PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: THERE'S A NEW STARBOY IN TOWN

 Another week of Premier League action has passed meaning Christmas and 2024 are slowly creeping ever nearer.

There some great performances and stand out moments but our Player of the Week is…

Mohammed Kudus (West Ham)

Few saw West Ham having much of a chance when Kudus’s name popped up on their transfer wishlist, with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea both sniffing around, but the Ghanaian made the switch to the London Stadium and hasn’t looked back.

The Hammers paid a reported £38 million to Dutch giants Ajax for the 23-year-old’s services and it is currently looking like a massive steal.

Kudus has scored eight goals in all competitions this season for West Ham, five of which have come in the Premier League and two having come from their most recent game against Wolves.

Both goals came on the counter attack in which he was set lose by Lucas Paquetá but still had lots of work to do.

On both occasions he drove seamlessly past Wolves’ helpless defenders and produced two strong finishes, the first on his left and the second on his right, to give David Moyes’ side a 2-0 before half-time.

Read more

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/premier-league-player-of-the-week-theres-a-new-starboy-in-town-38749332

NO CHELSEA, LIVERPOOL OR MANCHESTER UNITED DEALS IN THE TOP TEN PREMIER LEAGUE SIGNINGS OF 2023

 A true Todd Boehly special

More than £1bn was spent by Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United this year but not a single one of their signings rank among the ten best made in 2023.

10) Craig Dawson The list of permanent managers Dawson has played for in the Premier League, presented in chronological order, is a thing of beauty: Hodgson, Clarke, Mel, Irvine, Pulis, Pardew, Gracia, Pearson, Sanchez Flores, Moyes, Lopetegui and O’Neil.

The Verdict: Man Utd point at Anfield a...

G Nev, Keane, Carra debate PL title...

The penultimate and perhaps most incongruous name had apparently been so affected by Dawson’s inspirational turn during West Ham’s run to the 2022 Europa League semi-finals, in which Lopetegui’s Sevilla were dumped out by the Hammers in the round of 16, that he immediately sought to sign the centre-half when the opportunity first presented itself.

Dawson helped keep Wolves – out of the relegation zone on goal difference alone – clear of the drop by seven points, with a debut goal in a thrashing of Liverpool particularly memorable. This season has brought more quietly consummate excellence, as Erling Haaland can attest. And all for little over £3m.

Read more

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/no-chelsea-liverpool-or-manchester-united-deals-in-the-top-ten-premier-league-signings-of-2023-38749170

PREMIER LEAGUE WEEKEND: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

 

Following the latest round of Premier League action we look at five things we learned from the weekend fixtures.

Elliott a game-changer, but Liverpool need anchor

Liverpool escaped from Crystal Palace with a 2-1 win that moved the Reds top of the table, but there was little convincing about the performance of Jurgen Klopp’s side. A controversial red card saw the game turn in Liverpool’s favour, after Jordan Ayew was dismissed for two bookings, with Palace leading.

Harvey Elliott continued his habit of influencing games off the bench, as the 20-year-old fired in a stoppage-time winner. Elliott has started just once in the Premier League this season, but has proven to be an effective option from the bench. After late assists to help Liverpool come from behind to earn results against Wolves and Luton, the England u-21 international fired home his first goal of the season at Selhurst Park to snatch the points.

While Elliott is banging on the door for inclusion in midfield, issues remain in Liverpool’s new look side. Wataru Endo was poor at Palace, filling in for the injured Alexis Mac Allister as the deepest of the midfield three. The Japan international is the only available defensive midfield option in Klopp’s squad, but lacked imagination in possession and struggled with the physicality of Palace.

The 30-year-old was a stop-gap signing after missing out on Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo last summer, and his underwhelming start at Liverpool has heightened the need for an engine room anchor. Finances and availability will dictate whether one arrives in January, but a specialist defensive midfielder could make the difference in Liverpool’s title challenge.

Read more

Source :https://onefootball.com/en/news/premier-league-weekend-five-things-we-learned-38703393

OUR 3️⃣ POINTS AS VILLA MAKE PREMIER LEAGUE STATEMENT AGAINST ARSENAL

 Aston Villa continued their sensational form on Saturday, downing former Premier League leaders Arsenal at Villa Park.

Aston Villa - 01

Arsenal _ 0

Here is what we made of the match.

