Should Chelsea sack Pochettino? EPL Matchweek 23 wrap

After a disastrous 4-2 loss to Wolves over the weekend, pressure is on Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino to keep his job and which manager is being criticized for celebrating too much?

Matchweek 23 in the EPL has come and gone, with 45 goals scored across the 10 games played in a league record. Arsenal got a huge win over Liverpool, did Mikel Arteta celebrate too much? Chelsea were hammered 4-2 by Wolves at home which only adds to the pressure that Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is under. Plus can Luton Town avoid relegation? Read on and listen to the Football Today Podcast for your EPL matchweek 23 wrap.

WILL MAURICIO POCHETTINO BE AT CHELSEA AT THE END OF THE 2023/24 SEASON?

The Football Today Podcast always starts with a signature Yeah/Nah debate for the panel, with Liam ‘Stats Guy’ McAllion posing one this week, “Pochettino should be sacked by Chelsea, Yeah/Nah?”

Football Today expert Marcus Bazzano and host Alex Donnelly are both leaning towards the nah side of the argument but for different reasons.

“As a Chelsea fan I am angry and embarrassed, now being below Wolves, but this is his squad that he has taken to the EFL Cup Final, he at least deserves to see that out,” says Bazzano.

Donnelly is worried Chelsea are stuck in a bad cycle, “Sacking a manager is going to cost them a lot of money that they don’t have… it will also get them back into the same position when they sacked Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter not that long ago.”

The Blues are back in the bottom half, after spending over one billion pounds across the past few years and are on track for their worst two year period in the league since 1996.

Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, celebrates after the team's victory. Picture: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

WAS MIKEL ARTETA’S CELEBRATION TOO MUCH?

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and his players have come under fire for their celebrations following Sunday’s 3-1 win over Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. The win kept Arsenal within touching distance of Liverpool who are currently the league leaders, yet pundits seemingly thought it was too much for a team that has won nothing so far this season.

Football Today Host Alex Donnelly vehemently disagreed with the popular opinion and pointed out instances where other managers have done the same.

“We have seen Jose Mourinho cut a lap after a win, Jurgen Klopp has run onto the field and hugged Allison in the middle of the game as well as his over the top celebrations for normal wins during the year and (Roberto) De Zerbi did a full on knee slide after a Brighton win.”

Donnelly also pointed out that passion and emotion is what sport is all about.

“How boring would sport be without emotion and passion?” Donnelly asked before adding, “It’s a release for Arteta who is in a high stress job and forgive him for showing that he cares about his team winning it’s biggest game of the season so far which keeps them in the EPL title race.”

This also comes after the official EPL Twitter account had released a video of Jurgen Klopp’s best goal celebrations within the last week.

Here are some of the best celebrations we've seen from Jurgen Klopp at @LFC 🤩 pic.twitter.com/2iejpWAqik

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 27, 2024

HARD TO STOP HATTERS IN ATTACK

Elsewhere Luton Town picked up Football Today’s Liam ‘Stats Guy’ McAllion’s performance of the week, with a win and a draw against Brighton and Newcastle.

“For Luton to score eight goals in two games has to be the performance of the week... beating Brighton as easily as they did and then scoring four goals at St James’ Park against Newcastle is nothing short of phenomenal.”

—— In a sport where emotions run high and narratives shift swiftly, the Football Today Podcast looks at the footballing landscape and delivers engaging discussions and expert insights, making it a must-listen for football fans. ––

Originally published as Should Chelsea sack Pochettino? EPL Matchweek 23 wrap