Can Arsenal youngsters salvage their season?
Arsenal's youngsters have impressed in the Europa League this season and played a huge part in their 3-1 win over Chelsea on Boxing Day. So can they save their season? Many of Arsenal's experienced players have underperformed this season as they've fallen down the table towards the relegation zone. Some fans have called for some of their youngsters to be called in after impressing in the Europa League and Arteta did that against Chelsea and they all played well. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe all started on Boxing Day with Saka scoring the third goal which appeared to be a cross whilst Martinelli and Smith Rowe put in a good shift as the Gunners ran out 3-1 winners. The Gunners have other young prospects in their squad like Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah who have also impressed in the Europa League and other cup competitions when given an opportunity like Saka, Martinelli and Smith Rowe. If those youngsters get more opportunities to impress in the Premier League, it could turn around Arsenal's fortunes if they play like they did against Chelsea more often.
Will Burnley ever get a penalty?
Burnley are that one club in the Premier League who just never get awarded a penalty. Manager Sean Dyche always talks about his side not being given a penalty and has done since Burnley have been in the Premier League. After being denied yet another penalty, will they ever get a penalty given to them? Burnley were denied another penalty that should've gone their way as Leeds keeper Illan Meslier kneed Ben Mee in the back as he went up to claim the ball. That should've been a penalty because contact was made on the player and the player himself went down because of it. The Clarets have been awarded just 6 penalties since the start of the 2016/17 season which is the lowest amount out of all the clubs to have played in the Premier League since that season. This is probably down to bad luck because they never always get decisions in their favour whether it ends up being the right one or the wrong one depending on the referee's decision. If Burnley don't get a penalty when they feel they should've, Sean Dyche will have something to say like he always does.
Has Sam Allardyce got his style of play across to the West Brom players?
West Brom came from behind to grab a 1-1 draw with champions Liverpool yesterday to earn Sam Allardyce his first point as Baggies boss. After watching their performance, has Big Sam got his style of play across to the West Brom players? The way that West Brom played against Liverpool and in particular the second half, was an Allardyce like performance in making his side hard to beat and well drilled defensively. They were exactly that on the day because they barely gave Liverpool a clear shot at shot and they defended their box really well as they cleared every cross that came into their penalty area by either heading it away or clearing it up the pitch. Whenever they won the ball back they attempted to go on the counter which is what Allardyce's teams do. The performance at Anfield was a foundation on which the Baggies can build on in order to stay up and if they can do that week in week out, they have a strong chance of staying up.
Will a lack of goals be the reason for clubs to get relegated this season?
When I look at the clubs near or in the relegation zone, they all have a similar problem: A lack of goals. So could a lack of goal send clubs down this season? Sheffield United and Burnley have both scored the least amount of goals this season in 8 followed by West Brom with 11 and Fulham with 13 whilst Brighton who miss a lot of chances somehow have 18 which is more than 11th placed Wolves. Scoring goals is vital to a team staying up because they win you football matches and winning football matches gets you further up the table which is what the clubs struggling this season have struggled to do this season and the stats show us that as well as a team's performance on the pitch. Brighton play some good football at times but miss a lot of chances which then comes back to bite them, Fulham get into good positions to score but don't always take their opportunities and Sheffield United never look like scoring whenever they're on the pitch. West Brom don't have a clinical enough goal scorer for this level whereas for Burnley didn't start the season well and have missed big chances when they have some in a game. If any of these clubs end up relegated at the end of the season, it will probably be down to a lack of goals over too many goals conceded because the clubs near the bottom are not bad defensively.
Has Tanguy Ndombele turned his Tottenham career around?
After being publicly criticized by how own manager last season, Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele has suddenly been one of Spurs' best performers this season by putting in good performances. So has he turned his Tottenham career around? Against Wolves Ndombele scored in the first minute and played well throughout the entire match until he was substituted. He won the ball back a few times and when he did he drove forward with the ball which we did not see enough of last season which lead to his manager to publicly criticize him. He's been doing that all season for Spurs and is also creating chances for his teammates which is what you want from a midfielder who cost a lot of money like Ndombele did when he first arrived. Another reason for his improved performances could be that he's playing in his best position as a no.10 because he played in this role when he was at Lyon and when he played as a holding midfielder last season, he did not look comfortable and did not enjoy playing that position hence why he didn't live up to the big price tag that Spurs paid Lyon for him. His performances in the no.10 role has kept Dele Alli out of the side. If he can continue playing like he is and if he can add more goals and assists, we'll see if Ndombele has lived up to what we expected of him.
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