Gameweek 12: The Headlines

Happy Turkey week!

Sadly, EPL players and managers aren't scarfing turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce today. Thanksgiving is a purely American holiday (although I have fond memories of celebrating Thanksgiving in the UK at an Indian restaurant with my family circa 2010 – shoutout to that delicious naan and chicken tikka masala)!

But wherever you are in the world, you can still give thanks. Bonus points if you do so while enjoying a delicious plate of mashed potatoes.

As for me, I'm beyond thankful for friends, family, loved ones, an Arsenal victory on Saturday, my cousin getting married on Sunday, and YOU, for reading and subscribing.

Happy Thanksgiving, fam.

Mo Salah, Mo Blessings

I feel confident that Mo Salah tops Liverpool's list of blessings this year. The 33-year-old was instrumental in Liverpool's 3-2 win over Southampton, scoring two goals in dramatic fashion.

The victory sees the Reds go 8 points clear at the top of the table, and Mo celebrated like a champion by whipping off his shirt. May Mo's abs live forever in glory, just as much as his goal records, Inshallah.

Fun fact: Mo has received 9 yellow cards throughout his career, 5 of which were for taking off his shirt after scoring. I have Mo on my Fantasy Premier League team, and I'm not even mad about the loss of 2 points.

Sadly though, Mo and his abs aren't feeling properly appreciated by management this year. This may be the most I've ever related to Mo.

While the Egyptian king generally doesn't deign to talk to media, he beelined for journalists after the Southampton game, telling them,

"Well, we are almost in December and I haven't received any offers yet to stay in the club. I'm probably more out than in. ... I'm not going to retire soon, so I'm just playing, focusing on the season and I'm trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League. I'm disappointed, but we'll see."

In other words.

Mo is 32 years old, an age where football franchises are no longer willing to dole out 5-year contracts like candy. I am 33, and I must say, there is nothing like listening to pundits disparage "aging footballers" (aka 30-year-old professional athletes) to make me feel more like Methuselah.

Thanks for that, guys.

But if Mo Salah can't get a new contract, where's the hope for the rest of us?! The man is a machine. 12 goals and 10 assists in 18 appearances across all competitions this year alone. That's a goal involvement every 65 minutes!

Liverpool, get your s**t together.

Martin Odegaard the man

ICYMI, Martin Odegaard made his triumphant return back from injury in the Chelsea game two weeks ago, but we saw his immediate impact during the Nottingham Forest match this past weekend.

Martin was a midfield maestro, conducting our victory with aplomb. He was a back wheeling, nutmegging, juking, passing, dribbling wizard.

Without a doubt, he is the beating, pulsing heart of this Arsenal team.

Now that Martin's back in the squad, we again look like the free-flowing side who scored 5 or 6 goals a game in the second half of last season.

On Saturday, we handled Nottingham Forest, winning 3-0. Next, we put on a clinic in the Champion's League, scoring 5 goals against Sporting CP. Oh, and in the process, we stifled one of Europe's most in-form strikers, Victor Gyokeres.

Dear God, we give you thanks and glory for making Martin Odegaard a Gunner. May he stay at Arsenal forever and forever, amen.

Fall of a titan?

Thanksgiving is all about counting your blessings, but that list is in short supply for Pep Guardiola and the Cityzens right now.

I cannot remember a collapse like this from the champions ... ever. This is the first time in his managerial career that Pep has lost five games on the trot. In the most recent Premier League game, City were battered by Tottenham and lost 4-0 at home. Not only did this end their winning streak at the Etihad, it was Pep's joint heaviest defeat.

On Tuesday, City did one better by throwing away a 3-0 lead against Dutch side Feyenoord in the Champion's League. It was the first time in the competition's history that a team has been up by 3 goals in the 75th minute and not gone on to win. The match finished 3-3.

When Pep spoke with media afterwards, he had a gash on his nose and fingernail scratches all over his head. He explained that he'd scratched himself with his nails due to stress.

Poor dude.

Pundits have been working overtime to try and make sense of City's strange meltdown. The Athletic ran an article citing the "16 reasons" behind the once mighty team's poor run of late. Injuries, lack of goals, fitness problems, tough opponents, and Erling Haaland's dry spell were all held up as problems.

Also, an "aging squad." See my comments above.

Overall, everyone seems to agree that if City lose to Liverpool this weekend, they can kiss their title hopes goodbye.

Sayonora, Steve Cooper

Do you think Steve Cooper is counting his blessings to be rid of Leicester FC, or angry to be out of a job?

This week, the Foxes parted ways with Steve in a move that surprised many (me). After all, Leicester only came up from the Championship this year, and they've taken 10 points from 12 games. Not too shabby.

But insider reports paint a picture of a team that's deeply divided. Apparently, the players were pretty bonded with their former manager, Enzo Maresca, who got them promoted to the Premier League in 2024. Enzo left to take the Chelsea job at the start of the season, and it was like he was the notorious ex-girlfriend that Steve could never measure up to.

Even as recently as last week, Leicester players were spotted partying next to a sign that read, "enzo I miss U."

It was never fair to ask Steve to fill Enzo's (designer) shoes. And he was never set up for success.

Where he goes next is anyone's guess. As for the open manager position at Leicester, my money's on Graham Potter. It's time for him to come out of hiding!

This week's biggest player: Wolves?

I was thrilled to see Wolves record a big win last week. And I was equally thrilled to see them follow it up with another win this week, thrashing Fulham 4-1.

Matheus Cunha was the star of the show, scoring twice and creating another goal in the comprehensive win.

I feel Wolves have been hard done by this season. They're not a relegation team, but poor luck and tough fixtures have seen them languish at the bottom of the table. Thankfully, this win propels them out of the danger zone.

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil called the game "one of my favorite afternoons as Wolves head coach." He added,

"I was really pleased for the fans and the players who have both suffered some tough weeks recently."

Happy for ya, Gaz.

OK, I'm off to eat some turkey shortly – see you all next week!