What the Premier League is talking about: Soucek on the bench, Arteta pushing Havertz is hurting the team

Arsenal are seven points adrift, West Ham are too, but maybe Tomas Soucek will take it with a place in the line-up. In the 11th episode of our weekly column, in which we analyse interesting facts from the world of English football, we will look at the newest signing from Wolverhampton.

Arteta destroys himself

When Kai Havertz came to Chelsea, neither Arsenal fans nor the rest of the footballing faithful understood. He was alternating terrible performances with slightly above average ones in preparation, he wasn’t asking for a starting line-up anyway.

Still, he started in the first three rounds, which tactically completely remade the Gunners. Thomas Partey was heading that midfield at right-back, from where he was moving into an inverted midfield role. At the back, however, the absence of Gabriel is noticeable and it has cost the line-up.

The German midfielder has been lackluster in the midfield so far, not holding up the left side as much, which has been Granit Xhaka’s forte. Arsenal supporters have been calling for Havertz and Yakub Kiwior to be taken out of the lineup, which would mean the return of a functioning foursome of Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Soucek on the bench?

Seven points against Bournemouth, Chelsea and Brighton, that wasn’t expected. West Ham are rolling, although Tomas Soucek had to leave the game at the Amex Stadium with a head injury in the first half. It had a rather positive effect though, at least according to Hammers fans.

The role of the Czech midfielder will be filled by summer signing Edson Alvarez. Soucek will not start against Luton, and if the system with James Ward-Prowse and Alvarez proves to be successful, the national team captain may go to the bench. At least for games against inferior teams.

Kalajdžić started the big comeback

He arrived last year for 18 million euros as Stuttgart’s top scorer, but he separated his knee for ten months on his league debut. He was given two minutes at Manchester United, five against Everton and managed to make the difference.

If there was anything Wolves lacked from Raul Jimenez’s best era, it was a productive playmaker. Kalajdzic has also scored in the League Cup, he has a healthy confidence and motivation to return from his second knee injury.

Source: Premier League