A Premier League Christmas

It's Christmas time and what better Christmas gifts than the prospect of the January transfer window, the most frustrating and overly dramatic part of the Premier League season. The rumors will be numerous, the substance will be little, and I guarantee Alan Pardew will get his feelings hurt again because a team enquired on one of his players (check the rules pal, it's legal). Anyways, Christmas time usually marks an unofficial halfway point for every team, a chance to evaluate their chances for this season. Never has the league been this wide-open. A few weeks ago, league leaders Arsenal could claim to be at least the league's most consistent team. However, a draw against Everton and a mauling at the hands of Manchester City has dampened their luster. They're still league leaders but their confidence definitely took a hit after the weekend. So now the title race is a wide open competition between Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, and Chelsea. It should be a riveting rest of the season. However, it is also Christmas time, a time to be in the spirit of giving and I'm feeling generous. Let's take a look at the Premier League's contenders and see what they want and need most this Christmas.

Arsenal
Current League Position: 1st
Gift: A new striker

After a hot start, fatigue has lead to bad form for Olivier Giroud.

Everybody knows about Arsenal's failed pursuits of Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez over the summer. However, Olivier Giroud quieted such concerns by playing out of his mind in the first few games of the season. However, he league leaders have had a massive question to answer at the same: what happens when Olivier Giroud gets hurt or suffers a run of bad form? The nightmare has finally come true for the Gunners who lack any other option better than Nicklas Bendtner off the bench. Giroud's form has tailed off, he has disappeared in big games. His last two goals were gifted to him by Southampton's defense and could hardly be considered the marks of a world class forward. Fatigue is the typical excuse used in Giroud's defense and such a thing is fair. He's played the full 90 minutes in just about every game the Gunners have played this season. This was fine when he was putting the ball in the back of the net at a healthy rate but now Giroud has become somewhat of a liability for the Gunners who can't afford such a thing in the race for the title. A new striker of quality is needed, not necessarily to replace Giroud, but someone who's presence on the field doesn't cause Arsenal fans to faceplam like they do for Bendtner. They need a player who can take some of the scoring load off Giroud's back and push him for his spot. Names like Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata and former AC Milan man Alexandre Pato have been mentioned as possibilities but nothing is ever for sure with Arsene Wenger.

Liverpool
Current League Position: 2nd
Gift: Midfield help

New deal for Suarez was an early present for Liverpool.

 Liverpool already got the number one thing on their wish list this Christmas; a new deal for Luis Suarez. I already sang Suarez's praises in an earlier article for this blog so theres not much more I can say about it other then the rest of the league better watch out. Liverpool keeping Suarez is a sign that they mean business and even more important, Suarez believes that they mean business. Suarez re-signing for Liverpool could have the same transformative effect that Arsenal signing Mesut Ozil. It's a sign that Liverpool truly want to contend, the first real sign they've sent in years (unless you count Damien Comoli's ill-fated spending spree in 2011). If Suarez is here to stay, then even bigger things could be in store for Liverpool. So that brings us to Liverpool's gift, a new midfielder, preferably one of the strong, defensive variety. The Reds have a glut of midfielders on the wings who all play very similar roles, meanwhile their midfield lacks a strong defensive presence. Lucas Leiva is more of a distributor than enforcer, same goes for Stevan Gerrard when healthy. All the other contenders have hard tackling defensive midfielders in their arsenal. Manchester City has the lethal duo of Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, Chelsea has Ramires, and Arsenal has Mathieu Flamini. Liverpool have a great deal of style and attacking flair, Suarez may be capable of dragging Liverpool to the top of the table in the same manner Robin Van Persie did for Manchester United last season, but games are won in the midfield, especially games between title contenders. Liverpool destroying Spurs was impressive but can they do the same against the other contenders? After all Arsenal bossed their midfield in early November en route to a 2-0 win that felt exactly the way the scoreline looked. A strong midfield presence could change that. Liverpool would be wise to look in such a direction.

Chelsea
Current League Position: 3rd
Gift: A hold on Roman Abromavich's transfer account

Fredy Guarin is a good player but Chelsea don't need him.

