Main PagePremier League With Steve Dede: Pogba revitalises Man United and Arsenal are still kings of north London
These are Steve Dede' talking points from the Premier League this weekend.
With the international break over, the Premier League returned with some exciting fixtures and talking points.
Steve Dede writes on five lessons from the Matchday 12 fixtures.
1. Pogba revitalises Manchester United
After a blistering start in this season’s Premier League, Manchester United hit a snag in form which coincided with Paul Pogba’s injury. Against Newcastle United on Saturday, Manchester United were at their best again with Pogba in the centre of everything.
Manchester United got a scare in the game after Newcastle United took the lead but instead of a difficult evening, Pogba stepped up to create a goal and scored another. Suddenly Manchester United looked like a team capable of winning the Premier League again. They should believe they can, they have Pogba now.
2. Arsenal still kings of North London
Arsenal silenced all the echoes of a shift in power in north London with a 2-0 win over their threatening neighbours Tottenham. For the time in more than two decades, Arsenal were suddenly the underdogs ahead of the game as every pundit available gave the game to Tottenham.
All the combined XI of the two teams had more Tottenham players, a Daily Mail reporter even named a team entirely made up of Tottenham players. But a 2-0 dominant win over Spurs gave Arsenal the bragging rights of north London.
Tottenham are a club on the rise, but for now no power shift yet, Arsenal still own north London.
3. Manchester City can only stop themselves
A 2-0 win over Leicester City might suggest it was a difficult game, but it was far from that. Manchester City are strolling to the Premier League title and there is no one in sight to stop them. Still, the league is not won yet and there might be some twist and turn before May 2018 but only Manchester City can stop themselves now. It’s looking too easy for them.
4. Mohamed Salah is the signing of the summer
After a failed move to Chelsea, Mohamed Salah is back in the Premier League, this time with Liverpool and he has taken to English football like a duck to water. A part of a front trio full of insane pace, the Egyptian has been devastating in the Premier League so far this season.
He continued his fine form with a brace in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Southampton; he now has nine goals in 12 league games, what a buy.
5. No Premier League acclimatization problem for Morata
The Premier League can be tough on new players from another country who often find it hard to cope with the physical nature of English football. Alvaro Morata has however defied that 'acclimatization problem' with his instant impact at Chelsea.
Away at West Brom on Saturday, Morata scored one and made another, combining well to set up Eden Hazard with a delicate back-hell.
Remember his hattrick away at Stoke City in September.
The Premier League’s identity as a tough and grimy league is often epitomised by away trips to the likes of West Brom and Stoke City. Morata has played and excelled in this games, bring them on.
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