Spurs auditions and gauntlets thrown down at feet of Chelsea and Arsenal : much to ponder at the Vitality
Bournemouth 5-0 Nottm Forest : A capital-centric read between the lines
They are going to have to keep casting respectful glances over their shoulders London's prime Champions League chasers - though on today's evidence it might by the deliriously happy Cherries rather than surprise packages Forest who trouble them.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea had away games up north to negotiate today to keep their ambitions topped up - Arsenal at Wolves (which they just about won), Chelsea at Man City. Whatever the outcomes, they knew that there are two new kids on the block ready to keep chasing.
The Gunners may be setting their sights on Liverpool, but cannot yet be certain that no threat will come to them from Bournemouth or Nottingham Forest, as well as Newcastle. Chelsea, with Man City also in the equation, may feel even less secure.
And has anyone else noted that the Blues' last match of the campaign on May 25 is at the City Ground? Imagine if that turns out to be a decider in the race for the top four.
That said, they really did not look like a team in third today as Bournemouth ran them ragged.
The Cherries have, in spite of a horrendous injury list, managed to eke out an unbeaten run of 11 matches in the Premier League now to whizz up to sixth in the table. The recent 2-2 draw at Chelsea that was a minute or so away from being a win was followed up by the 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle at St James' Park.
Forest, even more improbably, have managed to ride the crest of a wave to grab third spot to separate Arsenal from Chelsea in the table. They had won seven in an unbeaten run of eight Premier League games until this crushing loss.
The success of these two clubs also invites an avoidable quizzical glance in the direction of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the poser: Was this a game between a Spurs boss of the past against a Spurs boss of the future?
It has already been speculated that Andoni Iraola will be in the frame should Spurs lose their nerve with the Ange Postecoglou project. Fans at this compact stadium were chanting his name from the rafters during the game and at the end and no wonder.
This south coast game felt far from remote when it comes to the fortunes of the capital's elite teams.
The Cherries play a thrilling high-press version of Marcelo Bielsa's Atletico Bilbao team - Iraola having come under the Argentinian's great sphere of influence.
Forest are a team who love a lightning transition and their efficiency at making the most of their pace and a no-nonsense defensive pairing of Brazilian Murillo and the giant Serb Nikola Milenkovic has taken them to previously unimagined heights.
We were deprived of the sight of an injured Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is on a mission to guide his Forest team towards Europe, and who might yet inflict pain against his former west London employers. We did get to see another former Chelsea player in Ola Aina, who is also wowing them in the Midlands.
But this was a day when the Cherries' credentials shone brightest.
They have Kepa in goal, of course. On loan he may be but he is potentially damaging the cause of his parent club. Could Antoine Semenyo end up resolving the perceived top striker shortage at the Emirates and Stamford Bridge? Then again, maybe it is Justin Kluivert who fits the bill.
The son of the famous Dutchman, who was once taken aside by Jose Mourinho - then boss of Man United - and told he could be the next kid to take the Red Devils to glory - is in a rich vein of form and followed a brilliant hat-trick at Newcastle with an early opener at the Vitality Stadium.
Kepa's fine tip-over at the start of the second half to send a Milenkovic header over the bar kept the hosts in front, then Kluivert turned provider with a chip up from near the byline that was headed in by Dango Ouatarra for 2-0.
Moments later and it was almost three, with Kluivert weaving into the box and tucking home after playing a sharp one-two with Ouattara, who was just offside. But the rampant Cherries did not need to wait too long to bag that third - Ouatarra tucking home after being played in by Tyler Adams.
All that remained to complete a perfect day for the hosts was a treble for Ouatarra and the striker pounced after Matz Sels could only parry and effort from distance by sub Marcus Tavernier and for the tireless Semenyo to fire in a fifth before close of play.
They really did get stronger and stronger as the game wore on and look in prime condition to give Liverpool a real test next weekend. They are a team full of cult heroes enjoying themselves to the max right now.
Comments