The title is between Arsenal and Man City?
We’ve heard a lot about that for months.
It’s because the media, like the referees, favour the big clubs.
All last week I thought West Ham would give City a game. And they took the lead twice with fine goals by Enner Valencia. But Aguero equalised twice and it finished 2-2.
Also thought Arsenal would beat Chelsea for a change. And had to beat Chelsea to convince people that they have the balls to be champions again.
Turned out that Chelsea were motivated and Per Mertesacker, Arsenal’s calmest defender, got himself sent off. With his experience, Mertesacker should have let Diego Costa go and said, “OK, now beat my keeper.”
Costa was only 40-60 to beat Petr Cech in one-on-one like that.
If he scores, Arsenal still have 11 men and 70 minutes to win the game.
Arsenal and City are both too flaky to win it. They don’t defend professionally enough.
Pellegrini is inhibited by his pecking order. He always favours his senior players and Yaya Toure has become a liability, a superstar who can’t be arsed. He can’t be bothered to run.
Yaya had another wobbly a few weeks ago. He had a tantrum because he wasn’t voted African Footballer of the Year for the fifth time. Threw his toys out of the pram.
At West Ham, centreback Otamendi was clueless and De Michelis was lucky to stay on the pitch.
Kompany, their inspirational leader, is half the team.
But he doesn’t play enough games and has one eye in Euro 2016.
So I think it’s between Leicester and Spurs now.
Leicester are top and have only lost 2 games: one at home, one away.
Pochettino has used the Europa Cup to make his squad bigger. The group is stronger than it was and he has firepower on the bench. Some think Hugo Lloris is the best keeper in the Premier League and Dele Alli is certainly the best young player in the division.
Arsenal have scored 16 goals in 11 home games.
Spurs have scored 22 in 12 home games.
In the 23 games so far, Spurs have not been under pressure, not been strongly fancied, not been expected to win the league.
But they’re only two points behind London rivals who have been fancied. It’s a nice position to be in because they’re still the underdogs.
Leicester, the other underdogs, have been barking quietly form the top of the Premier League, quite happy to be under-rated.
While Spurs have kept plugging away,improving slowly.
Those two are the teams to watch in February-March.