What the Premier League is all about: Citizens are stronger and more variable, United need a captain

Five rounds played, Manchester City remain the only 100% team. In the 13th part of our weekly column, in which we analyse interesting facts from the world of English football, we will focus on the Citizens, we will also take a look at Manchester United and Arsenal.

Weaker Haaland, stronger Manchester

Erling Haaland leads the scorers’ table, yet he’s not quite there. He hasn’t converted nine big chances in the last two games and he’s also struggling gamely. Usually he would score from similar positions with his eyes closed, but now he is in a clear crisis.

In any case, praise must be given to Pep Guardiola, who is making the line-up forget about Nora’s form.

Jeremy Doku, the winger reinforcement, has adapted well, an extremely good player in one-on-one duels. Manchester’s roster lacked a similar type.

Julian Alvarez has the best form of the squad, filling in for the injured Kevin de Bruyne more than well. Surprisingly, he is also showing traits of a top ten player, with the potential of the midfield proving to be more than expected from a striker.

United need a captain

There is a completely opposite atmosphere in the rival team from Manchester. The Red Devils have lost three out of five rounds, plus they fell in the Champions League. Criticism has been levelled at the misfiring André Onana, but captain Bruno Fernandes is also responsible.

While his first two seasons were good, the next two have struggled. Most importantly, he is not the captain for the English team, as former United players agree. The pratfalls, the gestures, the wryness, it simply cannot be equated with Roy Keane or Gary Neville. The question is whether the squad has someone with the ability to be captain.

Arteta, give time to the quarterback

Not much was expected of Fabio Vieira after a poor first year at Arsenal. He seemed to be another fragile Portuguese who won’t hold up in a physically demanding England. Since last year, he has added more competition, but paradoxically he is asking for more from the line-up.

Kai Havertz gets more space, although Vieira gives the team a sort of Mesut Özil flair. He’s able to take the entire opposition defence out of the game with one pass, sending a through ball to the back post. That’s often what the Gunners lack against a closed defensive line.

Source: Premier League