Game Changers: Manchester City's Rodri Absence Hits Hard, Man Utd's Sofyan Amrabat Experiment Backfires

Man City just aren't the same without Rodri

Since Rodri made his Premier League debut in August 2019, Manchester City's win percentage has dropped significantly when he is not playing. Without the Spaniard, they have lost 33 per cent of their top-flight matches, whereas with him in the team, their loss percentage is only 7.5 per cent.

City's recent loss to Wolves, combined with their defeat in the Carabao Cup against Newcastle, further fuels the belief that the team is not as effective when Rodri is not on the field. While Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic are talented players, City seemed to lack the necessary urgency and creativity in maintaining possession. As a result, Pep Guardiola took the decision to substitute Nunes during half-time.

City were weak in possession, especially when Pedro Neto attacked down their left side, causing worry.

While Rodri alone couldn't alter the outcome at Molineux, the statistics reveal that City is undeniably more susceptible without him.

Amrabat experiment malfunctions Man Utd

Arsenal Aims to Exploit the Gap Left by Rodri at the Emirates

Being able to solve problems is a crucial quality for a football manager in the Premier League. The injuries to Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan Bissaka, and Sergio Reguilon have posed a problem for Erik ten Hag. In an attempt to address this issue, he chose to utilize new signing Sofyan Amrabat in a hybrid role on the left, replicating what he did during United's successful first half performance in their 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace earlier in the week. However, it's important to note that the Crystal Palace team they faced this time around was significantly different from the one they encountered midweek.

Crystal Palace displayed bravery, physicality, and a great deal of energy as they returned to action in the Premier League. As a result, Amrabat was tasked with additional defensive responsibilities, and he found himself struggling against the crafty Jordan Ayew. Ayew, skilled in winning free-kicks and alleviating pressure on his defenders, managed to draw five fouls from the desperate Amrabat. This brought Ayew's total fouls won this season to 25, seven more than any other player.

Has Havertz turned a corner at Arsenal?

Repeatedly, Amrabat fell for the trap and was even cautioned with a yellow card for an intentional handball following Ayew's successful evasion. A forgettable display in what has been a forgettable season thus far for Manchester United.

Arsenal had a successful afternoon at Bournemouth on Saturday, but Kai Havertz had an even more impressive performance. Despite facing difficulties since his transfer from Chelsea for £65m earlier this summer, the 24-year-old managed to score his first goal for the Gunners in his 10th appearance. This contributed to Arsenal's dominant 4-0 victory on the south coast.

Havertz, who is not usually Arsenal's designated penalty taker, was given the opportunity by his teammates to break the club's goal drought that had persisted since March, as they were already leading 2-0. Showing composure and precision, he confidently scored, ensuring the victory for his team. Immediately after, amidst an ecstatic away crowd, the German international was joined by his fellow Arsenal players, marking a poignant and meaningful occasion for him.

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Kai Havertz found the back of the net for Arsenal for the first time in his 10th game. Despite receiving a yellow card for a late challenge in the first half, the midfielder stepped up his game and earned a well-deserved standing ovation from the Arsenal supporters when he was replaced in the 81st minute.

In his post-match press conference, Mikel Arteta expressed his commendation for Havertz's unwavering dedication both on and off the field, despite a challenging initiation into north London. Additionally, the Spaniard conjectured that the goal would have a transformative effect on the midfielder. It is difficult to dispute. Dan Sansom

Spurs riding the Postecoglou wave

praised Havertz's perseverance and predicted significant implications of the goal.

Tottenham's recent stoppage-time victory against Liverpool was their most exhilarating win since their last home game. As the season and Ange Postecoglou's tenure are still in their early stages, fans of Spurs are finding it difficult to rank the memorable moments under their new manager. Every week brings excitement and gives fans reason to believe in the team. From the eruption of joy when Joel Matip unintentionally scored an own goal in the final moments of the match against Liverpool, to the entire stadium giving a standing ovation to Postecoglou as he acknowledged all corners of the pitch alone after the players' display of appreciation. These moments epitomize the essence of football.

