Max Dowman may have delivered Arsenal's season-defining moment but where's Chelsea's Plan B? Premier League hits and misses

Has Dowman delivered season-defining moment?

It was amazing to witness the scenes of celebration for Max Dowman’s historic goal against Everton. The 16-year-old was mobbed by delirious team-mates who went streaming down the touchline as disbelieving fans piled into each other in the stands.

The goal was an exhibition of a sensational young player’s talent. Jordan Pickford was caught upfield but Dowman still had work to do, two Everton defenders to beat, the length of the pitch to run. He made it all look effortlessly easy, gliding all the way.

His exhilarating cameo, after appearing in the 74th minute, had changed the game, turning a potentially damaging draw into a euphoric victory, shifting the pressure off Arsenal and onto Manchester City, and pushing the Gunners closer to the title.

The goal immediately puts him in the company of previous prodigies such as Wayne Rooney. His future glimmers with extraordinary possibility. And it may also prove a season-defining moment for Arsenal as they chase down a trophy they haven’t won in 22 years.

For weeks now, as Arsenal have laboured through games and ground out results, it has felt like many of their fans do not truly believe they will do it. But Dowman’s youthful brilliance, and the incredible moment he rolled the ball into an empty net, after gliding from one end of the pitch to the other, may just have changed that.
Nick Wright

Where was the Plan B for Chelsea?

Chelsea have been dangerous and creative in Liam Rosenior’s reign so far, but this felt like the first signs where the project ran into a stubborn Newcastle wall.

It was a reminder that slick attacking patterns and fluid football can only take you so far in the Premier League when space disappears and the opposition refuse to play along.

Chelsea had not failed to score in the league under Rosenior before this. Until now, there had always been a breakthrough. Always a moment of incision. Always a solution.

Against Newcastle, there wasn’t one.

When Chelsea can play through teams, they look electric. When the pitch stretches and transitions open up, their attacking players thrive. But when the game becomes condensed, the system can start to look a little one-paced.

Newcastle asked a simple question of Rosenior: what happens when Plan A isn’t enough? Chelsea didn’t have an answer.
Lewis Jones

Newcastle have the template to trouble Barca

That was like watching the Newcastle of old under Eddie Howe.

It was a performance full of energy and organisation – characteristics that are the hallmarks of Howe’s success at Newcastle – and it was typified by the industrious Anthony Gordon, who came up with the match-winning moment.

It’s a huge result for Eddie Howe’s side and can be a springboard for their season in terms of rising up the Premier League table.

In a season that was threatening to fizzle out a bit, they are now well back in the mix for European qualification, six points behind fifth-placed Chelsea.

They also have a template for success when they travel to Barcelona for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

If they can replicate what they produced at Stamford Bridge, they have more than enough tools and pace to trouble Barca on the break.
Oliver Yew

Is Sunderland’s season fizzling?

Sunderland fans had to wait until their 13th league trip to the Stadium of Light this season to see their team lose at home. This was a fortress for Regis Le Bris’ side that propelled them into the unlikely position of outsiders in the race for Europe. That feels distant now.

The season’s first loss at home has quickly become three in a row. Brighton got a huge slice of luck with Yankuba Minteh’s strange, sliced second-half goal. Sunderland were hardly outplayed up to that point. In fact, they were on top after a positive start to the half.

However, the response felt limp. Don’t forget the Sunderland fans were already due a response from the embarrassment of the FA Cup defeat to League One stragglers Port Vale. All their team could muster was a single shot on target. There were some grumblings at full-time.

Sunderland allowed the game to fizzle out. Fans will hope the same is not true for their season. It is natural that hitting the 40-point mark, essentially securing survival, might bring about a dip. Regis Le Bris just cannot afford to let this fester.

Learning bad habits in the Premier League can quickly come back to bite you. Sunderland will have to do this all over again next season. The preparation begins now.
Zinny Boswell

Scott’s late bid for England selection should be taken seriously

In a game badly lacking even any illusion of Premier League quality – Bournemouth’s fifth goalless draw of the season – Alex Scott stood out as the one player capable of making something happen. He made his mark all over the pitch, his 90 touches of the ball second only to Marcos Senesi. No player on either side could boast a passing accuracy as precise as his (90 per cent).

As well as his class in possession, the midfielder won more duels than any other (14) and drew the most fouls (4) – the only player to consistently confront Burnley’s steely defence. In pockets of space and in tight areas, Scott can create. Late in the game he jinxed into the Burnley box and presented Adrien Truffert with the ball to tee up Enes Unal for a likely winner.

Unal ended up missing the target but the sense of adventure in the approach play was nonetheless impressive. The 22-year-old remains fearless in that regard.

Thomas Tuchel is spoilt for central midfield options to represent England at this summer’s World Cup but there is surely an argument for the Bournemouth man to be one of them.
Laura Hunter

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