Transfer windows are always fun times for Chelsea, they're never exactly shy about making big deals in the middle of the year; Fernando Torres, for example. However, they've reached a certain point where spending more just seems even more excessive than ever. Owner Roman Abromavich has no hesitations about opening up the chequebook in order to sign big name players but for this January, he should really think about keeping it closed. Chelsea has arguably the most talented side in the league with a luxurious glut of midfielders who all seem to do pretty much the same thing. Willian was infamously bought after a medical with Spurs and has only appeared in 7 league games. The whole thing reeks of luxury signing. Now rumors are swirling that Chelsea is going to add Inter's Fredy Guarin to the fold. Oh joy, another central attacking midfielder who can also play wide! Chelsea has enough midfielders and not just midfielders, quality ones. Jose Mourinho knows what his best combination of midfielders is (some combo of Hazard, Mata, Oscar, and Schurrle...however that works). Sure, these aren't players that Mourinho hand-picked but they're more than talented enough to usher Chelsea to the title. Chelsea has all they need; if Abromavich wants to spend money maybe he should look at Chelsea's uncharacteristically leaky defense.

Manchester City
Current League Position: 4th
Gift: Better road form

Scenes like this are commonplace at the Etihad but the road is a much different story.

City can probably call themselves the favorites in the title race following their demolition of Arsenal over the weekend. However, one piece in the puzzle needs to be fixed, their road form. The Etihad has been a major fortress for the Citizens this seasons, the wins over Norwich, Spurs, Man U, and Arsenal all come to mind. However, the road tells a different story. The road tells us this team was beaten by Aston Villa, Cardiff, and Sunderland. Nobody should be so quick to anoint City as champions just yet considering the team just lost it's in-form striker, Sergio Aguero, to injuries. Man City is in good shape all things considered and sit just three points behind the leaders, whom they ran riot on last Saturday. However, looking closer at that game shows us that City's defense still let in three goals. Defense is another area that needs to improve, especially if the offense goes missing at some point. Either way you spin it, City has questions of their own as well.

Everton
Current League Position: 5th
Gift: Respect

Shrewd loan signings such as Romelu Lukaku have Everton flying high

Please allow the blue boys from Merceyside to cast their lots into the fray as well. It's Christmas time, Everton is only four points off the pace from the leaders and they're still getting doubted. They went into Old Trafford and won, an achievement even if Man U isn't what it used to be. Roberto Martinez's men are for real, that can certainly be assured, so can they finally earn some respect? Everton have the talent on paper that most years would guarantee them a spot in next year's Champions League. Romelu Lukaku is showing that the Drogba comparisons aren't for nothing, Gerard Deulofeu has bigger clubs purring, and the whole team has just come together. Roberto Martinez has really harnessed Everton's abilities. They've gotten the results before the New Year. The time has now come for them to keep on trucking. Besides, when the current top 4 are done beating each other up; Everton could be lying in wait to snag a spot in Europe.

Tottenham
Current League Position: 7th
Gift: Offensive competence

Erik Lamela is the poster child of a failed summer spending spree

Tottenham really thought that they were so smart. They believed that they could overcome the loss of Gareth Bale by spending his transfer fee money to make the entire team better. In theory, such thoughts aren't stupid by any means. However, this is Spurs and fate seems to have a thing for mucking up everything for Spurs whenever they feel they've started to make forward progress. What's wrong? Everything is wrong! The manager has just been sacked, the team struggles to score, and the summer signings have just not panned out. Look at Erik Lamela, the 30 million man. He's been nigh incompetent for Spurs since joining. The biggest gem the team received over the summer was Christian Eriksen who seems to be the only one who understands the basic nuances of creative midfield. Meanwhile, another big summer signing, striker Roberto Soldado, grows lonely from lack of service up at the top. The team's form in the Europa League has been much better but of course, this team wasn't brought together to win the Europa League. These players were bought to get to Champions League and make noise in Europe. Instead, all Spurs got was several square pegs to fill the giant round hole that was Gareth Bale.

Manchester United
Current League Position: 8th
Gift: A fresh start

David Moyes, ruiner of worlds

I couldn't not include Man U in the holiday cheer, after all it is great time to laugh at their continued anguish. However, it's time that Man U really got to hear the words that everybody should be telling them right now: it's alright. The later half of 2013 since Fergie's retirement has been rough but help is on the way! It's a new year, a new start, a chance for David Moyes to make something good out of what is, at this point, a lost season. A hot finish to the season after the new year and suddenly, Man U doesn't look so bad anymore. A signing in January, a return to form for some players, more time for David Moyes to find his sea legs, and all of a sudden Man U will look more like themselves. Believe me, I was ready to give them nothing but coal. However, it's the holiday season, might as well give the Man U fans something to look forward to. After all, that's what they told us Arsenal fans for years.