5 more wins and City will be crowned champions, 6 more and they break the record for most points recorded in a single premier league season. Pep Guardiola’s men have been head and shoulders above every other team this season and it’s now a question of ‘when’ not ‘if’ they will win the league title. It’s the sort of beautiful, orchestrated and fantastic football that this side is going to be remembered for, with the phrase ‘poetry in motion’ being used many at times to describe the cityzens. However, on Sunday afternoon, it was more of a dominant and controlling display as City bullied Chelsea on the field of play and totally embarrassed them with the football they were playing. The only thing not embarrassing on the day for Chelsea was the scoreline(1-0) and to which Chelsea coach, Antonio Conte surprisingly but honestly admitted, his strategic setup for this game was more of a damage limitation than ‘going for it’. Kante being missing due to illness was a massive blow and City are that good a team to take full advantage of that situation. Chelsea struggled to win the ball in midfield and when they did, City’s defensive organisation and high press coupled with Chelsea’s poor attacking impetus ( mostly due to the bizzare decision to go for a false 9 all game instead of a target man) meant there was no way back for them at all. In the end, City completed 902 passes, which is the most in a premier league game since Opta started recording statistics in 2003 ,with Gundogan also having a record number of 179 passes for a player.
The defeat leaves Chelsea in 5th place, 5 points behind Tottenham Hotspur in 4th place as the race for top 4 and Champions league football intensifies. For City however, it’s onwards and upwards as they march on to a 3rd league title in the last 6 years.
Arsenal Crisis
It keeps getting worse at Arsenal as the gunners once again slumped to another embarrassing defeat. Their third in a week, this time at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion. Anytime you think you have seen the lowest point of the club, they prove you wrong and outdo themselves in that department. The manner in which the defeat came was as embarrassing as the explanation and excuses given by Arsene Wenger in his post match interview. The ‘naked scenario’ excuse was in itself a new low for a man who is gifted in the art of making up extraneous excuses. What this only shows is that, in addition to his poor tactics, archaic strategies and woeful man management of his players, he has also lost his touch on giving ‘brilliant’ excuses. People often hold discussions on ‘What Wenger has/is doing wrong’ but it’s time the topic changed to What he is doing right because at the moment, he looks to be doing practically everything wrong. He has lost the dressing room, The players no longer seem to play for him anymore, the board doesn’t look like they believe in him and even his trusted fans who once were delusional enough to defended him have now turned on him. It has never been about the defeats but the manner of defeats and the lifeless and gutless displays sometimes shown by the team.
The fault isn’t only his as it is very clear most of the players are not fit to wear the jersey of Arsenal football club. From a goalkeeper who is very well past his best, a defender who is an error waiting to happen and a defensive midfielder who cannot tackle. Sadly, the club who once assembled the best team ever in the premier league just 15 years ago, have gone from invincibility to vulnerability. This team that was once characterised as being the best in the country now constantly put up defenseless performances, week after week, game after game.
Everything proves we are nearing the end of the Wenger era as a Europa league victory doesn’t even look likely with a trip to Milan on Thursday looking like a mountain to climb. It’s dark times at the Emirates and even a new manager will struggle to get this side back to their best but it must all begin with one man letting go of his arrogance, ignorance and admitting that it’s time to go.
Barcelona Extend Lead at the Top
Lionel Messi scores his third freekick in as many games as Barcelona strolled to a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid. He has mastered the art and is now a serial set piece taker along with the numerous qualities he possesses. The victory was important to give the Catalan side some breathing space over their Madrid rivals in second place. All ficus now turns to the champions league with the visit of Chelsea a week away.
The Italian Top 4 Showdown.
In Serie A this weekend, it was an absolutely lip smacking fixture list as the top four clashed in separate games. Leaders Napoli hosted Roma while Juventus faced a big test as they travelled to Lazio. The former was a goal fest in which Roma shocked league leaders, Napoli, after the hosts drew first blood. Roma turned on the heat and scored three goals with Dzeko grabing a brace before Napoli scored to make the score a more respectable one as the game came to an end. Napoli were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal after missing lots of chances. Maurro Sarri will feel dissapointed with his team’s performances and might feel if his team had taken all their chances they would have run away with all three points. Roma however were up for the task and deserved to win the game. The latter, a keenly contested game that saw Paulo Dybala net a dramatic late winner in added time. Lazio were tight at the back and in defence and Juventus barely got a sniff at goal all game with both goalkeepers on top of their game. Lazio were probably preparing to celebrate a hard earned point before Dybala turned his marker with a nutmeg before smashing home as he fell to the ground. Juventus would cherish that goal because it is the goal that heaps enormous pressure on league leaders Napoli, who slipped up against Roma. Juventus are now one point behind with a game in hand and hold a huge advantage over Napoli.
Wilder KOs Ortiz.
Deontay Wilder produced a marvelous display in the 10th round to knockout Luis Ortiz in defence of his WBC world heavyweight defence on Saturday in Brooklyn. Wilder was second best in some key rounds of the bout, especially in round 7 but took the opportunity when it came in the 10th round to knock out the Cuban. He had so much respect for his opponent and deservedly so as he gave him a tough run for his money. The next step is Joshua and when asked after the match, Wilder clearly put the ball in the court of Joshua’s camp as he said he has done all he can to make it happen and it was left with Joshua’s team to do their part. As Joshua himself defends his unified WBO and IBF titles against New Zealand international Joseph Parker later this month ,there is one fight Boxing fans want to see and it is the Joshua -Wilder fight and we can’t wait any longer.
BONUS: DAVIDE ASTORI
The footballing world was stunned yesterday by the news of the demise of Fiorentina Captain, Davide Astori. Fiorentina reported the sad event yesterday in the afternoon in a press release that said; “Fiorentina are profoundly shocked to have to announce the death of captain Davide Astori after a sudden illness” . The midfielder began his career at AC Milan and joined Cagliari in 2008. He spent 8 years at the club and had loan spells at Roma and Fiorentina before he joined the latter permanently in 2016. He made 58 appearances in total for the club. He was capped 14 times by the Italian national team. In view of this, the Sunday fixtures of the Serie A were called off and postponed to a later date to mourn the player. Everyone from the Green Turf Publications sends their condolences to the family, friends of Davide Astori and Eveyone linked with the Fiorentina fraternity.
Avot.
The Green Turf 
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