Eight talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend | OneFootball

Eight talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend, featuring Arsenal’s injury adversity, Fabian Hurzeler’s super start on the south coast, and Steve Cooper’s reunion with his old side.

Can Cooper continue climbing against former club Forest?

Steve Cooper was far from the most popular appointment when Leicester sought a successor for Enzo Maresca in the summer, with his Nottingham Forest ties and an inauspicious start doing little to improve that status.

Back-to-back wins have helped Cooper’s cause, lifting Leicester to 14th and six points clear of the relegation places. It’s not enough to convince but the 44-year-old is moving in the right direction at the King Power Stadium.

A turnaround from two goals down to win at Southampton last weekend showed spirit and the Foxes now face his former team in an East Midlands derby on Friday night. Another win against in-form Forest can take Leicester into the top half.

Villa have the depth to avoid another European hangover

Aston Villa have quickly proven that last season’s success was no flash in the pan. Unai Emery’s side are back in the top four and have taken maximum points in Europe to sit top of the Champions League standings. Villa are just the third team in Champions League history to have won their first three games in the competition without conceding a goal.

Emery’s side, however, will want to avoid another European hangover. Their euphoric win over Bayern Munich earlier this month was followed immediately by a lacklustre performance in a goalless draw with Manchester United in the Premier League.

Fortunately, Villa’s depth is increasing. Boubacar Kamara and Emi Buendia have returned from long-term injuries and Tyrone Mings is nearing his return after over a year out with an ACL issue. Villa even opted to start Ollie Watkins on the bench against Bologna in midweek, outlining Emery’s faith in the alternatives available.

Shot-shy Ipswich offered hope at Brentford

Ipswich Town have endured a tough start to their Premier League return. Without a win in eight games since promotion, successive defeats to West Ham and Everton felt like a sucker punch to Kieran McKenna’s team.

The Tractor Boys have struggled to create chances despite Liam Delap’s impressive start, with no side in the Premier League having registered fewer shots (75).

A trip to Brentford could offer encouragement, however, despite the Bees sitting comfortably in 13th. Thomas Frank’s team have won just one of their last five league games and have conceded more shots on target (57) than any other side.

Hurzeler start deserves more credit

Fabian Hurzeler has hit the ground running at Brighton. The youngest manager in Premier League history made the big leap from St Pauli to the south coast in the summer, after leading the German side to Bundesliga promotion last term.

Hurzeler has guided Brighton into the Premier League’s top five, with back-to-back wins over Tottenham and Newcastle sending a statement in recent weeks.

The Seagulls have lost just one of their opening eight games, a statistic made all the more impressive given their calibre of opposition. Brighton have faced five of last season’s top eight, taking 10 points from those fixtures.

Nunes to earn another City chance?

Among the more encouraging aspects of Manchester City’s comfortable win over Sparta Prague in midweek was the performance of Matheus Nunes.

The Portugal midfielder has started just seven league games since arriving from Wolves in 2023 but Nunes could be in contention for another this weekend. A confident performance saw Nunes thrive from the left, where he teed up goals for John Stones and Erling Haaland before winning and converting a penalty against the Czech champions.

The pre-arrival billing Pep Guardiola gave Nunes has perhaps not helped his cause with the Citizens, but there have been signs of improvement of late. A clash with newly promoted Southampton offers an ideal opportunity for Premier League minutes.

Howe needs more from Newcastle frontline

Newcastle’s season is stuttering after a four-game winless run. The Magpies have failed to score in successive games, with Alexander Isak struggling to replicate last season’s form and Callum Wilson out injured.

Only Harvey Barnes (3) and Anthony Gordon (2) have scored more than once in the Premier League this season and Howe needs more from his frontline ahead of a trip to face Chelsea this weekend.

His out-of-sorts side face Chelsea and Arsenal in consecutive games and improvement is required to avoid extending their winless run. Stamford Bridge has not been a happy hunting ground for Newcastle, however, who have not won in West London since a Papiss Cisse-inspired victory in 2012.

Lopetegui feeling the heat at West Ham

Julen Lopetegui is under pressure at West Ham. Last weekend’s 4-1 thrashing at Tottenham has put his position under threat after a poor start to the Premier League campaign. West Ham collapsed after taking the lead at Spurs, with their midfield overwhelmed after the break.

Things have not clicked for the Hammers, who invested £132.5m in their squad in the summer. Lopetegui’s signings have struggled, with Jean-Clair Todibo and Guido Rodriguez among those who have not lived up to expectations to date.

Manchester United are the visitors to the London Stadium this weekend, the sort of fixture that could inspire an improved atmosphere and performance. Should it not, the heat on Lopetegui could become unbearable.

Will Arsenal overcome adversity in crunch clash?

Arsenal take on Liverpool in a huge clash at the top of the table, though preparation for the Gunners has been far from ideal.

Mikel Arteta’s side could take to the field without five players from his first-choice XI. Martin Odegaard (ankle) and Bukayo Saka (hamstring) are unlikely to feature, while there’s a defensive injury crisis with William Saliba suspended and Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber out injured.

Arsenal struggled amid adversity as their unbeaten run ended at Bournemouth last weekend. Can the North Londoners overcome their issues and send a statement this time around?

Liverpool, who top the table and have won 11 of 12 games under new head coach Arne Slot, will have other ideas.

Read – 📈 Power Rankings: Barcelona back top, Arsenal drop

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