5 points with the Lewis-Skelly crimson card
Arsenal beat Wolves 1-0, however Myles Lewis-Skelly’s first-half crimson card for clipping Matt Doherty dominated the headlines. Listed here are 5 points we’ve got discovered with Michael Oliver and VAR’s choice:
One – you do not see crimson playing cards for that. “He’s 70 yards from his own goal,” stated Tim Sherwood. That’s the start line. How can it’s severe foul play on the sting of Arsenal’s field?
And whether it is severe foul play for the contact on Lewis-Skelly, then he has break up seconds to make that problem. How can the 18-year-old have supposed that? Extra frequent sense was wanted.
Two – VAR gave it. The intense foul play name was checked and confirmed by VAR Darren England. See above for the commonsense level to an official who had replays, slow-motions and time to totally assess it.
Three – Joao Gomes’ problem was arguably worse. How the Wolves midfielder received a yellow for a seemingly greater, extra aggressive and extra harmful problem and Lewis-Skelly received his marching orders is solely baffling. The consistency didn’t even final half a match.
4 – Michael Oliver does not prefer to “impact games negatively by overreacting” apparently. That is what PGMOL chief Howard Webb stated final season when Mateo Kovacic averted a crimson card for Man Metropolis at Arsenal. Did he must ship Lewis-Skelly off there?
5 – Extra freak dismissals for Arsenal – Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard had been each despatched off for kicking the ball away – however have we seen any since? Joao Pedro’s penalty at Brighton regardless of William Saliba seemingly getting the ball. Arsenal are getting freak choices this season and it appears to be closely weighted towards them – so it’s little surprise their followers have gotten more and more annoyed.
Sam Blitz
Alexander-Arnold lights up Anfield
In video games the place Liverpool maintain so many assaults and are tasked with breaking down the opposition, there isn’t any higher creator in world soccer than Trent Alexander-Arnold. He was in his factor within the 4-1 win towards Ipswich, who might solely stand and admire him at occasions.
Spraying the ball across the pitch in his standard easy type and breaking traces with some wonderful passing. There was a cross that he hit on the half volley from nearly the touchline that was so near being knocked in by Luis Diaz. It will have been the help of the season. This lad sees issues that different gamers do not.
He grabbed an help for Cody Gakpo’s objective with a luxurious cross that groups higher than Ipswich wouldn’t have been capable of defend and he deserved a objective of his personal too however crashed one again off the bar. On this temper, on this exhibition-like recreation, he was a privilege to observe. Liverpool followers might must savour these performances whereas they will.
Lewis Jones
Alexander the Nice conquers St Mary’s
There may be completely no stopping Alexander Isak in the mean time. To say he’s in impressed type could be an understatement, however any reward that comes his method is completely warranted after Newcastle’s 3-1 win at Southampton.
One of the best striker within the Premier League proper now? He merely must be.
Since Newcastle’s 3-3 draw with Liverpool on December 4, Eddie Howe’s aspect have performed 12 video games. Isak has solely drawn a clean twice. He now has 19 objectives in 25 video games in all competitions this season. Seven extra and he’ll set a brand new private greatest, eclipsing final season’s 25.
The data are beginning to fall, too. His double at St Mary’s ensured he grew to become the primary Newcastle participant to attain in 5 consecutive Premier League away appearances, overtaking Peter Beardsley’s earlier membership document of 4 in December 1993.
Extra importantly, his new tally of 48 Premier League objectives is the joint-most of any Swedish participant within the competitors, together with Freddie Ljungberg, and he has additionally gone forward of team-mate Callum Wilson (47) because the outright second-top goalscorer for Newcastle within the competitors, behind Alan Shearer (148).
As Newcastle search a return to the highest 4, this electrical type shall be crucial.
Dan Lengthy
O’Brien provides Everton one other coat to their armoury
David Moyes has made a seamless return to the dugout at Everton, however in celebrating his 700th recreation as a Premier League supervisor with a 1-0 victory at Brighton, there’s one key distinction in personnel.
Jake O’Brien had not began a league recreation beneath Sean Dyche. Supporters had rightly questioned the summer season recruit on a four-year deal for £16.4m. The 23-year-old Republic of Eire defender made 27 appearances for Lyon.
