Week 12 of the Premier League, a roller-coaster of emotions and swings

 

The  Premier League...

A ROLLER-COASTER OF EMOTIONS AND A SWINGING PENDULUM

The above caption was deliberately coached to capture what transpired at the conclusion of the Week 12 fixtures of the Premier League. It has all the "ingredience and spices" that the Premiership have come to be assiciated with in their "broath and traditional cook-pot". It had drama, browl, surprises, shocks, excitement, pain, confusion, matching order, brazen and volt-face official calls and decisions.

Man U had a hard fought redemption  win against hard working League minnows Luton Town. This was an encounter that all football faithfuls wanted to go the way of Manchester United to give the team a boost and to avoid the riot act from the fans and management of the club on Ten Hag the team's coach who is now walking on a thin line and thread. He seems to have a multitude of problems both on and off the field as he has been reportedly to have hurriedly gone back home to attend urgent matters,football apart I genuinely wish him well. Fate and the dynamics at the club favours his survival as the management is occupied and engrossed with the chess game of stakes, shares and take over currently at the club. Rashford appears to have lost his club and goal scoring mettle, preferring or so it seems to channel his energies to off the field mischieve and exuberance and what looked like a focus on his England exploits.

Arsenal needed a psychological boost of their own, coming back to wining ways in the Premier League after being at the receiving end of a loss and yet again some very embarrassing on-field calls. This they did by beating hapless Burnley 3 goals to 1 at the Emirates Stadium with Trossard proving once again why he is bargain acquisition for Arsenal by opening the  goals spree with a bold and risky header that put him on a collision course with the Burnley goal tender.That incident  left him with an injured shoulder as a reminder and a parting gift. I hope he gets better and recovers fully with the very welcomed International Break in site. Saliba's header at the heart of the Burnley defence and Zinchenko's improvised sissors kick completed the route.

Wolves with sheer zeal and resolve defeated Tottenham at the Molineux Stadium, a defeat that should set Ange Postecoglou and Spurs team having a rethink and the stark reality of the Premiership as unpredictable League that "takes no prisoners"dawning on them. We all had an idea that it was not going to be all cruising and flying for them. Now that they have tasted a humble pie, Son Heung- min and James Maddison inspired attack will have to restrategise with the later placing a glue tape on his runing mouth.

Aston Villa is without doubt, a high flying team at the moment with an awesome record of 13 unbeaten run at home! And the latest victim of their home run was Fulham. Playing with flair, energy, speed and precision their visitors always leave with the soar taste of defeat and sometimes humiliation. This is one team that should be on a close watch. An out of sort Newcastle, unable to shake off the bumpy run of back to back defeats in the UCL were beaten by Bournemouth. Liverpool did the needful after a shakky start at home by scoring three unreplied goals against a spirited and hard working Brentford team that eventually capitulated to the superior attacking fireworks of Sallah and Co. Crystal Palace was at the receiving end of an Everton resurgence, beaten at home by an energetic and "hungry" Everton team. Brighton with all their recent flair and prospect were "whooped" at home by new entrants to the league, Sheffield United while West ham showed some grit and determination by coming from a loosing position to nick it against Awoniyi's Nottingham Forest in the last stages of the game, infact practically with the last touch of the match, 3 : 2! 

The highlight of the Week 13 fixtures was the Classic at Stanford Bridge between Chelsea and Man City, high octane, action packed football thriller. It had drama, decent, confrontation,suspense, football artistry, flair, browl, trickery, tactical war and brainstorm all rolled into one. It appears Chelsea are beginning to really find their "groove ", It is no longer a ruse or make believe team would have to tighten their giddle going forward against the men from the Bridge for it cannot be the the usual business against this team that us has shown themselves to be full of purpose and conviction in their last two games, although signals if what us to come was beamed in their draw game against Arsenal but now they seem to have "turned the bend", joke with this team at your own peril.

City were visibly rattled as they were given in return and in good measure all they threw at Chelsea. They were relentless and full of energy and attacking intent and having a go at City and refusing to be tamed by Pep Guardiola's flair players and his tactical ingenuity. Chelsea had speed, energy and youth in its armoury and unlike the established names and "big men" in the Man City wanted desperately to prove a point and proof a point they did! Little wonder it ended 4 goals apiece with the highlight being young Cole Palmer who showed a remarkable understanding of the game embodied with a focus, nerve, grit and calmness that biligns his age. I was most impressed with this young man with his trademark innocent standoffishnes and alof gait and looks.

Even the great Pep Guardiola presented a visibly rattled countenance and posture during his post match interview sometimes sounding incoherent but knowing him the way I do he has some tinkering and thinking to do with the resultant outcome  as always, full of surprises.