Essential Football

Where Arsenal must strengthen in January | Newcastle to finish above Chelsea? | Dilemmas for Ten Hag at Man Utd

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Episode notes

Essential Football is back ahead of the final weekend of Premier League football before the World Cup break!

We hear from Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Wolves – can the Gunners grab the Christmas No1 spot? And what do they need to do on the pitch and in the transfer window to maintain their title challenge in the New Year?

Peter Smith is then joined by Sky Sports journalists Nick Wright and Joe Shread to discuss what’s going right for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle – and what’s going wrong for Graham Potter’s Chelsea, ahead of their clash at St James’ Park.

The panel also reflect on Man Utd’s chaotic Carabao Cup win over Aston Villa, the problems Erik ten Hag has at both ends of the pitch and in midfield at United and the impact Unai Emery is having at Villa.