Haaland

◎ 17 - Harry Kane

◎ 17 - Mohamed Salah

◎ 15 - Marcus Rashford

Matchday 20 Preview:The Manchester Derby

From the title race at the crest of the table to the scramble for European football just below the leaders, down to the relegation battle below. The Premier League has been beyond gripping. Match-day 20 is no downer either, serving us the 189th edition of The Manchester Derby 

Pep Guardiola's Cityzens find themselves in a battle for the crown with his ex-assistant manager and current Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta. At the moment, The Cityzens aren't at their best. They come off a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Southampton in the EFL Cup and a recent draw to Everton at The Etihad.  There lies a five-point deficit to the top for Manchester City and up next on their to-do list are The Red Devils. 

 Erick Ten Hag's Manchester United have made a fortress of Old Trafford, winning six out of the last eight Premier League home games this season. The Red Devils have scored 3 goals a game in their last 3 games, conceding only once in their previous six fixtures. The team is playing like a unit once again and the defensive woes & offensive misfiring that previously plagued them seem to be past tense.

The last time the two sides meet, City ran riot, winning the game 6-3 thanks to hattricks by Phil Foden and Erling Haaland. But the situation is very different on this occasion. Man City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan acknowledged this in his recent press conference stating, " At the moment, there's a special recipe missing in the team. We know that we play probably the best Man Utd side in recent years, full of confidence and full of commitment so we need to be up for the challenge." 

It will be fascinating to see how this game plays out today. Manchester United have a score to settle in this fixture. Pep Guardiola and his Cityzens have a fifth Premier League title at the back of their minds. This is a Manchester derby you won't want to miss.

Hot Take: Chelsea are owning the Banter F.C. crown and I predicted it

Oh look, another footballing pundit about to take a shit on Chelsea F.C.'s current form, how graceful, how original. 

And he predicted it? He has to be a prophet as well, it must be the second reincarnation of Yahweh. Let's stomp our feet and clap our hands in thunderous applause. 

You lot are too kind, and yes, both statements are true but first, salutations. 

Hello and welcome to the penalty spot.

Sarcasm aside, let's take a peek at the numbers. After losing to their West London rivals Fulham F.C, The Blues find themselves tenth in the Premier League standings, ten points off a champions league slot. The loss to Fulham F.C., a first in the Premier League in 17 years, was the 7th loss in ten games for the Stamford Bridge faithful. Earlier this week, Chelsea was knocked out in the FA Cup third round for the first time in 25 years and if things continue to be as bleak as they have been, Crystal Palace and Liverpool, who are next on their fixture list, will fancy their chances of inflicting further damage

So how did we get here? and how did I foresee this?

Well, before the start of the season, I wrote a predictory piece on the top 3 teams that might be crowned Banter F.C. in the 22/23 season. In first place was Chelsea F.C., my reasoning stemmed from the authoritative reshuffle within the London giants. This point was recently reinforced by Chelsea's manager Graham Potter who stated, "I think  this is probably the hardest job in football because of that leadership change and because of the expectations and because of rightly where people see Chelsea" 

Apart from the overuse of the adverb 'because' in his sentences, The Potter has a point. Management reshuffles within any organisation will cause an imbalance. The manager has his plate full at the moment and the odds are not on his side. Reports suggest that further disappointments in his upcoming fixtures might see him axed. Causing the Chelsea faithful to suffer from a case of missing the EX followed by bottomless regret, and haven't we all been there?.  This situation begs the question, Was Chelsea's management perhaps too rash for sacking former manager Thomas Tuchel? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. 

After Chelsea's acquisition, Todd Boehly, the new Chelsea C.E.O., had to bring his people in. This was to assert his rule in the team. Could it have been conducted more systematically? Possibly, but one thing the American has done is put his money where his mouth is, spending an excess of  €355.49 Million on transfers. Which in my very unprofessional but reasonable opinion has worsened the situation.

