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Tom Hamilton
Recent rounds in the Premier League have shed light on potential outcomes for the remainder of the season. We witnessed an enthralling match between Newcastle United and Chelsea, with Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s dissatisfaction with the club becoming increasingly evident. Meanwhile, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Aston Villa all secured victories, raising the prospect of a three-way title race.
Further down the table, Leeds triumphed over Crystal Palace, while Wolves slipped deeper into trouble at the bottom. Nick Woltemade scored a couple of goals, while Hugo Ekitike assisted Liverpool in a vital victory against Tottenham, where Alexander Isak scored but suffered a significant injury.
As the weekend’s matches prompt discussions and opinions ahead of the next set of fixtures, we analyze key takeaways to determine whether they are overreactions or valid insights.
Let’s dive into what transpired at Villa Park on Sunday.
Jump to:
Aston Villa are in the title race?
Woltemade has been the best summer FW signing
Is Maresca’s commentary jeopardizing Chelsea’s season?
Are Wolves destined to be the worst PL team ever?
Aston Villa deserve to be considered as title contenders
Following their victory over Manchester United on Sunday, Aston Villa is riding a 10-match winning streak across all competitions and sits just three points behind Arsenal. They are indeed in the title race.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION
The win against Manchester United exemplified the performance of a title-winning team. Although not at their finest and occasionally lucky, as seen with Matheus Cunha‘s missed header, Villa capitalized on two magical moments from the brilliant Morgan Rogers to secure victory. They have achieved 16 wins in their last 18 matches and remain within striking distance of the top spot.
Opta currently gives them just a 5.27% probability of clinching the title, forecasting a third-place finish, but it feels like the season holds many twists and narratives ahead. It has been an unpredictable league; who expected Liverpool to go back-to-back?
For now, Villa merits a spot in the conversation among the top contenders, especially considering Ollie Watkins has yet to find his scoring stride this season. It’s only a matter of time before he contributes to Villa’s already formidable attack.
However, discussions about their title credentials must consider other contenders: Erling Haaland stands as the league’s finest player, while Manchester City knows how to win titles better than anyone. Arsenal’s squad depth is enviable. Still, Villa’s current form suggests they could achieve the improbable.
The outcomes of their next two matches away against Chelsea and Arsenal could significantly impact their season, especially considering they began with four matches without a goal and five without a victory.
Nick Woltemade may be the top summer striker signing
The summer transfer window saw significant movement among strikers in the Premier League, with notable names such as Ekitike, Isak, Woltemade, João Pedro, Liam Delap, Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyökeres, and Thierno Barry swapping clubs for a total of around £520 million. Currently, after his two goals against Chelsea last weekend, Woltemade appears to be the standout signing.
Verdict: OVERREACTION
However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind. Notably absent from this discussion are players like Bryan Mbeumo, Eberechi Eze, Mohammed Kudus, Noni Madueke, and Florian Wirtz. Excluding the mentioned players, Isak has faced some challenges in his debut season, particularly with a recent serious injury sustained in the match against Spurs. Sesko’s transition at Manchester United has been marred by injuries, while Delap has struggled to make an impact at Chelsea. Pedro started well but has since lost form.
Barry has been diligent and recently scored his first goal in Everton‘s victory over Nottingham Forest, indicating he could be a solid acquisition. As for Gyökeres, ESPN’s James Olley evaluated why his move hasn’t flourished, with Mikel Arteta favoring makeshift forwards in significant matches.
This leaves Woltemade and Ekitike. Woltemade shone in Newcastle’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Saturday and proves to be a wise addition for the Magpies. He brings a commanding presence and exceptional footwork, likely to surpass 15 goals this season. Currently, he has seven in 14 league appearances. Yet, for me, Ekitike edges slightly ahead with eight goals in 16 appearances. Despite Liverpool’s tumultuous season, he has delivered impressive performances and is versatile across the front three, having arrived from the Bundesliga for around £69 million.
Maresca’s cryptic hints could jeopardize Chelsea’s season
Enzo Maresca’s dissatisfaction with behind-the-scenes matters at Chelsea is evident, but the specifics remain unclear—only he seems to know. However, these veiled remarks could potentially destabilize Chelsea’s season.
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Newcastle draw leaves Maresca’s future in doubt
James Olley explores Enzo Maresca’s position after drawing 2-2 with Newcastle.
Verdict: OVERREACTION
This situation intensified after the Everton match when Maresca revealed he had the worst “48 hours” since assuming his role. Following a Carabao Cup victory over Cardiff, he avoided detailing what led to his unhappiness. His name has recently come up regarding potential succession for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
In a pre-match conference prior to the Newcastle game, he dismissed speculation regarding those connections, affirming his contentment with his contract extending to 2029. Post the game, in which Chelsea salvaged a draw after being down by two goals, he hinted at discontent with his squad’s experience.
“When your squad features 20- and 21-year-olds alongside a player in their 30s, there’s immense value when the senior player speaks,” he commented, adding that it’s all part of the club’s strategy. This week has certainly been strange.
Coaches communicating in code while suggesting dissatisfaction with board decisions rarely leads to positive outcomes. Take Antonio Conte’s remarks in March 2023 regarding Spurs, or Nuno Espirito Santo’s comments about his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis before he was dismissed days later. While Maresca’s remarks are subtle compared to Conte and Nuno’s, they could have long-term implications.
Though it may not have immediate consequences, this situation will undoubtedly be relevant during his end-of-year review.
Are Wolves destined to become the worst team in Premier League history?
Wolves are in dire straits: they’ve lost ten consecutive matches and suffered 15 defeats in 17 games. With only two points on the board, surpassing Derby’s record-low total of 11 from the 2007-08 season seems unlikely.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION
While Wolves displayed some resilience against Arsenal by limiting the league leaders to just two shots on goal, they still succumbed to defeat. They aimed to secure their first win of the season against Brentford, but defensive blunders led to a 2-0 loss.
Brentford’s initial goal stemmed from a ball across the box that eluded two Wolves defenders, allowing Keane Lewis-Potter to finish adeptly. The second was scored by Lewis-Potter, finding space in the Wolves box after another defensive lapse. Jorgen Strand-Larsen’s missed penalty further encapsulated Wolves’ struggles, showcasing the issues they have faced this season.
The current trajectory has Wolves compared with Derby’s 2007-08 squad that finished with just 11 points. The pressing question is whether Wolves can avoid becoming the lowest-scoring team in Premier League history, especially with relegation now appearing certain.
While manager Rob Edwards has helped instill some structure, the upcoming January transfer window may exacerbate their issues, as other clubs seek to acquire players from Wolves’ dwindling squad. Despite securing a few promising talents like 18-year-old Mateus Mane, they have been unable to sufficiently replace key departures like Morgan Gibbs-White and others.
With discontent palpable among the fanbase at Molineux, defender and long-time Wolves player Matt Doherty expressed his despair after the Brentford match, saying, “This is the worst I’ve felt in a long time. The crowd is almost empty by the end. We’re losing belief in our ability to win games and almost feel nervous about holding onto any leads.”
The hope now is that they have hit rock bottom. Edwards has made Wolves harder to beat, and while they may secure a few victories, relegation seems inevitable barring a miracle. They sit 16 points adrift of 17th-place Nottingham Forest as the festive season approaches.