WILSON VITAL FOR BOURNEMOUTH ( Watford 0 vs 4 Bournemouth)
Goals ( Bournemouth : D. Brooks (14 min), Josh King (33 min, 45 min), C. Wilson (47 min)
Bournemouth's biggest Premier League away win had many silver linings. The Cherries move up to sixth on the log, two points outside the top four on sixteen points. It took them sixteen games to reach the same tally last season. At Vicarage road, Steve Cook and Nathan Ake were resolute at the back, with the tenacity of the midfield four providing a perfect platform for Josh King (who is on four goals already this campaign, half of his tally last season ) and Callum Wilson to wreck havoc up top. I was most impressed by the performance of Wilson however. Dovetailing nicely with King, his pace on the counter caused panic in the Watford ranks. Even more impressive has been his recovery from the cruciate ligament injury suffered in February 2017,which kept him out of action for nearly six months. Eddie Howe has done a great job keeping his closely knit side together,and getting the best out of the resources at his disposal --one of those Callum Wilson-- With belief in the coach's philosophy high among the squad, who knows what they could achieve in this fairytale of a season so far. Europe maybe?
REBORN SIGURDSSON CAN BE VITAL FOR EVERTON ( Leicester City 1 vs 2 Everton )
Goals ( Leicester City : R. Pereira (40 min) Everton (Richarlison (7 min), G. Sigurdsson (77 min)
In the summer of 2017, Everton signalling their ambition to crack the top six under owner Farhad Moshiri, splashed close to £50 million on Icelandic midfielder, Gylfi Sigurdsson in a club record deal,with many raising eyebrows as to the astronomical amounts involved. His stunner on Saturday however, the matchwinner against Leicester City, definitely left eyebrows wide open in sheer amazement. His Merseyside career has been hit and miss so far, not helped by the managerial instability at the club. Four goals in 8 games this season hints at some sort of rebirth of the attacking midfielder under Marco Silva. His winner against Leicester City smacked of a player high on confidence. A sharp turn in midfield saw him evade a blue shirt, what came next however was pure beauty. From all of 35 yards, Sigurdsson advancing forward, struck a sweet right-footed curler into the top right corner of Kasper Schmeichel's goal. The dip and curl on the ball screamed sublime technique. Surely a contender for goal of the season, and not a bad way to endear himself to the Everton fans, in what has been a far from smooth spell so far. A big season lies ahead if he could kick on under Silva. Playing with the likes of Richarlison, Bernard, Walcott and the shield of Idrissa Gueye behind him should offer him a platform to showcase his attacking attributes.
LACAZETTE GROWING INTO A LETHAL MARKSMAN FOR THE GUNNERS
(Fulham 1 vs 5 Arsenal)
Goals ( Fulham : A. Schurrle (44 Min) Arsenal : A. Lacazette (28, 49 min), A. Ramsey (67 min), P. Aubameyang (79, 90 min)
At Craven Cottage against Fulham, Alexandre Lacazette showed why Arsenal shelled out the best part of £46.5 milllion (€53 million) to acquire his services from Olympic Lyon last summer. After an early flourish in front of goal, his form tailed off, and he ended the campaign with 14 league goals in 32 appearances. Not a bad return, but certainly not one to send fans into a frenzy. The January arrival of Aubameyang, which some thought would reduce his game time, has actually taken their game a step higher. More on that another day. His brace against Fulham (who have conceded a whopping twenty goals this season in just eight games) -- his first a brilliant turn and shot into the far corner and a brilliant half-volleyed second from twenty yards into the bottom left corner-- was ruthless and lethal. Turning a tricky tie up until that point into a smooth procession at the end for the five star gunners. I said last week that his partnership with Aubameyang has the capacity to blossom into one of the most feared modern day striking partnerships. Lacazette clearly enjoys playing in Emery's attacking, high intensity new Arsenal side and Emery must be very pleased with the Frenchman's efforts. Two points off top spot heading into the international break, Lacazette will be pivotal to Arsenal's hopes of silverware this season.
LIFELINE FOR JOSE, OR PAPERING OVER OBVIOUS CRACKS?
A point or two on, Manchester United. They seem to be a constant talking point these days, albeit mainly for the negative reasons. Aren't they? With the mill of speculation on Jose Mourinho's future--indeed newspaper reports had it that the Portuguese would be sacked irrespective of Saturday's result against Newcastle United--- the 145th meeting between these two sides had so much at stake. Will this really be Mourinho's swan song? Would the players fight for him on the pitch? Fans trooped into Old Trafford seeking answers. What they didn't seek however was going two goals down inside nine minutes at home against a side yet to win in the league. How deflating, and worse, how baffling. On the back of a shambolic opening 45 minutes, it felt like this was the end of the road. At crucial times however, one always seems to have a get-out-of-jail card. There's usually only one of such, and Mourinho used his on Saturday. He surely had the players to thank for bailing him--and themselves -- out. Ironic isn't it. Alexis Sanchez, a player rumoured to be at loggerheads with the manager (you can add to that list Pogba, Martial, Rashford, Bailly--substituted on nineteen minutes--club captain Valencia, if you like) scored a 90th minute winner to spark joyful scenes among the hopeful home fans. Even Mourinho would have been mightily relieved. A home loss against Newcastle United would have been bang unacceptable. He lives to fight another day heading into the international break, but this victory should not paper over the obvious cracks in this United team. Scott Mctominay and Matic took turns in central defense, while £30 million Victor Lindelof, signed by Mourinho, looked on from the bench. The breakdown in relationship with Pogba is apparent, but without the Frenchman United look so short of world class midfield talent. The right wing still poses headache. For now though, Mourinho would take any semblance of three points. They are not out of the woods yet, but this was a priceless three points. A big massive three. Many would hope he would have learnt a lesson or two when the League resumes after the international break.
FINELY POISED AT THE TOP
Eight rounds, and the EPL table reads, Manchester City 20 points, Chelsea 20 points, Liverpool 20 minutes. In a keenly contested tussle, what was predicted to be a two-horse race between Liverpool and City, is turning into anything but. With Chelsea, surprisingly adapting in such a short time to Maurizio Sarri's ideas, the blues find themselves in second place on goal difference. The little fine margins at the top is summed up with the fact that just two points separate Tottenham Hotspur in fifth and top of the table Manchester City. Even Jose Mourinho's misfiring Red Devils are just seven points adrift of their neighbours, City. With there still a long way to go, it promises to be a thrilling season ahead.
In other results over the weekend, Chelsea swept aside Southampton three nil at Saint Mary's, Tottenham secured a slender 1-0 victory over Neil Warnock's Cardiff City, Burnley and Huddersfield settled for a 1-1 draw, Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Crystal Palace by a lone goal courtesy of Matt Doherty's strike. In the final and most anticipated game of the weekend, Liverpool and Manchester City played out a goaless draw, in a game that largely failed to live up to its billing and pre-match expectations. City attacker Riyad Mahrez had his head in his hands in the 86th minute, blazing over a penalty kick awarded for a foul by Virgil Van Dijk on substitute Leroy Sane.
The EPL and major leagues across Europe will go on two week break as players report for international duty with their countries.
MATCHDAY 9 FIXTURES
Oct 20: Chelsea vs Manchester United
Oct 20: Manchester City vs Burnley
Oct 20: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Watford
Oct 20: AFC Bournemouth vs Southampton
Oct 20: Newcastle United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Oct 20: Huddersfield Town vs Liverpool
Oct 20: Cardiff City vs Fulham
Oct 20: West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur
Oct 21: Everton vs Crystal Palace
Oct 22: Arsenal vs Leicester City
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