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Raya to rescue once again for leaders
On Friday when Bruno Fernandes became the Football Writers’ Association player of the year, either Declan Rice or David Raya could have been forgiven for feeling a touch aggrieved. Both have been essential to Arsenal’s bid for a Premier League and Champions League double but it is Raya who showed why he may have been more deserving at the London Stadium as his technically pinpoint one-on-one save gave Arsenal the platform they so desperately needed to secure a vital three points late on. Mikel Arteta’s side were on the ropes as Mateus Fernandes exchanged a one-two with Pablo to run in with the goal at his mercy. Surely this was it for Arsenal: the title slipping again. Raya’s nerve held strong, making the most crucial of saves. Arsenal’s dream of winning a first title in 22 years remains in his hands. Graham Searles
West Ham suffer brutal blow
Boos rang out around the London Stadium while West Ham’s players approached the referee after the final whistle. Minutes earlier chaos had descended in the Arsenal box after a corner. David Raya flapped and the ball broke to Callum Wilson whose snapshot levelled the score, pouring cold water on what had looked like a somewhat lucky win for a sub-par Arsenal side. Only it wasn’t to be as the VAR called for Chris Kavanagh to review a potential foul on Raya by Pablo, who was impeding the goalkeeper. After a lengthy wait the goal was disallowed and West Ham were denied a deserved point for a resolute defensive display. Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mads Hermansen were the standouts for stopping Arsenal from running riot in their only spell of dominance in the opening 25 minutes. It was to be expected considering West Ham had not lost at home since early January before the most brutal of finishes. Cruelly an even more brutal one may beckon still if Tottenham beat Leeds on Monday. Graham Searles
Doku hoping for more good form
Jérémy Doku may have scored for a third consecutive game yet this will not stop Pep Guardiola having a stern word – if required. “He shouts at everyone, I’m not different,” said Doku, whose 60th-minute opener broke Brentford’s resistance. As in City’s 3-3 draw at Everton, the strike was hit from the left and found the far-right corner. “You know what it is, it’s grace. Grace from above,” Doku said. “It’s my special weapon: Jesus. I’ve not been doing anything different. I’ve not been working more. I’ve not been working less. But at this moment, it’s just going in. So I’m just grateful. I’ll continue to work hard, obviously. I am happy with the victory.” Jamie Jackson
Gomez concedes style-of-play problem
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of the Anfield boos for Arne Slot is that they were first triggered not by the result or the substitution of a 17-year-old with cramp but by Liverpool’s style of play. As was the case at Old Trafford the previous week, it was in the first half when Liverpool fans began to voice disapproval of their team’s safe, passive football as Chelsea were encouraged to gain momentum. Slot attributed the problem to Chelsea taking control of midfield and correctly pointed out that Liverpool rectified the issue in the second half. But as Joe Gomez admitted, a drop in intensity is likely at times with Slot’s approach. “One of the strengths of our coaching staff is to adapt every game and try to overload in certain areas and that is a different style to the faster pace. We get that sometimes it’s not as fluid or as high intensity on the ball as always. It does get frustrating when it gets fragmented but there’s also been times when it’s controlled the game, not as much this year.” Andy Hunter
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Door closing on Zirkzee’s lacklustre spell
When Joshua Zirkzee came off the bench to score a dramatic winner against Fulham on his Manchester United debut at Old Trafford, it encouraged hopes of a bright future for the Netherlands forward. But much has changed at United since that balmy night in August 2024 and Zirkzee’s £36.5m transfer from Bologna has simply not worked. The 24-year-old’s performance during Saturday’s goalless draw at Sunderland was indicative of his struggles and a summer exit now feels inevitable. He has scored nine times in 73 appearances and did not have the goal threat that Benjamin Sesko, absent in one of five changes made by Michael Carrick, has provided recently. Zirkzee does not possess the quality that United need to take them to the next level as they prepare for a return to the Champions League. When he was replaced shortly after the hour mark at a soggy Stadium of Light, it felt like a step closer to the end of an underwhelming United career. Ross Heppenstall