Having being utilized by Leighton Baines within the FA Cup victory over Peterborough, nevertheless, Moyes appreciated what he noticed.
“I’d watched the game and I thought he’d done quite well,” Moyes stated of that recreation. “He is a centre-half, but a lot of young central defenders make their debuts as full-backs.
“I used to be one after I was at Celtic, for instance. However when you have a look at a whole lot of centre-backs, typically midfield gamers may need to play broad. So Jake in the mean time may must. We now have received two actually good centre-backs so to get him in, we have tried to make use of him a bit of bit as a full-back. Just a little little bit of a hybrid at occasions, typically enjoying a bit additional in. Attempt to get him some game-time.
“He’s improving, he’s got a long way to go, he’s got a lot of things to do. I’ve been really pleased with the two performances. He’s come into the team and we’ve won two games. In the main, he kept Kaoru Mitoma pretty quiet overall.”
O’Brien stood as much as the duty impressively, first with Jesper Lindstrom in entrance of him after which barely extra inverted when Nathan Patterson was launched. Everton have been conserving clear sheets away from house earlier than Moyes’ arrival, however now they’ve one other coat to their armoury.
Ben Grounds
Iraola’s magic has Bournemouth dreaming of Europe
Bournemouth had been jaw-droppingly excellent of their assertion 5-0 house victory over Nottingham Forest.
The standard of the objectives, the free-flowing soccer and their defensive solidity shone in a win which can enhance the idea this joyful Bournemouth aspect can qualify for Europe.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola is the architect of all of this and he’ll little question be linked with greater jobs within the coming months with the magic he’s engaged on the south coast.
Bournemouth thrashed Forest to document their greatest victory within the prime flight since April 2019. Iraola’s seventh-placed workforce have now crushed 4 of the highest seven this season, so their 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions isn’t any accident.
In a topsy-turvy Premier League season that has seen the larger sides battle, Bournemouth have taken full benefit and this gorgeous show will make them feared.
Leaders Liverpool go to the Vitality Stadium subsequent with Bournemouth eyeing one other spectacular victory.
Beat the Reds, and Bournemouth is not going to simply be seen as European hopefuls however true Champions League contenders, particularly with fifth place probably being sufficient for Champions League qualification this season.
Declan Olley
The inevitable finish cannot come quickly sufficient for Southampton
One other week, one other defeat, one other step nearer to what looks like inevitable relegation. With out desirous to sound like a damaged document, this season has been as depressing as they arrive for Southampton – and it’s removed from over.
The document for the fewest factors accrued in a single Premier League season is held by Derby, who picked up simply 11 in 2007/08. Matching this or setting a brand new document altogether remains to be wholly potential.
However on Saturday, one other document was set – Saints have now misplaced six consecutive house league video games for the primary time of their historical past. They haven’t tasted league victory at house since November 2, after they beat Everton 1-0. The truth is, that is still their solely league win this season to this point.
They’ve received simply considered one of their final 36 Premier League video games (D7 L28) and, when changing to a few factors for a win all time, Saints’ six factors is the second lowest after 23 top-flight video games, with solely Bolton in 1902/03 ever having fewer at this stage (3).
Ivan Juric has definitely instilled extra battle on this workforce they usually battled till the tip right here, however with out the outcomes to go along with it, the seemingly inevitable is drawing nearer.
Dan Lengthy
Wasted alternative for Wolves
A wierd recreation at Molineux. Wolves began effectively and appeared like they might frustrate Arsenal, with Pablo Sarabia even going near giving the hosts the lead after his effort sailed simply over the bar within the first half.
Momentum appeared to shift after Lewis-Skelly’s crimson – however not in the way in which you’d assume.
Arsenal performed just like the workforce with 11 on the sector and even earlier than Joao Gomes departed for his reckless sort out on Jurrien Timber, the Gunners appeared like the one aspect able to breaking the impasse.
Forcing David Raya into making only one save after they had extra gamers on the pitch just isn’t ok from Wolves. “We had some difficulties to play but after this, we started to play again and to break the first line of pressure,” Pereira stated after the sport. “Then came the second yellow card.”
Wolves confirmed towards Manchester United that they will punish groups with 11 vs 10 however merely didn’t have the identical drive, risk or willpower on this event.
A robust alternative to safe factors within the battle for survival now escapes them.
Patrick Rowe