There were wins for Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League, Napoli continue to dominate Serie A, a young Dortmund star claims player of the week and more from the European football world!
Arsenal pick up another statement win
I think there have been many who have been waiting to debunk this Arsenal side as some sort of short-term myth. But their commanding 1-0 victory at a beleaguered Chelsea was probably the surest sign yet of their undisputed title credentials.
Jorginho and Loftus Cheek were relegated to passenger status in the match, virtually playing hot-potato with the ball due to the sheer ferocity of Arsenal’s press.
Gabriel Martinelli underlined his status as the most dangerous current wide-left player in the league, roasting Cesar Azpilicueta on multiple occasions.
Gabby Jesus must be slightly concerned that his goal conversion rate is so low. But the Gunners luckily have the best centre defender currently operating in the Premier League: William Saliba.
The way he casually dominates proceedings reminds me of Van Djik in his prime. Arteta will be desperate to lock down the services of the French juggernaut as he continues this unforeseen title push.
As for Chelsea…eish! The opening throws of Potter-ball seemed so promising. But everything in recent weeks has looked dull and utterly lifeless.
Aubameyang looks about as effective as Cristiano Ronaldo while Raheem Sterling must be dreaming of the magic he could have created playing alongside Erling Haaland.
Reece James must be the most missed player in the Premier League. He was certainly their greatest (sometimes only) creative outlet.
🍿 Watch it all again...
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 6, 2022
😍 The perfect end to the week
📺 Highlights | Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal pic.twitter.com/QDlSRyVQmH
Liverpool’s schizophrenic league form continues
Liverpool continue to leave footballing scribes in a state of whiplash. Their ability to go from the sublime to the ridiculous must be incredibly frustrating for their fans.
But at least they have an amazing performance in their locker. They were brilliant in the first half at White Hart Lane, absolutely dominating a docile Spurs unit.
The chaotic Darwin Nunez pulverized Emerson Royal and Mo Salah scored an excellent brace. That’s 14 goals in 20 games this season for the Egyptian (so much for a drop in form).
Spurs- as they have been want to do this season- came out with far more vigour in the second half. That must absolutely drive their supporters wild. Why can’t they ever have the cajones to take a game by the scruff of the neck?
They have to do a rope-a-dope every game, absorbing ridiculous amounts of pressure before a second-half resurgence. That’s just not sustainable in this league. They don’t defend well enough, and Son is currently injured.
Antonio Conte has to change this pessimistic outlook or his days on North London will be numbered.
Big Occasion ✨Big Mo Salah ✨
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) November 6, 2022
The Reds take the lead in some style 🤩
📺 Stream #TOTLIV live: https://t.co/Tg69y0m5GD | #PL pic.twitter.com/Mct5dBwfZj
Bayern surge into top spot
And now the procession begins. This felt like a bit of a watershed weekend in the destiny of the Bundesliga title. The Cinderella story of Union Berlin came to a nightmarish end with a 5-0 away defeat to Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
Union captain Christophe Trimmel referred to it as a ‘shellacking’ (and he wasn’t wrong). Those five second-half goals could be the final nail in their fledging Bundesliga title challenge.
Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern held off a spirited Hertha Berlin to finally take their rightful place atop the German standings. The irrepressible Jamal Musiala gave the Bavarian giants the lead.
Then it was all eyes on the recent redemption arc of Eric Maxim Choup-Moting. He has been a peripheral figure for Bayern over the past three years (often playing second fiddle to the likes of Lewandowski and Muller).
But he has looked reborn this season, obviously taking advantage of Nagelmann’s attacking philosophy and the injury to Leroy Sane.
Hertha Berlin 2-3 Bayern Munich highlights.
— A Football Fan (@TheFanLij) November 5, 2022
Jamal Musiala gave Bayern the lead. Sadio Mane got the assist.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored two️ in 90 seconds. He has scored in four Bundesliga matches in a row for the first time.
| #BSCFCB | pic.twitter.com/zH5yd7UcBh
Napoli continue to dominate
Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli remain the team to beat in this year’s Serie A, showing real grit to come back from a goal down against a quality Atalanta side.
It was a battle of Nigerian centre-forwards, as Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman took on Napoli’s Victor Osimhen for the bragging rights. And it was Lookman who took the early advantage, with Osimhen handling the ball to concede an early penalty.
Lookman dispatched the penalty with disdain and Napoli were made to work for the win. Osimhen equalized with through a header before setting up Elmas for the winner.
Elsewhere, Juventus wrestled back some semblance of respectability with a vital 2-0 Derby d’Italia victory against Inter. Allegri’s embattled side were without the injured Dusan Vlahovic as they took on an Inter side that were flying in the Serie A.
But they ultimately won a fairly stolid encounter 2-0, with Rabiot and Fagioli doing the business for the Old Lady.
💍 𝐄𝐋-𝐌𝐀𝐒 DECISIVO
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) November 6, 2022
💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/gMwceqmgv9
Pique bids adieu as Barca take temporary charge of LaLiga
With Real Madrid playing Vallecano on Monday night, Barcelona had the chance to leapfrog their great rivals with an enticing home match against relegation-fodder Almeria.
And they duly obliged, with Frenkie de Jong and Ousmane Dembele scoring second-half goals that helped ease the pressure on Xavi. But the night belonged to 35-year-old Barca legend Gerard Pique, whose shock retirement took the entire footballing world by surprise.
The home match against Almeria was his final match at the Nou Camp, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house (Xavi included). I personally feel that this decision is long overdue.
It’s not as if Pique had disgraced himself in real seasons. But his diminished mobility has been a hindrance over the last few years. It was getting harder to envisage him engaged in duels with the likes of Vinicius.
Still, it seems apropos to just reflect on a career that saw him win absolutely everything there is to win in the game (both domestically and internationally).
EM🥲TION. @3gerardpique 🙌 pic.twitter.com/OWgMH8NvdI
— FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_fra) November 5, 2022
Player of the Week- Youssoufa Moukoko
I was a bit torn this week. There was obviously Salah’s brace against Spurs to consider. And Miguel Almiron is resembling Leo Messi more and more each week (much to the chagrin of Jack Grealish).
But I ultimately had to go for one of the most sought-after young properties in European football: Youssoufa Moukoko. It’s little secret that the 17-year-old wunderkind has caught the attention of the Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
And he showed why with a dizzying display against VfL Bochum. The youngest-ever player to score ten goals in the Bundesliga, the explosive German scored an absolutely scintillating solo effort to open the scoring.
He then took advantage of Bochum’s out-of-position keeper to secure the three points on the stroke of half-time.
Enjoy this Moukoko masterclass. 🍿
— 𝙁𝙎 🐝 (@Fs_BVB) November 5, 2022
pic.twitter.com/ufOqd2T9Wq
