1
Raya to rescue once again for leaders
On Friday when Bruno Fernandes became the Football Writers’ Association player of the year, either Declan Rice or David Raya could have been forgiven for feeling a touch aggrieved. Both have been essential to Arsenal’s bid for a Premier League and Champions League double but it is Raya who showed why he may have been more deserving at the London Stadium as his technically pinpoint one-on-one save gave Arsenal the platform they so desperately needed to secure a vital three points late on. Mikel Arteta’s side were on the ropes as Mateus Fernandes exchanged a one-two with Pablo to run in with the goal at his mercy. Surely this was it for Arsenal: the title slipping again. Raya’s nerve held strong, making the most crucial of saves. Arsenal’s dream of winning a first title in 22 years remains in his hands. Graham Searles
2
West Ham suffer brutal blow
Boos rang out around the London Stadium while West Ham’s players approached the referee after the final whistle. Minutes earlier chaos had descended in the Arsenal box after a corner. David Raya flapped and the ball broke to Callum Wilson whose snapshot levelled the score, pouring cold water on what had looked like a somewhat lucky win for a sub-par Arsenal side. Only it wasn’t to be as the VAR called for Chris Kavanagh to review a potential foul on Raya by Pablo, who was impeding the goalkeeper. After a lengthy wait the goal was disallowed and West Ham were denied a deserved point for a resolute defensive display. Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mads Hermansen were the standouts for stopping Arsenal from running riot in their only spell of dominance in the opening 25 minutes. It was to be expected considering West Ham had not lost at home since early January before the most brutal of finishes. Cruelly an even more brutal one may beckon still if Tottenham beat Leeds on Monday. Graham Searles
3
Doku hoping for more good form
Jérémy Doku may have scored for a third consecutive game yet this will not stop Pep Guardiola having a stern word – if required. “He shouts at everyone, I’m not different,” said Doku, whose 60th-minute opener broke Brentford’s resistance. As in City’s 3-3 draw at Everton, the strike was hit from the left and found the far-right corner. “You know what it is, it’s grace. Grace from above,” Doku said. “It’s my special weapon: Jesus. I’ve not been doing anything different. I’ve not been working more. I’ve not been working less. But at this moment, it’s just going in. So I’m just grateful. I’ll continue to work hard, obviously. I am happy with the victory.” Jamie Jackson
4
Gomez concedes style-of-play problem
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of the Anfield boos for Arne Slot is that they were first triggered not by the result or the substitution of a 17-year-old with cramp but by Liverpool’s style of play. As was the case at Old Trafford the previous week, it was in the first half when Liverpool fans began to voice disapproval of their team’s safe, passive football as Chelsea were encouraged to gain momentum. Slot attributed the problem to Chelsea taking control of midfield and correctly pointed out that Liverpool rectified the issue in the second half. But as Joe Gomez admitted, a drop in intensity is likely at times with Slot’s approach. “One of the strengths of our coaching staff is to adapt every game and try to overload in certain areas and that is a different style to the faster pace. We get that sometimes it’s not as fluid or as high intensity on the ball as always. It does get frustrating when it gets fragmented but there’s also been times when it’s controlled the game, not as much this year.” Andy Hunter
5
Door closing on Zirkzee’s lacklustre spell
When Joshua Zirkzee came off the bench to score a dramatic winner against Fulham on his Manchester United debut at Old Trafford, it encouraged hopes of a bright future for the Netherlands forward. But much has changed at United since that balmy night in August 2024 and Zirkzee’s £36.5m transfer from Bologna has simply not worked. The 24-year-old’s performance during Saturday’s goalless draw at Sunderland was indicative of his struggles and a summer exit now feels inevitable. He has scored nine times in 73 appearances and did not have the goal threat that Benjamin Sesko, absent in one of five changes made by Michael Carrick, has provided recently. Zirkzee does not possess the quality that United need to take them to the next level as they prepare for a return to the Champions League. When he was replaced shortly after the hour mark at a soggy Stadium of Light, it felt like a step closer to the end of an underwhelming United career. Ross Heppenstall
6
Howe begins transfer planning
