The Premier League will never feel quite the same while supporters are absent, but as opening weekends go, there was enough drama, upsets, and goals to suggest the final eight rounds of the 2019/20 Premier League season will be as entertaining as ever.
Liverpool's tedious 0-0 draw with Everton was a disappointing way to end the weekend, and by and large it didn't reflect the first round of games. Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Brighton was a fascinating tactical battle with late drama befitting of a top Premier League match, while Tottenham's tense 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Friday had the feeling of a crucial battle in the chase for Champions League spots.
Here are three tactical talking points from the weekend action:
1) TOTTENHAM FINALLY LOOK LIKE A MOURINHO TEAM
Jose Mourinho has only once previously joined a club midseason, and with good reason. His tactical battle plans require in-depth coaching during the summer, and so it is no surprise Tottenham Hotspur look much more like a Mourinho team after the extended break. Paul Pogba's influence ultimately denied them three points, but this was an assured Mourinho display.
Tottenham sat in an ultra-compressed midblock and allowed Manchester United's defenders to have the ball, forcing them to pass hesitantly into the channels and denying them any rhythm: classic Mourinho. What's more, the midfield three, with Heung-Min Son and Steven Bergwijn slightly higher and Harry Kane at the tip, formed a compact pentagon around United's midfield, denying them the opportunity to get on the ball.
Spurs had set out to limit United's main strengths (pace in behind) rather than assert their own dominance: again, classic Mourinho. After a summer window to get rid of the last of the emotional frailty in the team – the kind that led to a hesitant second half retreat and clumsy penalty concession – Tottenham might just be ready to challenge.
2) ARSENAL SHOW TACTICAL COMPLEXITY DESPITE DEFEAT
Mikel Arteta has also been using the extended break to work on tactical ideas, and Arsenal should have been 3-0 up at half-time against Brighton on Saturday after a very impressive performance. Despite familiar frailties ultimately costing them dearly, Arsenal remain on track under the new manager.
Their 4-5-1 formation became a complex, and constantly evolving, 3-2-2-3 when in possession. Bukayo Saka was the most important player, dropping between central midfield, attacking midfield, and left wing depending on the movements of his team-mates, confounding the opposition. Similarly, Dani Ceballos and Hector Bellerin (playing largely as a central midfielder) worked brilliantly in tandem, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's runs in from the left helped provide Saka with extra space.
Arsenal - for the first hour at least - were impossible to pin to a single formation, moving in sync to cover the width and depth of the pitch. They were undermined by more costly errors, and by Arteta's decision to go to five at the back for the final few minutes, but this is a club clearly moving in the right direction.
3) DIRECT DRIBBLING EMERGES AS KEY FEATURE POST SUSPENSION
Adam Traore's four dribbles in just 26 minutes off the bench against West Ham United on Saturday sank the hosts, and while it isn't the first time the Wolves winger has had that sort of impact his exploits followed a trend across the weekend. With players' fitness clearly an issue, and with games coming thick and fast over the next few weeks, dribbling speed is emerging as a crucial asset.
Southampton also relied on their speed in the counter-press to beat Norwich (more on that below), while on Sunday Newcastle United provided a shock by dispatching of Sheffield United thanks to the direct dribbling of Allan Saint-Maximin (seven dribbles), Miguel Almiron, and Joelinton. The Magpies striker, who ended a 2130 minute goal drought, frequently made quick runs in behind, leading to the John Egan red card that changed the game.
Similarly, Crystal Palace's 2-0 win at Bournemouth was defined by the nine dribbles completed by Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha. Pace and counter-attacking could be the most important feature during these final rounds.
BEST OF THE WEEK – SOUTHAMPTON'S COUNTER-PRESSING FOOTBALL
This was arguably the best Southampton performance under Ralph Hasenhuttl to date. They have certainly enjoyed bigger and more important wins, but against Norwich they played full-throttle German counter-pressing football, complete with phases of active pressing, feeling out key moments to change gears, and hitting Norwich on the break.
Nathan Redmond (nine dribbles) and Stuart Armstrong countered intelligently from the wings in Hasenhuttl's 4-2-2-2 formation, engaging a high press at just the right moments to then support Danny Ings and Michael Obafemi as they broke behind Norwich's high line. Scoring twice in five minutes near the beginning of the second half, Saints capitalised ruthlessly on a momentary loss of energy. It was exactly the tactical style Hasenhuttl's appointment promised.
WORST OF THE WEEK – ASTON VILLA LOSE IDENTITY WITHIN FOUR DAYS OF RESTART
Villa's best performances this season came when they bravely enacted Dean Smith's desire to play progressive attacking football, and yet in their first two games since the restart they have averaged 36% possession. Villa were completely passive against Chelsea, sitting ominously deep to invite pressure, and although they led 1-0 at the break they never once looked like taking points from Sunday's game.
Jack Grealish continues to look wasted on the wing, leaving Villa with only risk-averse footballers in central midfield and hesitant passers in defence. They have become too direct, and aimless in their approach. Relegation looks almost certain after another listless display against Chelsea.
