Missing your weekly fix of pure, unadulterated Barclays? From wedding speech fails to ungraded managerial tenures, fans from each team give FourFourTwo the lay of the land as we negotiate the domestic breather...
ARSENAL
Grade your manager A*. Super Mik Arteta [above] has been near-flawless – precisely what we hoped for when we appointed Pep Guardiola’s No.2.
Star man The Swiss Frank Lampard himself, Granit Xhaka. The clumsy duckling has become a wonderful swan, already equalling his best goalscoring return for a season and earning a chant from the fans (albeit a poor imitation to William Saliba’s).
Biggest disappointment That Albert Sambi Lokonga and Eddie Nketiah aren’t raring for first-team places, with our rather ropey Europa League adventures proving annoyingly dull. But when you’re top by five points, any serious criticism is a nitpick. WTF moment of the season We conceded the inevitable equaliser to Southampton in October because Aaron Ramsdale appeared to be distracted by a pigeon in his six-yard box. No, really. Watch it for yourself.
One thing you’d change for 2023
Nothing. Please, football gods, more of the same. Just imagine...
@markwhlte
AFC BOURNEMOUTH
Grade your manager(s) Scott Parker complained his own team were s**t until they had no choice but to sack him, so he gets a U: did not finish. As interim, Gary O’Neil gets a B, shoring us up defensively and getting a clean sheet four days after losing 9-0.
Star man For attacking returns, it’s Philip Billing, and Lewis Cook has been outstanding in midfield, but I’m tempted to give it to Chris Mepham. The centre-back has barely played in the past few seasons, but he’s been so solid and proved plenty wrong. Biggest disappointment Losing 9-0, isn’t it? That was something we had over Southampton, but now we don’t even have that. Thanks, Scott.
WTF moment of the season Losing two consecutive two-goal leads, to Spurs and Leeds. The third time we went 2-0 up, against Everton, we were all very stressed, but won 3-0.
One thing you’d change for 2023
It’d probably would be a good idea to hire a permanent manager and stop throwing away two-goal leads.
Charlotte Marchant-Jones
ASTON VILLA
Grade your manager A. It’s early days, but first impressions of Unai Emery [above] have been really positive. Great track record, humble, enthusiastic and tactically astute. The less said about Steven Gerrard, meanwhile, the better…
Star man Ashley Young. Whether it’s starting or coming off the bench, the 37-year-old’s been key. His attitude is an example to all. And he scored a banger against Nottingham Forest.
Biggest disapp
