Saturday 18th January, 5:30pm
Arsenal @ 20/39
Aston Villa @ 5/1
Draw @ 10/3
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Though originally released during the fever of disco in the late 70s, a cover of Relight My Fire became an incendiary #1 hit for Take That and Lulu in 1993.
Due to the far from feverish temperatures in the UK in recent times, we have all been very grateful for our own warming covers. But despite the nationwide de-frosting, some Premier League teams are continuing to feel a wintry chill – still shivering a little beneath chin-pulled duvets – as they approach Gameweek 22.
Chelsea, for example, after being bracketed amongst the title challengers before Christmas, suddenly find themselves winless in 5 Premier League fixtures.
And given that this quintet of draws and defeats came against Everton, Fulham, Ipswich, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth, they would have expected a significantly better festive haul.
The bottom line is that City continue to remain estranged from the 2024/25 title race.
One clean sheet since December 1st suggests their most serious issues lie in defence. Perhaps a Monday night clash with Wolves – who, after a brief bounce, appear to be back to losing ways – will pump the bellows decisively towards their spluttering Premier League embers?
After seeming to have put their ignominious winter slump behind them, Manchester City also felt an icy shudder run up their spines on Tuesday night – two late Brentford goals ending hope of a fourth straight win. With Pep Guardiola’s personal life creating unwelcome headlines this week, the bottom line is that City continue to remain estranged from the 2024/25 title race.
A 4:30pm Sunday kick-off at Ipswich would normally sound like the perfect tie for the defending champions to reconcile with three-points. But an increasingly confident Liam Delap will be eager to prove that he is another youth product who should not have been sold by City. And with the away side’s cloak of invincibility long-since removed, the Tractor Boys will be optimistically revving their engines…
While still top of the table, Liverpool are also in need of a little spark.
While still top of the table, Liverpool are also in need of a little spark. After dropping points in their last two Premier League games, a quick look over their shoulder reveals their lead has now withered to just four points. The Reds will be keeping a tight hold of their game-in-hand comfort blanket, because as Manchester City discovered in midweek, it’s not easy to leave Brentford with three points. The Bees host the title favourites in a 3pm kick-off on Saturday.
No current concerns for Newcastle United, however, whose fires continue to burn bright. After stumbling into December, Newcastle have sprinted through a spectacular Christmas and New Year period – the red-hot Alexander Isak helping The Toon win their last 9 matches in all competitions.
Nottingham Forest, too, require absolutely no CPR and continue to hang around the Champions League places – rekindling memories of the Brian Clough-era, while warming the cockles of fans and neutrals across the land.
But what of Arsenal? Teetering on the cusp of another episode of precipitous self-immolation following a trio of disappointing results, The Gunners won a tense North London Derby on Wednesday night. And suddenly the Arsenal were pumped and fully re-stocked – talk of fatal profligacy was quickly dismissed, with Declan Rice claiming that they were unlucky not to have scored 10 (TEN) goals.
Nevertheless, Arsenal desperately need a striker. To not have one player in double figures at this stage of the season is thoroughly undesirable – Kai Havertz is their current Premier League top scorer, posting a less than magnificent 7.
This round’s biggest game, Arsenal v Aston Villa, is a 5:30pm kick-off on Saturday.
You can’t start a fire without a spark – according to Bruce Springsteen, anyway – but has Arsenal’s fire been fully re-lit? Could they, once again, look like scoring 10 goals this weekend? If so, it could be case of take that, Aston Villa…
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