Premier League winners and losers: Kane is back, Ox is struggling

Loser: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Nobody Arsenal player looked impressive during the 4-0 thrashing at Anfield in week three, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looked particularly bad. He had been agitating for a move away from Arsenal before then, and eventually got his wish on deadline day. His first match with his new club could not have gone worse.

The last two matches Chamberlin has played in the Premier League have ended up with a combined 9-0 score line. He has played107 minutes in the last two appearances, and his sides have given up six goals during that time. Obviously, not all of that rests solely on the England international’s shoulders, but it certainly can’t feel good.

Arsenal supporters will be enjoying a bit of schadenfreude after Saturday’s result, if only because that’s all they can derive pleasure from while Arsene Wenger is still at the helm. However, it’s hard to blame players like Oxlade-Chamberlain for wanting a move away. Arsenal could churn butter from cream by how long they’ve been running in place, and Liverpool seem to be on the rise. A 5-0 defeat away from home is certainly a blow, but four of those came after Sadio Mane received a red card for a dangerous challenge on Ederson. City are hard enough to stop with 11 men, and Liverpool’s defense is certainly not capable of handling them with 10.

Things will get better for Chamberlain at Liverpool. He was given the chance to play in his preferred position in central midfield after being subbed on against City. Whether he continues to play there is still a mystery though. What’s certain is that getting beat by nine goals in the last two matches he’s played is not fun.