Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Xabi Alonso (Chelsea), Sergej Jakirovic (Hull City) and Enzo Maresca (Manchester City) have been nominated for the Premier League August Manager of the Month award. The four nominees were unveiled by organisers of the English topflight, the Premier League, today (Thursday. Chelsea’s new manager, Alonso, opened his tenure with a 100 per cent record in August, winning his first two league matches in emphatic fashion.
Alonso’s new front three – Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers – have been unstoppable, scoring a combined five goals and providing four assists. The Blues powered past Fulham, scoring three times before hitting another four past Brighton & Hove Albion. It is early days, but Alonso’s side already look hard to beat. Under Arteta, the reigning champions won both their opening matches with the sort of control that defined last year’s title win.
Arsenal beat Coventry City by three goals and came through a tight game against last season’s fourth-placed side Aston Villa with a single goal. Even more impressive than their attacking play has been the defence. The Gunners are yet to concede a goal and have restricted their Premier League opponents to just one shot on target, against Coventry in their opening fixture.
Pep Guardiola is the hardest of acts to follow, but Maresca has started with two wins in Manchester City’s first two matches. With their opening game against AFC Bournemouth heading towards defeat, Maresca displayed his tactical acumen by making substitutes that changed the game. Rayan Cherki was sent on and set up both goals, scored in the 84th minute and first minute of stoppage time, to win it.
A comprehensive 4-1 win over Crystal Palace was an impressively dominant performance, with Cherki and Erling Haaland scoring twice each as they swept aside their opponents.