  In all honesty, Graham Potter's tactics proved effective in a team where his budget and overall resources were quite limited. Instead of mindless spending, Chelsea's management should've focused on building a concrete administrative base for the team to rise on. Results cannot be expected immediately, there needs to be cohesion between staff and players which in turn will show itself on the tuft. Potter's success at Brighton was not overnight, and it required the supporting staff and players to galvanize around his vision. Chelsea's situation is self-inflicted. Simply put, "you can't solve a problem by simply throwing money at it"

Game of Matchday 17 of 38: Arsenal pick up where they left off

 

The Gunner picked up where they left off before the World Cup with a resounding 3-1 win over their North London rivals West Ham United. The Hammers were coming off three consecutive losses to Manchester United on the road followed by Crystal Palace and Leicester at home. They needed a win and Arsenal was their next destination. Arsenal on the other hand was unbeaten in Premier League for 8 games. They also had a nine-game winning streak at The Emirates.

Unfortunately, David Moyes had yet to beat Arsenal in 21 away matches for West Ham. Was this going to be his 22nd? Yes, it was, so let us recap the action from the Emirates stadium. 

First Half

Arsenal begins the game authoritatively. Five minutes on the referees' clock and Arsenal advanced positional play creates a chance on the left side of Fabianskis' penalty area. 

Odegaard threads a pass between the West Ham backline, finding Nketiah, who audaciously flicks it back to Saka. Saka strikes the ball immediately, sending it to the roof of West ham's net, but the linesman's flag is up for offside. The ball scraped Sakas' heel during the build-up, placing Nketiah in an offside position. Close!

Twenty-six minutes into the half, Coufal lifts a precise cross from the right defensive half of West Ham to the left flank of Arsenal's half. Antonio is first to the cross and passes the ball to Bowen. Placing the winger through into the left of Arsenals' penalty area. Saliba is late on the tackle, missing the ball and catching the opponent on the ankle. The referee doesn't even twitch, he points to the spot. A penalty for the visitors. Benrahma steps up, and Ramsdale dives onto his left, but Benrahma places the ball at the center. 1-0 to the Hammers!

Arsenal is looking to equalize and all ten outfield players are in West Ham's half. With a goal in the bag, the Hammers are defending deep. The first half is coming to a close as we head towards the last five of the forty-five. Arsenal has had the majority of the chances but the final pass has been absent, impeded by the defensive commitment of the Hammers. 

We are deep in the three added minutes. Arsenal has a corner on the left of Fabianski's goal. Martinelli whips the inswinger, and Fabianski is first, punting the ball away only as far as Martinelli. The Brazilian gets a second chance, this time he finds Odegaard just outside the 18-yard box. The Captain hits the ball first time, hitting Cresswell. A hesitant Micheal Oliver points at the penalty spot. A chance for Arsenal to go level before the break, the VAR officials advise him to have a second look. It clearly hit Cresswell on the head hence, the penalty is overruled. 

West Ham lead by a goal at The Emirates.

Second Half

The second half is underway on Boxing day and the Gunners find themselves a goal behind at home. 

It's business as usual at the beginning of the second half as Arsenal dominate possession. Eight minutes into the half Odegaard is cruising on the left of West Ham's half. The Captain hits the ball from 24 yards out, which surprisingly finds Saka's feet. The winger sorts his feet together and slots a cool finish on the right side of Fabianski's goal. 1-1 Game On!

Emirates Stadium is buzzing. Saka's goal has brought to life the fans, they want another goal. Sure enough, the players respond. Five minutes after the equalizer, Saliba punts the ball into the middle of West Ham's half, Saka wins the physical battle and passes the ball to Odegaard on his left. The Captain sees Xhaka on the edge of the penalty area just ahead of him. The former captain doesn't hesitate and finds Martinelli on his left, inside the box. The Brazilian moves the ball to his left foot and fizzes out a shot, beating Fabianski at his near post. 2-1 to The Gunners take the lead!  

