EPL weekend: Five things we learned

Sport360 staff 06:51 12/09/2016
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  • Contrasting fortunes: Pogba, Cazorla, Bravo and Henderson.

    Pogba is unsuited to a 4-2-3-1

    The £89.3 million signing had a game to forget in the Manchester derby.

    Playing at the base of United’s midfield with Marouane Fellaini, Jose Mourinho had hoped the mix of power and height would help his side seize control. Instead, they were overrun.

    In the second half, when they went 4-3-3, Pogba was given more freedom, and perhaps that’s the way forward.

    Guardiola’s mistake in starting Bravo

    Claudio Bravo had only trained twice with his new team-mates leading up to the heated derby day.

    His horror show debut owes as much to Pep Guardiola’s negligence in starting the new man between the sticks than it does for the 33-year-old Chilean’s ineptitude.

    The Spaniard has put his neck on the line in making the big call and at this stage, he’ll surely be worried by this early showing.

    Son’s dedication pays off

    Erik Lamela’s fine form last season meant Son Heung-Min was forced to settle for the bench.

    There were times in the summer when he seemed destined to leave Spurs, but the Korean, who skipped international duty last week to train in North London, clearly still has a role to play after his double against Stoke.

    He drifted in and out the game but showed composure when it mattered most.

    Henderson’s turned it around

    The Liverpool captain has struggled since returning from a heel injury and in an unfamiliar deeper role under Jurgen Klopp.

    But there were clear signs against Leicester that he still has plenty to say at both ends of the pitch, slicing a through ball for Daniel Sturridge to assist for Liverpool’s second and clearing the danger in his own box on several occasions.

    He also only misplaced two passes all day.

    Cazorla is under-appreciated

    The Spaniard provided the winning touch against Southampton but his influence stretches far beyond spot-kicks.

    Cazorla is a continuity player – 94 per cent pass completion against Saints – mixed with a creative hub.

    Arsenal are a slicker, more varied outfit with the 31-year-old in the side and he’s as vital to the Gunners as Mesut Ozil or Alexis Sanchez.

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