1) Submit-Bonfire Evening fireworks at Bridge
An already-spicy encounter between Chelsea and Arsenal has been lent added piquancy by a promo clip recorded for BT Sport by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. “It’s nothing private, Arsenal,” says the Chelsea striker, who’s presumably keen to place one over on a membership whose supervisor relieved him of the captaincy earlier than transport him off to Barcelona. “I’m again, I’m prepared and I’m blue.” The striker’s innocent goading would possibly carry extra weight if he was at the moment firing on all cylinders however his return for Chelsea of three targets in 11 appearances – two of them off the bench – is hardly prolific. Aubameyang shall be determined so as to add to this tally on Sunday and may he accomplish that, any celebration (or the shortage thereof) shall be scrutinised to inside an inch of its life. On the day after Bonfire Evening, right here’s hoping for extra fireworks at Stamford Bridge. Barry Glendenning
2) Late audition for England hopefuls
English gamers on the periphery of Gareth Southgate’s World Cup plans have been instrumental within the gradual enchancment of each Everton and Leicester however, on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season earlier than its disgraceful interruption, is it too late for an audition at Goodison Park? James Maddison, James Tarkowski and Dominic Calvert-Lewin shall be amongst these desperately hoping not. Tarkowski has impressed in a new-look defensive partnership with Conor Coady that has underpinned Everton’s higher resilience and character this season. Whereas Coady seems to be a secure guess for Qatar, Tarkowski has not had a look-in at worldwide degree since 2018, when he was on stand-by for the final World Cup earlier than present process a hernia operation. Maddison’s claims have additionally been ignored by the England supervisor regardless of producing six Premier League targets and two assists in a troublesome season for Leicester. It’s nearly three years since he gained his solely senior cap as a second-half substitute towards Montenegro. He should hope Southgate doesn’t play it solely secure once more. Andy Hunter
3) Time Gil received a go
Since signing for Spurs the summer season earlier than final, Bryan Gil has but to begin a sport in both the league or Champions League. There’s a robust probability he hasn’t earned the proper to – Antonio Conte sees him in coaching every single day, and the possibilities are that he is aware of barely extra about soccer than these of us studying and writing these phrases. However although Conte’s desire is for brutal automatons, Gil’s cameo towards Sporting final week confirmed his willowy unpredictability is one thing that Spurs lack and, given the unlucky accidents suffered by Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison, Conte has a choice to make. The conservative choice could be to flank Harry Kane with Ivan Perisic and Lucas Moura, but when Perisic performs wing-back with Gil in entrance of him on the wing, this may give Spurs an additional attacker and likewise enable the 2 of them to gang up on and exploit the area behind Trent Alexander-Arnold. Daniel Harris
4) Is the top nigh for Hasenhüttl?
Newcastle followers taking up the 644-mile spherical journey to St Mary’s will nearly actually make the primary half of the journey within the highest of spirits and is perhaps forgiven for pondering the lengthy trek residence shall be equally cheery. In beating Chelsea on the finish of August, Southampton recommended they could have turned a nook, however Ralph Hasenhüttl’s facet have gained one and misplaced 5 of their subsequent eight matches. Regardless of the membership hierarchy’s obvious reluctance to sack him, the Austrian supervisor is unquestionably on borrowed time with an extended mid-season hiatus looming. Southampton then journey to Liverpool for his or her remaining sport earlier than the World Cup, a match their away kind suggests they may nearly actually lose. Whatever the final result of the Carabao Cup tie towards Sheffield Wednesday subsequent Wednesday, defeat towards Newcastle might hasten the top of Hasenhüttl’s curate’s egg of a reign on the south coast. BG
5) Álvarez able to make affect
Earlier within the week, Pep Guardiola mentioned that Erling Haaland would possibly make Saturday’s Fulham sport. However given his significance to Metropolis, if the decision to pick him is marginal, it might make extra sense for him to overlook a house sport his workforce ought to win anyway, relatively than threat aggravating an harm that’s nearly healed. This is able to be excellent news for Julián Álvarez, who’s made a sluggish begin to his Manchester Metropolis profession, however confirmed towards Sevilla that he’s able to have an effect on video games. First, he slipped a stupendous cross inside a defender for Rico Lewis to attain, then completed fantastically when put in on aim himself and at last, scavenged possession excessive up the pitch earlier than enjoying in Riyad Mahrez to clinch victory. Confidence in footballers – particularly these not solely enjoying however residing in a brand new atmosphere – could be fragile. So Guardiola ought to search to capitalise on Álvarez’s midweek buzz, by granting him one other begin this weekend. DH
