We are six games into the Premier League season, which isn’t much, but just enough to start dissecting the teams and how their seasons look to unfold. The big six looks to be almost broken, with the likes of Chelsea, Man United, and Spurs all sitting outside 6th (who would’ve thought Arsenal wouldn’t be listed there despite their problems). 6 clubs stick out to me as having compelling seasons ahead of them, and I’m here to tell you what I see and why.
- Arsenal. Where else would I start? Is there any club that nobody has figured out? They can’t even play a complete game of good football. Their draws against Watford and Spurs, and their most recent win against Villa display just how inconsistent this club is even in the span of 90 minutes. David Luiz is now taking on all the criticism that Mustafi was receiving last year, with costly mistake being made nearly every match. Unai Emery doesn’t show any sense of what’s going on tactically, making the poor decision to stick with the diamond against Watford once they started pressing and getting through to their shaky backline. There are 3 really good things going on for arsenal that should see them back in champions league competition. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is absolutely lethal, one of the best in the league at scoring goals in crucial spots, Matteo Guendouzi can control the middle of the pitch, and three crucial members of the defense are returning, Kieran Tierney, Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding. If those three can even prevent just one fewer goal every other game, this team will be one to be respected this campaign.
- Chelsea. I want to say I have figured them out, but I’m not too sure yet. They are god enough to beat the bottom half teams, but when it comes to those fighting for European competition, they fall just short. Tammy Abraham however has been unleashed, showing the potential Londoners have been claiming he has had for years. Their big signing however, is almost no where to be found. Pulisic is out there, you can see the speed and skill he has, but they aren’t leading to quality chances. And when the ball is given up, he doesn’t make much of an effort to get it back. The defense is too shaky for that to happen, as they are giving up quite the number of goals (0 clean sheets this season). I still see them getting back in 6th, but that’s where their ceiling stops unfortunately.
- Manchester United. For a club with the global prominence they have, this is a dumpster fire. Solskjaer doesn’t have his players under control (Pogba’s agent reportedly has a master plan to force a transfer in January), his players (aside from Daniel James) show no passion for the club, and like Chelsea, their back line is too weak for these kinds of issues to happen all on the pitch. They don’t even have a set penalty taker, even Newcastle has that figured out. I only see one way this club finishes in the top 6, and that’s spending money on the back line in January. Get Koulibaly, and upgrade their defensive midfielder, and then this team has a shot at somewhat saving their season.
- Norwich City. Before the season started, I had this team being relegated. I’m doing a complete 180 on that take. This is a mid-table team all things considered. Let’s start with their fullbacks, Sam Byram and Jamal Lewis. The job they did against city in slowing down City (cause you can’t stop them) on the outside was outstanding, and when they got possession, they were calm in breaking city’s pressure and getting the ball up the field. Teemu Pukki is without question a top striker in the league, who can obviously score goals, but can pick out a teammate on the rare occasion they make their runs in the correct spots. And lastly, take a look at the clubs they are competing for a mid-table finish. Newcastle is as bad as everyone predicted, Watford are winless, Everton and wolves have been huge disappointment so far. The only thing that will hold them back is that they have given up more goals than any other club so far. They aren’t going to be a great defensive team, but if they can show competence, they will comfortable finish the year in somewhere near 12th.
- Wolves. Believe it or not, wolves are winless in six games, even playing against Crystal Palace and Burnley. Their issue was an area I was concerned with from the start, and its their defense. Their attacking threats haven’t been consistently good enough to get better results than they should. It may be the European competition draining them out, but if they don’t improve in almost every area on the pitch, it’ll be a season of battling to not be relegated, instead of competing for the top 6 like most saw from this side.
- Liverpool. I’m officially making my championship prediction. Liverpool will finally do it this year. What can’t this club do? They are clinical in attack, they win possession back in the midfield consistently, the back line doesn’t break, Klopp’s substitutions are game changing, it’s the team that is meshing the best right now. If want to be extremely picky and find just one flaw, its that I feel the ball sticks to Salah’s feet too long, and defenses are catching on to it, leading to slightly fewer chances each game than Liverpool could actually have. However, this club is too good at every area for that to make any difference in the score line. Their schedule is quite favorable as well in the next month or so as well, so the hype around this side is only going to grow stronger. Let’s see if they can handle it.
2Guys 1Ball 