Postecoglou is providing exactly what these Spurs supporters desired, following the period of pragmatic football in recent seasons. With an ambitious and adventurous approach, Spurs have occasionally relied on luck but have been duly rewarded with thrilling victories that have propelled them to second place in the Premier League standings.

With both style and substance on their side, everything seems to be falling into place for Spurs at the moment. Postecoglou is seemingly infallible. The destination of their journey remains uncertain, but the upcoming exploration promises to be an enjoyable one.

Liverpool channel the mentality monsters

Liverpool's famous "mentality monsters" under Jurgen Klopp showcased their indomitable spirit once again in a resilient display against Tottenham on Saturday.

Had it not been for a glaring "significant human error" admitted by the officials' superiors, the outcome of the match might have taken a different turn. Despite the prevailing sense of injustice, Liverpool remained unwaveringly focused on their objective, refusing to allow it to hinder their performance.

The hard work of the players in red was evident as Tottenham's advantage only became apparent when Diogo Jota was sent off after Curtis Jones. Despite this, Klopp made a successful adjustment by adopting a 5-3-0 formation, which effectively frustrated and silenced the Spurs team.

Liverpool 2.0 is rapidly being established. Klopp, an expert in managing his players, has quickly shaped the new signings to align with his own vision. The team seems to be ahead of schedule in their goal to narrow the gap with Manchester City and ultimately surpass them.

Brilliant Bowen is too good to ignore

Despite Gary Neville's belief that they are not yet prepared to compete for the championship this season, Saturday's display exhibited their relentless determination, proving that they should never be underestimated when it comes to the battle. Regardless of the circumstances, they consistently strive to prove their worth. Zinny Boswell

Jarrod Bowen has scored five goals in seven Premier League games this season, including a dramatic winner in the Europa Conference League final. If we also consider his performance in that final, he has scored six goals in eight matches. Despite not scoring on Saturday afternoon at the London Stadium, his header in the first half forced a great save from Wes Foderingham. Overall, his performance was outstanding and he received a standing ovation when he was substituted late in the game.

David Moyes later expressed that the 26-year-old is undoubtedly on the verge of earning a recall for the England team, and it is hard to dispute this claim. Bowen has been remarkable in his performances throughout this season in the Premier League. In fact, only Erling Haaland and Heung-Min Son have managed to score more goals than him.

Gareth Southgate has numerous choices in his forward line, but only a few are consistently delivering at such an exceptional level. While it is his goal-scoring abilities that are attracting attention, his dynamic and all-around performance against the Blades serves as a reminder that he possesses many other qualities.

Set-piece threat offers Luton survival hope

: Unstoppable on the left flank, he showcased a seamless partnership with Vladimir Coufal, skillfully maneuvering past defenders, and relentlessly pressuring the opposition. Southgate can no longer overlook his undeniable impact.

After wins against Brentford and Aston Villa, Everton fans were hopeful for a better future. However, it was a significant day for Luton as they celebrated their first top-flight victory since beating Aston Villa 2-0 in April 1992. Despite the rain, Rob Edwards, drenched and emotional, led the Luton supporters in three exuberant fist pumps at the Bullens Road End. It was a challenging day weather-wise, but it held a special beauty for those who had traveled from Bedfordshire.

"The Town is staying up," was the resounding chant emanating from the away end, and based on this performance, it is difficult to dispute that the Hatters are poised for an instant comeback to the Championship.

Luton exhibited sheer brilliance and fully deserved this victory, exemplified by Alfie Doughty's menacing crosses. Each player adhered diligently to the game strategy and displayed exceptional organization without the ball. Their proficiency in set-pieces was commendable, and they capitalized on their opportunities effectively.

Nasty reality check for Everton

Despite losing Reece Burke and captain Tom Lockyer to injury in the second half, the Hatters demonstrated their strong unity, which was evident even in challenging circumstances. The match could have been even more favorable for them as Carlton Morris had his second goal disallowed due to an offside flag.

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Everton suffered defeat in four Premier League matches at home. Josh Wander and Steve Pasko, co-founders of 777 Partners, along with Don Dransfield, the CEO of the 777 Football Group, were present at Goodison Park. However, they observed the immense challenge of revitalizing Everton as a prominent team in English football, despite the team's 23 shot attempts.

