A wet and windy Premier League weekend was full of welcoming hospitality as only two home sides won and visiting Manchester United and Chelsea sides plundered vital points.
CHELSEA’S SUBSTANCE OVERWHELMS ARSENAL’S STYLE
Arsene Wenger’s claims that his Arsenal side were ready to step up as genuine title challengers were demolished by yet another muscular Chelsea performance as the Blues won 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
The adjectives powerful, efficient and effective have become synonymous with the West London side in recent years, and Sunday’s performance against a toothless Arsenal lived up to them. Carlo Ancelotti’s resurrection of the robust DNA implanted by Jose Mourinho in his spell at the club has served to make them an intimidating force once again.
The match retold a familiar tale of these sides’ recent meetings. Arsenal dominated the early exchanges with possession football but Robin van Persie’s absence was felt emphatically as a faultless Chelsea defence allowed them little sunlight on a rain-swept evening. Once the Blues found themselves getting more of the ball chances became inevitable and two quick strikes, the first from Didier Drogba followed by a Thomas Vermaelen own goal, dampened Arsenal hopes.
The second half followed a similar pattern as Arsenal pressed for a way back into the game and Chelsea threatened on the counter, but the home team were at a loss to create genuine chances until Drogba’s clinical free-kick put them out of their misery.
There’s no doubt that Wenger will not alter his approach in the ensuing months, but his side look to be short of the aggression and muscle necessary to sustain a title challenge. For Chelsea, that is an area that they have no problems with and when it’s aligned with the creativity and incisiveness of the likes of Drogba and Nicolas Anelka they make a formidable prospect.
LIVERPOOL BOX CLEVER IN MERSEYSIDE DERBY
Two five man midfields; a rain-soaked Goodison; one of English football’s oldest derbies; two under-achieving sides: this game was only ever going to be a slugging match. In the end, it was Liverpool’s rope-a-dope which won the day as they snatched a 2-0 win.
Both managers had gone into this game desperate to reverse a backwards slide and it was Rafa Benitez who found luck on his side in the first half as a heavily deflected Javier Mascherano shot gave his side the lead. It was tough on an Everton side that had large periods of pressure and possession throughout the game but lacked a cutting edge.
Two disallowed strikes from Jo and Pepe Reina’s outstanding performance frustrated the Toffees before Dirk Kuyt’s tap-in sealed a disastrous week for Everton. Liverpool will no doubt see this result as a catalyst for further success as the concerns of European football are behind them and injured players return.
RUTHLESS ROONEY MAKES POMPEY PAY PENALTY
In yet another fixture where the home side enjoyed possession but not points, a cutting Manchester United ran out 4-1 winners at Fratton Park over Portsmouth.
Avram Grant’s first game as manager saw his charges dominate the early exchanges as chances went begging, with Aruna Dindane again the main culprit.
Michael Brown’s subsequent clumsy trip on Wayne Rooney inside the penalty area seemed almost inevitable, and the England man picked himself up to put the Champions in front.
Kevin-Prince Boateng did level for Pompey with a penalty of his own after a bizarre decision from referee Mike Dean, but United raced clear in the second half with two further strikes from Rooney – the second another penalty after Giggs was tripped – and finally a clipped free-kick by the veteran winger. It was the Welshman’s hundredth goal in what was another stellar display.
SPURS DENIED VILLA VICTORY
Fourth met fifth at Villa Park and it was Tottenham who made the stronger claim for a Champions League place with a solid performance.
In a chilly Midlands encounter, Gabi Agbonlahor’s scrambled opener had given Villa a deserved lead, but the vigour and intent of their early play soon disappeared as Spurs pressed and passed them into submission. However, Harry Redknapp’s side were unable to draw level until Michael Dawson’s firm volley 13 minutes from time and the points were shared.
CITY DRAW… AGAIN
A Jimmy Bullard-driven Hull continued their recent resurgence at Eastlands as they snatched a valuable point against a Manchester City side keener on drawing than a Wild West gunslinger.
The home side threatened throughout, but Mark Hughes would have been anguished at the sight of Jimmy Bullard’s late equalising penalty after Shaun Wright-Phillips’ deflected shot had put them in front. Hughes must still find the remedy for his expensive misfits’ shortcomings as vital points drift away.
EIGHT AT UPTON AS WEST HAM HANG ON
Like a terrible laundry-worker, these two teams have long-forgotten what clean sheets look like so it was no surprise when eight goals flew in as West Ham beat Burnley 5-3.
The home side rushed into a 5-0 lead as Burnley’s defence were shattered early on, but Owen Coyle’s side took advantage of some awful Hammers defending to put three past Rob Green.
WIGAN BOUNCE BACK AND BIRMINGHAM TAKE MIDLANDS DERBY
The memory of last week’s 9-1 humiliation at White Hart Lane was all but washed away by Wigan as they beat a stuttering Sunderland side 1-0. Hugo Rodallega’s goal won it, but the clean sheet would have no doubt been the most pleasing aspect of the night for Roberto Martinez and his beleaguered ‘keeper Chris Kirkland.
In Sunday’s Black Country derby, Birmingham took the points and plaudits as Lee Bowyer’s early goal secured a 1-0 win. The former Leeds man’s curler after just three minutes saw off a Wolves side bereft of quality and goal-scoring attempts.
DRAWS AT EWOOD AND CRAVEN COTTAGE
In the weekend’s remaining fixtures, Fulham and Bolton drew at Craven Cottage 1-1, while Blackburn and Stoke played out a forgettable 0-0 at Ewood Park.
Bolton took the lead through Ivan Klasnic’s swivelling opener before Damien Duff’s right-foot shot was deflected past Jussi Jaaskelainen 15 minutes from time. The point halts a run of four straight defeats for Gary Megson’s men.
Ewood Park saw a turgid encounter as two of the league’s more physical sides threatened to bludgeon each other to death. Dean Whitehead spurned the game’s best chances, but Stoke manager Tony Pulis will be pleased with the improvement in his side’s away form this season. Stoke already have seven points away from the Britannia this campaign, after only managing 10 in the entirety of the 2008-2009 season.
CELEBRATION OF THE WEEK
The Hull player’s lampooning of Phil Brown’s unorthodox on-pitch team-talk at Eastlands last season was vintage stuff.
HERO OF THE WEEK
Chris Kirkland: The should-be-England goalkeeper’s clean sheet after last week’s mauling in London was well deserved.
GOAL OF THE WEEK
Lee Bowyer’s curler in the Black Country derby edges out the crisp free-kicks of Drogba and Giggs.