ARSENAL
Key Player : Santi Cazorla
Disappointment : Olivier Giroud
Position : 8th
Record :
1 win
2 draws
0 losses
2 goals scored
0 goals conceded
Major Point : 3 straight clean sheets
The Gunners, despite sitting in 8th behind newly promoted West Ham, are confident ahead of the next 35 games. But why? Why would they be upbeat after drawing against Sunderland and Stoke? Enter Steve Bould. The introduction of the former defender has had a serious effect on Arsenal's results. I cannot remember the last time this happened but Arsenal have not conceded in 3 games. At the Brittania and at Anfield, two of some of the toughest venues to go to in the Premier League. Everything the Potters and the Reds threw at them, the men in red dealt with expertly. The only problem is that they haven't hit the net as often as they should. £9.6 million signing Olivier Giroud has started slowly in front of goal, his clever movement has not been compensated with the goals that convinced Wenger to sign him up from Montpellier. But fellow newcomers, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla have started life at the Emirates very well, the duo bagging their first of the season in a 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield. The diminutive Spaniard has emerged as one of the best players in the league, following in the footsteps of Juan Mata and David Silva. Only time will tell whether the mercurial magician can mastermind Arsenal to their first trophy in 8 years.
CHELSEA
Key Player : Eden Hazard
Disappointment : Ramires and Juan Mata
Position : 1st
Record :
3 wins
0 draws
0 losses
8 goals scored
2 goals conceded
Major Point : Eden Hazard's Start To The Season
The Blues have made a sensational start to the season. Albeit against light opposition, Chelsea have hit the ground running in the new campaign. Eden Hazard setting the league alight in the trequrtista role. Fernando Torres firing on all cylinders. And the back four keeping it tight. The only stutter in Chelsea's blistering start is a 4-1 mauling at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup with Falcao helping himself to a hat trick. Ramires has not replicated his heroics of last season so far with dire performances. And neither has last season's Player Of The Year, Juan Mata. But we are only 3 games in. Anything can happen. Speaking of. What if Torres gets injured? Sturridge will have to step up in a role that he cannot play. Their dream start will quickly become a nightmare. Eden Hazard has picked up 6 assists so far - 2 coming from winning penalties. Fernando Torres has 2 goals in 3 games. Where do Chelsea go from here? We shall find out...
LIVERPOOL
Key Player : Joe Allen
Disappointment : Where Do I Begin?
Position : 18th
Record :
0 wins
1 draw
2 losses
2 goals scored
7 goals conceded
Major Point :
53% average ball possession
52 shots
2 goals
New manager. New players. New style. Same old Liverpool. But the new era has shown glimpses of progress. High pressing. Fluid passing. Everything that Brendan Rodgers is hoping to turn Liverpool FC into. Barcelona Mark II. But an opening day loss at the hands of West Brom, a 3-0 mauling at the Hawthorns, rained criticism upon the Welshman. An encouraging display against champions, Manchester City, where young starlet Raheem Sterling made his full league debut and impressed for the Reds. Leading 2-1 and in cruise control, a loose back pass from early scorer, Martin Skrtel, found Carlos Tevez who rounded Pepe Reina to dramatically equalise. Then came Arsenal. A tactical masterclass from the Gunners secured a 2-0 away win. And once again, the criticism rained upon the team. The only light in this dark start is the emergence of Joe Allen. The new signing brought with Rodgers from former club, Swansea, has been their best player so far. 94.1% pass accuracy. 8 tackles. 1 foul. 10 interceptions. 31 successful long balls out of an attempted 32. Not bad for a player who was plying his trade at Wrexham on loan just 4 years ago. Maybe we are wrong. Maybe the Reds will turn a corner and become the team that Brendan Rodgers wants them to be. Barcelona didn't just play like Barcelona overnight...
MANCHESTER CITY
Key Player : Yaya Toure
Disappointment : David Silva
Position : 4th
Record :
2 wins
1 draw
0 losses
8 goals scored
5 goals conceded
Major Point : 5 goals conceded
The champions had stuttered out of the blocks this year. Compared to last term where 12 goals were shared between Swansea ( 4-0 ), Bolton ( 3-2 ), and Tottenham ( 5-1 ). The Citizens haven't asserted dominance in any of their 3 games this season. The fluidity of their play hasn't expressed yet. But their is still oh so much time left. To think that, arguably, the Premier League's best player, Yaya Toure, was, technically, the worst player in the Barcelona squad is a thought that sends shivers down our spines. 2 goals and 1 assist so far for the Ivorian, but 91.6% pass accuracy, 9 chances created, and 26/31 long ball accuracy, that's really something. On the other hand, David Silva has been lacking in quality so far in this campaign. Remember, this is the player who single handedly masterminded Manchester City's crushing victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford 6-1. The 5 goals conceded is concerning, especially with 3 of them coming at home to Southampton and QPR. What will happen in 2 weeks when Arsenal visit the Etihad? We'll soon find out...
