10 thoughts from the weekend's Premier League action

theScore examines the most important Premier League developments from the weekend, dissecting the biggest talking points after a busy slate of action.

Lacazette’s hard to replace

Alexandre Lacazette has never been truly appreciated at Arsenal.

The Frenchman bagged a reasonable return of 10 goals in his first half-season with the club before the Gunners pounced for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January 2018. And, while numerous players were later handed improved or extended terms at the Emirates Stadium – including the lucrative deal Aubameyang inked in September 2020 – Lacazette remains on the same contract he signed on his arrival from Lyon.

There’s a chance Lacazette will return to Lyon when his paperwork expires in the summer. “We’ll do everything possible (to sign him),” the French club’s president, Jean-Michel Aulas, said in February.

Lacazette deserves recognition. What the 30-year-old lacks in firepower – he’s only scored three Premier League goals this season – he more than makes up for with his movement and link-up play. His strength and awareness were evident when he kept Watford’s low block at arm’s length while rolling a backheel into Bukayo Saka’s path for Arsenal’s second goal during Sunday’s 3-2 away win.

He dropped into midfield when his side built from the back and then endeavored to be the focal point of the strikeforce as they moved upfield. Tactically, it was a sublime display.

He notched his seventh assist of the campaign when he pushed the ball back to Gabriel Martinelli, who made it 3-1. Those seven helpers have been crammed into the nine league games Lacazette has played since Aubameyang was frozen out of the first-team picture, and only Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Jarrod Bowen, and Paul Pogba have more assists across the whole top-flight campaign.

Lacazette’s selfless attacking play is hard to find in the transfer market. He’s worth a new two-year contract at least.

Fernandes a poor fit for United’s breakaways

It was unlikely to be a game in which Bruno Fernandes would flourish. There was little time for him to put his foot on the ball to dictate the tempo or thread an intricate pass behind Manchester City’s defense in Sunday’s derby.

And, with hindsight, omitting him from the starting XI may have given Manchester United a better chance of nicking a result from the Etihad Stadium.

In some ways, Ralf Rangnick’s counterattacking approach worked. Paul Pogba has never been particularly gifted defensively, so the German relieved his midfielder of those duties and left him as United’s most advanced player when City were attacking. When United got the ball back, Pogba was the immediate target, holding off his opponent before attempting to release one of his pacey teammates.

Jadon Sancho justified his selection when he equalized with a fine, curling effort past Ederson following an excellent pass from Pogba. Anthony Elanga, meanwhile, showed his frustration when Fernandes overhit a pass to him in the 52nd minute. The Swede ran but the ball seldom came – the fact he didn’t register a shot on target or key pass was through no real fault of his own.

But Fernandes struggled in every aspect of the game.

Marcus Rashford in Fernandes’ place would’ve given United an extra player committed to latching onto Pogba’s passes and exposing Manchester City on the break while Scott McTominay and Fred shored up the midfield. Instead, Fernandes whined and sulked his way through most of Sunday’s resounding 4-1 defeat, losing the ball more than any other United player and not managing a single take-on.

De Bruyne not just a provider

Kevin De Bruyne’s strength and stamina were waning at the start of the season after he suffered facial fractures last May, damaged ankle ligaments at the European Championship, and tested positive for COVID-19 in November.

“I do two or three sprints and feel it, having had COVID,” De Bruyne said in December.

But gradually, De Bruyne has returned to his best, and he put United to the sword with two goals and an assist for Riyad Mahrez’s outrageous volley in Sunday’s derby. The Belgian already has his second-highest goals tally in a Premier League season with nine (four behind his best haul from the 2019-20 campaign), indicating he took on board Guardiola’s constructive criticism at the start of the term.

“I’m so delighted this season because he’s scoring goals,” Guardiola said post-match. “I spoke with him (and said), ‘Yeah, you are just focused on the assists – it’s OK, but you have to score goals, you have to win games.'”

The trademark sight of De Bruyne in previous seasons would be for him to crop up in a withdrawn position on the right, ready to whip in dangerous deliveries that would sometimes supplement his assist numbers. But in a team where the goals are shared around rather than the responsibility of one or two strikers, he’s now stepping up as a finisher.

He left the wide play to Mahrez and Jack Grealish for United’s visit, running through the heart of the Red Devils’ defense to take up classic center-forward positions for each of his goals. De Bruyne isn’t just City’s best creative force, he’s also one of their most clinical players in the 18-yard box.

