Arsenal regains momentum with significant derby victory; Real Madrid suffers unexpected defeat; additional updates.

This past weekend’s action in Europe’s leading leagues has concluded, and as always, there is much to analyze! Let’s start with the highlight of the Premier League weekend, the north London derby on Sunday, where Arsenal maintained their successful strategy by decisively defeating their rivals Tottenham 4-1, keeping them at the forefront of the title race (for the time being).

In LaLiga, Real Madrid fell behind Barcelona in the title chase following a surprising and frustrating 2-1 loss to Osasuna, as manager Alvaro Arbeloa continues to grapple with finding the right tactics and lineup. Barcelona, on the other hand, secured a straightforward victory over Levante, although it was overshadowed by Lamine Yamal’s reaction shortly before the final whistle.

– Arsenal responds to title pressure with emphatic derby victory over Spurs
– Hamilton: How Milner set the Premier League appearances record
– Tighe: The challenges of breaking into the Premier League’s top six

Additionally, there are numerous topics to discuss regarding Manchester City (who adapted their approach to achieve a win, as Pep Guardiola frequently does), Bayern Munich (who continue to win but complicate matters for themselves), Paris Saint-Germain (are they returning to form?), Liverpool (who secured a win but still appear disorganized), Chelsea (who dropped more points), Atletico Madrid (who achieved a significant victory), and much more.

It’s Monday morning, making it an ideal time for some reflections. Let’s delve into it.

Proven strategy enables Arsenal to dominate Spurs and maintain lead in title race

When encountering a setback — such as dropping four points against Brentford and Wolves within ten days — one can either alter their approach or continue with the same tactics but execute them more effectively. This is a well-known principle, yet it remains relevant for Arsenal (and life in general).

Mikel Arteta entered Sunday’s North London Derby aware that Manchester City had closed the gap to two points and that their head-to-head match on April 18 would take place on their home ground. To remain ahead and avoid turning that match into a potential “must win,” he needed to secure all three points against Spurs.

play2:25Marcotti: Tottenham would be foolish to wait for Pochettino

Gab & Juls discuss the possibility of Mauricio Pochettino joining Tottenham after the World Cup.

For some, this might have warranted a change in strategy, especially considering the unique context of a derby against a fierce rival following a 12-day break and with a new manager (Igor Tudor) in charge. Perhaps reinstate Martin Odegaard, who hadn’t started a league match in nearly a month, or trust a revitalized Gabriel Jesus. Alternatively, one could adopt a more patient style — less possession, more counter-attacking — against an opponent adjusting to their first challenge under Tudor.

However, Arsenal stuck to their established game plan, with Bukayo Saka returning to the wing and Eberechi Eze positioned at No.10. They overpowered and outworked Spurs, achieving 72% possession in the first half against an opponent that aimed to counter but managed only three shots until Richarlison’s backheel attempt with six minutes remaining. They took the lead early in the second half with a spectacular strike from Viktor Gyökeres and then capitalized on counter-attacks, adding two more goals in the 4-1 victory. Aside from the absence of set-piece goals, it was largely consistent with Arsenal’s performance throughout the season.

Adjusting the strategy after dropping points and winning demonstrates flexibility and creativity from both the coach and the team, which is beneficial for confidence. Conversely, adhering to the same plan and winning after setbacks reinforces confidence and validates the manager’s initial decisions.

Could the outcome have been different? Perhaps. Gabriel’s handling of Randal Kolo Muani’s push that resulted in the disallowed Spurs goal (which would have equalized the score at 2-2) was questionable. In my view, two hands on the back constitutes a foul. However, we have seen similar situations called and not called in the Premier League this season, and it could have easily gone either way.

Likewise, David Raya’s scramble to deny Richarlison’s shot is not something one should rely on, as it is quite unlikely. Yet, if we are discussing the unusual and unplanned, we could mention Declan Rice’s error on the first goal, which was an anomaly. (Correction: a double anomaly, assuming that’s a term, since he also made a mistake against Sunderland, and the fact that we even recall it indicates its rarity.)

play1:18Klinsmann sees hope for Tudor’s Spurs despite derby defeat

Jurgen Klinsmann assesses the future for Igor Tudor’s Tottenham as they strive to compete in the Champions League and maintain their Premier League status.

As for Tottenham, Igor Tudor’s streak of winning on his debut with a new team ends at five. This statistic is not particularly significant, and he faces numerous mitigating factors, such as 11 unavailable players and Dominic Solanke on the bench with a sore throat. Most individuals — even Spurs supporters — likely wouldn’t recognize any of his unused substitutes if they encountered them at the local supermarket, which highlights the challenges he faced.

The standings indicate they are two places (four points) above the relegation zone, which is oddly one position better than their finish last season (despite the significant injury issues). I do not foresee them being relegated. Tudor will instill enough tactical discipline, players will eventually regain fitness, and it is premature to think in those terms at this moment. Nonetheless, it feels like another squandered season … and that will be disappointing.

