The unfamiliarity of a winter break, coupled with the strain of fiercely contested World Cup matches, poses several questions for teams returning to action this week.
Ahead of the festive football calendar, we are taking a look at the biggest potential winners and losers as a result of the month-long hiatus, and who may be in a position for a strong second half of the season.
Four Key Talking Points Ahead of the Premier League’s Return
Can Eddie Nketiah Perform Miracles in Jesus’ Stead?
Arsenal’s pre-World Cup title charge seems an age ago, but Mikel Arteta’s side are primed to continue their imperious form when they face West Ham at home on Boxing Day.
Their defence, which has allowed just 11 goals in 14 games this term, remained relatively unscathed as a result of the break with William Saliba hardly featuring for Les Bleus, Ben White returning early for personal reasons while Gabriel was absent from Brazil’s 26-man squad and stayed put along with Oleksandr Zinchenko, who is expected to be fit once again.
Despite their defensive cohesion, one player who wasn’t so lucky over the past month is summer acquisition Gabriel Jesus, who sustained an injury in training for Brazil and required invasive surgery.
Including current players only, Eddie Nketiah is Arsenal’s SECOND top scorer under Arteta (23) 🤯 pic.twitter.com/wXOaVvUmUp
— Back Again W/Troopz Podcast (@backagain) December 21, 2022
This is expected to keep him on the sidelines until at least February, and while he has failed to score in his last six league appearances, his tenacious high-press and fluid link-up play will be sorely missed.
Eddie Nketiah, Arsenal‘s number two up top, will have to deputise to great effect is he is to preserve Arsenal’s top-of-the-table status, and fans will be hoping he can tap into some of the end of season form he enjoyed last term that warranted him a bumper contract extension.
Haaland Recharged and Ready, But Are The Rest of The Squad?
Norway’s absence in Qatar will have been a welcomed one for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, and keeping his prized possession wrapped in bubble wrap away from the intensity of the World Cup will leave title rival Mikel Arteta feeling slightly jealous.
While Erling Haaland doesn’t actually expend that much energy in 90 minutes, his recurring muscle problems at Borussia Dortmund have yet to be be the cause of concern at his new club, and the month-long hiatus will have him feeling rested and recharged, ready to add to his mind-boggling tally of 18 goals in 13 so far.
However, Guardiola’s star-studded squad featured more than any other in the Premier League in Qatar, racking up a total of 4,628 minutes, which is little under a 1,000 more than the nearest competitor Chelsea (3,698).
The defeat at home to Brentford in the final game before the break leaves the champions with a five point deficit to overturn if they are to usurp Arsenal, and although they may be more fatigued than most, their strength in depth has been key to their recent success.
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New Year, Clean Slate for Wolves
Now-ex Wolves manager Bruno Lage was relieved of his duties over the break following a dismal season at the helm, and former Spain and Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui has been brought in to steady the ship.
Two wins from 15 and just eight goals scored all season makes for grim reading, but the feeling around Molineux is a fresh slate has come at exactly the right time.
Not going to get carried away with Julen Lopetegui at all. Unproven in the PL and has a huge challenge to get us out the bottom three.
Me after getting our first corner against Gillingham tonight: pic.twitter.com/DAKwibEWUL
— Matt 🐺 ◣ ◢ (@SouthBankMatt) December 20, 2022
The board have already made waves in the transfer market, with Atletico Madrid striker Mateus Cunha set to join the ranks following a concerning lack of goals, while other targets include his teammate in the Spanish capital Felipe, along with Manchester United outcast Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Lopetegui is no stranger to elite football having managed Real Madrid in the past, whilst also leading Sevilla to the Europa League title in 2020, and his arrival at Wolves will hopefully spark life into this undoubtedly talented but massively underachieving squad.
Antonio Conte Needs Striking Duo to Shake Off World Cup Woes
Harry Kane’s penalty miss against France in the quarter-final little under a fortnight ago will weigh heavy on his mind, and Antonio Conte will need his biggest goal threat to pick up where he left off before the World Cup break.
Elsewhere, last season’s Golden Boot winner Son Heung-Min has looked a shadow of himself thus far, and although his stunning hat-trick against Leicester was one of Spurs’ best moments this season, it accounts for three of his five goals in the league which is a far cry from his form last term.
His struggles continued into the World Cup for South Korea, and Conte will be eager for the 29-year-old to hit the ground running in the second half of the season.
Brazil’s short-lived hero in Qatar Richarlison also picked up another injury, but the return of Dejan Kulusevski just before the cut-off is a welcomed addition for a Tottenham side eight points behind leaders Arsenal, who also have a game in hand.
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