Fourteen of those attempts missed the mark. The overall performance lacked precision and composure, appearing excessively hasty.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin harshly labeled the defending for Luton's decisive second goal scored by Carlton Morris as "criminal," whereas Sue Smith observed a sense of fear among the players after conceding. The team's confidence, gained from two consecutive victories on the road within a week, vanished when they found themselves trailing by two goals at home to a newly promoted team within a mere 32 minutes.

Everton's unexpected victory against Brentford provided them with an opportunity to distance themselves from the relegation zone before the October international break. Following this home game, they will face Bournemouth at Goodison Park next weekend. Despite their 14th home defeat in 23 games since last season, Everton can at least find solace in the happy memories of their last-day triumph that ensured their survival, as this emphasizes their struggle when playing in front of their home supporters.

Watkins provides another timely England reminder

Everton's first home goal of the campaign came courtesy of Calvert-Lewin, who scored for the third consecutive game. However, there was a lack of understanding between the striker and Beto, the Portuguese player who came on as a substitute in the second half. Everton's £27m signing from Udinese missed a clear opportunity to level the score, serving as a harsh reality check for the team.

Brighton will be fed up with seeing Ollie Watkins.

Watkins' hat-trick propelled Aston Villa to a resounding 6-1 triumph over the Seagulls, and the English forward has now scored six goals in the Premier League against Brighton. He has managed to find the net in each of his previous four encounters with them.

In his English league career, it's now the outright most goals he's scored against a single opponent, overtaking the five he has vs Liverpool.

He works really hard for the team which sometimes goes unnoticed. Today was the complete performance."

John McGinn on Ollie Watkins' performance vs Brighton

The 27-year-old forward has now scored a total of seven goals this season, with two impressive hat-tricks. This remarkable achievement makes him the first player since Andy Gray back in the 1976/77 season to achieve two trebles in a single season for Aston Villa. Furthermore, he joins Christian Benteke as the only other player in the club's history to have scored more than one Premier League hat-trick. Watkins' impressive progress under Unai Emery has caught the attention of England manager Gareth Southgate, who witnessed his outstanding performance against Brighton while present in the stands at Villa Park on Saturday.

Man City just aren't the same without Rodri

He was absent from the Three Lions squad during the matches against Ukraine and Scotland in September. However, based on his impressive performance in this game, he is bound to regain strong consideration from Southgate when he announces his squad for the upcoming matches against Australia and Italy in October.

Since making his Premier League debut in August 2019, Manchester City's win percentage has dropped by 33% in top-flight matches played without Rodri, in comparison to a mere 7.5% when he is included in their team. The recent loss against Wolves, along with the defeat against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup, reinforces the belief that City lacks the influential presence of Rodri.

City lacked urgency and imagination in possession, resulting in Pep Guardiola substituting Matheus Nunes with Mateo Kovacic at half-time. Additionally, City displayed weaknesses in their defense, especially when Pedro Neto attacked down their left side, causing significant concern.

Rodri's absence may not have allowed him to single-handedly alter the outcome of the events at Molineux. However, the statistics indicate that City is undoubtedly a more susceptible team without him.

Despite their initial invincibility in the early stages of the season, City now find themselves in a precarious situation. Mikel Arteta is eager to capitalize on the void left by Rodri at the Emirates, making Arsenal the next team in line to exploit this vulnerability next Sunday.

Burnley's season starts now

"As a newly promoted team, I'm not that naive to not guess that it could be this type of start."

With only one point earned from their initial six matches in the Premier League, Burnley currently sits second from the bottom. The team faced formidable opponents such as Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, and Newcastle, making it one of the most challenging starts possible.

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Flashes of the Championship-winning side have emerged, showcasing the stellar performances of Zeki Amdouni and Luca Koleosho, even in challenging situations. However, they now face a critical October where they must rise to the occasion. First, they'll visit Luton on Tuesday, followed by matches against struggling Chelsea, Brentford, and Bournemouth. It is at this juncture that Burnley's season truly begins.