The Top Flight
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English Premier League: What we learned from matchday nine

By Orri Benatar

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrats after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrats after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Matchday nine is history and we have learned a lot about the title race and the relegation battle this past weekend in the Premier League.

Arsenal are artists on offense

Arsenal is totally back and their offense might be the most fun to watch in the Premier League. With Liverpool’s front three not being as explosive thus far (10 goals in 9 games), the Gunners attack has taken over as the prettiest and best attack in the EPL right now. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette have combined for 10 goals this season and Arsenal have won 10 straight.

The win against Leicester was their best performance and the best team they have beaten during this run. That third goal by Aubameyang was something drawn out to perfection and looked like art on the pitch. Auba and Laca make a deadly partnership ad Mesut Ozil has been phenomenal. The Gunners play Sporting, Palace and Blackpool before their next tough match against Liverpool at the Emirates.

Fulham need to buy a new defense

My god why did Fulham spend ALL their money on attackers? Besides Fulham only scoring 11 goals with their young and new strike force, the defense is the worst in the Premier League with 25 goals conceded this season. After losing 5-1 to Arsenal, Fulham lost 4-2 to Cardiff City. Allowing Cardiff to score four goals is sad and means the Cottagers gotta sell some attackers and spend on some defenders in January.

The club’s ambitions are similar to West Ham. Shad Khan wants Fulham to be a relevant London club and to do that, they can’t afford to be relegated after one season back in the Prem. A backline with Tim Ream and Denis Odoi doesn’t scream EPL side.

Man United won’t finish top four

Even with Mourinho or Zidane or Wenger or me as the manager, Man United might be too far down the table to have a top four season. The big reason for that is the chances they lay an egg against smaller clubs. This season, United has already lost to West Ham and Brighton and drew with Wolves. The other big six clubs haven’t had those bad games yet against the smaller teams and I don’t expect them to happen at the frequency its already happened with United.

Next. Ronaldo returns to Old Trafford. dark

Besides that, a team can’t finish top four without a concrete best XI to start. Mourinho still at this time doesn’t know his best team and his best goaltender only has one clean sheet this season. I could be very wrong here but Im confident the Red Devils won’t play in the Champions League next year.

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