Here are the main talking points from Saturday’s matches …

Leeds’ improvement counts for naught

Somehow, Kasper Schmeichel was there again. The Leicester City goalkeeper made his fourth save of the game when his left foot repelled Raphinha’s effort from three yards after almost an hour had elapsed.

Then, just seven minutes later, Harvey Barnes scored the goal to puncture what was arguably Leeds United’s most dominant performance of the season.

The traveling Leeds supporters sounded their appreciation for their side’s fresh look – they often formed a 4-2-2-2 out of possession – and better defensive organization after the final whistle of Saturday’s 1-0 loss. New head coach Jesse Marsch delivered a similarly positive message to his team at the end of the match.

“I told the players that if we keep playing like this, we’ll get all the points we need,” Marsch said, according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay. “The only negative is the result.”

But that negative represents the only thing that matters, especially at this stage of the season.

The American now has a few days on the training ground to help Raphinha rediscover his best form and get Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford closer to full fitness. No three players are more important to Leeds’ fortunes. However, Raphinha hasn’t taken on opponents with the same relish in recent weeks, while Phillips and Bamford have just 17 Premier League starts between them this season.

The Yorkshire club is only two points above the relegation zone before potentially season-defining encounters against Aston Villa and Norwich City at Elland Road.

Eriksen’s set-pieces boost Brentford

There were occasional bright spots when Christian Eriksen returned 259 days after his cardiac arrest to make his Brentford debut last weekend, but the Dane showed how important he could be to his new team in his first start at Norwich City.

For a club focused on using statistics to get an edge over its opponents, the Bees’ goal return from set-pieces has been distinctly average in recent years. Last season, Brentford finished as the Championship’s top scorers but ranked 12th for set-piece goals.

They’ve improved in the Premier League – entering Saturday’s 3-1 win at Norwich, a third of their goals came from set-pieces – and Eriksen adds more quality to Thomas Frank’s ranks in dead-ball situations. Before Eriksen’s arrival, Ethan Pinnock’s flung throw-ins were considerably more dangerous than free-kicks from the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Sergi Canos.

Eriksen was key to two of Brentford’s goals at Carrow Road. The Bees’ opener was satisfyingly simplistic: Eriksen sent a corner-kick to Kristoffer Ajer at the near post, and the ball was duly flicked on toward the back stick where Ivan Toney finished. The playmaker then caused more havoc with another corner when his offering appeared destined for Pontus Jansson’s head. In his desperation to prevent another Eriksen-crafted goal, Ben Gibson almost took Jansson’s ear off with a swing of his boot. Toney scored the resulting penalty.

Eriksen’s set-piece brilliance – and, indeed, Norwich missing Grant Hanley’s aerial presence in the backline – was a huge deciding factor in Norwich and Brentford’s meeting, helping the visitors end a winless run of nine matches across all competitions.

A little levity

Speaking of Eriksen, the Danish midfielder was at the center of Saturday’s most whimsical moment, along with Norwich’s Brandon Williams. After being dragged down by Eriksen, Williams was ready to react with fury.

Then he realized who was responsible for the tackle.

(Available to view in U.S. only)

Brandon Williams was very angry at being dragged down, then realized it was Christian Eriksen and hugged it out. ? pic.twitter.com/dEZ0WJVGcc

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) March 5, 2022

(Available to view in Canada only)

The highlight of this weekend has to be Brandon Williams’ reaction to Christian Eriksen’s challenge ? pic.twitter.com/7DUtiUOFht

— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) March 5, 2022

Both players walked away with smiles. The Brentford midfielder seemed to appreciate the humor of it all, and Williams was surely relieved not to go down in history as the guy who took a swing at Eriksen.

Magpies’ January gets better and better

There could’ve been a temptation to bring some glitz and glamor to St. James’ Park in January. Manchester City unveiled Robinho, and Chelsea paid big fees to acquire Hernan Crespo, Adrian Mutu, and Juan Sebastian Veron soon after their respective takeovers.

But Eddie Howe was determined to strengthen nouveau-riche Newcastle United’s defense, so he picked up players named Kieran, Dan, and Matt. It seems Bruno Guimaraes – the closest thing Newcastle got to an exotic marquee signing in the winter window – was signed more for next season as he’s made only five substitute appearances thus far.

The Magpies’ sensible approach has paid off. Kieran Trippier’s impact was monumental before suffering a foot injury last month, but Dan Burn and Matt Targett are working assiduously at the back to ensure Trippier’s absence isn’t critical.

Burn was again imperious for Newcastle against his former club Brighton & Hove Albion, blocking two shots, stepping in with three interceptions, and whacking away seven clearances. Unless Luis Diaz’s bright start at Liverpool gets even better, Burn could be the Premier League’s best January signing.

