1. Rogers and Emery Combine for Heist
Do the final scores be misleading? One must ask. The Villans' triumphant run continued against Manchester United, alongside the nagging doubts. They were the lesser team by several measures – fewer shots (12-15), a smaller share of the ball (43-57), a scarcity of clear opportunities (2-3). As usual, the victory was by a narrow margin. As usual, the xG metric sided with the opposition: reports suggest United edged it 1.31-1.02. But, as every fan knows games are determined by more than statistics. They are won by collective effort, tactical brilliance and sparkling skill – and Villa boast the complete package. The young forward might just be their primary talisman, but he is performing with festive regularity. The Spanish tactician is wily, battle-hardened, streets ahead of Ruben Amorim. Should Rogers have benefited from a positional error, that was probably because the manager identified that his opponent was uncomfortable, and instructed his winger to start wide, cut in and cause him problems. Individual brilliance and coaching, combining effectively.
2. The Amorim Conundrum: Still Searching for Answers
Back in October after defeating Brighton 4-2 on 25 October, their fans felt optimism return. They had won three league games in a row for the initial occasion under the Portuguese coach. They ascended to fourth. And the wins were all good ones – over Brighton (a traditionally tricky opponent), Liverpool (at Anfield!) and Sunderland (at home, facing a team fresh from the Championship, but still – an untroubled victory). The goalkeeper was reassuring, their forward line sparked and there was a positive mood. But then United slipped into a slump. In a run of eight matches, a mere pair of successes, six games without a win. In the recent fixture they were superior for large periods without ever appearing likely to triumph. Yes, their forward scored a good goal, but he also blazed over a simple chance. Yes, United were hit by fitness issues (to influential figures), but they gave away cheap scores. Following over a year in England, the manager has yet to solve how to win consistently.
3. Below-Par Gunners Get on Their Grind
It was an 8pm kick-off on the festive weekend but a distinct lack of quality in the final third made for a forgettable match. For Everton, the issue came as no surprise with creative forces absent, and Jack Grealish struggling to lift an entire team by himself. In many respects it is surprising that David Moyes’s side were in fifth place in the table recently given they have played all term without a proven goalscorer. For Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, while he savoured a deserved win and a return to the top of the table, the problem should be just as worrying given their ambitions for the Premier League. The manager claimed that winning margins will inevitably grow more comfortable with hard work and perseverance. But it is somewhat premature in the season for a team that can start with world-class talents, while leaving exciting options on the bench, to be needing to win ugly.
4. Pep's Christmas Weight Watch at City
During the holidays Pep Guardiola will monitor the scales to ensure his Manchester City players have not overdone the festive fare. He revealed the team wanted to take a day off after their latest win but he refused because they didn’t play good enough. So the schedule involves rehabilitation, sessions for the fringe men, and after three days off, then two days to prepare for the next fixture. The manager outlined how improvements can be made. “My strength is deciphering what happens in the game, where are the spaces – if the players were in the right areas, we could generate more chances.” The boss also plans to enjoy a rest: “I have holidays with the family for celebrations. A trip to Barcelona is planned – I recommend it, the food is excellent.”
5. Isak’s Injury Overshadows Big Moment
The Swedish striker's finish at Tottenham felt, for a glorious few seconds, as a turning point. This was exactly what Liverpool paid all that money for him to do, to unlock stubborn defences with his intelligent runs and finishing ability, and the confidence with which he clipped in from good service was highly promising. So the scene of his substitution immediately, the victim of a reckless attempt, was a major worry for Arne Slot and frustrating for fans who would like to see such a gifted player perform at his best again. There are fears Isak has suffered a broken leg and he probably endures a lengthy period on the sidelines. It would be a major blow with Slot’s team having quietly moved into the upper echelons, putting together a string of positive results bookended by Isak’s first Premier League goals in their colours. Their prospects appear heavily dependent on those of their £125m investment.
6. A Contentious Call Saves Chelsea
Managers often lament controversial calls as a means of shifting the focus from matters they wish to avoid discussing. The 13 points Newcastle have squandered when ahead this season appears relevant. The Newcastle boss certainly did not seem particularly eager to mention that unfortunate habit following his side’s inability to hold onto a 2-0 lead against Chelsea in a game they eventually tied. Yet the Magpies' boss was surely justified in criticising a decision made by the referee not to award his team a penalty following a clear obstruction on Anthony Gordon. With the score then 2-1, a spot-kick could have swung the momentum. Was the decision to offer the defender the leeway informed by the player's history for being skilled at drawing contact and sometimes simulating? Comments by a respected pundit was interesting. “He anticipates the contact,” came the observation. “He expects the tackle and he braces for it. I think he's looking for the foul. But the force and aggression there … that’s not shielding the ball.”
7. Statistical Doom for Struggling Wolves
Brentford’s initial success on their travels this season spelled relief for the Bees' boss. Rather than celebrate, Andrews sympathised with Wolves, the club he joined at 16. “My formative years were here,” he said. Wolves’ situation is beyond dire; data analysts state – possibly kindly – their probability of going down at overwhelmingly high, leaving only pride at stake beyond professionalism. A veteran player brutally spelled out|bluntly outlined|frankly
