1. Chelsea 3, Arsenal 5 – seriously, what on earth next?
In a season that has already seen at least three monumental shock results, Saturday lunchtime brought us yet another in one of the all time great Premier league matches. Arsenal have been as about as useless away as Swansea so far this season, collecting one point and shipping 14 goals in 4 matches. Chelsea on the other hand had played 4, won 4, and scored 12 at home. Everything pointed to one result and after a first half littered with chances and the Blues winning 2-1, you could have got odds as high as 16/1 on Arsenal coming back to win. They didn’t just come back and win, Arsenal absolutely slaughtered Chelsea in the second half. Their front 3 of Gervinho, Van Persie and Walcott have never looked better and Ramsey and Arteta controlled the midfield. Ok, so their defence is still pretty terrible and the best thing you can say about Santos and Mertesacker is that they haven’t made it any worse. But quibbles aside, this was a restoration of faith for Arsene Wenger’s principals. Especially given Chelsea played the game (as they have for much of the season) in exactly the sort of way that Arsenal do. There is much to admire about AVB and Chelsea these days, but their season is threatening to unravel much the same way as Arsenals was unless they can shore things up at the back. Or as Arsenal have now learnt, if you can’t do that, just score 5 goals instead...
In a season that has already seen at least three monumental shock results, Saturday lunchtime brought us yet another in one of the all time great Premier league matches. Arsenal have been as about as useless away as Swansea so far this season, collecting one point and shipping 14 goals in 4 matches. Chelsea on the other hand had played 4, won 4, and scored 12 at home. Everything pointed to one result and after a first half littered with chances and the Blues winning 2-1, you could have got odds as high as 16/1 on Arsenal coming back to win. They didn’t just come back and win, Arsenal absolutely slaughtered Chelsea in the second half. Their front 3 of Gervinho, Van Persie and Walcott have never looked better and Ramsey and Arteta controlled the midfield. Ok, so their defence is still pretty terrible and the best thing you can say about Santos and Mertesacker is that they haven’t made it any worse. But quibbles aside, this was a restoration of faith for Arsene Wenger’s principals. Especially given Chelsea played the game (as they have for much of the season) in exactly the sort of way that Arsenal do. There is much to admire about AVB and Chelsea these days, but their season is threatening to unravel much the same way as Arsenals was unless they can shore things up at the back. Or as Arsenal have now learnt, if you can’t do that, just score 5 goals instead...
2. Scotty Parker, English footballs answer to a fine Bordeaux.
Two years ago Scott Parker was heading to the end of a career that could probably have been summed up as what might have been. He’s played for big clubs but never quite at the right time, his English career had never got going and the kid from the McDonalds adverts was playing for the bottom of the table team working his arse off week in, week out. As it turns out, West Ham was the best thing that ever happened to him. Collecting last season’s player of the year award, Parker has moved to Spurs and now looks just about as good a defensive midfielder in the league. Getting better with age, Parker was imperious on Sunday as he broke down QPR’s midfield almost on his own to allow Spurs flourishing attack to run forward at will. He looks like he could play for another 4 years and Harry Redknapp was for once not spinning a yarn when he eulogised over his qualities in the summer, declaring Parker the “one person” he wanted to sign. That he had so little competition for his signature was baffling. Parker could and perhaps should have been Arsenal’s captain. But Wenger’s loss is Harry’s gain and right now, Spurs look just about the best bet for 4th out of the improved chasing pack.
Two years ago Scott Parker was heading to the end of a career that could probably have been summed up as what might have been. He’s played for big clubs but never quite at the right time, his English career had never got going and the kid from the McDonalds adverts was playing for the bottom of the table team working his arse off week in, week out. As it turns out, West Ham was the best thing that ever happened to him. Collecting last season’s player of the year award, Parker has moved to Spurs and now looks just about as good a defensive midfielder in the league. Getting better with age, Parker was imperious on Sunday as he broke down QPR’s midfield almost on his own to allow Spurs flourishing attack to run forward at will. He looks like he could play for another 4 years and Harry Redknapp was for once not spinning a yarn when he eulogised over his qualities in the summer, declaring Parker the “one person” he wanted to sign. That he had so little competition for his signature was baffling. Parker could and perhaps should have been Arsenal’s captain. But Wenger’s loss is Harry’s gain and right now, Spurs look just about the best bet for 4th out of the improved chasing pack.
