Will Arsenal capitalise on Liverpool’s slip in north London derby against Tottenham? Premier League talking points | Football News

Will Arsenal capitalise on Liverpool’s slip?

Arsenal vs Tottenham, Wednesday, kick-off 8pm

Extra time and penalties, new injuries and another confidence-sapping evening at an increasingly edgy Emirates Stadium. Arsenal’s FA Cup loss to Manchester United, following defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup, was not ideal preparation for Tottenham’s visit.

Arsenal, already without Bukayo Saka, are now without Gabriel Jesus for even longer. Their attacking injuries, with Ethan Nwaneri also out, leave them reliant on a struggling Kai Havertz. Jurrien Timber and Jorginho were also forced off in Sunday’s game.

Physically, they were looking jaded even before the two cup games, their exhaustion clear in their second-half collapse against Brighton. With no time for a restorative trip to Dubai this year, Mikel Arteta must find a way to reinvigorate his players on the fly.

It is a tough task. How the Arsenal boss would have loved a clear schedule this week. Instead, he must navigate one of their biggest games of the season, one in which anything less than victory will be even tougher for the club’s supporters to tolerate.

But after Liverpool’s draw at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, a win for Arsenal will take them within four points of the leaders, who have a game in hand.

Of course, Tottenham have a lengthy injury list too. They also endured an FA Cup ordeal of their own on Sunday, needing extra time to beat non-League Tamworth. But the physical demands of that game were far more modest than Arsenal’s. Ange Postecoglou was also able to rotate.

Their recent Premier League form has been far worse than Arsenal’s, with a solitary point taken from their last four games. But last week’s Carabao Cup win over Liverpool hinted at a corner being turned. Although depleted themselves, Spurs should make the trip across north London sensing an opportunity.
Nick Wright

If anything can take Isak up another level…

Newcastle vs Wolves, Wednesday, kick-off 7.30pm

Alexander Isak has become an unstoppable force against Premier League defences and if there is anything that might raise him up another notch, Newcastle have given it to him.

A rest.

Isak started all of the Magpies’ 16 games prior to Sunday’s FA Cup win over Bromley, where he wasn’t even in the squad owing to a minor hamstring complaint, but should be fit to feature against Wolves on Wednesday.

In the absence of any genuine competition with Callum Wilson’s continued injury problems, the onus has been on the Swedish goal machine and he has delivered, with 14 goals during that run.

It’s the longest run of consecutive club starts since he moved to Tyneside in 2022. In the face of necessity he has delivered, which itself was far from a guarantee.

This is a player who scored only six goals in his final season at Real Sociedad before joining Newcastle. One who was brought to Borussia Dortmund as the next Zlatan Ibrahimovic but left without a league strike to his name.

A tough opening campaign at Newcastle was largely hampered by injury but he has not looked back since. His ability to hold the ball up, play with his back to goal, drift wide or play as a conventional No 9 was missing just one thing – the confidence any top striker needs.

With that, is there a better out-and-out striker in world Football right now? His nine goals since the beginning of December top the Premier League charts, and with a full week between matches for the first time since mid-October, Wolves had better have their wits about them.
Ron Walker

Can Moyes’ return get Everton firing?

Everton vs Aston Villa, Wednesday, kick-off 7.30pm

David Moyes’ first spell in charge of Everton began with a goal after 30 seconds by David Unsworth as they clinched a 2-1 win over Fulham despite a first-half red-card to Thomas Gravesen. It sparked a run of three wins from four games which lifted them to safety.

Thirteen years on, how they would love a repeat. Moyes, now 61, once again inherits a team in need of a saviour. They are without a win in five games and a point above the drop zone.

His first challenge is to get them scoring. Everton laboured to a 2-0 win over Peterborough in the FA Cup under the interim charge of Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines on Thursday but they have only found the net once in five games in the Premier League. Only bottom-side Southampton have scored fewer goals this season.

The numbers make grim reading. Everton are even lower than Southampton in terms of expected goals, underlying just how blunt they have been under Sean Dyche. But the hope for supporters is that the return of Moyes provides an immediate confidence boost to those who have struggled so badly in front of goal.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa make for a tough opponent but they have clear weaknesses defensively and head to what is likely to be a revitalised Goodison Park having lost their last five Premier League away games, conceded a combined 14 goals in the process.
Nick Wright

Welcome signs for Leicester

Leicester vs Crystal Palace, Wednesday, kick-off 7.30pm

Ruud van Nistelrooy admitted the Premier League is the priority for Leicester this season – but the emphatic win against QPR in the FA Cup was exactly what they needed heading into the game against Crystal Palace.

A run of five losses on the bounce had quickly soured the initial optimism Van Nistelrooy’s arrival had provided until a 6-2 win against the Hoops fired them into the fourth round.

Aside from snapping the losing streak, it is the manner of the victory that will please Leicester fans most.

Wasteful finishing played a major role in seeing the club walk away from promising performances against Manchester City and Aston Villa with zero points – so watching goals flood in from all angles would have been a welcome sign for Van Nistelrooy and his squad.

Carrying this form over into the league is now imperative to their season and survival chances. Starting with Palace.
Patrick Rowe

Saints clash a test of Man Utd’s mettle

Man Utd vs Southampton, Thursday, kick-off 8pm

Amidst all of the FA Cup third-round euphoria, layered on top of a spirited display at Anfield, it’s easy to forget that Manchester United are without a win in their last six. Since their last victory, a 2-1 comeback win at Manchester City, United have lost four and drawn twice.

The last two outings showed a different side to United, a new one. There was a side to the team Ruben Amorim was hoping for since taking charge but has been forced to wait for.

United have risen to the challenge at Anfield and the Emirates in showings of great mental fortitude but the real challenge for Amorim’s men is whether they can maintain their level against some of the so-called ‘lesser sides’.

There’s no better test of United’s resolve at the moment than a home clash against the side rock bottom of the Premier League. Should they win convincingly, we can begin to take this supposed new leaf seriously.
William Bitibiri

Can Brighton spark into winning Premier League form?

Ipswich vs Brighton, Thursday, 7.30pm

After just three defeats in 15 games in all competitions at the start of the season, Brighton went eight games without victory through the festive period – although still with just two losses.

But for a club with aspirations of European football, consistently drawing won’t get them there. Their 10 draws this season are the most in the Premier League.

However, the Seagulls will be hoping a 4-0 win against Norwich in the FA Cup will give them the boost they need to start picking up points in the league. One of the brightest moments from the third-round tie was Solly March’s fine goal, scored after a lengthy injury lay-off.

It’s another trip to East Anglia on Tuesday evening as they take on Ipswich – a team only in the relegation zone on goal difference and improving with each Premier League game. The Tractor Boys too were victorious in their FA Cup outing at the weekend, and are now three games unbeaten.

It will not be an easy evening for either side and both will feel they can take maximum points. They need them for different reasons, but equally as important.
Charlotte Marsh

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