Key Player : Robin Van Persie
Disappointment : Nemanja Vidic
Position : 5th
Record :
2 wins
0 draws
1 loss
6 goals scored
5 goals conceded
Major Point : Robin Van Persie 4 goals
Rafael and Kagawa 1 goal
The Dutchman just can't stop scoring. In whatever shirt he wears. The transfer saga of the window ended with Robin Van Persie jumping ship to Manchester United from Arsenal. The usual armchair assumptions were made. " He will flop like Torres did ". Torres wasn't the best ST in the world when he moved to West London, that's the difference. When RVP was still wearing Arsenal colours, the squad was branded as a one man team, due to his excessive scoring. What they didn't realise was that there is no such thing as a one man team, Arsenal create the chances, Van Persie puts them away, simple. And when you have the BEST STRIKER IN THE WORLD playing up top for your club, he's gonna hit the back of the net a lot more regularly than other frontmen. Well, well, well. It seems as if the one man team accusations have also moved north to Manchester. Of the 6 goals scored by Man United, 4 of them came from Van the man. Could he be the player the Red Devils need to bring the title back to Old Trafford? In the form he is in, I would say so. But to win titles, you need a solid defence. And when your best defender is constantly making mistakes, then you have to say that the back line is faltering. Coming back from a serious injury he sustained against Basel last year, Nemanja Vidic has looked shaky at the back. Man U need him back to seriously challenge for honours. And fast.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Key Player : Robin Van Persie
Disappointment : Nemanja Vidic
Position : 5th
Record :
2 wins
0 draws
1 loss
6 goals scored
5 goals conceded
Major Point : Robin Van Persie 4 goals
Rafael and Kagawa 1 goal
The Dutchman just can't stop scoring. In whatever shirt he wears. The transfer saga of the window ended with Robin Van Persie jumping ship to Manchester United from Arsenal. The usual armchair assumptions were made. " He will flop like Torres did ". Torres wasn't the best ST in the world when he moved to West London, that's the difference. When RVP was still wearing Arsenal colours, the squad was branded as a one man team, due to his excessive scoring. What they didn't realise was that there is no such thing as a one man team, Arsenal create the chances, Van Persie puts them away, simple. And when you have the BEST STRIKER IN THE WORLD playing up top for your club, he's gonna hit the back of the net a lot more regularly than other frontmen. Well, well, well. It seems as if the one man team accusations have also moved north to Manchester. Of the 6 goals scored by Man United, 4 of them came from Van the man. Could he be the player the Red Devils need to bring the title back to Old Trafford? In the form he is in, I would say so. But to win titles, you need a solid defence. And when your best defender is constantly making mistakes, then you have to say that the back line is faltering. Coming back from a serious injury he sustained against Basel last year, Nemanja Vidic has looked shaky at the back. Man U need him back to seriously challenge for honours. And fast.
TOTTENHAM
Key Player : Moussa Dembele
Disappointment : Gareth Bale
Position : 14th
Record :
0 wins
2 draws
1 loss
3 goals scored
4 goals conceded
Major Point : Luka Modric's Departure
It's all gone quiet at the Lane. 9 months ago, Spurs were a shoe in for top 3, outsiders for title winners, and were playing the most entertaining football in the land thanks to Mansour City reject, Emmanuel Adebayor, getting on the end of the Bale/Lennon combination. Fast forward to the 1st of September and a lot has changed. A lot. However, Tottenham's biggest mistake wasn't the sacking of Harry Redknapp, nor the sale of Rafael Van Der Vaart, it was the sale of Luka Modric. The Croatian playmaker was Tottenham's best player, and his creativity will sorely be missed. I don't think that any of Spurs' acquisitions can step up to the bar the midfielder set, but the Moussa Dembele lad has shown serious potential. His powerful strike to open the scoring against Norwich was just a sample of what the Belgian offers to the team. He should fill in Van Der Vaart's boots with time. Andre Villas Boas has bought well, but sold badly. His reputation in England will take a serious hit should he fail to succeed at Tottenham, the Portuguese needs time, but will Daniel Levy give him enough?
Position : 14th
Record :
0 wins
2 draws
1 loss
3 goals scored
4 goals conceded
Major Point : Luka Modric's Departure
It's all gone quiet at the Lane. 9 months ago, Spurs were a shoe in for top 3, outsiders for title winners, and were playing the most entertaining football in the land thanks to Mansour City reject, Emmanuel Adebayor, getting on the end of the Bale/Lennon combination. Fast forward to the 1st of September and a lot has changed. A lot. However, Tottenham's biggest mistake wasn't the sacking of Harry Redknapp, nor the sale of Rafael Van Der Vaart, it was the sale of Luka Modric. The Croatian playmaker was Tottenham's best player, and his creativity will sorely be missed. I don't think that any of Spurs' acquisitions can step up to the bar the midfielder set, but the Moussa Dembele lad has shown serious potential. His powerful strike to open the scoring against Norwich was just a sample of what the Belgian offers to the team. He should fill in Van Der Vaart's boots with time. Andre Villas Boas has bought well, but sold badly. His reputation in England will take a serious hit should he fail to succeed at Tottenham, the Portuguese needs time, but will Daniel Levy give him enough?
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