Do you really need a number nine to win the Premier League?

IS the traditional number nine making a comeback in the Premier League?

For far too long, inverted wingers and false nines have dominated the league. As players’ skills and fitness levels continue to evolve with each generation, a proper striker’s presence has declined.

It was no surprise when Manchester City splashed the cash on Erling Haaland a couple of years ago – Pep Guardiola knew Haaland was the missing piece.

True enough, the Norwegian delivered, guiding City to a historic treble in his first season.

For Arsenal, a club that once had the privilege of Ian Wright and Thierry Henry leading the line, finding a genuine number nine has been a struggle.

Desperate for a striker, the Gunners even made a late bid for Ollie Watkins before the transfer window closed. Naturally, Aston Villa rejected the offer, especially after offloading Jhon Duran to the Saudi Pro League, leaving them short of options up front.

But Arsenal didn’t need a number nine to dismantle City on Sunday, as Mikel Arteta’s men recorded a statement 5-1 victory.

Could this be the turning point of the season?

Arteta might have regretted not having a clinical striker early in the game when Kai Havertz missed a sitter to make it 2-0. That miss stung even more when Haaland equalised, but in the end, it didn’t matter – the Gunners woke up from their slumber and dominated.

The best goal of the night came courtesy of Arsenal’s young stars, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri. Lewis-Skelly even added some spice to the occasion with an epic troll of Haaland’s celebration.

The Emirates crowd joined in on the fun, blasting Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Humble’ at the final whistle. The question now is: will this win ignite belief that Arsenal can catch Liverpool?

As for City, Guardiola’s midfield is showing signs of aging and needs reinforcements. Watching them play, it’s evident that teams can glide past their midfield too easily.

In a league defined by relentless running, City’s players simply don’t have the legs to keep up. While they boast a world-class number nine in Haaland, the real issue lies in the middle of the park.

Another striker making waves is Chris Wood. The Nottingham Forest forward fired himself into the Golden Boot race with a hattrick in a stunning 7-0 demolition of Brighton. That takes his tally to 17 goals this season.

It was the perfect bounce-back performance after Forest’s heavy defeat to Bournemouth the previous week.

Everything they touched turned to gold, securing their biggest league win in over three decades – since thrashing Chelsea 7-0 in 1991. What an achievement for a team now vying for a European spot!

The Bournemouth train, however, finally came to a halt. Liverpool arrived at the Vitality Stadium and showed why they’re top of the league, delivering a disciplined performance in a 2-0 victory.

Mohamed Salah scored both goals, embracing the chaos and pressure that Bournemouth tried to apply.

The Egyptian King is now the sixth all-time leading goalscorer in Premier League history. With Sergio Aguero’s 184 goals in sight, could Salah surpass him before the season ends?

It would be a fitting swansong if this is indeed his last season in England, as contract talks remain unresolved.

Aston Villa’s inconsistency continued with a 2-0 defeat in the West Midlands derby against Wolves. Unai Emery must find a way to balance between domestic and European commitments because his current approach isn’t working.

Perhaps the loan signing of Marcus Rashford will provide the consistency Villa desperately needs.

Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim made the puzzling decision to start Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine against Crystal Palace – despite having two expensive strikers, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, sitting on the bench.

The move backfired, as Palace put on a clinical in finishing, with Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring two classic number nine goals.

Another loss for Amorim, and things are looking bleak. Reinforcements are on the way, but will they be enough to salvage United’s season?

Winning the Europa League might be their only route back to European football.

The Premier League title race is heating up, with the top two contenders doing it without a proper number nine. Liverpool have Salah as an inverted winger, while Arsenal rely on the collective strength of their front line.

In the end, which approach will prevail? This season just keeps getting better!