No strikers, so no goals for Chelsea
THOMAS Tuchel is unbeaten in 12 matches as Chelsea manager and while the German has got most things right since replacing Frank Lampard, starting with no genuine strikers in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Leeds United left him open to criticism.
Timo Werner and Olivier Giroud were on the bench, while Tammy Abraham was injured, with Tuchel playing Kai Havertz as a false number nine.
While Chelsea did create chances, this was a third goalless draw since Tuchel took charge, and they have scored only 13 goals in that time.
Defensively they look watertight, although Leeds did hit the woodwork, but Tuchel may need to take a few more risks to make sure his side clinch a top-four place.
ARTETA SHOWS HE’S NOT TO BE MESSED WITH
Mikel Arteta was always the consummate professional whenever he pulled on an Arsenal shirt, and in punishing captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a “breach of protocol” by leaving him on the bench for the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, the Spaniard showed he expects nothing less from his players.
It was a brave and admirable call by Arteta, who could have been castigated by the supporters had Arsenal not recovered from conceding an Erik Lamela wonder strike to win 2-1 with goals by
Martin Odegaard and Alexander Lacazette, a penalty.
A vibrant display also proved Arsenal can prosper without their skipper, who apparently took his medicine in good faith, later posting on social media: “North London is red, and that’s it!”
MAN UNITED THRIVING ON SQUAD DEPTH
Manchester United will not challenge old foes Manchester City for the Premier League title, but a top-four finish looks within reach after an industrious 1-0 win over West Ham United on Sunday.
United have shown the kind of grit to grind out results which they often lacked under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s predecessors, with squad depth playing a big part.
With Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial injured and Marcus Rashford looking half-fit after a knock, it was 19-year-old Mason Greenwood who stood out against the Hammers.
Solskjaer will welcome the international break in the last week of March in a bid to make a final push for the runners-up spot as United also aim to win the Europa League and FA Cup.
FUTILITY OF WILDER’S DEPARTURE
For whatever reason, Sheffield United’s second season back in the top-flight has been a miserable episode, with the team spending the campaign at the bottom of the table.
Relegation has appeared a formality for weeks, yet respect around the game for manager Chris Wilder was undiminished, and many argued that he would be the best man to get them back up next season, having earned two previous promotions.
Yet Wilder left on Saturday after five years in charge, and with him went any remaining spirit the club had, as proven by a 5-0 hammering at Leicester City on Sunday, Sheffield’s worst defeat of the season.