Aston Villa: The real deal

The chasm between the ‘big six’ and the clubs below them has never been bigger than in recent seasons, but Aston Villa are gatecrashing the party of the Premier League elite.

With a victory against the Gunners just days after beating treble-winners Manchester City, Unai Emery’s men have shown they need to be taken seriously.

The win sees Villa extend their winning streak at home to 15 games in the Premier League, the first time they have accomplished that feat in the club’s 149-year history. In that span, it’s 39 goals, seven conceded and eight clean sheets.

Two years ago they finished 14th in the table and last season seventh. This time around, Villa have earned 35+ points after 16 games of a top-flight campaign for only the fifth time (counting three point per win all-time).

The other four times that happened, they either won it all or finished second.

Now five points clear of title-holders Man City, Villa are certainly a contender with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal for the title.

Read more

Sources :https://onefootball.com/en/news/our-3-points-as-villa-make-premier-league-statement-against-arsenal-38698594

PREMIER LEAGUE: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

Following the latest round of Premier League action we look at five things we learned from the midweek fixtures.

Rice repaying record spend

Declan Rice was not signed to score the goals that led Arsenal to the title, but the club-record signing has already delivered moments of real consequence in the North London side’s title charge.

Rice recorded his first goal for the Gunners with a last-gasp winner against Manchester United in September, and repeated the trick to settle a chaotic clash with Luton this week.

The England midfielder met Martin Odegaard’s cross to head home a 97th minute decider at Kenilworth Road, settling a seven-goal thriller that had seen The Hatters threaten an upset.

The ball-winning ability and forward drive of the former West Ham captain was sought to strengthen the spine of a side that faltered during last season’s run-in. The goals, and strength of character, have been a welcome bonus. Arsenal, with six straight wins in all competitions, are beginning to find momentum.

Read more

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/premier-league-five-things-we-learned-38689959

SON HEUNG-MIN LABELS TOTTENHAM ‘SOFT’ AS SPURS MAKE UNWANTED PREMIER LEAGUE HISTORY

 Tottenham captain Son Heung-min said Spurs were too “soft” after their 2-1 defeat to London rivals West Ham on Thursday, as they became the first team in Premier League history to drop points from a winning position in five straight games.

Spurs have not won in the Premier League since their victory at Crystal Palace in late October but have taken the lead in all five matches since, losing to Chelsea, Wolves, Aston Villa and West Ham as well as drawing against Manchester City.

They threw away another lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday night, after Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse struck second-half goals to stun injury-hit Spurs on the counter-attack following Cristian Romero’s early opener.

"We lost the game which is unacceptable," Son told Amazon Prime. "You get the lead five times in a row and losing the game I think is unacceptable and as players we should take responsibility.

"West Ham have always been tough to play against but look we were soft. Especially in the Premier League, even if you are winning 2-0, 3-0, you don’t know what will happen in the end."

Read more

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/son-heung-min-labels-tottenham-soft-as-spurs-make-unwanted-premier-league-history-38689431

PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK – MATCHDAY 15

Here is our Premier League Team of the Week for Matchday 15 after the midweek schedule of top-flight football.

Goalkeeper: Lukasz Fabianski – West Ham

David Moyes made a big call with the return of Lukasz Fabianski to the West Ham side, with the 38-year-old preferred to Alphonse Areola for the win at Tottenham. The Poland international’s distribution left much to be desired in the first half, but his experience was key to West Ham remaining in the game.

He made five saves, including four from inside the box, and while few of the efforts truly stretched the veteran, he added calming presence to the Hammers.

Right-back: Jack Hinshelwood – Brighton

A first senior goal, the boyhood Brighton fan earned his side a 2-1 win over Brentford. The versatile teenager started at right-back and made an impact at both ends, clearing a Brentford effort off the goal-line before popping up with the match-winner.

It was an impressive effort from Hinshelwood, who climbed above his marker to meet Pascal Gross’ cross and head home, generating the power needed to beat Mark Flekken. A solid showing from the 18-year-old, who looks ready for more opportunities in Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

Read more

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/premier-league-team-of-the-week-matchday-15-38689839

WEST HAM COME BACK TO STUN TOTTENHAM; EVERTON BEAT NEWCASTLE

 The midweek round of Premier League fixtures wrapped up Thursday with two games that will had an impact at both ends of the table.