Man City lacks consistency … but perhaps that is the point?

Pep Guardiola made his mark in management with his “3 Ps” — possession, passing, and pressing — at Barcelona. Credit to him, he has adapted and modified his tactics over the years, from Bayern Munich to at least two different styles at Manchester City. This season, we are reaching a stage where his team’s approach appears to vary from match to match.

Against Newcastle United — following a lengthy away trip to Azerbaijan in midweek — Guardiola chose a “muscular” strategy focused on strength, speed, and athleticism, omitting players like Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki while assigning most playmaking responsibilities to 20-year-old Nico O’Reilly (a talented player, but also a significant physical presence at 6-foot-3). His front four (O’Reilly, Omar Marmoush, Antoine Semenyo, and Erling Haaland) seemed designed to counter Newcastle’s physicality.

Prioritizing directness over control — there is nothing inherently wrong with that. However, it is a departure from what we typically expect, and in hindsight, it may have made the match slightly more challenging for City.

play2:02Are Man City more confident in title charge after win vs. Newcastle

Don Hutchison and Steve Nicol discuss Man City’s Premier League title ambitions following their victory over Newcastle.

Regardless, they won 2-1, maintained pressure on Arsenal, and confirmed that they can succeed in this manner as well. Perhaps not as fluidly — Newcastle fought hard and had opportunities to level the score (Gianluigi Donnarumma had to perform his usual heroics, this time denying Harvey Barnes) — but they managed to secure the win nonetheless.

Is there a rationale behind Guardiola’s adjustments? Earlier in the season, it seemed primarily a case of trial and error (especially before Rodri’s return). Now, I am uncertain. However, I am inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, not only because City continues to win, but also due to the positive side effects of these changes. O’Reilly shone with his two goals, intelligence, and vision on the ball. He performed adequately at left back, but returning him to a role where he can create more attacking opportunities (and where he played in City’s youth setup) adds another dimension. Haaland, alongside Marmoush, displayed a more comprehensive game than we typically observe when he is the sole attacking option. Additionally, Rayan Ait-Nouri at left back functions like an extra winger.

What starting XI would Guardiola select if the UEFA Champions League final were tomorrow? I have no idea, other than the assumption that Donnarumma, Haaland, Rodri, and, when fit, Josko Gvardiol would be included. However, this variability is a characteristic, not a flaw, of Pep’s City this season.

Real Madrid derailed (again) as Alvaro Arbeloa suffers third defeat

play1:51Should Arbeloa’s substitutions be blamed for Real Madrid’s loss vs. Osasuna?

Alejandro Moreno believes Alvaro Arbeloa was mistaken to substitute Federico Valverde against Osasuna.

Three defeats against seven victories, he might contend. Certainly, but the manner of Saturday’s events at El Sadar raises concerns.

Osasuna away is a challenging fixture: Alessio Lisci’s team tends to adopt a defensive approach, compelling opponents to break them down. The issue is that to dismantle opponents as a cohesive unit, one requires established patterns of play, similar to what Xabi Alonso aimed to implement — otherwise, reliance on individual brilliance becomes necessary. While individual players can occasionally produce remarkable moments (as seen with Vinicius Junior’s goal against Benfica), there are times when they do not, and that is when difficulties arise.

Arbeloa’s recent setup has essentially featured a four-man midfield with three holding players plus Arda Guler (who is still 20 and in his first season as a regular) shielding the back four. The game plan revolves around denying space, regaining possession, and waiting for Vini and Kylian Mbappe to create opportunities up front. I am exaggerating slightly, but not by much.

Real Madrid may have been somewhat unfortunate with Osasuna’s penalty — yet, stepping on a foot is consistently deemed a foul these days — but they also required an extraordinary save from Thibaut Courtois to deny Ante Budimir before that. Regarding Osasuna’s winning goal — from conceding possession cheaply, to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s slow recovery, to Raul Asencio being deceived as if Raul Garcia were vintage Neymar — the less said, the better.

On the offensive end? The goal resulted from a powerful run by Federico Valverde (converted by Vini). That goal was also the first chance they created from open play with an xG exceeding 0.02, occurring in the 73rd minute. On any given day, Mbappe, Vini, or another player can conjure something from nothing, and Courtois can perform his miracles, allowing Real Madrid to defeat anyone. However, that is not how a team of this caliber should function. Consequently, they suffered defeat against Osasuna, who had not triumphed over Real Madrid in 15 years and 24 attempts — not to mention they have fallen behind Barcelona again in the LaLiga standings.

Quick hits

10. Internazionale achieve the response they sought after Champions League defeat: And it was by no means guaranteed. Lecce may be one spot above relegation, but regaining their form after the 3-1 loss away to Bodø/Glimt (and doing so without Lautaro Martinez, Hakan Calhanoglou, and Nicolo’ Barella) was not necessarily straightforward. The match ended 2-0, with goals coming in the final 15 minutes, but it was essentially one-sided. Lecce’s total xG of 0.12 (compared to Inter’s 2.46) and zero shots on target (against Inter’s nine) clearly illustrate this.

