EPL WEEKLY WRAP - All You Need to Know Before Kick-off

Missed some of the action in Gameweek 28 of the Premier League? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a breakdown of all the week’s biggest storylines, including Arsenal flexing their set-piece muscle again, Man United’s continued revival  under Carrick, and Tottenham’s nightmare run dragging on.

Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates on Monday morning NZT to restore a five-point buffer over Manchester City at the top. 

Both goals came from corners. William Saliba headed in Bukayo Saka’s delivery in the 21st minute, and Jurrien Timber nodded home from a Declan Rice set piece after the break. That’s now 16 league goals from corners this season for Arsenal, equalling the all-time Premier League record for a single campaign.

Chelsea did level through a Piero Hincapie own goal from a corner of their own, but Pedro Neto’s double yellow saw them finish with 10 men for the seventh time in the league this season. I reckon that’s the real story with Chelsea this year. The talent is there, but the discipline isn’t.

There are a couple of concerns for Arsenal heading into a packed schedule. Martin Odegaard was left out of the squad entirely and Declan Rice limped off late. With Mikel Merino already out for an extended period after foot surgery, their midfield depth is being tested at the worst time. Arsenal travel to Brighton on Wednesday before a Champions League last-16 first leg against Bayer Leverkusen the following week.

Arsenal’s biggest competition - Manchester City - ground out a 1-0 win at Elland Road through Antoine Semenyo, keeping the pressure on with a game in hand. 

Manchester United are now third too. Benjamin Sesko scored his third consecutive league goal in a 2-1 comeback win over Crystal Palace, with Carrick’s overall Premier League record as United manager now reading seven wins and two draws in nine matches across both spells. That’s 23 points from nine games, equalling the best start by any manager in Premier League history. Sesko has six goals in his last seven appearances and looks like a completely different player to the one who sat on the bench under Amorim. 

Liverpool thumped West Ham 5-2 at Anfield to climb into fifth, with Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister all scoring from set pieces in the first half. The scoreline flattered them, though. West Ham actually had the higher xG for stretches, and for anyone tracking football betting tips this season, Liverpool’s inconsistency is a real factor to weigh up.

The standout mid-table result belonged to Everton, who won 3-2 at Newcastle. 

Jarrad Branthwaite, Beto and substitute Thierno Barry all found the net in this one, with Barry’s 83rd-minute winner coming just 60 seconds after Newcastle had levelled at 2-2. Jordan Pickford pulled off a late save to deny Sandro Tonali an equaliser and preserve all three points.

That result moved Everton to eighth on 40 points, their best position of the season, putting them just eight points off Liverpool in fifth. This is shaping up to be an impressive campaign from a team many had written off.

Newcastle, now 13th after three straight home league defeats, are leaning heavily on their Champions League run. Elsewhere, Sunderland drew 1-1 at Bournemouth and Brighton beat Nottingham Forest 2-1, with Forest’s struggles under Vitor Pereira continuing. Four league games without a win now, and they’re just two points above the drop zone.

Tottenham’s 2-1 loss at Fulham extended their winless Premier League run to 10 matches, their worst streak since 1994. Harry Wilson and Alex Iwobi scored first-half goals, and while Richarlison pulled one back from the bench, Tottenham never looked like finding a leveller. They’ve won just two of their last 19 league games. For a club that played in the Europa League final last year, this is pretty grim.

Igor Tudor accused Raul Jimenez of ‘cheating’ after the VAR allowed Wilson’s opener despite a push on Radu Dragusin, but their bigger issue is a lack of quality in open play. Tottenham didn’t manage a single shot on target in the first half. They’re 16th on 29 points, four above West Ham in 18th.

Below Tottenham, Forest are wobbling, and West Ham (25 points) were hammered 5-2 by Liverpool despite showing some fight. Burnley lost a wild match against Brentford at Turf Moor, and are now 19th on 19 points. 

Wolves, still last on 13, did beat Aston Villa 2-0 on Friday, but it’s too little, too late. If you’re checking the best betting apps for relegation odds, Wolves and Burnley look done. The real battle is for that third relegation spot, between Tottenham, Forest, West Ham, and even Leeds on 31 points.

For NZ fans using new betting sites ahead of midweek Gameweek 29, keep an eye on Tuesday’s fixtures. Wolves host Liverpool at 8:30am NZT, while Everton face Burnley and Leeds take on Sunderland in a promoted-club derby.