What a weekend in the English top flight. Plenty of goals with some shocking finishes. Manchurians are bursting with excitement after Sunday's results. Londoners must be nursing hangovers after two humiliating defeats. Saturday's action was quite tame considering what took place a day later. Some clubs will be relishing the international break next weekend as the league goes dark.
One of those clubs is Arsenal. It was simply men against boys at Old Trafford versus Manchester United. I expected a lopsided score line knowing how many players were out for the Gunners. Wenger basically had a reserve squad going up against United. The absence of Thomas Vermaelen turned out to be a critical blow; the middle of the field was virtually wide open all game and for United to exploit.
Danny Welbeck started the route with a great goal but sadly limped off with a hamstring injury. He looked devastated coming off the pitch after having such a great start to the season. Wayne Rooney scored his 150th career goal and got a hat trick. Two were off free kicks that showed his class and the last was from the spot. Ashley Young added a brace, one being a stunning curl into the top right corner past the outstretched arms of Wojciech Szczesny. The Polish keeper was hung out to dry by his teammates throughout the match. The highlights seemed endless as did the poor display by Arsenal's inexperienced back line. Wenger was visibly shaken and I would think a tad embarrassed by the end result.
The match could have ended up differently if Robin Van Persie converted from the spot just before the half hour mark but David De Gea gained some much needed confidence with a nice save. He then made two in quick succession to keep United ahead by two. But before the break Theo Walcott pulled one back with a weak shot that went through the legs of De Gea. It was another weak goal to add to the growing list of blunders for the Spaniard.
Adding to the misery was the sending off of Carl Jenkinson. The fourth player in three games to be given their marching orders and another suspension Wenger will have to manage. It was a night to forget night for Arsenal and their supporters who to my surprise could be heard in the stands chanting and cheering their club throughout the match. Szczesny watched eight go past him in total and endured the wrath of United’s offensive prowess, although none were his fault. Surprisingly United surrendered two despite controlling the entire match and the weakened state of their opponents. Sir Alex Ferguson will address this to his players as unacceptable despite the flattering score line. Wenger has three days to address the issues within the squad as Arsenal look to be on life support at the moment.
Manchester City started off the day smashing Tottenham for five goals at White Hart Lane. Samir Nasri made his first appearance for the club, receiving the start by Roberto Mancini. He made an immediate impact assisting on two of Edin Dzeko's four goals on the night. The Bosnian had the natural hat trick in his man of the match performance. A stunning header was capped off by an unbelievable long distance strike that curled into the top left corner that ended the match.
Tottenham started off strong and could have had the lead if not for Gareth Bale squandering a glorious chance by sending his shot wide from a short distance. After being one down, Peter Crouch could have tied it up for Spurs but sent his header wide right despite a perfect look on goal. Luka Modric was in the starting lineup but was a non factor and was subbed off just past the hour mark. All the offence Spurs could muster came from Rafael van der Vaart, the Dutchman was denied on multiple occasions by Joe Hart. Unfortunately he limped off with under twenty minutes to go with a hamstring injury and forced his side to play a man down for the rest of the match.
Sergio Aguero was the other goal scorer giving him three on the season as City steamrolled right through Tottenham in convincing fashion. Mancini has his group playing a very entertaining brand of football that is proving to be extremely dangerous and hard to stop.
Newcastle United recorded back to back wins with Leon Best scoring the brace for the Geordies at St. James Park. Both came in the second half as the match took a while to get going. Man of the match goes to Tim Krul for a handful of fine saves to preserve the lead that kept Alan Pardew's side unbeaten to start the year. Clint Dempsey scored the consolation goal for Fulham late in the match which was the first surrendered by Krul this season. The mood on Tyneside might be sour at the moment with ownership but the players are showing a tremendous amount of heart on the pitch and deserve the good run of form early on.
At the Hawthorns things looked like they would end at a stalemate but a mix up at the back cost the home side the match. West Bromwich was in control for most of the first half and should have taken the lead on numerous occasions. Asmir Begovic was able to keep Stoke City on level terms with saves on Simon Tchoyi and Shane Long from great crosses by Chris Brunt. With one minute of injury time remaining Ryan Shotten got the winner after a blunder by Ben Foster. You could argue Shotton was high with his challenge that poked the ball past the keeper but Foster came out softly to collect the ball with Gabriel Tamas shielding the oncoming attacker.