Inter manager Cristian Chivu stated that the Bodø/Glimt match was merely a blip, and to be fair, Inter did hit the woodwork twice while making a couple of basic errors that led to the opposition’s goals. Considering the cold, the Arctic Circle, the artificial pitch, and all the other factors involved when traveling to face Bodo, one might want to believe him. Actions speak louder than words, and the way they approached this game suggests they are buying into Chivu’s message. They will need to demonstrate it again on Tuesday.

play0:59Moreno: Fermin Lopez has Barcelona’s missing ‘edge’

Ale Moreno commends Fermin Lopez’s substitute performance during Barcelona’s 3-0 victory over Levante in LaLiga.

9. Barcelona returns to the top, but Lamine Yamal needs to calm down: Hansi Flick’s squad seized the opportunity with a convincing 3-0 win over Levante, reclaiming the top position in LaLiga. There are numerous positives to take away, so let’s begin there. It was a bounce-back victory following the defeat to Girona, Marc Bernal (in his second league start since returning from injury) performed admirably, Pedri returned after a month out, João Cancelo was a constant threat, and Fermín López came off the bench to score a fantastic goal. Yes, they could have conceded a couple of times (the high line… yawn), but Barca will always provide excitement, particularly with a Gerard Martín-Eric García combination at the back. Truthfully, they could have scored even more.

Less favorable was Lamine Yamal’s reaction upon being substituted with two minutes remaining. Flick downplayed it, suggesting Yamal was “angry with his performance” (implying his standards are so high that one assist was insufficient), which is precisely what one would expect a coach to say. However, it was not a great look, and when one exits with two minutes left, visibly displeased while the team leads 3-0, it sends a message. It is a team sport, at least outwardly: one should be pleased with a convincing victory, being in first place, and allowing a teammate, Roony Bardhji, to have a few minutes on the pitch. If one wishes to be upset about their performance, that should be reserved for the privacy of the locker room. In moments like this, we must remind ourselves that he is still just 18 years old.

8. Another scare (they really need to eliminate this) but Bayern Munich extend their lead: With 15 minutes remaining, it felt like business as usual. Bayern was leading 3-0 at home against Eintracht Frankfurt (who, lest we forget, had won only one match in all competitions since mid-December) and had restricted the opposition to just five shots. Harry Kane had scored two goals — he is back on track to match Robert Lewandowski’s single-season record — and while there were concerns about Alphonso Davies’ latest injury (thankfully, he will only be sidelined for a couple of weeks, and it is not a relapse of his ACL), it seemed like a routine victory.

However, Kane conceded an avoidable penalty, shortly thereafter Joshua Kimmich made a blind pass across his own area, and before long, the score was 3-2. Then Mario Gotze, of all people, nearly equalized in injury time. Kane and Kimmich are not typically prone to such glaring errors, and when your leaders make mistakes like that, it is not necessarily cause for alarm, but it does raise a warning flag. They cannot allow opponents back into matches like this. It has occurred too frequently for a team of this caliber.

play1:54Musiala ‘very happy’ to be back starting for Bayern after injury

Jamal Musiala speaks after starting in Bayern Munich’s 3-2 victory over Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

7. Paris Saint-Germain thrash Metz to reclaim top spot … all is forgiven? Following the defeat to Rennes and the scare against AS Monaco in the Champions League (where they were down 2-0 within 20 minutes), one can imagine PSG aimed to swiftly dispatch the struggling Metz. No fuss, no drama, just three points secured early. Especially since, earlier in the day, Lens had lost at home, making first place attainable.

That is essentially what transpired. Desire Doue scored early to set them on their way, and they cruised to a straightforward 3-0 victory. The second-string midfield of Dro Martinez, Warren Zaire-Emery, and Kang-In Lee provided the starters with a breather, and Ousmane Dembele was also rested. Mission accomplished with minimal stress, particularly since Metz managed only three shots, none of which were on target. A shout-out to Goncalo Ramos, who scored a stunning goal. His role as a super-sub sometimes makes it easy to overlook that the Portugal international is part of the PSG setup.

6. Alex Baena finally shines as Atlético Madrid rout Espanyol: Last season, he was arguably the best player in LaLiga outside of Barcelona or Madrid. This year, he has struggled to make an impact, starting just 12 of 25 league matches and three of nine in the Champions League. It seemed as though Atleti signed him for his exceptional talent, but Diego Simeone struggled to find a place for him. In the 4-2 victory over Espanyol, Baena was positioned behind two No. 10s — Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann — and a prominent center forward, Alexander Sorloth. This setup may not be frequently seen (given the presence of Julian Alvarez), but hopefully, it has provided Simeone with some food for thought.

Moreover, there were several changes in