What the Premier League is all about: Title game for Arsenal, Hammers need a change

Why Arsenal’s win over Aston Villa is so important and what Southampton’s triumph over Chelsea hinted at. In the fifth part of our weekly column, in which we analyse interesting facts from the world of English football, we briefly delve into West Ham.

The Gunners’ title win?

Sometimes life turns around in a snap of a finger in a matter of seconds. Arsenal’s game at Aston Villa is a model situation. The Gunners were close to a fourth loss in a row that would have meant staying in second place.

However, Jorginho got the ball behind the whitewash and, with the help of luck, turned the game around to 3-2. An unprecedented team euphoria erupted, the players were up in arms and the fans went wild. A perfect symbiosis!

Arsenal’s hard-earned win this season has kick-started several heroic performances in the weeks to come. Another boost is undoubtedly Sunday’s loss to Manchester City. The Gunners again lead by two points with a game to spare.

The Hammers need to come out of the blocks

Wins by teams from the relegation zone have taken the Hammers up to 18th place. While it is suggested that a squad of this quality simply cannot be relegated, the season is entering its third year and all the leaders are in flower with form.

All credit to David Moyes for what he has won, but a new vigour is needed. Against Tottenham, West Ham played with two offensive players, while Said Benrahma, Gianluca Scamacca and Pablo Fornals sat on the bench. It can’t go on like this.

Southampton with a young motivator

If there was to be a concrete definition of a relegation fight, quite possibly it would be Southampton’s game at Chelsea. Thanks to incredible saves from defenders Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Romain Perraud, Saints survived the hell at Stamford Bridge and notched an important win.

Considering the extreme commitment of the players, which was totally lacking just a week ago under Nathan Jones (1: 2 against Wolverhampton), all credit goes to interim manager Rubén Sellés. His eleven looked like they were going to die on the pitch.

The thirty-nine year old young coach secured the head coaching job for at least a while with the win. And it makes sense. Southampton expanded their squad over the winter and now need a fighting spirit in the front row. The competition is so great that none of the players can afford to let anything slip. Indeed, under Sellés, that was the case.

Source: Premier League