6) Coutinho hoping for a contemporary begin underneath Emery
“I’ve not returned (to England) as a result of it’s the Premier League, it’s as a result of it’s the proper membership and the proper venture.” So mentioned Unai Emery after his first two days on the job at Aston Villa, who might need additionally persuaded the Spaniard with a bumper four-and-a-half 12 months contract and the promise of January funds, with Villarreal’s Pau Torres already linked with a £40m transfer. After final week’s appointment, Emery solely began teaching on Wednesday owing to work allow points, however was seen orchestrating a excessive press in coaching at Bodymoor Heath. What does this imply for Philippe Coutinho? The Brazilian shouldn’t be a prolific employee off the ball. Would possibly he be provided a deeper function as Villa chase their first residence win over Manchester United since 1995? Or will Emery go for a extra cellular beginning XI and depart Coutinho stranded on the bench, the place he has sat for the final 4 video games? Michael Butler
7) Summerville should match expertise with software
The Leeds first-team squad, their households and membership workers celebrated final Saturday’s reassuring victory at Liverpool with a Halloween Get together at the beginning of the week. Each participant attended in fancy gown with Jesse Marsch adjudging Pascal Struijk’s outfit the winner. “Pascal was the very best, he got here as a hippy,” mentioned the Leeds supervisor, whose job safety could be bolstered considerably with a win over Bournemouth. Will probably be intriguing to see if Crysencio Summerville, his younger winger, begins towards Gary O’Neil’s facet. After scoring the winner at Anfield, Summerville requested for permission to return to his native Netherlands to have a good time his 21st birthday however, tellingly, Marsch refused. If Summerville’s software doesn’t but fairly match his appreciable expertise, Illan Meslier has lengthy married assiduousness to high-calibre capacity. Itcan be straightforward to neglect that the Leeds goalkeeper continues to be solely 22, however Marsch believes Meslier ought to be included within the France squad for the World Cup and it’s troublesome to disagree. Louise Taylor
8) Lingard has earned a benching
After the positivity of beating Liverpool, Forest have been introduced again right down to earthwith a five-goal thrashing at Arsenal on Sunday. A turning level was Jesse Lingard’s failure to attain at 1-0, after which Arsenal dominated. Lingard is, admittedly, not the one Forest participant to be underperforming however his efforts this season have been beneath the usual anticipated of somebody of his pedigree; he has failed to attain or help a aim and has struggled to affect the facet since his heralded summer season arrival. Brennan Johnson misplaced his place to Lingard, however has produced some promising cameos in current weeks and it might be time for the academy graduate to be introduced again into the beginning lineup forward of his extra illustrious colleague. Lingard has not fitted into the formation at Forest and has acquired criticism for his lack of dedication in relation to profitable the ball again, so it’s time to put him again on the bench. Will Unwin
9) Brighton make one other eye-catching recruit
Wolves are famend for recruiting Portuguese gamers and it appears Brighton are starting to develop a development of their very own. Facundo Buonanotte will arrive in January and is the newest hailing from South America to maneuver to the south coast, becoming a member of Pervis Estupiñán, Julio Enciso, Moisés Caicedo, and compatriot Alexis Mac Allister among the many Brighton ranks. An attacking midfielder, Buonanotte will add craft to a ahead line that despatched Chelsea 4-1 within the final fixture. Brighton shall be heavy favourites for the journey to Wolves, who’ve been largely dreadful of late, and Roberto De Zerbi shall be grateful that the rudderless hosts haven’t but appointed Julen Lopetegui within the reverse dugout – talks with the previous Spain supervisor are slowly progressing after initially hitting the buffers. Within the interim, Brighton will look to capitalise and propel themselves again into the highest six. MB
10) Time Olise received amongst targets
Patrick Vieira has referred to as on Michael Olise to attain extra – the winger is but to register this season after netting twice within the league final time round. He has two assists to his title however his supervisor needs to see him on the scoresheet himself. “Olise wants a little bit of time,” Vieira mentioned. “Generally we neglect how younger he’s. Developing from the Championship, he has to be taught and he has to be taught loads to be a Premier League participant.” With time, targets will nearly actually come. He’s hindered by the actual fact he has to place quite a lot of power into defending and may usually be discovered monitoring full-backs all the way in which to his personal field. The longer he goes with out scoring, nevertheless, the higher the psychological affect on a participant who has proven moments of warning within the neighborhood of the opponent’s field as a result of he doesn’t have the unbounded confidence of a extra prolific participant, which might end result him lacking the possibility to shoot. As soon as he does get one, although, extra will certainly come. WU