On Saturday, Norwich City traveled to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea with Didier Drogba getting his first start of the season under new manager Andre Villas-Boas. The Ivorian however will be remembered on this night not for goals but the sickening collision with John Ruddy that left him unconscious on the pitch. Drogba was punched directly in the head by Ruddy as the keeper attempted to clear a cross. The impact was vicious and Drogba was out cold in mid air crashing down face first into the ground. He was taken off on a stretcher after being attended to for several minutes by the medics.
The match started off positive for Chelsea with Jose Bosingwa opening the scoring with a powerful long distance strike. The lead lasted into the second half until Hilario and Branislav Ivanovic had a mix up in communication colliding at the edge of the box which allowed Grant Holt to score into the open net. At first glance you would blame the keeper but Ivanovic has collided with Petr Cech in similar situations in the past.
Frank Lampard restored the lead from the penalty spot after Ruddy was sent off for tripping Ramires on the breakaway. Debut's were handed to Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata with the latter scoring his first for the Blues deep into injury time to seal the victory.
The atmosphere was electric at Anfield as Liverpool thrashed Bolton in front of a sold out crowd. Luis Suarez was brilliant throughout the match; he is definitely the spark in attack creating great chances with his timely runs into space. The clubs new signings deserve much of the credit with Jeremy Henderson scoring his first for the club after a stunning point blank save by Jussi Jaaskelainen on Stuart Downing initially. Suarez showed remarkable skill on the cross bending it with the outside of his right foot right to Downing. Henderson's finish was just as good.
The only chance for Bolton came from Martin Petrov on a thunderous volley that Pepe Reina punched wide at his near post. Liverpool had all the chances early on but failed to extend the lead. Suarez was the closest on the breakaway, going for the cheeky chip over Jaaskelainen that went over the bar. Bad news for Dalglish came in the form of Martin Kelly needing to be subbed off after picking up a hamstring injury towards the end of the first half, derailing the good form he has been showing for Liverpool.
Charlie Adam has proved a fantastic acquisition by Dalglish, providing the Reds with great service from all over the pitch. His precision passing doubled the lead off a corner that found Martin Skrtel's head and then the back of the net. The Scotsman then opened up his scoring account with a low right footed shot into the left corner to make it three for Liverpool. Jose Enrique deserves honorable mention for his work down the left side, his runs and crosses stretched Bolton wide open. The clean sheet was ruined in injury time after a mistake by Jamie Carragher allowed Ivan Klasnic to score, but nothing could destroy the mood around Anfield after the convincing home victory.
The woes continued for Steve Kean and Blackburn after another home loss, this time to Everton in injury time. Mikel Arteta scored from the spot after a controversial penalty decision was given by referee Lee Mason. Despite the call Rovers have no one to blame but themselves after missing two from the spot beforehand. David Hoilett was denied on the first after a great save by Tim Howard and Mauro Formica hit the post on the final attempt. Worse for Kean was the double injury blow suffered by Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Dunn. Three losses to start the season will have Kean the odds on favorite to get the sack.
Wolverhampton stayed undefeated with a scoreless draw away at Villa Park. Roger Johnson was the real standout in the heart of Mick McCarthy's back line. The Wolves captain and keeper Wayne Hennessey were the main reason for the well earned point by the away side. Aston Villa continued to attack Wolves but could not break through the defensive line with both Gabriel Agbonlahor and Darren Bent missing great chances.
The other scoreless match came from Liberty Stadium. John O'Shea struck the bar early on for Sunderland as Michel Vorm produced another fine performance to earn the shutout for Swansea City. The Dutchman has proven to be the clubs savior so far this season. Scott Sinclair was unlucky to hit the bar in the first half and Danny Graham squandered three chances to score. The Welsh side continues to search for their first goal and win of the season.
Queens Park Rangers newest signing Joey Barton was in attendance at the DW Stadium and judging by the result he might be questioning his decision to join the club. Frank Di Santo scored a brace that gave Wigan Athletic the two goal victory. His first was a solid strike and second looped in off a deflection over Paddy Kenny. QPR were a bit unlucky hitting the woodwork twice in the first half but Ali Al-Habsi also deserves credit for a couple great saves at key moments to preserve the lead for the Latics. A great result for Roberto Martinez and plenty of positives to build on.
Game of the Week: Manchester United vs. Arsenal
Goal of the Week: Edin Dzeko vs. Tottenham
Goalkeeper of the Week: Tim Howard vs. Blackburn
Lowlight of the Week: David De Gea blunder vs. Arsenal
Please share your thoughts and opinions on the best of the week.
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