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IMAGE: Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah scores their third objective in opposition to West Ham. {Photograph}: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters
After an unprecedented mid-season shutdown due to the Qatar World Cup, the Premier League burst again to life over the festive vacation with a bumper fixture package deal.
The 44-day stoppage allowed top-flight managers time to collect their ideas whereas these gamers not concerned in Qatar might recharge their batteries.
Monday’s resumption was additionally an opportunity for these jostling on the high of the desk to put down a marker and for the strugglers to take pleasure in a recent begin.
However what did we be taught so removed from an absorbing vacation programme that concludes in a while Wednesday with champions Manchester Metropolis taking up Leeds United?
When Mikel Arteta’s desk toppers went behind early on in opposition to struggling West Ham United there have been mutterings across the Emirates Stadium, with followers maybe fearing Arsenal’s pre-break momentum had been misplaced.
The best way they responded, nonetheless, underlined that Arsenal’s Christmas lead within the Premier League for the primary time since 2007, was justified and so they would possibly take some stopping.
There was a swagger about Arteta’s aspect as they hit again with targets by Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah to win 3-1 and open a seven-point lead.
Former supervisor Arsene Wenger, again watching within the stands, would have been impressed as Arsenal confirmed {that a} first title for the reason that French coach’s 2003-04 triumph is now an actual chance.
Any suggestion Newcastle United would possibly undergo a way of vertigo through the break have been put to mattress as they re-started their marketing campaign in sensational vogue to rise into second place.
Boxing Day opponents Leicester Metropolis had proven nice type forward of the World Cup however have been blown away on their very own turf as Chris Wooden, Miguel Almiron and Joelinton all scored contained in the opening 33 minutes for the guests.
Newcastle have received six successive league video games, scoring 15 targets and conceding simply two in that sequence, and with signings anticipated in January, Eddie Howe’s assertion that every little thing is feasible appears real looking.
Tottenham’s lack of ability to indicate consistency, even all through 90 minutes, was evident once more in a 2-2 draw at Brentford.
Antonio Conte’s aspect, packing 5 World Cup gamers, have been out-muscled and out-thought within the opening 55 minutes at Brentford as they trailed 2-0. However, as so usually this season, they confirmed that when in a self-inflicted gap, they’ll really seem like a very good aspect.
Targets by Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg earned them some extent and the best way they dominated the final half an hour had pundits baffled at Tottenham’s fickle nature.
They’ve taken 14 factors from dropping positions this season and whereas that’s spectacular, it’s not sustainable and their place within the high 4 appears more and more fragile.
With Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence not hanging over the membership like a cloud, Manchester United are taking part in with a brand new freedom as proven in Tuesday’s win over Nottingham Forest which left them one level off the highest 4.
Marcus Rashford scored one and assisted in one other because the ahead continues to thrive whereas Casemiro oozed class in his deep midfield function and Christian Eriksen pulled the strings.
After a tough begin at Outdated Trafford, supervisor Erik Ten Hag has obtained his staff on the identical web page and United, and Liverpool, head into January wanting harmful.
Liverpool have been too good for Aston Villa and whereas their title hopes are lengthy over, watching them and United battle for a top-four spot might be compelling in 2023.
Christmas supplied little cheer for the golf equipment going through a relegation battle.
West Ham United look a shadow of the aspect that have been so spectacular final season and a fourth straight defeat heaped extra stress on supervisor David Moyes.
Like West Ham, Everton are simply above the drop zone however a house loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers was ominous and supervisor Frank Lampard will want constructive outcomes shortly to silence his critics.
Wolves have purpose for optimism as Julen Lopetegui’s reign started with a win to elevate them to 18th, however the identical can’t be stated of Southampton beneath their new supervisor Nathan Jones after a defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion left them all-time low.
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