4 things we learned: City pull away at the top, United won’t challenge
By Dan Voicescu
Manchester City continue their outstanding start, Chelsea bounce back and Liverpool win big. Here’s what we learned from Premier Leaugue matchweek 11.
Manchester City increased their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points after their win against Arsenal on Sunday. Tottenham kept pace with a win against Crystal Palace while Chelsea bounced back from their midweek Champions League debacle with a win against Manchester United and former manager Jose Mourinho. Liverpool, meanwhile, disposed of West Ham with a 4-0 trouncing in London that spelled the end of the Slaven BIlic era. This is what we learned from Premier League matchweek 11.
Manchester City pull away after workman-like win against Arsenal
The result was never in doubt, but Manchester City were by no means spectacular against Arsenal, at least not by the standards they’ve set so far this season. It was a rather workman-like win from Pep Guardiola’s boys.
City set out in their usual 4-3-3, adopting a more incisive game plan, with more vertical passing than usual, which could be seen in the fact they saw only 58 percent of the ball, down from their average of 65.
Two of their three goals came as a result of deep through balls behind the Arsenal defense. This ability to adjust tactically is another testament to Guardiola’s quality as a manager, as a more elaborate slower-paced passing game would probably not have posed Arsenal as many problems. Why try to out Arsenal Arsenal? The quicker passing and more direct style clearly benefited the hosts, as Arsenal struggled to maintain the high press they set out at the beginning of the game.
The march to the title continues with another win for City, who have now won nine games in a row in the league and are eight points clear at the top. To put that in perspective, this is the best start to a season Guardiola has ever had. Accomplishing this in the supposedly more competitive and challenging Premier League only makes the feat more impressive.