Booming Arsenal face acid test of standing
Unai Emery’s men are set to play an on-song Liverpool on Saturday
PHOTO: AFP
LONDON:
Handed an unforgiving start as Arsenal's first new manager for nearly a quarter of a century, Unai Emery has quickly put defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea behind him with a 13-game unbeaten run to earn the respect of the Gunners' support.
However, the real test of how far Emery's Arsenal have evolved since being outclassed by City on the opening weekend of the season comes when Liverpool travel to the Emirates on Saturday.
Arsenal have won 12 of those 13 games unbeaten, the only slip coming at Crystal Palace last weekend when they conceded two penalties in a 2-2 draw.
Yet, they haven't faced any of the Premier League's top six from last season in that run, with defeats of Watford and Everton their only victories over sides in the top half of the table.
Emery still seems to be searching for the right balance, while also getting two star centre-forwards in Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang into the side.
All-smiles Chelsea face rotting United
Lacazette and Aubameyang have already combined for 14 goals between them this season and their firepower has so far got Arsenal out of trouble, particularly late in games with Emery's men yet to enjoy a half-time lead in the Premier League.
It is to Emery's credit that his changes have often impacted the game positively for his side, and that Arsenal only trail league leaders City and Liverpool by four points heading into this weekend.
The priority for Arsenal this season remains a top four finish and a return to the Champions League rather than a title challenge, and Emery is well on course for that goal.
However, the Spaniard can look to his opponents this weekend for inspiration in what Arsenal could look like as the finished product.
Jurgen Klopp has taken almost three years to find the right blend between attack and defence despite reaching two European finals with Liverpool, one of which he lost to Emery's Sevilla in the Europa League two years ago.
Until now, a realistic tilt at the title has been undermined by defensive deficiencies.
Leicester set for emotional return to action
United in sorrow following the death of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, grief-stricken Leicester will make an emotional return to action at Cardiff on Saturday.
Thai billionaire Vichai was among five people killed when his helicopter crashed outside Leicester's King Power Stadium following last Saturday's match against West Ham.
The tragedy rocked the football world, with Leicester's stunned players joining mourners who turned the King Power into a shrine with flowers and tributes to the charismatic Vichai.
With his vast investment and boundless enthusiasm, Vichai was the inspiration for Leicester's incredible Premier League title triumph as 5,000-1 outsiders in 2016.
While results on the pitch pale in comparison to the trauma of Vichai's death, Claude Puel's side will play this weekend for the first time since the crash.
Tuesday's League Cup home game against Southampton came too soon for Leicester, who postponed the tie to allow more time for the city to come to terms with the accident.
But they have agreed to play the Premier League fixture in south Wales in a bid to start the healing process.
A minute's silence will be observed before kick-off at the Cardiff City Stadium and players will wear black armbands in Vichai's honour.
"Playing football has not been on our minds this last week but for this weekend and all matches after we will play to honour and remember a man who did so much for our club. The result is not important, but our desire to give our best to honour our chairman, that is the most important thing," Puel said.
All eyes on Martial as United face Bournemouth
Anthony Martial may finally be fulfilling his enormous potential amid a turbulent season at Manchester United as Jose Mourinho plots how best to use his attacking resources.
The France forward heads into Saturday's clash at Bournemouth on a run of four goals in three Premier League matches — a sequence that can only have boosted his fragile confidence.
His recent run is reminiscent of the fabulous start he made at Old Trafford, when he scored four goals in his first four games.
The Frenchman has been restored to his favoured position, on the left of the attack, where he is able to cut inside and create chances for others as well as scoring goals himself — five in eight starts so far.
Those goals have come at key times.
Handed an unforgiving start as Arsenal's first new manager for nearly a quarter of a century, Unai Emery has quickly put defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea behind him with a 13-game unbeaten run to earn the respect of the Gunners' support.
However, the real test of how far Emery's Arsenal have evolved since being outclassed by City on the opening weekend of the season comes when Liverpool travel to the Emirates on Saturday.
Arsenal have won 12 of those 13 games unbeaten, the only slip coming at Crystal Palace last weekend when they conceded two penalties in a 2-2 draw.
Yet, they haven't faced any of the Premier League's top six from last season in that run, with defeats of Watford and Everton their only victories over sides in the top half of the table.
Emery still seems to be searching for the right balance, while also getting two star centre-forwards in Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang into the side.
All-smiles Chelsea face rotting United
Lacazette and Aubameyang have already combined for 14 goals between them this season and their firepower has so far got Arsenal out of trouble, particularly late in games with Emery's men yet to enjoy a half-time lead in the Premier League.
It is to Emery's credit that his changes have often impacted the game positively for his side, and that Arsenal only trail league leaders City and Liverpool by four points heading into this weekend.
The priority for Arsenal this season remains a top four finish and a return to the Champions League rather than a title challenge, and Emery is well on course for that goal.
However, the Spaniard can look to his opponents this weekend for inspiration in what Arsenal could look like as the finished product.
Jurgen Klopp has taken almost three years to find the right blend between attack and defence despite reaching two European finals with Liverpool, one of which he lost to Emery's Sevilla in the Europa League two years ago.
Until now, a realistic tilt at the title has been undermined by defensive deficiencies.
Leicester set for emotional return to action
United in sorrow following the death of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, grief-stricken Leicester will make an emotional return to action at Cardiff on Saturday.
Thai billionaire Vichai was among five people killed when his helicopter crashed outside Leicester's King Power Stadium following last Saturday's match against West Ham.
The tragedy rocked the football world, with Leicester's stunned players joining mourners who turned the King Power into a shrine with flowers and tributes to the charismatic Vichai.
With his vast investment and boundless enthusiasm, Vichai was the inspiration for Leicester's incredible Premier League title triumph as 5,000-1 outsiders in 2016.
While results on the pitch pale in comparison to the trauma of Vichai's death, Claude Puel's side will play this weekend for the first time since the crash.
Tuesday's League Cup home game against Southampton came too soon for Leicester, who postponed the tie to allow more time for the city to come to terms with the accident.
But they have agreed to play the Premier League fixture in south Wales in a bid to start the healing process.
A minute's silence will be observed before kick-off at the Cardiff City Stadium and players will wear black armbands in Vichai's honour.
"Playing football has not been on our minds this last week but for this weekend and all matches after we will play to honour and remember a man who did so much for our club. The result is not important, but our desire to give our best to honour our chairman, that is the most important thing," Puel said.
All eyes on Martial as United face Bournemouth
Anthony Martial may finally be fulfilling his enormous potential amid a turbulent season at Manchester United as Jose Mourinho plots how best to use his attacking resources.
The France forward heads into Saturday's clash at Bournemouth on a run of four goals in three Premier League matches — a sequence that can only have boosted his fragile confidence.
His recent run is reminiscent of the fabulous start he made at Old Trafford, when he scored four goals in his first four games.
The Frenchman has been restored to his favoured position, on the left of the attack, where he is able to cut inside and create chances for others as well as scoring goals himself — five in eight starts so far.
Those goals have come at key times.