Of what has become the “big six,” only Arsenal have fewer points than they did at the same point last season – the rest all have more, many more. Indeed Arsenal’s 35 point tally last season would have been good enough only for fourth this year, last year it took them second, just two points off Man Utd at the top.
Manchester City have 13 points more than at the same point last season, Man Utd have seven more, Tottenham nine, Chelsea three and Liverpool nine. Is this the great competitive Premier League? Yes, but only as far as sixth place. Beyond that, there is little hope for any to break the glass ceiling at the top of the league.
So far, Tottenham, Man City, Man Utd and Arsenal have all embarked on streaks where they won multiple games in a row against teams outside the top six. Is this a sign of their strength or the weakness of others? Or both? Considering that United and City were knocked out of the Champions League in feeble fashion, it says much that both can stroll through games against half the teams in the league without much difficulty. And that an Arsenal side thrashed by Man Utd and dispirited can go on a winning run as they did against the league’s lesser lights.
This is a Premier League season where it will come down to who does best in the games between those six at the top. United and City are clear at the moment, but Tottenham have been impressive and could maintain a title challenge. If Arsenal can maintain their form then they may still have an outside hope, whilst Chelsea could as well if they can find some consistency. Liverpool too, must break out of the cycle of drawing games against the smaller teams at Anfield. They are excellent against the top teams, and Kenny Dalglish’s men have much to say for their efforts in such games.
Elsewhere, the season has been distinctly average. When a team as poor as Stoke can be eighth, it tells you everything about the quality, or lack thereof, in the league. Swansea, QPR and Norwich have hardly set the league on fire, yet all are comfortable. When you see sides as poor as Blackburn and Bolton you understand why.
It is a strange sort of season though, one marked by high scoring games between big teams and a more attacking league than usual. There are only three teams, Stoke, Sunderland and Aston Villa, who don’t play attacking football, but the rest look to go forward and seek ways to win, rather than destroy. It has made for a spectacular, if uncompetitive, season so far. But it is at least entertaining.
