money time. With less than 10 matchdays to go, the title race in the Premier League is gradually approaching its climax and it is also biting the nail at the bottom. Football commentator Tim Wielandt puts it all together.
Artetaball
For the title it is a race between 2 horses. Arsenal leads the way, but feels the hot breath of Manchester City which has come to 8 points (with one less match played).
While Arsenal has only just started beeping, City has been an established name at the top of the Premier League for years. The balance of power is therefore clear, despite Arsenal’s lead.
“Manchester City set the standard. If you want to play champions, you have to get past them. Pep Guardiola has set the bar incredibly high, even if his team loses more this season than in previous years,” said Tim Wielandt, football commentator at Play Sports.
“Last week against Liverpool, City made such a good impression that you get the feeling that they will not leave much behind. Arsenal therefore does not have a large margin of error. The two title candidates also play against each other again. If City wins that match , doubts may strike at Arsenal.”
Erling Haaland scores this season with 28 goals on the assembly line in England.
Not only Guardiola’s team impressed, Arsenal is also waltzing over the opposition in the Premier League this season.
“The British press has raved about it Artetaball. Arsenal plays attractive, full of energy and scores with the eyes closed. The kind of football that is reminiscent of the Invincibles (undefeated champion team in 2004). They were a lot tougher though.”
On paper, Arsenal and Manchester City therefore balance each other out. Yet Wielandt sees one important detail that could tip the scales in favor of the Londoners.
“There are still busy weeks ahead for City. Everything has to make way for the Champions League this season. And they are also fully participating in the FA Cup. Arsenal is already out of both cup competitions and can therefore concentrate on the title race.”
It’s been almost 20 years since Arsenal last played champions.
Failed transfer policy
While Arsenal and Manchester City battle it out among themselves who will play champions, the other top clubs fail. Mainly Chelseawhich is only in 11th place, will see black snow this season.
“A clusterfuckI can’t describe it any better. The American owner Todd Boehly first spends 700 million euros on new players only to find that they have too many players. Then he stows his top purchases in the stands. Waste of money.”
Chelsea’s failed transfer policy first cost Thomas Tuchel and later Graham Potter.
“I had given Potter a little more time so that he could clean up in the summer. That was initially the plan. But with the quarter-finals of the Champions League in sight, Chelsea are in a cramp.”
After the sacking of Potter, Chelsea is already on its third coach this season.
Also Liverpool has been counted out for the title for a while now. With a lot of art and flying, Jürgen Klopp’s team may still be able to reach the Conference League, a meager consolation.
“What is Liverpool doing there? For teams like Brighton and West Ham it is nice to play in the Conference League. But for Salah and co. it feels more like an embarrassment.”
Due to the disappointing results, Klopp is also increasingly under fire. Without his past successes, the German would have been out for a long time, he readily admitted.
“The mayonnaise no longer seems to take hold. They don’t play as a team, are physically outclassed and are constantly complaining. Everything that has been their strength in recent years now seems to be crumbling.”
“Something has to change at Liverpool. Van Dijk and Salah are getting a year older, Alexander-Arnold is a disaster defensively and Nunez turns out to be a bad buy. It’s not an easy puzzle to solve. Maybe after 8 years it’s just over between Klopp and Liverpool,” Wielandt wonders aloud.
With the Champions League places out of sight, Liverpool is playing a quail season.
Trainer graveyard at the bottom
Being a coach in the Premier League, you don’t have to do it for job security. Last weekend, with Potter (Chelsea) and Rodgers (Leicester), two more managers were fired. That brings the counter to 13 this season. Especially at the bottom it is a bloodbath.
“There is pressure every year to stay in the Premier League. After all, if you drop to the Championship the losses are huge. Since it’s at the bottom of a handkerchief, it makes sense that the managerial redundancies are increasing.”
And whether the relegation battle promises to be exciting. The difference between place 13 and last in the standings is barely 7 points. Too close to call. “Every week the cards are shuffled again, so it can still go either way.”
“Leicester City is an enigma to me. The core of the Foxes is basically too strong to get into trouble. They don’t even play that bad, they just can’t win.”
“In addition, they are not used to fighting against relegation. That requires a different attitude. Then you need fighters.”
Relegation battle in the Premier League
12. Crystal Palace – 30 pt
13. Leeds United – 29 pt
14. Wolverhampton – 28 pt
15. West Ham United – 27 pt
16. Everton – 27 pt
17. Forest – 27 pt
18. Bournemouth – 27 pt
19. Leicester City – 25 pt
20. Southampton – 23 pt
Also Everton is in the danger zone, but Red Devil Amadou Onana can rest easy. “With Sean Dyche as a coach you don’t fail”, Wielandt is resolute.
“Dyche is someone who is used to coaching tail teams. Without frills, but grabbing the necessary points. With him at the helm, I see Everton still managing.”
Things look a little less rosy for that other Red Devil Romeo Lavia.
“Southampton has the worst papers. No team has lost more games this season. The conclusion is therefore simple: too little quality.”
“Also Bournemouth in Nottingham Forest are in a difficult position. The former has conceded too many goals this season and Forest is very strong at home, but cannot collect points away from home. That’s why I see them falling together with Southampton,” concludes Wielandt.