Targett, who is on loan from Aston Villa, has brought discipline and positional sense to the left-back role that was lacking while players such as Matt Ritchie and Jamal Lewis operated in that space. Left-winger Ryan Fraser will undoubtedly credit the balance and protection that Targett brings to the lineup for helping him on his way to a goal, an assist, and his best outing in black-and-white stripes against Brighton.

The 2-1 victory gave Newcastle a seven-point cushion above the bottom three. The threat of relegation is almost dispelled.

Reece James back with a bang

Oh, how Chelsea desperately missed Reece James.

The Englishman, now fully recovered from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss 12 matches across all competitions, made his first start since December in Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Burnley. He stole the show.

James twisted Dwight McNeil inside-out before finding the bottom corner for the match’s opening goal, was involved in the buildup on Kai Havertz’s first marker of the contest, and then teed up the angular German for another.

In his extended absence over the last couple of months, Alexander-Arnold and Joao Cancelo have ping-ponged acclaim between themselves, dominating the discourse as the preeminent attacking full-backs in England’s top flight. But James reminded everyone that he belongs in that conversation, too. Yes, an accommodating Burnley defense made his life a little easier at Turf Moor, but the 22-year-old showed off his entire repertoire in Chelsea’s straightforward triumph.

5 + 5 – Reece James (5 goals, 5 assists) is one of only three English players with both 5+ goals and 5+ assists in the Premier League this season, along with Jarrod Bowen and Mason Mount. Output.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 5, 2022

On the back of that superlative attacking showing, James is now the only defender in Europe’s top five leagues with at least five goals and five assists this season. Alexander-Arnold has a more creative passing range, and Cancelo is a better dribbler, but James is the more consistent scoring threat of the distinguished trio.

Cezar Azpilicueta has been an outstanding player for Chelsea during his decorated tenure at the club, and he continues to be a solid, if unspectacular, option for Thomas Tuchel. But the gulf in attacking quality between the veteran Spaniard and explosive Englishman is stark. Saturday was the latest reminder; James makes the Blues a more credible attacking unit.

Would Chelsea still be in the title race if James was healthy all season?

Wolves’ big dream dissipates

After beating Tottenham Hotspur last month, we tipped Bruno Lage’s Wolverhampton Wanderers as candidates to make an unlikely Champions League charge. Wolves were rolling, after all, and sat within four points of the top four.

“We are always confident,” Raul Jimenez said at the time. “We know what we can do. We are in a good period, and we can keep improving and go higher in the table. We are dreaming big.”

They followed that up with another victory, this time over Leicester. The dreams kept growing.

And then someone popped the balloon.

In the wake of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, Wolves have now lost three consecutive matches, scoring just once in that time, and have slipped to eighth place. Positionally, they’re closer to the bottom half of the table than a Champions League spot. How quickly things change.

Those setbacks may have been slim in nature – blowing a late lead against Arsenal now feels like a key turning point – but this illustrates just how difficult it is for one of the “outsiders” to gatecrash the top four.

There’s virtually no room for error, no room for even a slight dip in form. A Europa League berth would still be a good accomplishment for Lage, especially after the team’s torrid start to the campaign, but a place in Europe’s showpiece tournament now seems out of reach.

Alexander-Arnold better than ever

Even shots are turning into assists for Alexander-Arnold these days.

The 23-year-old was outstanding in Liverpool’s narrow win over West Ham United on Saturday with a vintage performance at both ends of the pitch. In solidifying his reputation as one of the game’s best providers, Alexander-Arnold now finds himself on the cusp of shattering his personal records.

Whether his strike into the box on Sadio Mane’s game-winning goal was a shot or a cross is up for debate. What matters, though, is the English right-back was responsible for another quality ball into a dangerous area, which proved crucial in helping Liverpool collect another three points to stay within reach of leaders Manchester City.

Along with ending the day as the Premier League assists leader with 11 – two shy of his personal record – Alexander-Arnold recorded his 16th assist in all competitions Saturday to match his best output. With one more, he’ll surpass Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard’s highest total in a season for the Reds.

Most assists provided by Trent Alexander-Arnold in a single season:

? 2018/19: 15
? 2019/20: 15
? 2021/22: 16

Incredible numbers and new PB for T???? pic.twitter.com/8hkqbImYZ6

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 5, 2022

Given that there are just under three months left in the season, the English international has a golden opportunity to reach unprecedented heights for a defender if he can maintain his unbelievable form and avoid injury.