Given that Mario Balotelli struggles to nip out for some milk at the moment without the media going utterly insane, it’s hardly surprising that after the weekend’s Super Sunday action, most column inches should be dedicated to him.

This time, however, rather than buying dogs for everyone in Cheshire or walking around in trousers made entirely from marshmallow, Mario has split the country right down the middle with rather more serious actions.

 

Midway through the second half of Manchester City’s match against Spurs, the Italian appeared to stamp on Scott Parker after a challenge. Watch it in slow motion, it looks like a certain stamp. Watch it in real time, there’s no way he could have done it. It’s impossible to be certain. Not that it’s stopped people speculating.

Whether he meant to hurt Parker or not is immaterial now, as referee Howard Webb didn’t send him off, and the history books will show that City went on to beat Spurs 3-2. With Balotelli scoring the winner. In the 94th minute. From the penalty spot.

After an uncharacteristically poor challenge from Ledley King on Balotelli, there was no uncertainty about whether or not to award a penalty. Nor was there any doubt about who was going to take the spot kick. And so, while Harry Redknapp was left to complain about the referee, City were sitting on an eight point lead over Spurs, all but ending their title ambitions.

 

It was rough justice on Spurs, whose resilience saw them claw back a two-goal deficit created by a beautiful Samir Nasri shot, and a less than beautiful Joleon Lescott forward roll.

Goals from Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale saw the visitors back on level terms, and had Defoe been blessed with longer legs, it could easily have been Spurs who won it at the death. Bale’s deft square ball to Defoe at the back post just needed the slightest touch to find Joe Hart’s empty net. The England striker could only nudge it past the post, and the rest is history.

The result left City six points clear of United, who prepared for the game against Arsenal less than hour later knowing that anything short of win would leave them with a considerable mountain to climb to beat City to the title.

 

But it was hardly a game that was worthy of the occasion. Arsenal vs United has, in the past, treated us to such battles as Vieira vs Keane, such memorable moments as Martin Keown screaming in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s face after a penalty miss, such one-sided goalfests as this season’s 8-2 United win. Not this time. It was, therefore, some relief that, at the end of an uneventful first half, Ryan Giggs’s cross found the head of Antonio Valencia, who, in turn, found the back of the Arsenal net.

In the second half, Robin van Persie proved he was human by prodding an unmissable opportunity wide from eight yards. On 71 minutes, however, he proved that he wasn’t human at all, by placing a shot between the legs of Jonny Evans, past Anders Lindegaard, and into the very furthest reaches of the United net.

It was exactly what Arsenal needed. Having asked some serious questions of the United defence for much of the second half, it looked as though the Gunners might get some vengeance for the 8-2 drubbing earlier in the season.

Or, rather, it looked that way for about another three minutes. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was without question, Arsenal’s best player all afternoon was inexplicably substituted for Andrey Arshavin, who hasn’t done a decent thing in an Arsenal shirt since he started appearing in those insurance commercials with the other meerkats. The substitution was announced, and roundly booed by Arsenal fans. Even van Persie could be seen shouting at Arsene Wenger not to make the change.

After the game, Wenger said that he didn’t have to defend his decision making to anybody. In private, he must be kicking himself, for it was none other than Arshavin, whose lack of strength and inability to tackle allowed Valencia to dance into the Arsenal box and lay the ball on a plate for Danny Welbeck to lash home the winner.

Whether that decision will cost Arsenal a Champions League place is still unclear, but it’s undeniable that Wenger’s obstinacy this season has cost them dear.

 

Another manager who seems to be losing the plot one day at a time is Kenny Dalglish. Following an insipid performance that saw them lose 3-1 to Bolton, he warned his Liverpool players that if they continued to underperform, they “wouldn’t be here [at Liverpool] very long.”

They may be underperforming but if he decides to sell a number of his big signings he’ll be making massive losses on the £35million paid for Andy Carroll, or the £20million shelled out for Jordan Henderson.

Bolton, meanwhile, are out of the relegation zone, after goals from Mark Davies, Nigel Reo Coker and Gretar Steinsson cancelled out Craig Bellamy’s consolation goal, and gave Owen Coyle’s side a vital three points.

 

Another amazing result came at Craven Cottage, where Fulham managed to win a game. Against all odds, Martin Jol’s side overcame Newcastle 5-2 in an astonishing game. Danny Guthrie had given Newcastle the lead, but some woeful defending led to a Danny Murphy penalty, before Clint Dempsey netted twice in five minutes and another penalty – this time from Bobby Zamora - made it 4-1.

Hatem Ben Arfa scored Newcastle’s second before Dempsey got his hat-trick and sealed the points for Fulham in the 89th minute.

There were also late goals at the Britannia, where Cameron Jerome’s 86th minute equaliser cancelled out Steve Morison’s goal for West Brom, and looked to have salvaged a point for Stoke. A rash challenge by Jon Walters then saw Stoke concede a late free kick, however, and Graham Dorrans lashed home.

Chelsea, meanwhile, were left to rue Fernando Torres’s goal drought as he squandered the best chance of the game against Norwich, which finished 0-0. Having somehow managed to poke the ball wide from about four centimetres out, Torres is now without a goal in 17 games. The poor result was not all Torres’s fault, however. Paul Ruddy in the Norwich net pulled off some inspired saves, and proved yet again how valuable he is to the Canaries..

 

Wolves’ second derby game in four days saw them lose their second derby game in four days, as Robbie Keane scored twice to give Villa the points. Darren Bent’s penalty gave Villa the lead, before Michael Kightly and Dave Edwards turned the game around for the hosts.

Unfortunately for Mick McCarthy, who may well have been sacked by now if there were anybody to replace him at Molineux, Robbie Keane was on hand to score twice, either side of Karl Henry’s red card.

Two delightful goals – one from Stephane Sessegnon, the other from Craig Gardner – gave Sunderland another win in the O’Neill Revolution. The Black Cats now have 16 points form a possible 24 under O’Neill, and have moved up to 10th. Swansea, meanwhile are 13th.

Despite a respectable draw away at Everton, Blackburn remain in the relegation zone. A handball by Marouane Fellaini in the build up to the Everton goal was missed by referee Mike Halsey, Tim Cahill giving them the lead, before David Goodwillie’s equaliser gave Blackburn a point.

Wigan are the worst team in the Premier League, and their 3-1 loss to QPR, with goals from Heidar Helguson, Akos Buzsaky and Tommy Smith, came as a surprise to nobody. Hugo Rodallega – Wigan’s only good player – managed to score from a free kick, but not even QPR could manage to throw away any points against the Latics. A dreadful, dreadful team, they are certain to be relegated.

 

Tags: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Barclays Premier League, Harry Redknapp, Manchester City, Manchester United, Mario Balotelli, Robin Van Persie, Scott Parker, tottenham