Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action - ONE

It is time for Diego Costa to grow up, Arouna Koné gets Evertonians bouncing, and Claudio Ranieri’s achievements at Leicester should not be diminished

1) It is time for Costa to grow up

How many chances can one player get before a manager decides that enough is enough? Diego Costa seems likely to escape another charge of violent conduct after the Chelsea striker aimed an apparent kick at Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel. He could be reprieved if the referee, Mark Clattenburg, states that he saw the incident in his report and that would be a lucky escape for a player whose inability to control himself has created problems for José Mourinho in the past. The last thing Chelsea’s beleaguered manager needs now is to lose his striker for another extended period. It is often said that players like Costa would not be the same if they curb their more aggressive instincts. But what use are they if they cannot play? It is time for Costa to grow up.

2) Ranieri’s achievements shouldn’t be diminished

“[Claudio] Ranieri has benefited from all the work Nigel [Pearson] has put in,” said Tony Pulis before his West Brom side were beaten 3-2 by Leicester on Saturday. “It’s very, very nice to step into a football club where everything is in place and at that club it looks like everything is in place … let’s not forget the work Nigel did, the three, four years he was at that club putting them in a position for Claudio now to push on.” It’s undoubtedly true that Ranieri did indeed benefit from a smooth handover, and that Pearson would still be in the job were it not for ‘non-football matters’, but we shouldn’t diminish the job the Italian has done, particularly when set against expectations. Remember that Ranieri’s last gig saw him help Greece to the bottom of a European Championship qualifying group that included the Faroe Islands, so there was general eye-rubbing and bewilderment after Leicester appointed him in the summer. However, since then they have lost just one game (against Arsenal), are an implausible third in the league and have developed a delightful knack of coming from behind; that’s 10 points gathered from losing positions following their comeback against the Baggies. Last season Pearson secured Leicester’s safety in May, but Ranieri has essentially managed it by November, and they are perfectly capable of even more, so the Italian deserves his share of the credit

3) Wenger’s faith in Campbell pays off

If you were looking for omens that this could be the season of Arsène Wenger’s Grand Vindication, then the things you could point to include: a) Arsenal’s defensive solidity and the emergence of Laurent Koscielny as the Premier League’s best centre-back; b) José Mourinho’s Great Unravelling at a time when the three teams at the top of the table are led by Manuel Pellegrini, Wenger and Claudio Ranieri, venerable managers ridiculed in the past by the Portuguese; and c) the fact that Wenger unleashed Joel Campbell after four years in a remote oubliette and got him to cap a man-of-the-match performance with a fine goal. “I didn’t let him go because in our job you always have to be ready. And when you get the chance, take it – that’s what he has done,” said a chuffed Wenger after the Costa Rican’s role in an important win at Swansea. 

4) Hart’s errors have become as rare as City defeats this season

Goalkeeper

Joe Hart

Appearances

10

Saves

15

Clearances

1

The Joe Hart of 2015 is a more-at-ease soul than the one of two years ago. Then, Manuel Pellegrini had to drop hisManchester City No1 for a series of costly mistakes during the autumn of the Chilean’s first season in charge. On Saturday there was another Hart howler when his dropped cross allowed Cameron Jerome to stab home a 83rd-minute equaliser for Norwich City. To Hart’s relief City scored a late penalty and took all three points. Afterwards 28-year-old displayed his new maturity. “Be nice to me lads,” he said to reporters who were hoping for a word. After the blunder Hart redeemed himself with a smart save from Martin Olsson so the hope was to discuss this with him, as well as the gaffe. But Hart said: “I can’t talk after I’ve thrown one in like that.” He said it with a smile and with the self-depreciating tone of an elite player honest enough to point publicly to a mistake. Most pleasing of all for Hart is the errors have become as rare as City defeats this season.

5) Koné triggers adulation in the stands and a clause in his contract

Roberto Martínez called for improvement from Everton while Sam Allardyce highlighted the positives of Sunderland’s attacking play, albeit with the proviso it will count for nothing unless his new team learn how to defend and quickly. As the managers’ reaction indicates, it was a strange 6-2 victory at Goodison Park on Sunday. Beyond dispute was Arouna Koné’s influence as man of the match and how deserving the Ivory Coast striker was not only of the match ball following his first hat-trick in English football, but the acclaim of the Everton crowd after enduring a nightmare start to his Goodison career. Koné was booed on to the pitch when he replaced Brendan Galloway in the opening game of the season against Watford, an unforgiving reaction to his struggle to recover from a career-threatening knee injury and one silenced by his late equaliser in that game. His name reverberated from the Gwladys Street during the Sunderland game, and long before his hat-trick as supporters recognised the tireless contribution of an honest forward. And a humble character too. That his 35th appearance for Everton triggered a one-year contract extension added to a momentous day for Koné. His ability to sustain this form and understanding with the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu could have a major bearing on Everton’s season
.