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Laura Woods: Something not right at Arsenal

Not a crisis yet for Man City

We haven’t seen Manchester City lose three in a row since way back in 2018.

Being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Spurs and given a serious humbling by Sporting in the Champions League is not the Pep Guardiola side we’ve come to know.

Bernardo Silva said City were in a dark place and the longer Rodri is missing the more his importance becomes clear – the same importance that won him the Ballon d’Or.

Add Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias and John Stones to the injury list and it's having a big impact on this team.

I worked on that Sporting game and the reaction in the studio was pure shock. We’re so unused to seeing City on the ropes and the two early goals in the second half left them shellshocked. There was no balance in midfield and they almost seemed to give up as Sporting ran riot.

It’s less than a crisis, though. I would call it just a blip because with City we have seen time and time again when you write them off that Pep will reinvent things.

They have made a habit of coming from behind in the title race, too, and certainly have the experience and know-how so I’m not getting too concerned for them yet.

Liverpool favourites for Premier League

The problem City have is Liverpool. They have recent experience of winning the league and going toe-to-toe with them.

As it stands I’d make Liverpool favourites but I do that safe in the knowledge that could all be flipped on its head in the next few weeks, which is why the Premier League is such a spectacle.

Liverpool seem to be heading in the other direction to City, going from strength to strength.

They thrashed Bayer Leverkusen and sit top of both the Champions League and the Premier League – 14 wins in 16 under Arne Slot in all competitions is seriously impressive.

I was not in the camp of thinking Liverpool would be thriving this season, so what an incredible bit of recruitment it was and credit to the manager for how well he’s settled.

Speaking of recruitment, if we believe the reports Liverpool are only going to get stronger in the January transfer window.

There’s certainly something special about him. All hail “Arne’s Slot Machine”.

Things not quite right at Arsenal

Sometimes with Arsenal I just don’t want to talk about it!

I was pitchside during a very uninspiring first half in Milan that saw Arsenal give away a penalty and concede just before half-time against Inter. And, yes, for the penalty those are the rules no matter how stupid we think they are. It was killer timing.

I watched Martin Odegaard warm up for the first time since August and thought about how much we had missed him, his leadership and, most importantly, his creativity.

The second half was much improved from Arsenal but it shone a light on a severe lack of clinical edge. Are we calling for another striker again?

I dread to say it but if we’re sticking with the more direct approach and launching ball after ball into the box to no avail, then I think we might be. It was a thoroughly miserable night.

There was already a bit of gloom hanging over Arsenal pre-match with the news of Edu moving on. It seemed to have shocked everyone to the core; it felt like every person I spoke to from the club was in a slight state of mourning.

I wouldn’t be surprised if that takes a bit of time to get over. Arsenal need a lift and a bit of joy now and I hope the return of Odegaard can be just that.

Lopetegui in trouble

If West Ham lose this game [against Everton], I do really fear for Julen Lopetegui.

That said, I fear for him even if they win. He’s had a lot of criticism, from the team's lack of identity to his use of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and the player's subsequent comments.

He’s got to find a way to get the fans back onside. West Ham have such a huge fanbase that wants to see good football but if they don’t see that against Everton things could get toxic.

Lopetegui’s won just three of his opening 10 matches – when you compare that to the expectation that a £130 million summer spend brings, something doesn’t quite add up.

He’s got to fix things – and fast, or I do fear for him.

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