Premier League: What we learned from the weekend

• We examine the insights gained from the Premier League weekend, which included Arsenal’s North London survival.

We examine the insights gained from the Premier League weekend, which included the “entertaining” mystery surrounding Manchester United and Arsenal’s North London survival.

Everton’s fight can be seen

Everton players celebrate winning against Brentford. Photo/ The Sun

It’s possible that Sean Dyche isn’t the most exquisite Premier League football manager. With his gruff voice, tough exterior, and sometimes unjust managerial preconceptions, Dyche took over an Everton team that was in danger of relegation the previous season and guided the Toffees to safety. He has maintained their elite ranking this season despite budgetary constraints and significant off-field problems.

Everton has ensured their survival with three straight league victories, capped off with their first Merseyside Derby victory over Liverpool at Goodison Park in fourteen years. This weekend’s 1-0 victory against Brentford also guaranteed their safety.

Everton is hard to beat now that Dyche has reverted to his earlier methods. Only the top three have allowed less goals to be scored, and only Arsenal has more clean sheets (12) than Everton. The Blues may not always play flashy football, but there are other methods to get what you want. Dyche is more aware of that than most.

The relegation battle

Sheffield United have been relegated from the Premier League. Photo/ iNews

With Sheffield United‘s relegation and Everton’s assured survival, it’s now two out of three teams who will be relegated to the Championship. Luton, Burnley, and Nottingham Forest are separated by just two points; after losing this past weekend, the former is just one point above the relegation zone.

With only one loss in their last eight Premier League games, Burnley, now ranked 19th, is the best club among those fighting to stay up. However, their next two games against Newcastle and Spurs will be difficult.

Next week might be crucial for Forest since Nuno Espirito Santo’s team is playing against Sheffield United, who have already been demoted. When Forest travels to Turf Moor to play Burnley in what might turn into a survival shootout, they will want to avoid a potentially dramatic final day.

Luton, who sit between them, have only triumphed in one of their last 14 games and seem to have lost some of their early-season firepower. But the Hatters’ next game is against Everton, who could relax after winning their way out of the basement, and their last-day match against the destitute travelers Fulham also seems winnable. It appears like this one will go right to the wire.

Havertz’s signing of the season?

Kai Havertz was under scrutiny more times than we would want to remember throughout the first few months of the season. Even after his fourth season in England—his first at Arsenal—there remained unanswered questions. Who is he exactly? Despite being neither a true striker nor a midfielder, Mikel Arteta’s tryout for the former position did not go as planned.

After all this time, Havertz is spearheading Arsenal’s title defence. He has done a great job of leading the line when there isn’t a consistent number nine. In his last 11 league games for the Gunners, he has netted eight goals and provided five assists, including one in this week’s pivotal derby effort.

Havertz gave Arsenal a lesson as a center-forward, winning duels, dropping deep to impact the game, and making crucial contributions. The German’s long ball play into Bukayo Saka during Arsenal’s counterattack was the game’s greatest move. Havertz then headed in the third goal for Arteta’s team.

The striker renowned for his assists rather than goals, Roberto Firmino, who was dubbed the “engine” of Liverpool’s championship-winning team, had a glimmer of Firmino in his match against Spurs. Arsenal is expected to buy a “killer” in the penalty area this summer, yet their need may not be as great as initially believed.

“Entertaining” Manchester United

Erik ten Hag press conference. Photo/ Manchester United

“We are one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams in the league right now.” “We’re creating a lot of chances by playing good football,” Erik ten Hag remarked after Manchester United drew at home with relegation-threatened Burnley.

Burnley gained a point thanks to a late penalty from Zeki Amdouni, which stopped United’s record of one victory in six games after some strange defense. Mathematically, their aspirations of finishing in the top four are gone, and Ten Hag’s remarks aren’t a ruse. United lacks substance and style, which goes back to the management despite two seasons and significant investment.

His acquisitions of Antony and Andre Onana, who were paid high prices, have been among the most significant and least impressive. Onana, in particular, made a snap decision that cost him the spot kick in the 87th minute this past weekend.