Manchester United are the happiest of the top teams following the conclusion of Wednesday evening’s Premier League fixtures.
Arsenal and Manchester City played out a scoreless draw in London while Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur both lost away from home to lowly opposition.
All but the most passionate and one-eyed Manchester City supporters would have to concede that Arsenal were unlucky not to win the encounter at The Emirates between the league’s second and third teams place teams.
City did not manage a single shot on target during the entire 90 minutes, while the woodwork came to City’s rescue several times, denying Robin van Persie once in each half, while Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott both had shots cannon off the frame in quick succession during the first half. However, the offside flag had been raised as Walcott fired his shot so it would not have counted.
It was nonetheless symptomatic of how the night was panning out for the Gunners.
In the second half, Arsenal’s passing and movement was again a joy to behold but the closest they came to scoring was a van Persie pile-driver from outside the area which brought the very best out of City keeper Joe Hart.
The match was generally played in a good spirit until just before the end when Pablo Zabaleta and Baccary Sagna went head to head like a couple of angry rams and both received straight reds for their trouble.
When City boss Roberto Mancini was playing for Sampdoria he and Gianluca Vialli were a lethal attacking combination, but on this visit to Arsenal his team reminded one of the doggedly defensive Italian outfits of old.
Yet one has to give credit for City’s organization at the back and their refusal to buckle under relentless pressure. Arsenal, on the other hand, desperately needs a new Thierry Henry who can convert all that impressive work in midfield and around the edge of the box into a more plentiful supply of goals.
Arsenal and Manchester City played out a scoreless draw in London while Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur both lost away from home to lowly opposition.
All but the most passionate and one-eyed Manchester City supporters would have to concede that Arsenal were unlucky not to win the encounter at The Emirates between the league’s second and third teams place teams.
City did not manage a single shot on target during the entire 90 minutes, while the woodwork came to City’s rescue several times, denying Robin van Persie once in each half, while Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott both had shots cannon off the frame in quick succession during the first half. However, the offside flag had been raised as Walcott fired his shot so it would not have counted.
It was nonetheless symptomatic of how the night was panning out for the Gunners.
In the second half, Arsenal’s passing and movement was again a joy to behold but the closest they came to scoring was a van Persie pile-driver from outside the area which brought the very best out of City keeper Joe Hart.
The match was generally played in a good spirit until just before the end when Pablo Zabaleta and Baccary Sagna went head to head like a couple of angry rams and both received straight reds for their trouble.
When City boss Roberto Mancini was playing for Sampdoria he and Gianluca Vialli were a lethal attacking combination, but on this visit to Arsenal his team reminded one of the doggedly defensive Italian outfits of old.
Yet one has to give credit for City’s organization at the back and their refusal to buckle under relentless pressure. Arsenal, on the other hand, desperately needs a new Thierry Henry who can convert all that impressive work in midfield and around the edge of the box into a more plentiful supply of goals.
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Spurs and Chelsea Go Down
Everton beat Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 at Goodison Park thanks to a sparkling performance from former French international Louis Saha, who scored his team’s first and set up what proved to be the winner for Seamus Coleman.
The game was only into its third minute when Saha let fly from 25 yards for Everton’s opener. It was the injury prone striker’s first league goal for 11 months.
It was only eight minutes later that the impressive Rafael Van der Vaart brought the visitors level with a powerful header from close range.
Spurs lost their star man when Gareth Bale limped off on 57 minutes and it is to be hoped the injury is not too serious. Both teams continued to create chances and the game was there for the taking.
It was the hosts that managed to find a winner on 75 minutes when another fine shot from Saha was only parried by Spurs keeper Gomes. Coleman dived in to head home the rebound.
Notwithstanding the loss, Spurs maintain fourth position in the table thanks to another slip-up by Chelsea who went down 1–0 away to Wolves.
The only score was an own goal after only four minutes by Jose Bosingwa who was put under pressure by Steven Fletcher following a Stephen Hunt cross.
Chelsea tried hard to put matters right, especially in a good period just after the break. They did create chances but tended to either shoot wide or straight at the goalkeeper.
The closest they came was an effort from Didier Drogba that hit the upright. Indeed, Wolves could have doubled their advantage when Hunt’s free kick glanced off the top side of the bar.
Wolves’ manger Mick McCarthy was full of praise for the stout resolve of his team. “They give me everything, for which I’m hugely thankful and proud of,” he told Premier League reporters.
Indeed, this was a result that would have been unthinkable a few weeks ago when Chelsea appeared to be almost invincible.
Other Results
West Ham United’s mini-revival came to an abrupt end as they crashed to a 5–0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United at St. James Park. Leon Best scored a hat trick for the Magpies, having not found the net at all for almost a year, with Kevin Nolan, and Peter Lovenkrands bagging one apiece.
Blackburn Rovers’ 3–1 win at home to Liverpool made for another miserable night for beleaguered Anfield boss Roy Hodgson. Rovers went ahead through a Martin Olssen strike on 32 minutes, and a pair from Benjani had the home team three goals to the good before the hour was up.
Stephen Gerrard, on his 550th appearance for the club, managed to pull one back for the Reds nine minutes from time and then shortly afterwards the Liverpool skipper uncharacteristically fired a penalty over the bar.
Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic played out a 1–1 draw, though Bolton will have been disappointed not to have taken all three points. Portuguese teenager Roderigo Moreno, on loan from Benfica, scored a well-taken goal for Bolton after 54 minutes but Wigan equalized through Ronnie Stam 10 minutes before the end.
As the English Premier League now stands, Manchester United hold on to top spot with a two-point cushion over Manchester City. Arsenal lie a further two points back in third.
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