Here is what went down across the grounds.

West Ham come from behind to down Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur - 01

West Ham United - 02

Scorers: Romero 11′; Bowen 52′, Ward-Prowse 74′

West Ham came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur. It was the fifth game in a row in which Spurs dropped points from a winning position.

Spurs had a rapid-fire start, almost opening the scoring inside a minute via Heung-Min Son, who was played in by  but Lukasz Fabiański swarmed the South Korean before he could get a shot away.

They took the lead they deserved for their opening efforts in the 11th minute through the returning Cristian Romero. The Argentinian defender superbly headed home Pedro Porro’s corner, looping it over Fabiański.

The hosts stayed on top, putting the Irons under a near-siege for the opening 25 minutes with their frenetic pace of play. David Moyes’ side did well just to stay in touch.

Read more :https://onefootball.com/en/news/west-ham-come-back-to-stun-tottenham-everton-beat-newcastle-38687675

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/west-ham-come-back-to-stun-tottenham-everton-beat-newcastle-38687675

ASTON VILLA UP TO THIRD AFTER BEATING MAN CITY; MCTOMINAY DOWNS CHELSEA

We had a little midweek treat on Wednesday with six Premier League fixtures to sink our teeth into.

Here’s what went down.

Aston Villa -01

Manchester City -0

Scorers: Bailey 74′.

Leon Bailey’s second-half winner earned an energetic Aston Villa side a deserved win over Manchester City as the champions fell to a fourth game without a win.

The hosts started the game at a frenetic speed with Bailey tested from Ederson from outside of the box and Pau Torres going close.

City struggled to break away as Villa penned them back in their own half but will be wondering how Emi Martínez denied Erling Haaland midway through the first half.

The Argentine goalkeeper pulled off a stunning double-save in quick succession to keep out the Norwegian in City’s best attempts of the first half.

Villa kept on top of the visitors at the start of the second half and came close through John McGinn who wriggled into the box before flashing a shot wide at the far post.

The breakthrough finally came 16 minutes from time courtesy of some great work from Bailey who picked up the ball 40 yards out, drove towards the edge of the box before seeing his shot deflect off Ruben Días before landing in the top corner.

Unai Emery’s side jump above City into third place and are now only four points off league leaders Arsenal, who they face on Saturday.

Read more 

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/aston-villa-up-to-third-after-beating-man-city-mctominay-downs-chelsea-38681820

HOW DID EMI MARTÍNEZ PULL THIS OFF?!

 Around this time last year, Emi Martínez was on his way to helping Argentina win the World Cup.

Fast forward a year he is in Birmingham, but his contributions on the football pitch are still as important.

Aston Villa  - 01

Manchester City - 0 

The Aston Villa goalkeeper produced a stunning double-save to keep Erling Haaland out during their crunch Premier League clash with Manchester City.

The reaction speed to get up and pull off that second one – remarkable.

You can see why he is a World Cup winner.

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/how-did-emi-martinez-pull-this-off-38682151

THE DEBRIEF AS ARSENAL GO TOP AND CHELSEA FALL ONCE AGAIN

 As always, Saturday’s Premier League fixtures did not disappoint.

Here is the scoop on what you may have missed from across the grounds.

In the early window, first met second as Manchester City and Liverpool shared the points at the Etihad Stadium to allow Arsenal a chance to reclaim the top spot.

Mikel Arteta’s side pulled off a dramatic victory away to Brentford, with Kai Havertz scoring in the dying minutes to send them to the top of the league.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s apparent turnaround seems to have been a flash in the pan as Newcastle put four past the Blues in an almighty thumping at St. James’s Park.

You can read through all of the results here.

Brighton just seem to pluck these young stars from nowhere don’t they?

João Pedro is just the latest member of Roberto De Zerbi’s side to begin his launch towards stardom in the Premier League, and a brace against Nottingham Forest will help his cause.

The Brazilian now has five goal contributions in 13 Premier League games, but has really made his mark in the Europa League, where he has a staggering four goals in four games in Brighton’s first ever European campaign.

Is he the next Seagull to be hunted by one of the big boys?

Read more

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/the-debrief-as-arsenal-go-top-and-chelsea-fall-once-again-38620443