EPL review: Arsenal risk another lost season, moods differ in Manchester

Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 21 of the 2024-25 season.

Reinforcements won't help Arsenal

An Arsenal win seemed like the only possible outcome at the Emirates Stadium at halftime. After they cruised to a 2-0 lead, nobody expected the conversation after the game to focus on Arsenal falling out of the title race again, or their shortcomings in the transfer market last summer. But, hours after leaders Liverpool turned a draw into a win with a last-second goal, Arsenal went the opposite direction.

The dent Arsenal made in Liverpool's lead after their midweek north London derby win disappeared after a disastrous eight-minute spell cost them two valuable points. After the 2-2 draw, Mikel Arteta spoke enviously of Liverpool's depth after saying Arsenal are actively looking to improve in January. But after failing to keep up with the Premier League leaders this weekend, it's likely too late for reinforcements to impact the title race; Arsenal sit six points back of Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

Arteta complained about a lack of attacking options off the bench. Unlike Liverpool, he didn't have a Darwin Nunez to turn to late when Arsenal needed a goal. It's been an area of concern most of the season, as Raheem Sterling was the only senior attacking option available after Gabriel Jesus' season-ending injury. But even before things went downhill, it was glaringly obvious Arsenal were paying the price for neglecting other areas that should've been addressed last summer.

Their depth was tested earlier this season when multiple stars were sidelined with injuries. Suspensions were also an issue, with William Saliba missing a defeat to Newcastle United due to a ban in November. That was around the time Arsenal ruled themselves out of a league title. Liverpool were just too good at the time for the Gunners to slip in such a manner.

The situation is more dire now. A worrying injury for Saliba makes matters worse.

Saturday's game offered a glimpse of what life would look like without the French center-back. And it isn't pretty. Thomas Partey was moved from midfield to right-back, while Jurrien Timber assumed center-back responsibilities. There was hardly anything to complain about until Aston Villa's two quick goals put a spotlight on Arsenal's patchwork squad.

Partey became a liability, losing sight of his marker, Ollie Watkins, whose volley brought Villa level. Arsenal squandered chances to win late - and had an injury-time goal chalked off by VAR - reigniting calls to sign a striker. But even adding a forward, midfielder, and defender at this point wouldn't be enough to reverse Arsenal's fortunes in what's becoming another lost season.

Quick free-kicks 📝

Don't overlook TAA's part in big Liverpool win

Nunez's super-sub appearance is the story of the match. He came off the bench to score two stoppage-time goals and double his overall Premier League tally to tighten Liverpool's grip on first place. But at 0-0, when Brentford threatened to seize the initiative in Saturday's entertaining clash, few visiting players showed as much attacking intent as Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The right-back forced Mark Flekken to scramble for one shot - his fourth of the match - that narrowly missed in the 83rd minute before his one-two with Harvey Elliott preceded Nunez's crucial first strike. Liverpool also failed to capitalize on some of Alexander-Arnold's trademark fizzed deliveries earlier in the match, and his defensive frailties weren't evident as the Bees focused on Bryan Mbeumo's clear superiority over Kostas Tsimikas on the other flank. Nunez will dominate the headlines, but Alexander-Arnold's urgency in Brentford's half was pivotal in the 2-0 victory.

United's colossal clean-up

Antony seems to be on his way out, albeit temporarily, but Ruben Amorim will be discarding Erik ten Hag's expensive mistakes for some time. The center-backs are flat-footed, the auditions at the wing-back positions have gone poorly, there's little creativity from the aging midfield, and there are few who can finish in attack. Plus, Sunday's 3-1 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, shed light on a growing concern in goal. Andre Onana's errors happen too often, negating any benefits gained from his ball-playing ability. His latest gaffe, a spilled low cross that eventually fell to the feet of Georginio Rutter, put the game out of United's reach.

Is Foden fixed?

