Our usual delve into the post-Gameweek sound bites sees Slaven Bilic discuss West Ham’s backline improvement. Elsewhere, Ronald Koeman considers ringing the changes to arrest Southampton’s slide down the table, Kevin de Bruyne talks fatigue, whilst Mesut Ozil hails Arsenal’s growing self-belief.
Bilic explains defensive improvement
Over the last four Gameweeks, no team has conceded fewer goals (one) than West Ham United, who recorded clean sheets in their previous trio of match-ups. Nonetheless, the Irons are still yet to taste victory since Dimitri Payet sustained an ankle injury, racking up the joint-fewest goals (two) since Gameweek 13. Slaven Bilic lauded his side for tightening up at the back but bemoaned how the plethora of injuries among their attacking contingent has blunted their offense:
“If you remember what I said three or four weeks ago when the injuries hit us, I said the only way we could compensate was by producing a team performance and that is exactly what we have done in the last three games. We defended really good as a team, apart from in the first 20 minutes when we were a little bit sloppy. After that, we were really good and I’m proud of the team. To be fair, with no disrespect to any player it is all about the squad and that’s why we got a point, but the question is can we play much better with Carroll, without Payet, without Lanzini, without Sakho and without Moses? It’s too much. With two or three of those players back, not even all of them, I have a feeling that we would have definitely scored one or two goals per game.”
Koeman considers changes
Southampton are winless in five matches following their 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, prompting Ronald Koeman to consider making personnel changes. Over the last five Gameweeks, no side has chalked up fewer goals than Saints (two), highlighting their profligacy in the final third. Despite ranking top for shots inside the box (12) among midfielders during that period, Sadio Mane failed to register a solitary goal, which Koeman attributes, in part, to a lack of confidence amongst his charges:
“Maybe it’s not playing different, but maybe it’s other players, maybe with more physical players. That’s not our philosophy to do that, but sometimes you need more and you need more of a killing mentality. We got two big chances to score and we don’t score, and we accept it, and of course maybe it’s a little bit of a lack in confidence, but then you have to work harder and be more aggressive and then you can change maybe the moment.”
Wenger lauds Cech influence
Arsenal currently boast the joint-best defence (14 goals conceded) around the league and, additionally, have carded the joint-third-most clean sheets (seven). Much has been made of Petr Cech’s commanding presence between the sticks, marking a significant upgrade on their prime shot-stopper last term, David Ospina. Arsene Wenger suggested that the former Chelsea recruit could be the key to the Gunners mounting a successful title bid:
“He has brought his experience, his calmness and his leadership as well. He has been good and highly focused. I don’t want to be detrimental to David Ospina because he was exceptional last year, but Petr Cech has done it all, so he is someone who gives you an aura, a charisma that is always important in the big games for the players. There is no history of teams winning things without having a great goalkeeper. I’m now 30 years in the job and I said the other day you learn over the years that the goalkeeper is the most underrated position in football – and maybe the most vital one for winning things.”
Ozil praises Arsenal confidence
Just 17 Gameweeks into the season, Mesut Ozil is one assist shy (15) of matching his output from the previous two campaigns combined. From a Fantasy standpoint, the German playmaker has already surpassed last season’s total score (103) by 10 points, rendering him the second-most popular midfield recruit (50% ownership) behind Riyad Mahrez (66%). Ozil insists that Arsenal’s newfound confidence this term has an infectious quality, facilitating his role as the Gunners’ chief orchestrator:
“We are a more confident team this season. I can feel as a player on the pitch the team is more confident when we play. We dominate the other team. The team believes in itself more this season. It’s not just started now. It’s been going for the whole year. We played very good football in the second half of last season. The players believe we can be successful this season. We are more hungry this season. Look at the Champions League. You could see us in Athens against Olympiacos [on December 9]: we just needed two goals but we went for the third one. We showed more confidence, more hunger.”
