Oliver Holt

OLIVER HOLT: The title? Chelsea's defence will have to improve but anything is possible if Palmer can stay fit and play like this.

The River Thames was at low tide on Monday evening. Gulls and a lone heron stood stoically on banks of exposed grey shingle, scrutinising the pebbles for signs of sustenance.

OLIVER HOLT: There were still dark, angry clouds over Lord's when Joe Root walked out to bat just before 1pm.

There is a portrait in the Lord's Long Room, a water colour of Imran Khan, his head bowed, his face stern and set in concentration, a pen in his hand. It is a beautiful, poignant painting.

The most unsettling thing about all the worst decisions of the summer transfer window that is about to come to a close is that Chelsea have not made any of them. In fact, the opposite is true.

OLIVER HOLT AT THE EMIRATES: On Witton Lane, just beyond where The Holte pub stands proudly at the junction with Trinity Road, Aston Villa supporters slowed and stopped to gaze at a wall.

On Witton Lane, just beyond where The Holte pub stands proudly at the junction with Trinity Road, Aston Villa supporters slowed and stopped to gaze at a wall.

If their backgrounds unite them, the different paths Arteta and Alonso's careers have taken exposed them to contrasting influences that have shaped the football their teams play.

Chelsea had come here as pretenders to Arsenal's throne after a swashbuckling start to their campaign but could not quite keep pace with the champions.

They are childhood friends from San Sebastian, who played football on Playa de la Concha, and received eclectic football educations that were influenced by the minds of men like Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola and Rafa Benitez.