Pep Guardiola started his preparation for Wednesday's important Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain after just over an hour had elapsed at Ipswich Town. With the score already 5-0 in Manchester City's favor, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden were withdrawn with three goals and three assists between them. Foden's recent form is a massive bonus; the attacking midfielder battled a virus earlier in the season, and he didn't score his first Premier League goal until Dec. 21, but he has now helped his team leap up to fourth place. Foden is on five goals and an assist over his past three league appearances following his brace and inviting pass for Mateo Kovacic's strike in the 6-0 win at Portman Road. The second half of City's campaign could improve drastically with an on-fire Foden in Guardiola's ranks.

Everton, Spurs on different trajectories

Ange Postecoglou's stubbornness can be detrimental, and he should take blame for that, but elements outside his control have arguably contributed more to Tottenham's regression. Eleven players are out injured, including several key components of the defensive group, and the recruitment has been inexcusably poor. For example, the drop-off in quality from center-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero is considerable, and it was emphasized when, for Everton's second goal Sunday, Iliman Ndiaye versus Radu Dragusin resembled a speedboat dodging a deflated dinghy. Dragusin, a year into his Spurs stint, looks far below the required standard.

It was certainly Everton's day, and there were plenty of positives in the first league win of David Moyes' second coming. Aside from Ndiaye's run and finish, Dominic Calvert-Lewin turning Archie Gray inside-out twice before scoring his first goal since September was a huge boost. Everton were genuinely good, and almost adventurous, in the opening half of their 3-2 victory.

Van Nistelrooy's reign already turning toxic

Tensions boiled over at Leicester City after their survival hopes were dealt another blow. Less than a week after the Foxes were held goalless in defeat to Crystal Palace after producing 21 shots, coach Ruud van Nistelrooy was subject to chants of, "You don’t know what you're doing," at King Power Stadium while his squad faced an attacking barrage in a 2-0 loss to Fulham.

The two home performances were vastly different, but the outcomes were exactly the same. Van Nistelrooy's decision to remove Leicester's best player, Bilal El Khannouss, from Saturday's game proved to be the last straw for a fan base that loudly discredited Van Nistelrooy's coaching abilities afterward. At this point, fans are justified in wondering whether Leicester would've been better off if Steve Cooper was still in charge. They've lost seven of their last nine games and sit 18th - two positions lower in the table than they were when Cooper was fired in late November.

Star performer 🌟

Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth)

England's hottest team was no match for Justin Kluivert. Newcastle United - in search of their 10th straight win - were humbled 4-1 at home against Bournemouth, with Kluivert producing his best performance of the season at his dad's old stomping ground. While Dutch great Patrick Kluivert struggled at St. James' Park during his spell at Newcastle, goals weren't nearly as hard to come by for Saturday's hat-trick hero in the northeast of England.

Over 20 years after Patrick scored his lone goal at St. James' Park, Justin needed just 44 minutes to surpass his dad's record, netting a first-half brace. His second goal was cleverly taken, as Kluivert opted for precision over power. But his third was the best of the lot, sealing three points with a blistering shot in injury time before setting up the Cherries' fourth goal. The hat-trick was his second of the season - and, by far, his most impressive after scoring a hat-trick of penalties in a game earlier this campaign. Kluivert's 10 goals put him in the conversation for the Premier League Golden Boot.

Best XI 😎

(Source: FotMob)

Highlight of the weekend 🎥

Confidence was pulsing through Kluivert's veins as he shaped to shoot for his superb third goal.

Stat of the weekend 🔢

Brentford were dangerous on counter-attacks, but Liverpool were persistent at the other end. The match was goalless until Nunez broke the deadlock in the 91st minute; still, there was a total of 48 shots in an engaging end-to-end fixture in west London.

Social media moment 📱

Match of the Day's iconic Saturday night slot on BBC One is at risk following reports that a Manchester United legend with a miserable managerial record could join the punditry team.

Where we stand 👀

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