United grasping at straws

Manchester United started the season on an impressive note with dominant performances and the goals to boot, but recently the Red Devils’ form has dipped. United are without a win in three matches in all competitions and subsequently have fallen behind Manchester City, in the league, who now enjoy a 15-point lead at the top of the table.

The Red Devils dropped points to a last minute Harry McGuire goal, and then were nearly stunned by Burnley when the Clarets had a 2-0 halftime lead at Old Trafford, this prompted a response from United where Jesse Lingard bagged a brace securing a point for the hosts.

In the aftermath of the result an unhappy Jose Mourinho bemoaned his team’s recent performances and attributed their recent loss of form to his side not doing enough business during the transfer window compared to their neighbours. Manchester City’s £221 million compared to United’s £145.8 spent during the window is indeed larger, but what Mourinho may have failed to note is that Chelsea spent close to £10 million more than United but sit joint second with his side and have mostly been playing catchup.

Everton’s spending spree was just a bit more than United’s, however the Toffees have been poor for the most part of the season up until recently. Mourinho also bemoaned how the transfer window was “unfair” towards United and hence why his side hasn’t been up to standard recently, which is surprising as the money spent and the fairness of the window weren’t a problem before.

Truthfully speaking, Manchester United aren’t dropping points because of the lower amounts spent in the window but because United haven’t been playing with any conviction lately. United lost the Manchester derby at home in a game where they were dominated by the league’s best side partly due to United not letting go of the handbrake considering all of the attacking talent on their roster.

That loss may have have brought on a psychological knock on United and thus why they have bagged only eight points out of a possible 15. Mourinho’s attempt to downplay United’s recent run of results coming down to spending power and a bias towards United in the transfer market confirmed two things: he and United have lost the mental edge and losers will always make excuses for their shortfalls.

Still some way to go for Arsenal

Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League since 2004 and that’s not likely to change anytime soon judging by their performances against the big guns. On Friday the Gunners endured a dismal 52-minute spell where they could have easily have been four or five down instead of the two.

The fightback to eventually take the lead was testament to something Arsenal have not usually shown when it matters, and for once they weren’t easy to roll over.

Despite that though you’d have to agree that on the night Arsenal were fortunate to have earned a point against Liverpool. For much of the fixture Liverpool had been brilliant and worked brilliantly off the counter and Arsenal seemingly had no answers. If it hadn’t been for their defensive frailties Arsenal would have been starring in yet another horror show.

Much like in the first game it seemed Wenger didn’t factor in any tactics or Liverpool hitting them where it hurts. Starting Maitland-Niles at left full back against the league’s top scorer in Mo Salah proved to be costly at the beginning.

Arsenal’s lack of a proper defensive midfielder who can protect the back four also was another problem. Granit Xhaka is usually caught wandering far off from his base position which leaves the defence vulnerable. Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere are terrific footballers, but neither are the enforcer that Arsenal need to take them back to the top.

Above all else Arsenal still seem to lack the ability to learn from past mistakes, and they were fortunate that Liverpool had an Achilles heel they could exploit because next time they may not be so fortunate.

Better than the Invincibles?

Unbeaten, top of the log, unplayable and seemingly unstoppable Manchester City made short work of Spurs with a 4-1 win at home to extend their lead at the top the Premier League standings. Even more significant was the fact City, in the process, earned a 16^th consecutive league and having already being compared to the Arsenal’s Invincibles when might argue City may be better.

Arsenal won 26 matches in the entirety of their record setting season and in comparison City have already won 17 of their 18 matches so far. At this point in the season have City have amassed 52 points, eight points more than the legendary Gunners side registered by the turn of the year.

Arsenal scored 73 goals on their way to the title, while in comparison City already have 55 and are projected to go well past the Invincibles’ tally with the them averaging 3.1 goals this season.

Thierry Henry contributed 30 of the goals during Arsenal’s title winning run with 14 other players chipping in towards the total tally. City’s tally is a lot more spread out with twelve players contributing to the total, and with still a few others yet to score.

What could be more telling is the way and the margins by which City have won their matches as they have dominated the opposition even against the league’s topsides whether be at the Etihad or away from home.

But it may be too early to bestow City the title of Invincibles 2.0 as its only halfway through the season and time will tell if that proves to be true.