The crowd is in full voice. West ham is now trying to get into the offensive, but the hosts keep the ball thanks to their intricate passing. Halfway into the half, Arsenal is looking unfathomable, White is on the right of Arsenal's attack and gets past his man, he passes to Odegaard on the edge of the area. The Captain pokes a pass to Nketiah, who rolls his man and finds the far corner of West Ham's goal. 3-1 The Gunners have been sublime!

West Ham is futilely trying to get on the offensive. The gaffers make their changes. The game draws to a close and everyone knows it, the Gunners have taken this one away. The referee blows the whistle, and it's over, Arsenal pick up where they left off. A resounding win and another three points, keeping the chasing Manchester City at bay. 

The Weekend Review Matchday 15: Mo Salah's Brace 💫 secures the Win For Liverpool + Arsenal Win the North West London derby

 

First Half: Spurs Start Slow again + A Dier Mistake 

Liverpool secured their first away win in the 22/23 season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Reds came ahead thanks to two first-half goals from Mo Salah. 

The Spurs started the game at a slow pace, which has been the norm of late.

The Egyptian talisman opened the scoring in the 11th minute. He received the ball in the middle of the penalty box thanks to a sublime pass from Darwin Nunez,  he takes a touch and swivels his body towards the goal volleying a thunderous shot into the back of the net Liverpool 1-0 up!

The spurs turn on the tempo immediately after the goal. Three minutes later, they initiate their first attack of the game and Ivan Perisic comes closest but sees his header hit Alisson on goal then rattle the bar! Close. Seemingly, Sessegnon starts darting up and down the left flank for The Lilywhites, causing all sorts of problems for Liverpool's Alexander Arnold. The Scouse pushes the Tottenham left back to the ground in the penalty area. Tottenham cried foul to the referee claiming a penalty, but their wails fall on deaf ears and the referee waved for the game to carry on.

Forty minutes on the clock and the game is nervously swaying from one half to another as both teams look to assert control. Liverpool clears the ball towards Spurs' half, Eric Dier is first onto the ball and tries to head the ball towards Lloris on goal. He makes an almighty mess of it as the ball comes off his shoulder and into Salah's path. The Liverpool forward sprints towards the goal taking a delicate touch on the football. Lloris urgently dashes forward in an attempt to close down the Egyptian, but Mo loops the ball over the French goalkeeper and into a gaping net. Liverpool is 2-0 up!

Second Half: Dejan is a Baller + Harry Kane Scores his 11th PL goal of the season 

Contrary to the first half Spurs fly off the blocks in the second, hitting the crossbar and forcing Alisson to a big save within the first five minutes. Heated!

Spurs push for the goal with added intensity and vigour, but Alisson is proving too immense for the hosts. Sensing the need for something extra, Conte makes a double substitution in the 68th minute placing Dejan and Doherty in place of Sessegnon & Emerson Royal.

Two minutes later, Tottenham is working the ball on the left flank of Liverpool. Dejan receives the ball on the edge of the penalty area, and he drives forward slotting an inch-perfect pass to Harry Kane. Kane hits it first time from a tight angle into the far post slotting the ball underneath Alisson. Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool

Tottenham control the game for the rest of the half, moving in around the Liverpool low block but the final whistle is blown with Liverpool a goal up 

Liverpool win 2-1

North West London derby

Only one goal was needed to set apart the two North London rivals after a rigid game at the Bridge. Arsenal intensified Chelsea's misery handing the blues their second defeat under Graham potter. The Blues were second-best in almost every sector of the game.

Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal FT:

xG: 0.26-2.11

Shots: 5-14

Shots on target: 1-2

Touches in opp. box: 15-28

Possession: 44%-56%

The Gunners are back on top of the Premier League table. 

❌ 4-1 vs Brighton

❌ 0-1 vs Arsenal

Chelsea haven't lost three consecutive Premier League games since 2015 under José Mourinho. Not the time to be playing one of the league's most in-form teams. The Blues have been looking shaky as new manager Graham Potter looks to identify his best 11.

The goal came courtesy of Gabriel Magalhães in the 63rd minute after a corner. The Gunners have been playing some tantalizing football and deserve every single point to this point of the season.