Winners and Losers: Premier League Gameweek 10

Another weekend, another set of fixtures played out, some spicy fixtures, banging goals and a whole lot of action, so let’s jump right into this week’s Winners and Losers.

Also read: Analytics Report: Premier League Player Of The Week – Matchday 10 – Bruno Guimaraes

Winners

Bukayo Saka

This win over Liverpool was a declaration from Arsenal, the banter era is over, and the Arsenal from the early 2000’s are back. At the heart of this Gunners side is one Bukayo Saka. Slaloming runs to make defenders dizzy, intricate passing moves to having the instincts to be in the right place at the right time, Saka has it all.

He stepped up for the Gunners in their biggest game of the season so far. First a sliding finish at the back post seconds before the half-time whistle and then slotting in the winner from 12-yards out.

Mikel Arteta’s young guns have put the Premier League on notice, they’re here to stay.

Joao Cancelo

I am a firm believer of giving people their flowers when they’re around, and so I have to declare Joao Cancelo is the best full back in the world. Not right-back or left-back, both. The man is just built differently. Play him on the right, and he will play inch perfect passes, play in midfield, and just ball out. Play him on the left and he’ll try to one-up Quaresma with his saucy trivela assists.

Against Southmapton, he was in full force, a stunning goal, a neat assist, and a cleansheet as the icing on the cake. If they could, every City fan would love to give Cancelo a big bear hig like the one Haaland gave him during the match. He is truly a complete player, he can defend, he can pass, he can score, probably can do a decent job in goal as well. It’s Cancelo’s world, we’re just living in it.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Is Kepa actually a good goalkeeper? Potter certainly believes that, and his recent performances show that Chelsea didn’t just flush £72m down the toilet. 2 games, 2 cleansheets, and back as the club’s no1 albeit due to Mendy’s injury. But to his credit, he is making the most of his opportunity.

Credit where credit is due, Kepa has stepped up in the absence of Mendy and done a remarkable job. Against Palace and Milan he made vital saves to keep Chelsea ahead. Although we wasn’t tested too much against Wolves he delivered.

It is too early to declare that the turnaround is complete but so far so good for Arrizabalaga.

Losers

Mohamed Salah

Golden boot to a sitting goose? What has happened to Mo Salah this year?  While Trent is out here getting called out for his mistakes game after game, Salah’s underperformance has gone under the radar. 2G in 8 games and a couple of assists. I don’t like saying this but, he is pulling an Ozil.

Jokes aside, it’s more than just his output that has suffered. He just looks devoid of ideas, he receives the ball and runs into defenders, his touches aren’t good enough and he lacks the ability to create something out of nothing.

Against Arsenal too, Tomiyasu absolutely pocketed him. He took one shot in the entire game which was off target, lost the ball on a couple of occasions, and had just one touch in the box.

Adapting to life with Darwin Nunez in the team has been difficult for the Egyptian. But given his pedigree and history, it would be too soon to write him off.

Jesse Marsch

Winless in 5 after their loss against Palace over the weekend. Missing players through injuries and the ones on the field not making the most of their chances are hurting the midlands outfit. In spite of taking the lead, they missed their chances to seal the game and were punished as Palace scored twice to take home all three points.

With Arsenal and Liverpool coming up in their next 4 games, Marsch will have to get his house in order quickly or his stint in the Premier League might be rather short.

Just Wolves

I couldn’t pick one person to pin the blame on, as they’re all in it together, but Wolves are just stinking up the gaf. Yes, they have suffered a few injuries and have had to play people out of position, but they’re just boring to watch right now.

They’re not really porous so they don’t concede too many but they’re certainly lacking a proper goal threat. Just 3 goals scored this season, it’s really not good enough.

To be fair to them their new signing Sasa Kalajdzic, unfortunately, suffered an ACL injury half an hour into his debut but bringing back a Diego Costa who hasn’t played football in 6-months isn’t the answer. They still have some really good players and the relegation zone is not where they should be.