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Wan-Bissaka torments United substitute
Aaron Wan-Bissaka seemed to have something to prove manchester united. The right-back has had an interesting role for West Ham this season. Julen Lopetegui has detected hidden creative tendencies in the defender and has given him freedom to attack. Wan-Bissaka turned in and was irrepressible against United. Noussair Mazraoui, his replacement at United, could not contain the former Crystal Palace player. Wan-Bissaka continued to run and cross, and should have received an assist when his ball reached Emerson Palmieri, who went wide. However, if there is any concern it is that Wan-Bissaka's positioning will leave West Ham open. Alejandro Garnacho had a lot of space and did not take advantage of it. United looked ridiculously frustrating in front of goal. A better team would have punished West Ham during the first half. However, they were victorious and in the end Wan-Bissaka was making a vital tackle to deny Garnacho a goal. Jacob Steinberg
Alex Iwobi played for six different coaches in four years in Everton including those in charge – Marco Silva, Duncan Ferguson (twice), Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez, Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche – so it is perhaps no surprise that it took him time to reach a level that satisfied the Goodison Park crowd. But his name never resonated around the old stadium as it did on Saturday, when Fulham fans serenaded the midfielder not just for a great goal (one that should have been the platform for a comfortable victory over a poor opponent) but also for a mature and influential performance. . The 28-year-old is enjoying a good season and Silva, Iwobi's only coach during his time at Craven Cottage, believes there is more to come. “What Alex has done this season has been very good, he is improving game by game and is more decisive for us,” said the Fulham coach. “Last season was probably the best for him at this level and I think he will be even better this season. “He is taking on a lot more responsibility and moving the team forward.” andy hunter
3
Van Dijk turns the tables on the coach from a set piece
Nicolas Jover is Arsenal's now world famous set piece coach. Once in Brentford, a training school for corner and free kick gurus, and then in city of manchesterJover was the genius behind 26 set-piece goals in the Premier League last season, a record 16 from corners. One problem with being a set piece specialist is being only as good as the last set piece. When Virgil van Dijk stooped to score Liverpool's first goal, Jover's name was in mud, only to be revived by Mikel Merino scoring Arsenal's second from a Declan Rice free-kick. The technical areas of the Premier League are lately full of such agents, the Doobie-Brothers stylings of Aston Villa's Austin MacPhee are part of the furniture, as is Carlos Vicens for Pep Guardiola's side. It can be a ruthless business with results; The Wolves fired Jack Wilson from the position earlier this month. And then there is the problem that football is not just about set pieces. Against Liverpool, Arsenal only won one attacking corner. John Brewin
4
Howe needs improvement in results
Newcastle show little sign of overcoming mid-table irrelevance, which certainly wasn't the plan when Saudi Arabia's public investment fund took control three years ago. Eddie Howe declared himself happy with the majority of his performance at Chelsea, where better decision-making by Alexander Isak could have resulted in a draw, and took it as a sign of movement in the right direction. But the Magpies look strong and will certainly be keeping their fingers crossed that Anthony Gordon's groin injury, which ruled him out on Sunday, has no long-term consequences. While a Carabao Cup rematch against Enzo Maresca's side on Wednesday, this time at home, offers chances to boost the confidence of the first division The tests keep coming. They host Arsenal on Saturday and the wins should start coming soon. “A couple of wins changes the landscape very quickly,” Howe said. “As long as the players give their all and are committed, I will accept the results.” Others interested in your fortune might want to show something more in exchange for that attitude. Nick Ames
5
Nuno does not let himself go
Nottingham Forest seemed to score with every attack against rivals Leicester on Friday, but their defensive structure has been imperative to their success so far this season. Only Liverpool have conceded fewer goals than Forest, for whom Chris Wood has scored seven of his 11 league goals. Nuno Espírito Santo has turned Forest into a formidable opponent and, apart from a trip to Arsenal, November looks like an opportunity to build on their bright start, with home games against West Ham, Newcastle and Ipswich. Nuno has told Forest fans to enjoy this moment, but the Portuguese is the last one to let himself go. When asked about ranking high in the table, Nuno was quick to shut down the question. “It doesn't mean anything,” he said. “The important thing is (to train) on Monday. We are going to prepare for West Ham. We have to correct details, you can see the goal (from Leicester), we have to try to improve.” ben fisherman
