Long Awaited, Highly Anticipated and much talked about. The Premier League finally returned on the 11th of August. The season is new but the drama remained ever the same, from Manchester United's stunning victory at Old Trafford to Arsenal's Late winner. Ziccifoot takes a look at the three major talking points off the first weekend of the 2016/17 EPL season.
1. Nothing Has Changed At Arsenal
The Gunners entertained a determined Leicester City in this season's very first game and new boy and record signing Alexandre Lacazette wasted no time in opening his account, the events that followed in the remaining 87 minutes must have given manager Arsene Wenger joy but Ultimately Arsenal's display provided more questions that answers. Wenger's side seemed to be conceding goals for fun and with all due respect to 2016 Champions Leicester City this was one of the games Arsenal were expected to win straightforwardly considering what lies ahead. A late goal was surely three points stolen and not exactly deserved. Struggling in the first game of a season where they have Europa League business to deal with and a top four assault to mount is not exactly a desired start. The Gunners had a shambolic defensive line and going forward the manager should equip all departments of his squad and MUST keep Alexis Sanchez.
2. Chelsea Are Still A Force Despite Loss
Chelsea began the defense of their title in disappointing fashion, the Blues were missing Eden Hazard (through injury) , Diego Costa (contract dispute) , Pedro and Victor Moses (Suspension), Nemanja Matic (sold), the mentioned players were so vital for Conte last season as Chelsea took the league by storm and amassed a record 30 wins a season. The major talking point of the game however was the two red cards given to captain Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas and then the loss but scratch a little deeper and pay a little more attention to detail you will see that Chelsea actually produced a display of Champions even at 3-0 down, the introduction of Alvaro Morata was surely an enhancer and the Spaniard showed critics and fans that he was not a man to be scared away by the big occasions. Red Cards change games and this game was proof of that. The English champions were by no means brushed aside by a decent Burnley side and managed to match the Clarets for large parts of the game even with a disadvantage, assuming there were no red cards it's safe to say the three points would have headed in the opposite direction.
3. Mourinho Has A Selection Problem
Jose Mourinho has lived all summer worried about his attack-line, the inclusion of Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku has not stopped the Portuguese from making enquiries about the availability of Real Madrid's winger Gareth Bale but here on a Sunday afternoon against West Ham Mourinho's attackers did only so much to put his worrying mind to rest. Blistering display of speed from Lukaku, Rahsford, Mata, Mkhitaryan and later Martial might have ended the thoughts of Bale, Perisic or any other winger. The simple truth is that Mourinho is spoilt for attacking options at least at the moment, Jesse Lingard came on later and Ashley Young is still on the treatment table. Anthony Martial has 'suffered' most since the arrival of Mourinho to Old Trafford and has found chances few and far between, the Frenchman however managed to score a goal and assist another even though he came on in the 80th minute. The last United player to achieve that feat was Nani and that was nine years ago in a game against Liverpool. Who should Mourinho start in his attacking trio?
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