1) Brighton are an inspiration
Sean Dyche was asked about the difference between preparing for Manchester City, Everton’s opponents on Sunday, and Brighton, whom they had clattered 5-1 in midweek. He observed that City play in various ways whereas Brighton have a particular method – and how well it’s serving them. Roberto De Zerbi has done an incredible job since replacing Graham Potter, all the more so as he’s refined their style mid-season. Next season, though, he’ll be facing opponents who know what to expect having seen various tactics deployed against it – and in all likelihood, will have European competition to contend with having lost a big player or two to richer rivals. So there’s a lot of work for the club to do: identifying replacements, signing reinforcements and developing different ways of playing. But in the meantime, their destruction of an admittedly tired Arsenal is just the latest evidence of an almost perfectly run football club; one that should inspire others at every level. Daniel Harris
Match report: Arsenal 0-3 Brighton
2) Could Gündogan follow Arteta’s path?
Ilkay Gündogan has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona this summer and, with a Sergio Busquets shaped hole in the newly crowned La Liga champions’ midfield next season, his versatility, talent and work rate would be a perfect complement to the young guns of Pedri and Gavi. Should City win the Champions League this season, Gündogan will have nothing left to win in Manchester, but one thing that could entice him to stay is the opportunity to continue his coaching – he has already taken training sessions at City’s academy and Mikel Arteta’s graduation from Pep Guardiola’s assistant to Premier League manager shows what can be achieved. At 32, Gündogan is in the autumn of his career, but his future still likely depends on a long-term strategy. Michael Butler
Match report: Everton 0-3 Manchester City
3) Garnacho continues to sparkle
It feels as if Alejandro Garnacho can be the next star in a Manchester United constellation that already features Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, Rafaël Varane, Lisandro Martínez and Luke Shaw. After coming on against a doughty Wolves side, the forward punched a hole in the visiting rearguard, took aim and, with a sniper’s eye, fired the ball where Dan Bentley had no chance: on to the Wolves goalkeeper’s left post and in. Garnacho has delivered similarly telling contributions this season via winners at Real Sociedad and Fulham and the assist for Marcus Rashford’s decisive goal against Manchester City at Old Trafford. Garnacho’s return, after injury, at the business end of United’s chase for a top-four finish could be crucial: that points to how menacing the 18-year-old, who was lining up against Barrow in the Football League Trophy in October, has become. Jamie Jackson
Match report: Manchester United 2-0 Wolves
4) Is the Age of Kanté coming to an end?
After the news that N’Golo Kanté has picked up yet another muscle injury, it is hard not to wonder if it is time for Chelsea to say farewell to the midfielder. Nobody, of course, is doubting Kanté’s quality. He has been outstanding for Chelsea, who were poor without him during their 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest, and they are a different side when he plays. Yet his injury record is undoubtedly a problem. Kanté, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has been struggling for four years. The setbacks keep coming and Chelsea need to make a call on the 32-year-old, who is unlikely to play again this season after suffering a groin injury last Friday. But it is a conundrum. Kanté is still effective when he is fit, so can Chelsea afford to lose him and see him thrive elsewhere? Maybe not but, likewise, they cannot rely on him and his wages aren’t cheap. Jacob Steinberg
Match report: Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest
5) Saints show how not to fight relegation
A club statement released on Saturday evening was signed by “Dragan, Henrik & Rasmus”: Dragan Solak, Henrik Kraft and Rasmus Ankersen, partners in Sport Republic, Southampton’s owner. “We are particularly saddened and frustrated that our first season as controlling shareholders has ended in relegation,” it began, before a call for unity, for lessons to be learned. Southampton’s 2022-23 season can now serve as a case study on how to get relegated. Three different managers, of whom the best performer, Ralph Hasenhüttl, still averaged less than a point per game, and shocking transfer business will lead the bullet-point findings. Rubén Sellés’s team sagged against Fulham, too many points surrendered by poor defending and blunt forward play in previous matches. Sport Republic’s takeover last January cost £100m, with a further £63m invested since. The ownership trio promise to lay out their plans for a now-distressed asset at the season’s end. After Nathan Jones and Sellés, a capable manager would be a good start. John Brewin
Match report: Southampton 0-2 Fulham
6) Howe shown football’s ugly side
