London on prime, Manchester Metropolis in dire straits, and Liverpool play one other blinder. The gameweek 8 of the 2023-24 Premier League season offered us with one other set of good video games. The Premier League desk is beginning to take form with eight video games performed. Arsenal and Tottenham are within the prime two spots (Tottenham on prime courtesy aim distinction).
Regardless of intense competitors, the groups within the prime 4 look a degree or two above the remaining, and for this reason different groups harbouring top-four goals should elevate their recreation if they’re to remain in rivalry.
Twenty-seven targets have been scored a tad low in keeping with requirements set within the earlier recreation weeks. We additionally noticed two purple playing cards, which this time, although, didn’t have an effect on the outcomes of the actual recreation.
So, what did we be taught from gameweek 8 of the 2023-24 Premier League season?
Chelsea, Manchester United lastly win
If there are two groups which have had essentially the most strain on their shoulders in current weeks, it’s undoubtedly Chelsea and Manchester United. Chelsea, particularly, had been woeful regardless of spending over €1 billion prior to now 12 months. At one level, they have been hovering over the relegation zone. Nevertheless, Chelsea weren’t enjoying badly; they have been simply lacking their taking pictures boots.
Information from Soccerment reveals that Chelsea have been prime in Gegenpressing within the league. They have been additionally second-best in possession, complete passes, passing accuracy, and Passes Allowed per Defensive Motion (PPDA). And at last, towards Burnley, the staff backed these stats with an exquisite efficiency.
Targets from Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Raheem Sterling, and an personal aim from Ameen Al-Dakhil helped Chelsea to get beneficial three factors earlier than the worldwide break.
Manchester United additionally received a win, although in way more dramatic circumstances, with Scott McTominay scoring two injury-time targets to get Erik Ten Hag a much-needed three factors. Nevertheless, United’s win was way more scrappy, with the staff unable to discover a well past an impressed Thomas Strakosha in Brentford’s aim.
United, although, will take the win and hope that this win supplies them with momentum after their gamers return from worldwide duties.
Arsenal get a champions’ win
Ever since their unbelievable resurgence final season, Arsenal have been good. Nevertheless, one space the place they’ve attracted criticism is their legal responsibility to get wins when below strain or when they don’t seem to be at their finest. And once they went into the sport towards Manchester Metropolis with out their star gamers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli within the beginning lineup up, issues regarded bleak.
On prime of that, Metropolis midfielder Mateo Kovacic additionally escaped what regarded like a sure purple card. Nevertheless, with their backs towards the wall, Arsenal got here roaring again within the second half. Martinelli, who Mikel Arteta despatched in, created all the possibilities. And at last, the Brazilian scored the successful aim, which went in off a deflection from Nathan Ake, which left Ederson wrong-footed. This was a fortunate aim, however that is the kind of win {that a} champion’s staff accumulates, and are available Could, these three factors could be the distinction between successful the title or ending second.
For Pep Guardiola, it has been two back-to-back losses. The frequent theme in each video games is the unavailability of defensive midfielder Rodri, who’s on a three-game suspension, the second of which was towards the Gunners. This explains the significance of the Spaniard within the staff, and Guardiola might be hoping that Rodri stays obtainable for the remainder of the season if they’re to win 4 titles in a row.
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham are a staff nobody desires to face
Might promoting Harry Kane be a masterstroke by Tottenham Hotspur? After eight video games, it does seem because the North Londoners are on prime of the desk and are additionally but to lose a single recreation. Ange Postecoglou, who took cost solely this summer time, has already ingrained his ways into his gamers. Tottenham should not simply successful but additionally enjoying attacking soccer, urgent the opponents of their half.
Tottenham have essentially the most pictures on track within the league and are additionally first within the Buildup Disruption Proportion (BDP), second in Gegenpressing Depth, and third in Discipline Tilt. It is a huge change for a squad who have been massively struggling simply seven months again.
With Kane gone, Son Heung Min has taken the duty for the assault scoring targets whereas the onus for creating them has been taken over by James Maddison. The English midfielder has 5 assists (essentially the most within the league) and can also be ranked because the best-played on the Anticipated Menace (xT) metric.
One other Liverpool recreation, one other VAR controversy
After a horror present by VAR officers in Liverpool’s recreation towards Tottenham, the highlight was again on them within the subsequent recreation for the Reds. With the sport tied at 1-1, Brighton misplaced the ball close to their aim, and in a determined second, Pascal Gross introduced Dominik Szoboszlai down within the penalty space. Whereas the referee did award the spot kick, Gross escaped a purple card though he wasn’t difficult for the ball, which, below the foundations of The Worldwide Soccer Affiliation Board (IFAB), is deemed a purple card.
This did assist Birghton come again within the second half, with Lewis Dunk scoring the equaliser off a Solly March cross.