3. Swansea like it by the sea.
There’s always one team each year (usually Fulham) who coast through the Premiership normally finishing around 14-16th with a superb home record and an absolutely terrible time on their travels. This season’s contender for the “homer” crown is looking increasingly like Swansea City; who not only remain unbeaten after 5 games at the Liberty Stadium having yet to concede a goal scored by an opposition player, but just look an utterly different team to the one who continue to be hung out to dry away from the bay. Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer have skill and pace to burn and once again tore into their opponents at the weekend to create the space for the eventual openings to come. Defensively, Swansea are organised well and have a fine keeper. They might not win away all season, but if they carry on this form at home and finish 14-16th, not a single fan will care.
There’s always one team each year (usually Fulham) who coast through the Premiership normally finishing around 14-16th with a superb home record and an absolutely terrible time on their travels. This season’s contender for the “homer” crown is looking increasingly like Swansea City; who not only remain unbeaten after 5 games at the Liberty Stadium having yet to concede a goal scored by an opposition player, but just look an utterly different team to the one who continue to be hung out to dry away from the bay. Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer have skill and pace to burn and once again tore into their opponents at the weekend to create the space for the eventual openings to come. Defensively, Swansea are organised well and have a fine keeper. They might not win away all season, but if they carry on this form at home and finish 14-16th, not a single fan will care.
4. Somebody is going to have to stop Manchester City.
It is still too early in a season to crown anyone champions and City fans should be wary that Chelsea were strolling into November last year before their world fell apart around them. The reason for their collapse was simple, they had been scoring at will... and then they stopped. What should give City fans heart though and drive fear into everyone else’s, is that not since the Utd side of the late 90’s have a team had so many attacking players in such good form. City currently have Aguero, Dseko, Ballotelli, Johnson, Silva & Nasri playing at the top of their game. They often only play 3 of them, meaning that even if they don’t find a way through, the ones on the bench usually will. They have scored 36 goals in 10 games, winning 9 and making the best start in the history of the league. To even take a point off them, you have to score at least 2 goals. By Christmas we should know more (City play Liverpool and Chelsea away and Arsenal at home in quick succession) – but for now, even as an optimistic Utd fan I’m left hoping for a triple injury blow and a chronic mass loss of form. Never ideal...
It is still too early in a season to crown anyone champions and City fans should be wary that Chelsea were strolling into November last year before their world fell apart around them. The reason for their collapse was simple, they had been scoring at will... and then they stopped. What should give City fans heart though and drive fear into everyone else’s, is that not since the Utd side of the late 90’s have a team had so many attacking players in such good form. City currently have Aguero, Dseko, Ballotelli, Johnson, Silva & Nasri playing at the top of their game. They often only play 3 of them, meaning that even if they don’t find a way through, the ones on the bench usually will. They have scored 36 goals in 10 games, winning 9 and making the best start in the history of the league. To even take a point off them, you have to score at least 2 goals. By Christmas we should know more (City play Liverpool and Chelsea away and Arsenal at home in quick succession) – but for now, even as an optimistic Utd fan I’m left hoping for a triple injury blow and a chronic mass loss of form. Never ideal...
5. Wigan are fucked.
5 points after 10 games is a dire situation and the teams around Wigan all have the capacity to get better. With the greatest respect to Roberto Martinez, you just cannot see how Wigan are going to a) score and b) ever keep a clean sheet. Still missing the likes of Paul Scharner not to mention the likes of Palacious and Valencia, Wigan have been victims of their own success to an extent but it now looks like their fate lies back in the Championship. Last season they survived by the skin of their teeth, but there was at least 2 clubs playing even worse than they were. This season it’s just impossible to make an argument for any 3 sides in the league all finishing below them. Too early to condemn a side to relegation? Not this time, Wigan have absolutely no chance.
5 points after 10 games is a dire situation and the teams around Wigan all have the capacity to get better. With the greatest respect to Roberto Martinez, you just cannot see how Wigan are going to a) score and b) ever keep a clean sheet. Still missing the likes of Paul Scharner not to mention the likes of Palacious and Valencia, Wigan have been victims of their own success to an extent but it now looks like their fate lies back in the Championship. Last season they survived by the skin of their teeth, but there was at least 2 clubs playing even worse than they were. This season it’s just impossible to make an argument for any 3 sides in the league all finishing below them. Too early to condemn a side to relegation? Not this time, Wigan have absolutely no chance.
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