Michael Cox – Page 2 – Football Scout

Unai Emery, Arsenal need to settle on a ‘Plan A’ and identity to progress forward

Arsenal secured their first clean sheet away from home this Premier League season and soared back into the top four with a 1-0 win over 10-man Watford.

ESPN FC’s Craig Burley delves into Arsenal’s poor form on the road this season, after narrowly escaping 10-man Watford with three points.

On the face of it, this was an excellent night for Arsenal — three points, back into the top four, and at long last, a clean sheet away from home.

But this was a hugely disappointing performance, especially when Arsenal’s two matchwinners here were actually opposition players. Ben Foster’s dawdling when attempting to clear a back pass resulted in him thumping the ball against Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and into his own net for the lone goal. Moments later, Watford captain Troy Deeney needlessly…

Solskjaer formation fail, Guardiola’s strange changes among UCL first-leg talking points

Barcelona will take a one-goal advantage back to the Camp Nou, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored on his return in a 1-1 draw with Ajax.

Tottenham stole a late winner despite losing Harry Kane to injury, while Liverpool outmatched Porto at Anfield.

Craig Burley doesn’t see a way back for Manchester United, even though they limited Barcelona to just one goal at Old Trafford.

Our ESPN FC crew discuss whether Ajax can knock off another European giant away from home following their 1-1 draw with Juventus at home.

Steve Nicol believes Jurgen Klopp has no choice but to start Mohamed Salah despite his continued struggles in Liverpool’s win over Porto.

While Harry Kane’s injury is a major concern for Tottenham, Craig Burley says it could also be a curveball for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.
The Champions League quarterfinals produced four patient but entertaining first legs that ended with four different scorelines: 1-0, 2-0, 1-1, 0-1. Here are four talking points from the four contests played this week…
Tottenham 1-0 Manchester City: Guardiola’s UCL approach prompts more questions
We’re no longer surprised when Pep Guardiola names a starting XI that doesn’t quite make sense on paper — but too often in Champions League away legs, it doesn’t make sense on the pitch either.
On Tuesday,…

Liverpool’s new midfield of Keita, Fabinho and Henderson proving decisive in the club’s title charges

By definition a first leg is about preparing the ground for a forthcoming fixture, but Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Porto at Anfield isn’t just significant in relation to the second leg in Portugal next week, but in relation to their title run-in too. Five games from the end of a potentially title-winning season, Jurgen Klopp has suddenly stumbled upon a new midfield: Fabinho, Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson.

None of the three have enjoyed consistent campaigns. Fabinho, after arriving from Monaco…

Liverpool’s new midfield of Keita, Fabinho and Henderson decisive in club’s trophy hopes

None of the three have enjoyed consistent campaigns. Fabinho, after arriving from Monaco…

Why Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United will — and will not — finish in the top four

With the race as close as ever, the FC guys debate who among Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea or Man United are best poised to claim a top-four spot.

The Premier League title race between Manchester City and Liverpool is alive and well — but coming just behind them, things are equally fascinating in the battle for the top-four places.

A couple of months ago, it seemed Manchester United were huge outsiders for a Champions League place. A couple of weeks ago, it seemed Tottenham were nailed-on for one of those slots, with Chelsea and Arsenal battling it out for the final place.

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But suddenly, the field has tightened up considerably. United’s…

The crucial moments of luck and misfortune that will help decide Premier League title race

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola reveals how he reacted to title rivals Liverpool scoring a late winner against Spurs.

Following Mohamed Salah’s response to his critics, ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol explains what’s missing from the Liverpool forward’s game this campaign.

Liverpool’s pursuit of the Premier League title produced more drama against Spurs, with a 90th-minute own goal moving them back ahead of Man City.

Manchester City capitalized on two Fulham mistakes to leapfrog Liverpool and return to the top of the Premier League.

Manchester City capitalized on two Fulham mistakes to leapfrog Liverpool and return to the top of the Premier League.
For all the attempts to summarise the Premier League title race in a single moment, there have been so many key moments that none of them can be considered truly decisive.
What is clear, however, is that this has been the most enthralling Premier League title race in many years, packed full of potentially crucial incidents — and perhaps some lucky bounces to come.
Here are five of the most memorable:
Mahrez blazes over: Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City, Oct. 7

Riyad Mahrez’s penalty miss against Liverpool could prove to determine the Premier League title.
The first meeting between the two title…

No future for Sarri at Chelsea as he’s bound by Stamford Bridge history

Stevie Nicol feels Chelsea are too inconsistent under Maurizio Sarri to qualify for the Premier League’s top four.

Fans of rival clubs taunt Chelsea supporters by claiming the club “hasn’t got any history” — which isn’t quite fair.

You won’t find many other clubs in the top four divisions of English football, for example, who have maintained their name, their ground and their colours since their formation. Some 114 years on, Chelsea are still Chelsea, they’re still playing at Stamford Bridge, and they’re still playing in blue — albeit a somewhat darker shade than originally.

What is true, though, is…

Alex Iwobi’s movement and link play essential to Arsenal’s rebuilding process

Alex Iwobi has only five goals and six assists in 38 appearances, but his value is about more than goals and assists.

Football is very good at comparing young footballers to previous greats — there’s a desperation to look for the next Diego Maradona, the next Thierry Henry, the next Cristiano Ronaldo.

But what happens when a footballer comes along who doesn’t quite fit an obvious template? Well, the simple answer is that such players’ talents aren’t always appreciated.

Step up Alex Iwobi, Arsenal’s Nigeria international who isn’t really a winger, a central midfielder or a No. 10 and isn’t particularly prolific…

Playing two upfront becoming a viable approach again in the Premier League

The Exploding Heads review the weekend in the Premier League, including Swansea forgetting to turn on VAR and Millwall fan’s actually caring.

The Premier League remains Europe’s most international, multicultural top-flight league in terms of players and managers, and yet somehow there often seems to be a distinctly old-school feel to the football. For instance, Pep Guardiola has spoken of the importance of coping with winning second balls, while Jurgen Klopp has spoken about the need to deal with the inclement weather.

Tactically, things are somewhat different: we’re in the age of false nines and gegenpressing, rather than long balls…

Liverpool go top with win at Fulham, yet their form suggests title may be beyond them

James Milner dispatched a late penalty after Virgil van Dijk’s mistake had gifted Fulham an equalizer.

Virgil van Dijk and James Milner discuss the errors that led to Fulham’s goal and how Milner stayed composed for the winning penalty.

LONDON — On paper, this should have been a simple victory for Liverpool: the Premier League’s most rampant three-man attack against the Premier League’s most shambolic, error-prone defence.

In practice, it was considerably more complex. This turned into the archetypal Premier League test: away to relegation strugglers fighting for their lives, in a tight ground with home supporters on top of the players, in horrendous conditions that involved swirling wind, torrential rain, blasts of hailstones…

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