All 20 Premier League clubs were in action as the FA Cup third round kicked off over the weekend. Here is what we learned.
Nketiah burnishes credentials
It took a while for Arsenal to get going, but they finally found their rhythm at Oxford United, winning 3-0 thanks in part to Eddie Nketiah.
With the long-term injury to Gabriel Jesus, Nketiah has stepped in successfully, adding a brace last night to his two league goals in three appearances.
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"The decision-making to wait to the last moment shows his quality," Mikel Arteta told the club's official website. "It's not only that - his understanding, his work-rate I think is getting better and better. And I'm really happy with him."
With a north London derby on the horizon, Nketiah is proving a valuable asset.
Record exit
Eight Premier League clubs exited at the first opportunity and at least a ninth is guaranteed from Liverpool or Wolverhampton Wanderers, who play a replay next week.
That will equal the highest such number, back in 2007/08, and it could even be 10 if Leeds United lose their replay with Cardiff City.
Five exits were inevitable, being all-Premier League ties. But for AFC Bournemouth and Everton, the FA Cup defeats mirrored their struggling form in the Premier League, which is the only remaining competition left to them and something upon which to train their full attention given their lowly positions in the table.
Of the others who went out, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest still have other interests, in the EFL Cup this week, while for Chelsea winning the UEFA Champions League might become their best means of qualifying for the competition next season.
No Haaland, no problem
If Premier League rivals thought a Manchester City team without Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne would struggle for goals, they will have to think again as Pep Guardiola's men hit four past Chelsea.
Julian Alvarez offers a different option to Haaland but looks no less effective without it, scoring on his return from the FIFA World Cup 2022.
The displays of the City Academy prospects such as Cole Palmer and Rico Lewis alongside more established talent such as Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker makes it even more difficult to establish what is Guardiola’s first XI and makes the fixture pile-up that City face less daunting.
City fixture pile-up
Fresh from the FA Cup, the Premier League champions are next involved in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup this Wednesday and their forthcoming fixtures make for an unflinching glance into what competing on four fronts looks like.
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City are set to play 11 matches in 45 days.
Those matches include the Manchester derby this Saturday and two fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur in the space of 17 days.
Even a squad as deep as Man City’s looks set to be tested.
Chelsea struggling
It is no disgrace to lose to City – most teams do – but the nature of the defeat at the Etihad Stadium will be a concern to Chelsea supporters .
As well as conceding four times, the Blues' struggles to create chances continued as head coach Graham Potter identified: "We're not in a great moment ourselves and even though it was a cagey first 20 minutes, we couldn't attack the back line well enough."
Chelsea are a side in transition and have not been helped by injuries to key players such as Raheem Sterling, Reece James, Ben Chilwell and N’Golo Kante.
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Their fans will hope the signing of David Datro Fofana from Molde can inject life into their attack, although press reports suggest further attacking reinforcements might be on the way, with Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix linked with a loan move.
Chelsea are closer to the bottom of the table (13 points) than to the top (19 points), so Potter will be keen to rediscover their scoring touch, starting with a tricky looking encounter this Thursday against Fulham.
Brighton rock
Apart from a poor start at home to Arsenal, Roberto De Zerbi has got Brighton & Hove Albion playing a brand of football Potter can only dream of.
Brighton routed in-form Middlesbrough 5-1 on Saturday, including a brace from the returning Alexis Mac Allister. The World Cup-winning midfielder benefited from a more advanced role similar to where he played for Argentina.
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"He played higher today, and he can help us find the last pass and the goal," De Zerbi told the club’s official website. "He has the quality to score many goals."
It could presage a new set-up for the Seagulls that may give Liverpool something extra to think about when they visit the Amex Stadium on Saturday.
New Year, new signing, new hope
The FA Cup offered some solace for two teams struggling in the league. Southampton claimed a much-needed win for manager Nathan Jones in beating Crystal Palace ahead of their trip to relegation rivals Everton on Saturday.
Saints face Man City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday first, but will then hope the away victory at Selhurst Park can encourage an improvement in their league form, which reads: played six, lost six. New signing Mislav Orsic could help on that front too.
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Wolves' uplift under Julen Lopetegui continued as they impressed in the 2-2 draw at Liverpool in the FA Cup. With new arrival Matheus Cunha now showing flashes of promise, the visit on Saturday of fellow strugglers West Ham United, who have mustered a singular point in six matches, looks a much more enticing prospect.
