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Midweek Matchday Highlights: Key Insights for Premier League Fans
Let’s dive into the key talking points ahead of another exciting midweek in the Premier League.
Chelsea's Recurrent Indiscipline
So, Moises Caicedo has joined the ranks of Chelsea's red-card brigade, pushing their total for this season to a staggering seven. That’s more than any other Premier League team, mind!
But they dodged a bullet against Arsenal, managing to secure a point despite being down a man for most of the game. Perhaps they’ve grown accustomed to playing with ten men; they've actually won five of their last matches where they’ve had a red card (including Enzo Maresca's dismissal after that last-minute winner against Liverpool).
While the west Londoners have shown they can cope with adversity, it’s bound to bite them eventually. Caicedo’s absence against Leeds is bound to shake things up for Maresca. The Italian would prefer not to slot Reece James into midfield again after his extensive efforts against the Gunners, so Andrey Santos is likely to partner Enzo Fernandez. But with both Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo still on the mend, another injury or suspension could leave them desperately thin during this hectic part of the season.
A Surprising Title Contender?
You might have missed it, but Aston Villa are the hottest team in the Premier League right now. They’ve nabbed seven wins, one draw, and just a single defeat in their last nine matches, racking up a stunning 22 points since gameweek five.
Currently, Arsenal sit second in the table, and lo and behold, they’ll clash with Villa at Villa Park this weekend. But first, the Villans have a trip to Brighton, and should they win, they’ll be right in the mix to reduce the gap to the top.
Sitting fourth, Villa are just six points off the Gunners, meaning they could halve that deficit come Saturday.
The turnaround has been quite phenomenal, especially given Unai Emery faced severe criticism after a dismal start, failing to win any of their first six matches across all competitions. Yet, even now, it seems he and his team aren't receiving the credit they rightly deserve for such an impressive revival.
A title challenge might sound a bit mad, but they’re very much in the top four hunt again.
Salah's Spot Under Threat
“We must figure out how to manage without him.” That’s the word from Arne Slot ahead of their match against Sunderland.
The Dutchman opted to leave Mo Salah on the bench against West Ham, and it paid off with a tidy 2-0 win, including Alexander Isak scoring his first Premier League goal for the club and halting their three-game losing streak.
It was a rare sight, with Salah benched for the first time in nearly two years. The big question now is whether he’ll slot straight back into the starting XI on Wednesday.
Considering his lacklustre performances this season, it might be wise to give his teammates another go. That said, with health issues plaguing some of his forwards, Salah seems likely to be back in action against the Black Cats.
Isak was grappling with cramp towards the end of Sunday’s match, and Slot mentioned that neither he nor Wirtz can handle three full games back-to-back.
Whatever the outcome, it’s clear the era of relying on Salah is fading. With AFCON approaching, the burden will fall on his teammates to help steer the club up the league table.
Frank’s Future Looks Bleak
Spurs have suffered three defeats in just six days, with their last Premier League win lingering in the distant past—26th October. Their only triumph since then was a win over Copenhagen.
It’s not just the results that are a concern for Thomas Frank; it’s the way they’ve lost. Creating chances seems a distant memory, as they’ve barely threatened against Chelsea and Arsenal.
A trip to Newcastle could not come at a worse time for Frank, who needed a more manageable fixture against one of the so-called lesser teams to boost confidence. Instead, they’re set to face a brutal battle against the physical Magpies.
Three points now would be a massive lift for the manager, yet it seems like an uphill struggle. Will he even make it to Christmas at this rate?
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