6
Tottenham's midfield weaknesses revealed
Playing with Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison in a three-man midfield should be exciting. It's a risky approach, but it means there are two excellent creative presences alongside Yves Bissouma. However, the evidence from Tottenham's victory over West Ham last week was that Spurs look better balanced with just one of them, and Pape Sarr alongside Bissouma at the base of midfield. Against West Ham, the problem was that Spurs were open on the counter; against Crystal Palace the problem was that they seemed to lack the physical presence to relieve the pressure. Perhaps, as Ange Postecoglou hinted, the problem was more psychological than anything else, but Kulusevski seemed unusually nervous while Maddison was unable to assert himself. Not that things got much better after the time when both were removed and Sarr came in, but by then, perhaps, the damage had already been done. It is not the first time that the Spurs looked like a team that could be attacked. jonathan wilson
after newsletter promotion
7
Hard lesson for Wieffer
“He will be disappointed and he should be,” Fabian Hürzeler said of Mats Wieffer, the late Brighton substitute whose lack of composure led to Wolves' late equalizer on the counter-attack. As a Feyenoord player, Wieffer's team averaged 2.52 points, a joint record for the Eredivisie, but here was the cruelty of the Premier League. In those final moments, and despite Evan Ferguson's well-taken goal, Brighton had shown their inexperience. Their manager must take some of the blame, although perhaps Wolves' breakthrough could have been prevented by more seasoned players like Danny Welbeck, who tired after his goal, or Lewis Dunk, who was denied his 250th appearance in a warm-up. injury, or James Milner, missing since August, been on the field. Still, you have to give the Wolves credit for the comeback that few saw coming. They haven't finished yet. “We're definitely going to be good this season and that just reaffirms my thoughts,” said Gary O'Neil, despite his team's two point total. John Brewin
8
Is Villa really suffering from a European hangover?
Despite conceding a last-gasp draw Bournemouth On Saturday, the data suggests that Aston Villa do not actually tend to suffer a drop in performance after Champions League games. Unai Emery's team has won all three games on its return to Europe's top competition to top the standings. But the idea, after a poor first half in the 3-1 win over Wolves and a goalless draw with Manchester United before Saturday's disappointment against Bournemouth, that the excitement of the Champions League is upon them. costing, is offset by the data. According to SofaScore statistics on possession, expected goals and big chances created, Villa are actually performing less convincingly in the matches leading up to their Champions League matches than in the ones after. . Peter Lansley
9
Lewis-Potter impresses in his thriller
After 43 minutes of what Thomas Frank described as one of Brentford's worst football during his tenure, the ball landed at the feet of Keane Lewis-Potter on the left wing against Ipswich. Injuries meant the start of Lewis-Potter's Brentford career did not go to plan following his then club record move from Hull in the summer of 2022, which came with high expectations. “You can't expect everyone to be Vinícius Júnior or (Kylian) Mbappé,” Frank understood. But on Saturday he gave full proof of his capabilities. With his team trailing by two goals, Lewis-Potter cut inside with a deft first touch, before weaving his way between two players to release Vitaly Janelt for Yoane Wissa's first goal. “It was an action that lights everything up,” Frank said of Lewis-Potter's play. “Boom, 2-1 and suddenly a little faith.” In a crazy game that repeatedly swung both ways, Lewis-Potter regularly caught the eye, always moving forward and bringing out the two yellow cards that prematurely ended Harry Clarke's full Premier League debut. “Probably his best game,” Frank said. “I'm very, very pleased with his performance.” ben flower
10
Injuries increase at City
Injuries are a concern as Manchester City go on tour for four games at Tottenham (EFL Cup), Bournemouth (Premier League), Sporting (Champions League) and Brighton (PL). Pep Guardiola only named five field substitutes against Southampton as he also did in Wednesday's victory over Sparta Prague due to the unavailability of Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Jérémy Doku and Kyle Walker. The manager said: “We talked about it, we have to take care of ourselves. Good sleep, drinks, good food, lots of sleep, training and recovery. I would love to have everyone, it's not the position. OK. We have to do what we have to do.” It can give players rest. “I don't know if I'm going to think about some academy players against Spurs. “If the players are fine, they will play against Spurs, but if they have doubts I will not take risks, that's for sure,” Guardiola said. Jaime Jackson
