An under-strength Arsenal face an enormous check of their Premier League title credentials at rivals Tottenham, in what is certain to be a heated North London derby, whereas Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag desperately wants a response from his aspect at Southampton. After criticism from membership legend Cristiano Ronaldo, a win for Erik ten Hag would assist quieten the murmurs. We take a look at the decide of the motion because the English top-flight returns from a global break this weekend:
Can Arsenal cope?
Arsenal have already blinked first within the title race to fall two factors behind Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Gunners have been held 1-1 at residence by Brighton final day out after Declan Rice was harshly sent-off early within the second half.
Rice is due to this fact suspended for Sunday’s north London derby to compound damage worries for Mikel Arteta.
Captain Martin Odegaard is predicted to overlook three weeks because of an ankle damage picked up on worldwide obligation with Norway.
New signing Mikel Merino can also be absent from the Arsenal midfield with a shoulder damage.
However, there was some excellent news for Arsenal as Arteta signed a brand new three-year deal on Thursday.
“Together with the gamers and everybody on the membership, we’re trying ahead to the approaching years, with our supporters, who’ve emotionally remodeled the membership and the group,” stated the Spaniard.
Arteta has led Arsenal to second-place finishes in every of the previous two seasons however he should give you a masterplan to keep away from leaving his aspect with an early mountain to climb within the title race.
A visit to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium kicks off a frightening run of three robust away video games in eight days.
Arsenal face Europa League winners Atalanta on Thursday within the Champions League earlier than a showdown in opposition to City.
Ten Hag pleads for endurance
Just three video games into the brand new Premier League season, Erik ten Hag is underneath stress as soon as extra after consecutive defeats for Manchester United.
A 3-0 humbling by the hands of Liverpool on the again of a 2-1 loss at Brighton has performed little to counsel the Red Devils have made substantial progress from ending eighth final season.
“We will see the place we’re in May. It may be very early within the season and it’s about successful trophies (and) being as excessive as doable within the league,” Ten Hag stated on Thursday.
“It (noise across the membership) does not affect me – I do know within the course of the place we’re. We need to combine lots of younger gamers within the group.”
United head to promoted Southampton on Saturday lunchtime seeking to keep away from struggling three successive league defeats for the primary time since December 2015.
The Saints are but to register some extent from their opening three video games after bouncing again into the highest flight.
Hat-trick historical past for Haaland?
Erling Haaland has began the season in ominous kind for anybody hoping to grab away City’s crown after a file 4 consecutive titles for Pep Guardiola’s males.
The Norwegian has scored back-to-back hat-tricks in opposition to Ipswich and West Ham, after additionally netting within the opening weekend win at Chelsea.
Haaland now has eight hat-tricks in simply 69 Premier League video games and is certainly one of six gamers to attain a hat-trick in two consecutive video games.
No one has ever performed three in a row, although, and the go to of Brentford to the Etihad presents the prolific 24-year-old a shot at extra goalscoring historical past.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
Topics talked about on this article
