Soccer-Premier League talking points

Talking points from the 24th round of the Premier League season: SAKA'S RETURN TO FORM TIMELY FOR ARSENAL

It is no coincidence that Arsenal's dip in form in December and early January was a period in which forward Bukayo Saka also seemed to have lost sharpness and confidence. But the 22-year-old's double in the 6-0 thrashing of West Ham United on Sunday proved that he is back to his best and ready to fuel Arsenal's title charge.

His first goal, from the penalty spot after he was fouled by West Ham's keeper, meant he is the youngest Arsenal player since 1978 to register 50 goals in all competitions for the club. With four goals in his last three games, keeping Saka in the zone will be one of Mikel Arteta's priorities over the coming months as his side battle with Liverpool and Manchester City.

TOTTENHAM PRIMED FOR STRONG FINISH? Tottenham took 26 points from a possible 30 in their best-ever start to a Premier League season before a calamitous defeat by Chelsea put a spoke in their wheels with injuries, suspensions and misfortune piling up for manager Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian has had to stitch together his squad since that November night, yet Tottenham enter the business end of the season sitting fourth and not a million miles away from the title race, seven points behind leaders Liverpool. With a run of winnable-looking fixtures coming up and a virtually full-strength squad again for the first time since the early months of the campaign, Tottenham look in a strong position to qualify for next season's Champions League.

And if they can rediscover the early-season consistency perhaps they could aim even higher. HANDBALL RULE LEAVING MANAGERS MYSTIFIED

When two Premier League managers - Sheffield United's Chris Wilder and Luton Town's Rob Edwards - say after their game that they no longer know what handball is, the game has a problem. One of the biggest talking points of United's 3-1 victory was the two contentious handball decisions that led to converted penalties.

Luton's Reece Burke was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball despite not a single United player appealing. Later United's Vini Souza was equally hard done by as he was penalised for an innocuous touch of the ball against his arm. Both decisions were checked by VAR and referee Chris Kavanagh was given the chance to view a screen and yet still deemed them to be worthy of penalties.

"Neither were penalties in my opinion," Edwards said. "I don't know what a penalty is with handball anymore." IS DAN STILL THE MAN FOR NEWCASTLE DEFENCE?

Defender Dan Burn has been a key man for Eddie Howe's Newcastle United since joining the club he supported as a boy in January 2022, but his recent performances at left back are posing some problems for his coach. The tall defender has recently been targeted by speedy wingers, enduring a torrid time in the Magpies' 4-4 draw with Luton, and on Saturday Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga roasted him repeatedly.

Burn was twice outrun by the Swedish winger in the first half, with the second occasion resulting in a goal for Elanga, and though he recovered and played well for the rest of the game, the damage was already done. The no-nonsense style of Burn is an enormous asset to a Newcastle team that is nowhere near as effective in defence as they were last season, but leaving him exposed in the full back position is not going to benefit the player or the club.

HAALAND REDISCOVERS HIS SCORING TOUCH Manchester City's battering ram of a forward Erling Haaland ended his scoring drought in emphatic fashion with both goals in a 2-0 victory over Everton on Saturday -- and that is bad news for other teams involved in the title race.

City had stayed within striking distance of the top even while the league's leading scorer was sidelined for nearly two months with a broken foot. The big Norwegian scored with City's first shot on target on Saturday, volleying in a rocket from close range.

"He is in his absolute prime in terms of physical capabilities," TV pundit and former defender Rio Ferdinand said. "He looked way off the pace, but he doesn't care. 'Let the ball bounce anywhere near me, and I'll bag it.'" Haaland reclaimed sole possession of the league scoring lead with his 15th and 16th goals of the season.