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Three things to look out for in the Premier League this weekend

How will Van Gaal solve a problem liike Di Maria? Most people recognise that Man United's new No...
Newstalk
Newstalk

13.02 29 Aug 2014


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Three things to look out for i...

Three things to look out for in the Premier League this weekend

Newstalk
Newstalk

13.02 29 Aug 2014


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How will Van Gaal solve a problem liike Di Maria?

Most people recognise that Man United's new No 7 Angel Di Maria is only part of a solution rather than a Messianic arrival.

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But he also presents a problem for manager Louis Van Gaal who must find a way to accommodate him in a 3-5-2 formation that may not suit him or rejig the system to something closer to a 4-3-3.

We will see the first signs of Van Gaal's plans tomorrow afternoon when Man United travel to Burnley for the early kick-off with Di Maria likely to start.

 

Step forward Didier Drogba?

In-form Diego Costa suffered a slight hamstring injury during the week which means it is unclear whether he will start or even be available for tomorrow's evening trip to Everton.

Chelsea's squad depth has long been praised but Costa's absence would be an early test of Didier Drogba's credentials, especially with Fernando Torres' potential departure to AC Milan before deadline day.

At 36, Drogba may not have as much miles in his legs compared to other elite players his age due to his relatively late arrival to the world of professional football.

But can he still cut it at the highest level after spells in Turkey and China?

Apart from his role in the dressing room, Jose Mourinho would not have brought him back if he could not make an impact on the pitch. 

 

A new striker? It would be Giroud not to...

For the next four months, it looks like Arsenal are ready to survive with just Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski, Yaya Sanogo and Joel Campbell.

It doesn't sound bad when you say it like that, mind you. But then again Sanchez is still having teething problems with the central striker role despite his winner against Besiktas (he did not have a touch in the box against Everton last Saturday), while the rest are better in other positions or unproven up front.

The Gunners are away at Leicester City and if any whiff of trouble can be scented up front, Arsene Wenger may just be tempted to bring someone in.

Though not Nikola Zigic, if the fans have anything to do with it.


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