{"id":7428,"date":"2026-05-12T04:22:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T04:22:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=7428"},"modified":"2026-05-12T04:22:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T04:22:28","slug":"premier-league-10-talking-points-from-the-weekends-action-premier-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=7428","title":{"rendered":"Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend\u2019s action | Premier League"},"content":{"rendered":"


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1<\/p>\n

Raya to rescue once again for leaders<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

When Bruno Fernandes became the Football Writers\u2019 Association player of the year on Friday, Declan Rice and David Raya could have been forgiven for feeling a touch aggrieved. They have been essential to Arsenal\u2019s push for a Premier League and Champions League double, but Raya showed why he might 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\u2019s 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\u2019s nerve held strong, making the most crucial of saves. Arsenal\u2019s dream of winning a first title in 22 years remains in his hands. Graham Searles<\/strong><\/p>\n

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2<\/p>\n

West Ham suffer brutal blow<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Boos rang out around the London Stadium while West Ham\u2019s players approached the referee after the final whistle. Minutes earlier chaos had descended in the Arsenal six-yard 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\u2019t 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<\/strong><\/p>\n

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3<\/p>\n

Doku hoping for more good form<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

J\u00e9r\u00e9my Doku scored for a third consecutive game, but this will not stop Pep Guardiola having a stern word \u2013 if required. \u201cHe shouts at everyone, I\u2019m not different,\u201d said Doku, whose 60th-minute opener broke Brentford\u2019s resistance. As in City\u2019s 3-3 draw at Everton, the strike was hit from the left and found the far-right corner. \u201cI\u2019ve not been doing anything different,\u201d Doku said. \u201cI\u2019ve not been working more. I\u2019ve not been working less. But at this moment, it\u2019s just going in. So I\u2019m just grateful.\u201d Jamie Jackson<\/strong><\/p>\n

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4<\/p>\n

Gomez concedes style-of-play problem<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s safe, passive football as Chelsea were encouraged to gain a foothold. 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\u2019s approach. \u201cOne 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\u2019s not as fluid or as high intensity on the ball as always. It does get frustrating when it gets fragmented, but there\u2019s also been times when it\u2019s controlled the game, not as much this year.\u201d Andy Hunter<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/svg><\/span>Chelsea\u2019s Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez (not in picture) scores the equaliser at Anfield.<\/span> Photograph: Phil Noble\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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5<\/p>\n

Door closing on Zirkzee\u2019s lacklustre spell<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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\u2019s \u00a336.5m transfer from Bologna has simply not worked. The 24-year-old\u2019s performance during Saturday\u2019s 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 Benjamin Sesko, absent in one of five changes made by Michael Carrick, has provided recently. Zirkzee does not possess the quality 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<\/strong><\/p>\n

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6<\/p>\n

Howe begins transfer planning<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

It promises to be a summer of change at Newcastle and the latest lineup suggested there is no time to waste. Eddie Howe left Anthony Gordon, Newcastle\u2019s 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 Guimar\u00e3es are among those with uncertain futures and, regardless of outgoings, there is an acceptance it is going to be a busy few months. \u201cWe have got one eye on the future,\u201d Howe said. \u201cIt\u2019s our duty to look to the future and see what the new team is going to look like next year.\u201d Ben Fisher<\/strong><\/p>\n

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7<\/p>\n

Burnley\u2019s Weiss learns lessons on audition<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/svg><\/span>Max Weiss found out how tough the Premier League can be, but made some good saves.<\/span> Photograph: Martin Rickett\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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8<\/p>\n

Iraola will be missed by talented squad<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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. \u201cIt was not an easy decision, but once it is made, you feel relief,\u201d he said after the win at Fulham. \u201cI feel we have used it in a positive way. Since that day, we\u2019ve had great results, but also the mood.\u201d 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<\/strong><\/p>\n

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9<\/p>\n

Sarr surpasses Glasner\u2019s target<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Oliver Glasner challenged Isma\u00efla 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. \u201cI\u2019m a bit surprised that he\u2019s now 20, but I\u2019m pretty sure it will be more than that this season because he\u2019s just doing so well,\u201d said Glasner. \u201cWe didn\u2019t make him quicker, we didn\u2019t make him jump higher and this is what drives every single player. Not just me, it was my staff together, to get the best Isma\u00efla Sarr that he can be. But from day number one, we could see his attitude and we could see his talent.\u201d Ed Aarons<\/strong><\/p>\n

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10<\/p>\n

Hinshelwood thriving at No 10<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Brighton\u2019s ascension to the European places \u2013 and possibly Champions League qualification \u2013 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 H\u00fcrzeler\u2019s 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 area. \u201cHe has a really good understanding of the game, a really good feeling for being in the right position,\u201d H\u00fcrzeler said. \u201cHe makes his teammates better by his position, by his desire to score and by his desire to run in behind.\u201d Hinshelwood was a key player for England\u2019s under-21s when they won the European Championship last summer, but 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 Hinshelwood is showing. Billy Munday<\/strong><\/p>\n

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