Top 10 highlights from this weekend’s Premier League games.

Arteta needs to respond to inquiries.

After losing three games in a row, Fulham made an impressive comeback. However, Arsenal’s performance was lackluster, much like against West Ham. Even the usually resilient players Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice seemed exhausted, indicating the need to consider implementing a rotation policy. The recent rumors linking Ivan Toney to the team suggest that he could be the missing piece in their puzzle, but the heavy workload has also exposed weaknesses in the squad. Arteta’s decision to load up on forwards and leave Rice isolated in midfield against the strong duo of João Palhinha and Tom Cairney was a risky move. As defeat became imminent, Arteta remained composed on the sidelines, but his team tends to panic under pressure. He did not do them any favors by deviating from their structured gameplay and relying on their individual skills to turn things around.

• Game Summary: Arsenal loses to Fulham with a final score of 1-2.

Ten Hag cannot afford to lose the next game.

Manchester United avoided a crisis on Boxing Day, but the relief was short-lived. Only three days later, they suffered a disappointing defeat against Nottingham Forest to end the year. Unfortunately, the situation could potentially worsen for manager Erik ten Hag with the recent news that Sir Dave Brailsford, who is set to join the football board after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s takeover is approved by the Premier League, was in attendance for the match. United’s upcoming FA Cup third-round match against Wigan, currently ranked 18th in League One, has now become more significant. Despite having a strong record against Wigan in the past, Ten Hag would be content with any type of victory given their current form. The last time United lost to Wigan was in 2012, with their current manager Shaun Maloney scoring the winning goal and Jonny Evans, now a key player in the struggling United squad, playing in defense. Ten Hag cannot afford a repeat of that result.

• Game Recap: Nottingham Forest defeats Manchester United 2-1.

Although Jackson can be unpredictable, he is not a failure.

Nicolas Jackson has been a subject of debate this season, with some praising his skills as a player. The Chelsea striker has shown promise but also had some comedic misses and struggles to stay onside, leading some to compare him to Timo Werner. Despite these challenges, the 22-year-old has undeniable potential, with his ability to trouble defenders and contribute to team play. In a recent match against Luton, Jackson performed well on the left side and helped create a goal for his teammate. While it remains to be seen if he will reach elite status as a forward, his record of seven goals and two assists since joining from Villarreal shows that he is not a failure. His main hurdle now is to improve his consistency.

• Game Summary: Luton vs. Chelsea, final score 2-3.

Will Abu Dhabi and De Bruyne be the key players in helping City to victory?

Manchester City may be hitting their stride at just the right time and could benefit from warm weather training during the upcoming winter break. According to Pep Guardiola, the team plans to potentially head to Abu Dhabi together after their match against Newcastle on January 13th. This strategy proved successful last season during the World Cup, resulting in five titles. The purpose of the trip would be to train in more favorable weather conditions and bond as a team, with a focus on preparing for the second half of the season. Guardiola mentioned the possibility of changes in the plan, but as of now, the team is looking forward to the outing. Before the potential trip, Manchester City will face Huddersfield in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, with hopes of having Kevin De Bruyne back on the field after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during their first game of the season against Burnley.

• Manchester City defeated Sheffield United by a score of 2-0 in their recent match.

  The recent game between Manchester City and Sheffield United ended with a score of 2-0, in favor of Manchester City.

Postecoglou receives a bonus for Bentancur’s performance.

Tottenham’s extensive injury list this season has been a topic of much discussion, but Ange Postecoglou was able to surprise everyone with a positive selection against Bournemouth. Rodrigo Bentancur had only started one game for Spurs since February, when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Leicester. Despite an ankle injury that was expected to keep him out until February, the Uruguayan returned to the starting lineup more than a month earlier than anticipated on Sunday. Postecoglou praised Bentancur’s performance, and also noted that his team has closed the gap on their north London rivals Arsenal from nine points to just one point since early December. Unfortunately, not all of the injury news was good as Alejo Véliz left the stadium on crutches and Pape Sarr’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations is now uncertain due to a hamstring injury.

• Match report: Tottenham 3-1 Bournemouth

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Foster’s is revitalized by Kompany’s personal approach.