De Bruyne on fatigue
Manuel Pellegrini elected to afford Kevin De Bruyne a rest for Manchester City’s home tie against Swansea City in Gameweek 16, before reinstating the Belgium international when Arsenal paid a visit on Monday. Having been used to the mid-season break that they enjoy in the Bundesliga, De Bruyne is entering uncharted territory with the Premier League’s congested schedule, heightening his risk of rotation. Although the ex-Chelsea man admits he’ll let his manager know if fatigue kicks in, he reckons he’s still fully fresh for the festive run-in:
“It’s a busy time of year, and it’s difficult to say how I’ll feel personally by the end of December because I’ve never experienced the Christmas period in England before. At Wolfsburg we had two-and-a-half weeks off but it’s something new to adapt to. It’s been tough so far because we’ve had a lot of games each month. If I’m on the field I’ll always give it my all but sometimes afterwards you think ‘yeah, maybe I was a little bit tired’ and maybe it would have been better to have had a rest. But you don’t think about these things when you are playing. At the moment I’m fine and we’ll see how things go, but if I was feeling fatigue then I would tell the coach.”
Garde highlights Ayew as key to Villa survival bid
Despite Aston Villa’s attacking woes, Jordan Ayew (5.5) has been quietly effective across the past couple of months, scoring four of his side’s six goals in the last eight league outings. Most recently, the Ghanaian forward was shifted from the flank and tasked with playing through the middle, augmenting his Fantasy appeal as a budget frontman ahead of a kind run of matches. After seeing the summer signing grab the equaliser at Newcastle, Remi Garde reserved special praise for Ayew’s tireless work ethic and aptitude in training:
“It was a tremendous strike. He was rewarded for all the work he did for the team. His effort was there for all to see – offensively and defensively. He is a very gifted player. He works so hard in the training sessions to give the best for the team. I am very happy for him. I believe he could score goals for us in the second part of the season. He’s got the pace. He’s got the stamina as well. When you look at how many runs he made in the game defensively, offensively, sometimes he gets the ball but sometimes he runs to create space for other players. He’s a special player. He’s a decisive player and hopefully he will score more goals.”
Big Sam still uncertain over system
Having opted for a 3-5-2 system in Sunderland’s previous two road ties to good effect, Sam Allardyce retained that formation for their trip to Chelsea last Gameweek. The Black Cats ultimately fell to a 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge, ranking top for big chances conceded (four), joint-top for attempts conceded (11) and joint-top for shots on target conceded (seven). The former Hammers manager is now searching for a new system, but acknowledges that he might need to dip into the January transfer market to successfully employ a different approach:
“It’s a big worry in terms of where do I go next, what team do I pick and what system do I play? I’m toiling with the fact that I put a team out in that system and it did really, really well at Crystal Palace and Arsenal. Today, it didn’t work whatsoever. It looks like I’m going to have to find a new system, and new players in that system to try and get us a result. I’ve got to find a solution, and if I can’t find a solution in the squad, I will have to find a solution in January and see where we go from there.”
Wijnaldum prefers central role
All seven of Georginio Wijnaldum’s league goals this term have arrived on home turf, illustrating his lack of productivity on the road. Indeed, the Dutchman has mustered nine more attempts (17 compared to eight), 11 more shots inside the box (13 to two) and five more shots on target (nine to four) at St James’ Park. Although Wijnaldum is confident that away goals are just around the corner, he does concede that he would prefer to vacate the left flank and operate at the number-ten berth to boost his potential:
“If I can choose where I want to play, it is in the middle, but if I am needed to play on the left or right hand side, then I will do it. If it helps the team, it is good for me. I am always searching for goals, and creating chances, from any position. Obviously I need to start getting more goals away from home. I am not sure why it is happening, but I am not worried. I like scoring at home and celebrating with the fans. It gives me a special feeling. Goals away from St James’ Park will come I am sure.”
Howe confirms Daniels spot-kick duties
Charlie Daniels assumed responsibility from the penalty spot against West Bromwich Albion, firing Bournemouth to a 2-1 victory at the Hawthorns. Post-match, Eddie Howe did confirm that the 4.5-priced Daniels – who has produced more attempts inside the box (six) in the last four Gameweeks than any other defender – is currently at the head of the queue for penalties and has been practicing regularly in training:
“Charlie put the penalty away really well. Perhaps it was a bit closer than I would have liked, but he did well! He has been practising those a lot. He was the designated penalty taker today so it wasn’t thrust upon him, but it’s one thing doing it in training and then doing it in an atmosphere like today.”
