Let's talk about Arsenal. Everyone's saying they're bottling the title race after losing at home to Manchester United. Their critics are having a field day, claiming Mikel Arteta's squad can't handle the pressure when it really counts.
But here's the thing – Arsenal are still four points clear at the top. They're still favorites over Manchester City, who've only won one of their last five league matches. Villa are up there too, but they're massively overperforming what the stats say they should be doing.
The trauma from last season is real though. Arsenal had an eight-point lead over City after 29 games in 2022-23 and completely fell apart. You could feel the nervousness around the Emirates on Sunday. Players and fans were both feeling it.
History says not to panic just yet. Of the 20 teams who've been four points clear at this stage before, only four failed to win the title. No team has ever blown a seven-point lead after 22 games, which is what Arsenal had before the United loss. For punters keeping tabs on the title race, Arsenal remain the smart pick despite the recent wobble.
Arsenal's upcoming fixtures look kind – Leeds, Sunderland, and Brentford before the North London Derby. That should settle some nerves and let them build momentum again. Calling this a complete collapse feels way too early.
What's Carrick Done to Transform United?
Michael Carrick has only managed two games as interim boss, so let's not get carried away. But wow, what a two games! Back-to-back wins over City and Arsenal have completely changed the mood at Old Trafford.
The difference from Ruben Amorim's time is night and day. Under the Portuguese manager, United looked confused and limited going forward. Now under Carrick, there's clarity. The handbrake's off and players are actually enjoying themselves again.
The tactical setup is smart too. Carrick's keeping his fullbacks wide and pushing wingers inside, creating overloads that Amorim never found. The passing sequences are sharper and quicker. Just watch Patrick Dorgu's goal against Arsenal or how space opened up for Matheus Cunha's winner – there's proper connective play now.
The real test comes next though. Carrick could set up to counter-attack against City and Arsenal, which suited United perfectly. But facing Fulham, West Ham, and Crystal Palace will be different. United will need to break down teams sitting deep, which was a nightmare under Amorim. So far though, Carrick's found answers his predecessor couldn't.
Can Rodman's Deal Stop the NWSL Brain Drain?
Trinity Rodman is staying in America, and it took a specially created rule to make it happen. The "Rodman Rule" or "High Impact Player Rule" allowed Washington Spirit to offer her a three-year, $6 million contract, making her one of the highest-paid women's players globally.
But will this actually stop top talent from leaving for Europe? That's the real question. Four of the five most expensive women's soccer transfers involved European clubs. Two of them were actually NWSL stars leaving for Europe – Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson both went to Chelsea.
The situation got serious when Rodman appeared as "unattached" on the US national team roster in January. Spirit owner Michele Kang said that's when it hit her – losing Rodman couldn't happen. They made it work, and Rodman scored in both recent US wins over Paraguay and Chile as a Washington player.
Keeping Rodman is huge, but the battle to retain and attract other stars is just beginning. European clubs still have massive financial power, and the NWSL needs more than one big contract to compete long-term.
