Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Dawson out to repeat Haaland heroics
The obvious subplot at Molineux centres on Hwang Hee-chan facing Son Heung-min in the Premier League for only the second time – in a game known as the Korean derby – but perhaps the most pivotal battle will rest on an unfashionable but excellent centre-back in Craig Dawson. Six weeks ago the 33-year-old, whose career kicked off in League Two with Rochdale, successfully tamed Erling Haaland in victory over Manchester City, leading Alan Shearer to praise his “faultless display” against the league’s top goalscorer. “It was all about concentration and keeping focused,” Dawson said at the time and he and his centre-back partners Toti Gomes and Max Kilman, the Wolves captain, will have to be on their guard again if they are to halt Son and co returning to winning ways. Ben Fisher
Wolves v Tottenham, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Should Gunners be looking elsewhere to fire?
To set aside the wailing, gnashing of teeth and club statements that followed Arsenal’s defeat at Newcastle, a key problem was the lack of a top-level striker to take – and make – chances against a well-organised defence. Mikel Arteta’s continued faith in Eddie Nketiah is refreshing but perhaps betrays the Spaniard’s own lack of killer instinct. Nketiah is a hard worker yet cannot replicate Gabriel Jesus’s energy in leading the press, either. Significant summer cash was spent on Kai Havertz, who should have been shown red at St James’ Park for his lunge at Sean Longstaff, an incident apparently forgotten in Sunday’s screed against officialdom. Against Sevilla, Leandro Trossard looked a more adept false 9 than Havertz and money might have been better spent on a proven finisher, admittedly an increasingly rare
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