The football community is now more open to discussing mental health issues, and Vincent Kompany is pleased to see Lyle Foster thriving on the field after taking time off earlier in the season. Foster, who joined Burnley for £11m in January, scored in the team’s recent 3-2 loss against Aston Villa and appears to be in great form. His positive state can be attributed to the support and care he received from his club and manager during his two-month absence for specialized treatment. Kompany expressed his relief at seeing Foster return to the game with a renewed enjoyment and enthusiasm, after facing a difficult personal struggle. He is proud to be a part of Foster’s recovery and is grateful to be a manager and a human being involved in this moment.

• Reworded: Summary of the game: Aston Villa wins 3-2 against Burnley.

The pivotal player for Palace is the unplayable Olise.

Michael Olise was unstoppable for Crystal Palace in their long-awaited win on Saturday and his performance can help his team climb the rankings. Olise put on a spectacular display against Brentford, scoring two goals and making countless runs that confused their struggling opponents. His influence at Selhurst Park was evident with six shots and seven dribbles, leading to Palace’s first victory in nine matches. Despite only returning from a hamstring injury in November, after missing the start of the season, Olise has already made a significant impact. He has scored four goals in his last four games, and at only 22 years old, he is sure to attract more attention if he can maintain this level of play. Roy Hodgson praised Olise, stating that he has been excellent since his return from injury and has been a driving force for the team. Simon Mail

• Report of the match between Crystal Palace and Brentford with the final score of 3-1.

Cunha has taken over as the new leader of O’Neil’s group.

The Wolves spent £44m to acquire Matheus Cunha, who initially joined on loan a year ago. However, his performance was lackluster with only two goals in 20 matches. While Julen Lopetegui was eager to bring him in from Atlético Madrid, he did not meet expectations. After Lopetegui’s departure just before the start of the season, Cunha may have been concerned about fitting in under new manager Gary O’Neil. However, he has been a standout player for the team and was instrumental in their recent win against Everton. Cunha has formed a strong partnership with Hwang Hee-chan, which proved to be too much for Everton to handle. If he continues to play at this level, Wolves have nothing to worry about except possibly losing their star player in the summer transfer window.

• Game summary: Wolves defeat Everton 3-0.

Liverpool is under pressure as their competitors are struggling.

It suddenly feels like we are back in the 2018-2022 period. Arsenal’s unexpected struggles during Christmas and Aston Villa’s recent shaky performances, along with Manchester City’s strong form after the Club World Cup, have made it likely that the title race will once again come down to a battle between Pep Guardiola’s team and Liverpool. No pressure, as Liverpool’s manager Jürgen Klopp leads his squad against Newcastle, which was supposed to be one of their toughest home matches, but now seems more manageable due to the visitors’ recent poor form. There has been a lot of talk about this being Mo Salah’s final game before he heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations, adding to the pressure for a win on Monday evening. However, Liverpool can take comfort in the good form of Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez. Their defense may be stretched thin due to injuries, but Newcastle’s Joelinton and Callum Wilson are returning to full fitness. This fixture has played a crucial role in past title races and could do so once again.

• The match between Liverpool and Newcastle will take place on Monday at 8pm GMT.

European adventurers collide

The battle of the Premier League’s European overachievers is as hard a game to call as any in the top flight. West Ham’s win at Arsenal showcased the David Moyes era at its best – resilient, ruthless and well organised – while Brighton’s evisceration of Tottenham similarly advertised the essence of Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls. Brighton have a fine record in east London, too – their only top-flight defeat at West Ham was back in 1983 at Upton Park – but they’re likely to find this fixture tougher than in recent seasons, though doubts surround the availability of two of West Ham’s most in-form creative talents, Lucas Paquetá, who has a knee niggle, and Mohammed Kudus, whose imminent departure for the Africa Cup of Nations puts his permission to play on Tuesday in doubt. This should be an intriguing pointer as to which of these sides is best placed to qualify for further European adventures next season. TD

• The match between West Ham and Brighton will take place on Tuesday at 7:30pm GMT.

Source: theguardian.com