Former Newcastle managers, most notably Rafael Benítez, Alan Pardew and Steve Bruce, were frequently seen out and about in the city’s suburbs, doing supermarket shops, eating in restaurants and, in Bruce’s case, walking his dog. Mostly they were left alone but conversations with locals proved invariably polite and friendly, so it is a shame that Eddie Howe lives a more reclusive life, with Newcastle’s manager sometimes even leaving his house in disguise. Let’s hope the shock at being shoved in the chest by a Leeds fan who invaded the technical area during Saturday’s tumultuous 2-2 draw at Elland Road – featuring three penalties (one missed) and a red card – does not further heighten Howe’s anxiety. It was, mercifully, an extremely rare incident. Infinitely more common is Tony Mowbray’s recent experience in a Yarm coffee shop where two passersby spied Sunderland’s manager through the window and immediately bought him good-luck cards. Louise Taylor
Match report: Leeds 2-2 Newcastle
7) Emery crafting another gem in Ramsey
Jacob Ramsey scored in Unai Emery’s first match in charge of Aston Villa, a 3-1 win over Manchester United in November, and the 21-year-old homegrown midfielder has impressed since regaining his place after injury, shining alongside Douglas Luiz and John McGinn. Ramsey’s younger brother, Aaron, who has excelled on loan for Middlesbrough this season, was in the crowd at Villa Park on Saturday as he opened the scoring en route to a deserved victory against Tottenham. Emery gave debuts to Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe while at Arsenal and Ramsey is the latest youngster to flourish on his watch. “When he [Emery] was first appointed, the trophies and teams that he’s managed, speak for themselves,” Ramsey said. “He’s really confident and really demanding and it affects us players in a good way and we’re showing that now.” Ben Fisher
Match report: Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham
8) Eze starts to assume centre stage
It’s been a disappointing season for Crystal Palace. Though, on the face of things, 12th seems all right, they went out of both cups in the early rounds and flirted with relegation for much of the winter when, with the players they have, they should have done much better. In particular, 37 goals in 36 games represents an egregious disgrace for a squad boasting so much attacking talent, but in recent weeks they have started scoring – since they appointed Roy Hodgson in fact, and who saw that coming? In that time, Eberechi Eze – again the star against Bournemouth – has shone, his second goal an absolute ripper. He won’t, though, put those away often; what matters more is his ability to take the ball under pressure, commit defenders and make intelligent decisions, looking beautiful in the process. If he can bring his average level closer to his top level, he will be a very serious footballer. DH
Match report: Crystal Palace 2-0 Bournemouth
9) Mbeumo gliding out of Toney’s shadow
Bryan Mbeumo is a lovely footballer, one of the game’s gliders. Largely from the right, he cuts inside and out, only using his stepover when appropriate. Ivan Toney’s brilliance is always heralded but the numbers point to Mbeumo being a worthy supporting actor. He has missed just three of Brentford’s 74 Premier League games, with 68 starts bringing 24 goal involvements. And aged just 23, Mbeumo is yet to peak. “Bryan is sometimes going a little bit under the radar – I think he’s a fantastic player,” said Thomas Frank, Brentford’s head coach, after the win against West Ham. “I think he could have scored more in terms of probably being a little bit unlucky in some situations. Plus the importance for us in pressing and defensive work, he works so hard for the team.” Sam Dalling
Match report: Brentford 2-0 West Ham
10) Arteta must pick new signings wisely
To see Arsenal run over by Brighton wasn’t a massive surprise – Manchester City’s win at Everton in the early game, and the manner of it – forlorn hope, dashed in minutes – must have hit them hard. So now, with the league almost gone, they’ll be thinking about how they can improve for next season, because things are going to get tougher as rivals improve. What Mikel Arteta needs, aside from a midfielder to go into his first XI, is depth – but not stands-ins or rotation players, rather those good enough to challenge for a full-time spot. One of the main reasons City are going to win the title – at least – is that Pep Guardiola can tailor personnel to opponents and make impactful changes both during and between games. Arteta, on the other hand, has had to rely on more or less the same team playing more or less the same way, and though he won’t have unlimited funds to close the gap, he should have enough to make a difference – provided he picks wisely. DH
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 35 | 61 | 85 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 36 | 41 | 81 |
| 3 | Newcastle | 35 | 32 | 66 |
| 4 | Man Utd | 35 | 10 | 66 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 35 | 25 | 62 |
| 6 | Brighton | 34 | 21 | 58 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 36 | 6 | 57 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 36 | 4 | 57 |
| 9 | Brentford | 36 | 9 | 53 |
| 10 | Fulham | 36 | 3 | 51 |
| 11 | Chelsea | 35 | -5 | 43 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 36 | -9 | 43 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton | 36 | -22 | 40 |
| 14 | AFC Bournemouth | 36 | -32 | 39 |
| 15 | West Ham | 36 | -14 | 37 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 36 | -31 | 34 |
| 17 | Everton | 36 | -24 | 32 |
| 18 | Leeds | 36 | -25 | 31 |
| 19 | Leicester | 35 | -15 | 30 |
| 20 | Southampton | 36 | -35 | 24 |
