After six games of the English Premier League season, one could argue the top of the table is in order with defending champions Chelsea leading by three points over Manchester United with Arsenal and Manchester City rounding out third and fourth respectively.
But these four teams have all shown their weaknesses and Saturday’s action showed us that anything can still happen over the course of the long season.
Saturday’s English Premier League action served up a couple of upsets. In the early afternoon match, big-spending Manchester City knocked off previously perfect Chelsea 1–0 thanks to a Carlos Tevez goal just before the hour mark.
Battle of the Rich
Chelsea’s first real test of the season took place at the Eastlands against Manchester City. The two expensively assembled sides canceled each other out in the first half.
But it was Manchester City who did just enough when Carlos Tevez’s brilliant run from just past midfield ended with a low strike inside the far post for the winning goal.
The loss was Chelsea’s first of the season, but third straight to Manchester City in the Premier League. The Blues have been, no question, the best team in the Premier League but it has to be said the quality of their opposition has been lacking (wins over West Ham, Blackpool, West Brom, Stoke, Wigan). Much had been made about the soft start to their schedule.
Chelsea has too much firepower for most teams but a well-organized defensive performance could frustrate them. Manchester City showed other clubs the way to do so.
“We closed all the spaces for them and when we had a chance, we played good football,” said Roberto Mancini, City’s manager, in his postgame interview.
Mancini faces tremendous pressure to get his ego-filled squad on one page and contending for titles. He can’t rely purely on the individual talent.
Gunners Misfire
No question, the biggest upset of the season took place at the Emirates in London as West Bromwich Albion stunned Arsenal 3–2. It was the first win in 27 years for West Brom on Arsenal’s home ground.
Arsenal began poorly, perhaps looking past minnows West Brom towards a trip to Serbia to face Partizan Belgrade on Tuesday in the Champions League. Next Sunday, Arsenal faces arguably their toughest test of the season at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.
West Brom held their own and showed no fear. They took a deserved 1–0 lead early in the second half after missing a penalty in the first half. Peter Odemwingie poked home a centering pass from the top of the six-yard box.
Then West Brom really shocked the home side with another goal just two minutes later from Gonzalo Jara, courtesy of the first of two blunders from Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.
Former Arsenal player Jerome Thomas made it 3–0 after some very sloppy defending and a bad decision by goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. Almunia chased after a loose ball near the goal line but didn’t get there on time and left his net vacant for Thomas to fire home the centering pass.
Samir Nasri replied with two nice goals for Arsenal but it was too little, too late. He could not make up for Arsenal’s biggest weakness, their goalkeeping situation. Without a world class keeper, it’s hard to see Arsenal winning silverware.
Red Devils
The early going for Manchester United has been anything but convincing, giving up late leads to Fulham and Everton and then drawing 2–2 with Bolton on Sunday.
Sir Alex Ferguson put a positive spin on the draw with Bolton saying, “Being behind twice away from home and coming back is not easy.” But when Manchester United is on their game, they don’t go behind twice in one game to teams like Bolton.
United have been carried by the goal scoring of Dimitar Berbatov and Nani’s midfield brilliance as Wayne Rooney continues his World Cup hangover and the defense shows cracks.
Still, the Red Devils are one of two teams in the Premier League to not lose a game so far. Masters of the draw, Fulham, are the other team.
Poor Starts
Liverpool and Sunderland drew 2–2 meaning the struggling Reds will not have won a Premier League match in September. Under new manager Roy Hodgson, Liverpool is currently languishing in 16th place with six points.
Everton surprisingly finds itself at the foot of the Premier League now after West Ham’s win as they are the only club to have not won a game.
