Arsenal’s title hopes are on hold, Tony Pulis is hoping for money in the January transfer window and Loris Karius is keeping Jürgen Klopp happy
It was a good weekend for all of the above, bar Ronald Koeman, centre. Composite: Getty, Reuters, AFP, BPI/Rex
1) Arsenal fail to make title statement
It is a quirk of the fixture calendar that Arsenal have not yet had an away game against one of their rivals in the top six, whereas they have played three of them at home. The 4-3 loss to Liverpool on the opening weekend was followed by the 3-0 thrashing of Chelsea in late September and now a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur. It has been a mixed bag in the biggest matches and now feels like the trip to Manchester United after the international break will be instructive. Against Tottenham on Sunday, they failed to make a statement and it was a source of frustration for them that they surrendered the initiative after being 1-0 up at half-time. Physically, they were flat and creatively, they came to look laboured. Arsenal have the ability to look like world-beaters but it feels impossible, at present, to make any pronouncements on their title hopes. David Hytner
2) Ibe needs to find consistency for Bournemouth
Jordon Ibe has been substituted in all 11 starts since joining Bournemouth, which may seem cruel on a player who is still learning. On Saturday he was hooked at the break but Eddie Howe was right to point out the 20-year-old’s only problem is a lack of consistency. Ibe was mostly ineffective in the defeat to Sunderland and while his potential is undisputed, he too often drifts in and out of games. “He has some great moments and some really good 10 or 15 minutes but he has not put it together for any consistent period, hence why he’s come off the pitch,” Howe said. “I feel he has great potential and could be anything he wants to be but I think we tend to forget how young he is.” Consistency, though, is something that is often learned over time and Howe will remain patient with the winger. At the same time, the manager was frustrated by the line of questioning. “It’s not deliberately harsh but I’m thinking in the best interests of the team – that’s my job.” Alan Smith
3) Burnley look better equipped for survival this time
A despondent Alan Pardew admitted that Palace “really needed a result” at Burnley, but Turf Moor is no longer the sort of place where visitors can expect to pick up points easily. Even when Palace thought they had a foothold in the game the home side hit back with a dramatic stoppage-time winner, scored by Ashley Barnes but created by Johann Gudmundsson, Burnley’s most impressive performer on the day. Steven Defour, Dean Marney and Jeff Hendrick were pretty good too, for this season Burnley are not just being stingy in defence but creative in midfield. They have goalscorers and goalmakers, and in Gudmundsson they had both. The Iceland winger provided assists for two of Burnley’s goals and scored the one in between. Andre Gray and Patrick Bamford remained on the bench unneeded. After 11 games two years ago the Clarets had one win, seven points and had scored only six goals. They have improved their attacking outlook, and 11 goals to date have brought four wins, 14 points and a visit to the top half of the table. Paul Wilson
4) Koeman has an off day but should be celebrated
Ronald Koeman has not got a lot wrong since replacing Roberto Martínez at Everton, although the Dutchman will probably wonder whether it was an error to attempt to counter Chelsea’s 3-4-3 by using the same system. The charge against Koeman was that he was worrying too much about Antonio Conte instead of playing to his team’s strengths. Kevin Mirallas dropped to the bench, Phil Jagielka joined Ramiro Funes Mori and Ashley Williams as part of a back three, Everton were 2-0 down after 20 minutes and Koeman was forced to bring on Mirallas nine minutes before half-time. Perhaps Koeman was guilty of overthinking. But if Everton are looking for positives, maybe they should celebrate a manager who recognises danger, reacts during matches and tries to find a solution. The problem with Martínez was a lack of pragmatism, his utter conviction that his team’s talent in attack would cover up deficiencies elsewhere. Look where that got them. Jacob Steinberg
5) Hull have hope before Sunderland six-pointer
Saturday week promises to be a potential watershed afternoon for Hull City and their manager, Mike Phelan. The term “relegation six-pointer” can be overused but Sunderland’s next fixture at the Stadium of Light surely promises to offer the perfect definition of this particular form of torture. With David Moyes’s side finally having won a first league game of the season, at Bournemouth on Saturday, and Hull curtailing a run of six straight league defeats with Sunday’s home victory over Southampton, it promises to be highly intriguing. A 45,000-strong crowd is expected and the modern day version of the old “Roker Roar” could turn the ground into a formidably hostile venue for Hull but they do have the outstanding Robert Snodgrass on their right wing and he could well enjoy himself against Patrick van Aanholt. And as Phelan says: “Although we’ve had some soul-destroying defeats, there remains an inner belief.” Louise Taylor
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