Premier League: five things we learnt from gameweek 12 | OneFootball

More twists and turns arrived in last week’s round of Premier League fixtures, from managerial changes to the defending champions’ continued slump.

Before the next gameweek, FromTheSpot discusses five things we learnt from the previous round of matches.

Liverpool’s ambitious spending is not working

It’s the question on everyone’s minds: did Liverpool really need to shill out over £400 million this summer?

Arne Slot’s men were brushed aside 3-0 by Nottingham Forest on Saturday in their joint-heaviest home defeat in the Premier League this season. It was too easy, and rather embarrassing; almost like they’d need to spend 400 more to fix their string of dire performances.

Hugo Ekitike arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt and impressed immediately with three goals in as many games, yet is now competing with Alexander Isak – who has no league goals in five matches.

Milos Kerkez has rarely seemed comfortable at left back, and was outperformed in a single match by Andy Robertson against a Real Madrid side in ruthless form.

And then there’s Florian Wirtz. With no goal involvements out wide or in the number 10 domestically, it’s looking as though Slot didn’t know quite what he wanted out of him before he put pen to paper – whether that was the pace and goal threat of Luis Díaz, or the provider for Cody Gakpo. It’s unclear if Wirtz knows either.

Liverpool kept hurling money at the wall, in dubious positions, throughout the transfer window hoping it would stick. So far, it hasn’t. Their newest signings are real people who are struggling to adapt to the demands of a new system.

And with fresh injuries to Wirtz and right-back academy graduate Conor Bradley, who join Jeremie Frimpong on the sideline, Dominik Szoboszlai found himself out of position again and his team short of depth in the middle.

Arsenal have ‘champions’ written all over them

Draw at Newcastle, draw at Forest. These are the kind of results that Arsenal have learned to turn into wins, be it from a set piece or open play.

However, Manchester City and Liverpool were both beaten by each of the above sides respectively last week and the Gunners extended their buffer to Chelsea in second to six points.

Arsenal’s main strength lies in their stability. They have a defined starting 11 that is very well drilled in all areas of the pitch, while Pep Guardiola has only started to name unchanged lineups on the back of positive results over the last three game weeks.

Then 10 changes were made for Man City’s Champions League tie at home to Bayer Leverkusen – and the German side managed to beat them 2-0.

At first glace, the quality in both the starting line up and on the bench at Mikel Arteta’s disposal exceeds the likes of Chelsea, Aston Villa, and just about the Citizens.

Although they’ve only gone on to win the league once out of five times they topped the division after 10 matches, it would be quite surprising if they manage to throw away their advantage this time around.

Aston Villa’s game is back

Remember that time when Aston Villa forgot how to play football? Weird.

As the saying goes, it happens to the best of us and it certainly applies here. Without a win in their opening five Premier League matches, the Villans have responded impressively.

Their win away to Leeds last weekend was number four in their last five in the league, and they have reasserted themselves as genuine contenders for the Champions League.

Villa’s midfield is leading the way in terms of their attacking numbers, with Emiliano Buendía and Morgan Rogers enjoying fine spells of form.

It’s an appropriate reward for sticking by Unai Emery, whose position as manager is seeming less and less as though it was ever under threat in the first place.

Farke is running out of time

Daniel Farke hasn’t enjoyed much success at the pinnacle of English football. He’s managed to win only nine of 41 Premier League matches, and Leeds’ patience could now run thin.

While everything seemed merry as Lukas Nmecha put them 1-0 against Aston Villa at Elland Road, a brace from Morgan Rogers sent them into the bottom three.

There’s no doubt that Rogers is a quality player, but his brace is a worrying sign made worse with how strong Leeds were at home prior to their defeat at the hands of Spurs, going nearly an entire year unbeaten there.

Farke does have the strongest side at his disposal in all three of his attempts to survive in the league. A severe lack of spending followed by roughly £50 million of wastage undermined his first two with Norwich City, and at times Leeds have looked competitive.

Yet it is the strength of his current team when compared to this season’s worst performers that has meant he finds himself short of time to turn things around.

And with Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool next on the fixture list, it’s difficult to guarantee that they’ll manage to extract a point – even with Arne Slot’s men currently on a torrid run of their own.

Wolves are preparing for relegation

Unfortunately for Wolverhampton Wanderers, with just two points to their name the hiring of Rob Edwards could prove most beneficial if they’re to spend next season fighting for promotion back to the Premier League.

The former Middlesborough boss has spent an impressive amount of time nearer the top of the Championship, both while at the Riverside and previously with Luton Town in their fairytale season earning a first ever spell in the topflight.

While he performed admirably given the Hatters’ limited resources, Edwards was unable to keep them in the Premier League and he’s facing an uphill struggle if he’s to avoid the same fate at Molineux.

He was beaten in his opening match 2-0 by high-flying Crystal Palace and, while he will have easier games to come, three points couldn’t seem further away at the moment.

The Premier League’s bottom club have not won a game this season, despite spending £107.4 million – the majority of which being reimbursed by the sale of star player Matheus Cunha.

It is safe to say no player has been able to step up and fulfil his creative role in the side, and without drastic action in January their new boss will suffer for it.