The premier league is back!
Just over 45 days after the curtain drew on last season, the new season has already kicked off and here are the 5 things we learned from opening day.
#1. Arsenal must ensure Aubameyang signs new contract
It may sound surprising but at this very moment, Arsenal are yet to announce a new contract for Aubameyang. Although various sources report he’s signed it and Arsenal are merely delaying announcement, Arsenal are still to announce that contract and until they do, he’s still technically out of contract next summer. We all know Arsenal can’t afford to lose him, he’s been their go to guy for quite sometime now.
![[FILE] Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) runs with the ball as Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel closes in during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/000_97B779-scaled-e1703231851386-120x86.jpg "Liverpool host Arsenal in battle for Premier League Christmas No. 1 1")
#2. Arsenal fans can dream again
Arsenal fans know better than everyone else not to get overexcited about a very good performance against a newly promoted side. This is just Fulham after all, the fifth best team in the championship last season. But, this could also be a different Arsenal too.
They defeated City and Chelsea en route to winning the FA Cup last season and also got two wins against Liverpool withing 45 days. Summer signings aren’t doing bad either and with Arteta at the helm, Arsenal fans can, in fact, DREAM again.
#3. Salah still going strong
Examples of things that never change: Salah scoring on opening day and Salah scoring on opening day. And this is good news for Liverpool fans. It’s no secret that Salah always starts the season strongly since joining Liverpool.
After his magical first season in 2017/18, when he scored 32 times in the league and won the golden boot, there were suggestions that Salah would be a one season wonder. 3 seasons on and Salah has one the golden boot again – albeit sharing it with Mane and Aubameyang – and also finishing in the top 5 scorers the following season.
This season though he’s put himself in a commanding position to take his crown back. He scored a hattrick to guide Liverpool past a stubborn Leeds United. Two penalties I hear you say? Well, penalties are part of the game and it takes nerves of steel to covert two in a game and even more to do it in the dying moments when game is locked at 3:3.
#4. Liverpool could struggle to defend their title
With all due respect to Leeds United who I think are a very good side, this is a game Liverpool shouldn’t be conceding 3 goals and needing 2 penalties to defeat newly promoted Leeds.
Liverpool, however showed their title credentials by grinding out a result out of a very difficult opening game but Kloop would of course know what to do.
The defence was shaky that even the ever reliable Virgil Van Dijk committed an error leading to goal – something rival fans would never forgive Maguire of. In stark contrast though, the attack was firing and if this continues, then Liverpool would rely on the attack as they did the defence last season season but leaky defences don’t win titles – just ask Man City and Liverpool themselves who did so before the arrivals of VVD and Allison Becker.
#5. Eberechi Eze and Zaha partnership is one to watch this season
Anglo-Nigerian youngster, Ebere Eze was only on the pitch for 13 minutes for Crystal Palace in their game against Southampton but Palace created more in that thirteen minutes than the entire goal.
Eze was very comfortable in possession, help up the ball well and this helped Crystal Palace gain control of the game when he came on. Palace were under so much pressure until he came on and this meant the forward players were isolated. This changed once Ebere was introduced and his partnership with Zaha is one to look out for.
Nigerian fans particularly would be interested in how the season unfolds for Eze as he’s a prospective super eagle so keep an eye on him.
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