ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK 8

5 THINGS TO LEARN FROM THE PAST WEEK

It was an action packed week this weekend, as a number of high profile teams lost. There was also the draw at Anfield. Manchester City did demolished Stoke city in the highest scoring match of the weekend. But what exactly did we learn this past week?

#1 They don't get better than kevin De bruyne, do they?

Sometimes, stories are written in the stars.  Even still, they don't get more interesting than the Kevin De Bruyne story. After failing to fully hit the heights that he has now, whilst under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, he was shipped out to German side Wolfsburg in the summer of 2014 for just €18 million. From that very season he became a fan favorite at the Volkswagen Arena as he managed to rack up both assists and goals to help his side qualify for the continental championship. Chelsea lost a gem, and he became the chief corner stone at VFL Wolfsburg.

Fast forward to today, De bruyne has become a mainstay in Pep Guardiola's high flying Manchester City team. His knack for notching up assists cannot be overstressed, as everything he touches turns to goals. And this week, against the notorious Mark Hughes' Stoke City, the Belgian whizkid shone like a million stars, as he racked up two direct assists in the 7-2 demolishing of the Stoke side. So dominant was his all round display on the day that he was voted man of the match, even though he spent just 75 minutes on the pitch, having been replaced by Iikay Gundogan. The 26 year old Belgian has five assists in the Epl to his name already this season, in just eight games. Only teammate, David Silva has more assists, but his all round play suggests that he would be a magnificient player for the blue side of Manchester for a very long time. They certainly do not get better than Kevin de Bruyne.

#2. Rafeal Benitez building a new castle, for the Toons, at Tyne side.

Much razz matter greeted the appointment of Rafeal Benitez as coach of Newcastle united, who were in the second tier of the English league last season. The former Liverpool coach who had just left his post at Italian club, Napoli, after some glorious seasons, was set to be the new manager at Tyneside? Such frenzy! 

However, the question on everybody's lips was whether the champions league winner had enough to lead the Newcastle team out of the championship, considering that this challenge was the first of its kind for the Spanish tinker man. He came on board and silenced doubters by qualifying Newcastle or the top flight, albeit in some grand style, winning the EFL championship. 

Since they returned to the top flight, Benitez' lads have done well for themselves, as they sit 9th on the log, haven amassed 11 points from 8 games. More recently, they've managed to take two points, from EPL regulars, Liverpool and Southampton. 

It is however not surprising that they have been able to garner these results. This is largely owed to the fact that the coach has built for himself a team worthy of causing upsets for the big boys. And who is to say they cannot do one better by qualifying for the continentals? Afterall, they have the manager, and he has his arsenal. Sit back Toons, this is a newcastle, at the Tynesyde.

#3. David, our saviour. 

Manchester United has been blessed over the years with goal keepers that have lit the English Premier league with spectacular saves. Peter Schemiechel did it in the 90s. Then there was a certain Dutch legend, Edwin Van der Sar, between the sticks. And more recently, there is the brilliant Spaniard, David De gea. 

Whilst Schemiechel and Van Der Sar have long been etched in United folklore, David De gea is getting closer to being the greatest of them all, if he continues to make match saving saves like he did this past week against Liverpool. 

The match was a stalemate at the time, and Liverpool were yet on another forray down the throat of the united defence line. The United defence fails to clear their line properly, and the ball is played to Roberto Firminho on the left side of the box. He feigns to shoot with his right foot, but instead drags the ball down the touchline, and to his left leg, beating two united players in the process. He squares the ball into the path of Joel Matip, who had remained in the box after the initial corner kick had been taken. Matip shoots first time, and the ball looks destined for the back of the net. But then, De gea reacts so fast and his outstretched left leg saves the ball from finding the back of the net. Such masterclass.

The 26-year-old's save was the fifth big chance save De Gea has made this season - the most of any goalkeeper in the Premier League. Isn't he just the best there is?

United legend Gary Neville agrees telling Sky: "Is there anyone better in the world than De Gea, I'm not sure? He’s doing something that’s absolutely stunning. That save and the one at Stoke the other week are amazing."

#4. Come on Arsene, leave already, there is nothing in your arsenal.

Arsenal had gone ahead in the game, as Per Mertersacker had nodded in a Granit Xhaka 39th minute corner, but they couldn't see out the victory. Watford rallied back late on and produced two goals to steal all three points, as Tom Cleverly pounced on a lose ball, after a good save from Petr Cech, to give the Hornets maximum points. 

But the problem is not the fact that they had lost this match, rather, it is in the manner in which they had lost. For reasons best known to Arsene, two of those best players, Mezut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, were dropped to the bench for the encounter. Many opinions suggests that the coach has lost touch with his dressing room. Whether or not this is true, it is an undeniable fact that this Arsenal team have lost the fear factor they used to pride themselves in. Specifically, Arsene has lost his fear factor. Gone are the days when the gooners would hold onto a one goal lead until the final whistle. Teams now fancy their chances against Wenger's team, and that should worry the Arsenal board.

Last season, there were cries from a cross section of the fan base that the manager should be given the boot. However, he was given a two year extension of the contract he had previously run down, much to the chagrin of many supporters. 

Since the beginning of this season, Arsenal has lost three matches and drawn one in eight matches. They currently sit below teams like Watford on the log, and are level on 13 points with Burnley. 

As big a club as Arsenal once was, they ought to be challenging the Manchester clubs, and not dragging positions with Burnley and Watford.

Mezut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez aren't firing on all cylinders as they used to, and Arsene has lost important weapons in his arsenal. Hence, it is only right he stepped aside and let someone else take on the mantle of leading the Gunners. Afterall, Moses was great, but it was Joshua that led the children of Israel Into the promise land.

#5. It is a Silva lining at Watford, thanks Marco.

Watford's victory against the Gunners, on Saturday, was a glimpse of the magic that Marco Silva and Watford are capable of. Appointed at the start of the Epl season, after he had almost rescued Hull city from relegation last season, Marco silva has led Watford to thier current fourth position on the log. They have lost just one match in eight games, winning four of those and drawing the remaining three matches. That's a surprising 15 points, out of a possible 24, for a team that many pundits had tipped as candidate for relegation, at the start of the season. 

Even though it is too early in the campaign to predict, one can actually see the silver lining at the the club, as Marco's charges are continuously taking the fight to thier opponents, week in week out.

The 2017/2018 English Premier League season is just surging to life and the race for the title is well and truly on already; It can only get better.

Look out for more related stories every Monday on CandidPens......