Around the Premier League - 9/24

Story posted September 24, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Jeremy Goldman

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the Premier League Matchday 9 of 38 has been postponed to October 1st. Although matches have taken a halt, there is still an abundance of notable news early in the season.

Arsenal's impressive start to the year, Manchester City’s statistical domination and Liverpool’s injury woes have all contributed to a wild start for the Premier League.

That being said, let's dive right into the most talented and competitve league play in the entire world:

 

Arsenal’s surprisingly stellar start

Arsenal was thought to have a low ceiling coming into this year. Last season, Arsenal finished fifth in the Premier League standings, yet to start the ‘22-23, season the club is first in the league.

With the departure of Bernd Leno, Héctor Bellerín and more, there was money to spend on a new attacker. Arsenal would later end up signing Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City. The 25-year-old from Manchester clearly made his impact on this club already, Arsenal currently is top three in the league for goals, while Jesus is top five for individual goals too. 

Looking to stay on top of the table and win the league this year Arsenal must keep its eyes out for Manchester City and the Tottenham Spurs if it wants to take home its first Premier League Championship since 2004’ with Arsene Wegner.

 

Liverpool off to a slower than usual start

Jürgen Klopp's squad is coming off a rather unplanned ending to the 2021 campaign. Last season, Liverpool finished second in the Champions League, then second in the Premier League by only one point. This “Champions League hangover” and injuries have decimated the Liverpool squad.

The Reds typically are comfortable in the top three of the table, but to start off this season find themselves in eighth place. Although it's very early in the season, once Liverpool has Ibrahima Konaté, Naby Keïta, Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson all back at 100%, it will be a lethal team.

 

Manchester City’s dominant statistical season so far

City is currently second in the Premier League, only one point behind the Gunners. Even though there is a gargantuan amount of time left in the season, Manchester City is currently dominating in every single statistical category possible.

At this point in the season, City is first in the Premier League for clean sheets, passes completed, individual assists as well as individual goals. Erling Haaland, who was Gabriel Jesus’s replacement, is leading the league with 11 goals, while the second place player, Harry Kane, has only 6 goals.

Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is also leading the Premier League in assists, while teammate and City’s keeper, Ederson, leads with the most clean sheets, too. Manchester City looks to keep this form going for the rest of the season.


Jeremy Goldman is a second-year broadcast journalism major. To contact him, email jmg7714@psu.edu.