TOPS
Silent in the league for a month, Joao Pedro was the big man behind Brighton’s resounding success over Tottenham (4-2). Elusive and above all a decisive passer on the opening score (12th), he made the break by transforming his penalty calmly (23rd). A favorite exercise (100% success) with which he scored a double (75th) to seal his man of the match trophy. Only hiccup? He could have killed all the suspense before the break but sinned through greed (45th).
Less lively for several months in the championship, the Seagulls have filled up for the holidays. Certainly in great danger at the start and end of the second half, when Tottenham still believed in it, De Zerbi’s gang nevertheless regained their collective strength, symbolized by the gift of self but also and above all their rapid and well-oiled phases of play. Champagne football which has made Brighton one of the most exciting teams in recent months.
For the first time this season, Arsenal did not score a single goal at home. The fault of a great Alphonse Areola, great architect of West Ham’s surprise triumph at the Emirates (0-2). A robbery with gloved hands, those of the former Parisian, in the midst of a renaissance in East London. First perfect in front of Saka (30th) before being saved by his post, the French number 3 will magnetize the balls at the very end of the match until a final flight in front of Odegaard (90th). Eight saves and a major performance to deprive the Gunners of the fall champion title.
FLOPS
It was the last evening of an already prolific Boxing Day, so Tottenham took the opportunity to pay for one last round of gifts. Scandalously apathetic, as on the first two goals (12th, 23rd), overwhelmed in the duel, the Spurs rearguard has a large share of merit in the ordeal of the evening. Without the greed of Pedro, served… by Davies, visiting defender, the bill could have been even steeper for Postecoglu, whose defense therefore remains a work in progress. 28 goals conceded halfway is too many to make the match with the “Big Four”.
Main architect of the recent revival of Spurs (4 goals in 3 matches), the Brazilian suffered a violent return to earth. But he was mostly unlucky. Apart from two failed face-offs, the former Everton hit the woodwork before the break before being refused two goals for offside (46th, 62nd). A few seconds later, he will helplessly observe the knockout goal before leaving. When it doesn’t want to.
Obviously hardly helped by the repetition of the meetings, the Martinelli-Jesus-Saka trio showed unusual helplessness this Thursday evening. If the last one had his chances (30th, 40th, 63rd, 78th), his friends, as well as him in sequences, will have shown too much haste in the last gesture. On arrival, the total of 30 shots for 8 on target, and therefore no goals, does not plead in favor of the magic trio, usual spearhead of a band at Arteta trapped in all areas by West Ham.