It promises to be a summer of change at Newcastle and Eddie Howe’s latest lineup suggested there is no time to waste. Howe left Anthony Gordon, Newcastle’s top scorer and the subject of interest from Bayern Munich, on the bench at Nottingham Forest, while Kieran Trippier, who is leaving at the end of the season, did not start despite being the only available orthodox right-back. Lewis Hall, a left-back by trade, switched flanks. Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães are among those with uncertain futures and regardless of outgoings, there is an acceptance it is going to be a busy few months. “We have got one eye on the future,” Howe said. “It’s our duty to look to the future and see what the new team is going to look like next year.” Ben Fisher
7
Burnley’s Weiss learns lessons on audition
Caretaker Mike Jackson realised he had to make changes at Burnley, six to be precise from the defeat to Leeds last Friday night. The most notable handed a Premier League debut to the 21-year-old goalkeeper Max Weiss, who replaced Martin Dubravka, 16 years his senior. The latter will not be at Turf Moor next season and it felt like the right time to test the German whose previous experience in England came in cup competitions. Weiss has the chance to be the first choice in the Championship and this was the start of his trial. He struggled with crosses and Villa were keen to test him at corners, getting players around him because he was clearly uncomfortable. For the disallowed Ollie Watkins goal, he failed to deal with a cross and it clearly knocked his confidence. It is a difficult league to enter for an inexperienced goalkeeper and Weiss was finding out where he needed to improve, especially with his delayed reaction coming out for the second goal but he made some respectable saves late on. Will Unwin
8
Iraola will be missed by talented squad
Andoni Iraola has options. A live contender for vacancies at Crystal Palace and Chelsea, and surely on the list should Liverpool and Manchester United choose to change direction. Before that though, a clean break with Bournemouth. “It was not an easy decision but once it is made, you feel relief,” said Iraola after the win at Fulham. “I feel we have used it in a positive way. Since that day, we’ve had great results but also the mood.” Bigger clubs will place heavier scrutiny on the softly spoken Basque and will ask different questions of the qualities in improving players shown at Rayo Vallecano and in three seasons at Bournemouth. His successor, Marco Rose, will inherit a talented squad from which Rayan, the match-winner on Saturday, is a gem. His gliding, loping gait eats up yardage, one second-half solo run caused blind panic in the Fulham defence. He and the fellow teenager Eli Junior Kroupi have scored 17 goals between them in the league. John Brewin
9
Sarr surpasses Glasner’s target
Oliver Glasner challenged Ismaïla Sarr to hit double figures before the start of the season but the Senegal forward has by far exceeded those expectations. After helping Palace reach the Conference League final on Thursday with his ninth goal in that competition, Sarr took his tally in all competitions to 20 when he scored in the draw against Everton on Sunday and has finally fulfilled the vast potential he showed as a young player at Rennes and then Watford. “I’m a bit surprised that he’s now 20, but I’m pretty sure it will be more than that this season, because he’s just doing so well,” said Glasner. “We didn’t make him quicker, we didn’t make him jump higher. I think, and this is what drives every single player, not just me, it was my staff together, to get the best Ismaïla Sarr that he can be. But from day number one, we could see his attitude and we could see his talent.” Ed Aarons
10
Hinshelwood thriving in No 10 job
Brighton’s ascension to the European places – and possibly Champions League qualification – has been propelled in recent weeks by the performances of the academy graduate Jack Hinshelwood, who scored for the third consecutive game in the defeat of Wolves. The 21-year-old midfielder broke into the senior team playing at full-back under Roberto De Zerbi but has become Fabian Hürzeler’s go-to No 10. After two fine finishes against Chelsea and Newcastle, Hinshelwood used his head to give Brighton the lead within 35 seconds on Saturday and his manager is pleased with how he is timing his runs into the box. “He has a really good understanding of the game, a really good feeling for being in the right position,” Hürzeler said. “In my opinion, he makes his teammates better by his position, by his desire to score and by his desire to run in behind.” Hinshelwood was a key player for England’s under-21s as they won the European Championship last summer before his season was stalled by ankle ligament damage in the autumn. Thomas Tuchel has enough talented attacking midfielders for two World Cup squads, let alone one, but few are in the form that Hinshelwood is showing. Billy Munday
