One word would do the trick in summing up this weekends football action in the Barclays Premier League, WOW! This weekend fans saw a plethora of goals-wether for, or against your team- making it one of the most exciting weekends in recent remembrance. It was a glorious weekend for the Manchester clubs, with City un-doing Tottenham 5-1, with 4 goals from on-song Edin Dzeko. United had their way with a anemic Arsenal 8-2, to which a glance at Wenger's face is all you have to see to some up the strife going at Arsenal. It was surely a weekend that N. London will be quick to forget, and if the Riots of weeks prior was caused by this I would understand. Tottenham and Arsenal are both clubs stumbling to find their feet early in the 2011-12 season, due somewhat I reckon to the lack of signings and the distraction of big players leaving their respected clubs. The long transfer saga of Modric to Chelsea may or may not be finalized by the end of the window come Wednesday, and If I was Harry I would hope it is. It's an added distraction that does nothing but hurts to morale of the player, and the players around him. Modric started but was removed shortly into the second half. His final swan song….maybe? Clearly looking as he didn't want to play seen in the effort he put forth. Need I speak further on the problems at Arsenal...I will in relation to this game. Do to lack of players available to Wenger, the young back line of Koscielny, Djorou, Jenkinson and Traore did not cut it against the stampede of a frontline played by United. Caught buy playing a high line too often, Welbeck and Nani were free to tear them to shreds, Not to mention a Hat-trick from Rooney-including two from set pieces'. Rosicky failed to impress in a attacking sense, and his link play was dismal. RVP was the only player who looked up for it, even though missing a penalty with a weak effort, giving United's keeper, De Gea, the sense he was all that, and a bag of potato chips. Wenger's lack of tactical shuffling at the break-all be it limited options- saw this pillaging continue to the bitter end, to where if the game was still playing, Man U would still be burying their chances.
Along with the free scoring Manchester v. London game's, Everton's game against Blackburn, and Chelsea v. Norwich tickled this fans interests, adding to the excitement of the weekend. An unflattering score of Everton 1 - Blackburn 0, speaks nothing of the excitement, and heartbreak felt by the clubs. Blackburn looked on top for most of the match, but it was a case of the proverbial cliche of "not" taking your chances that saw Blackburn undone, as they missed two penalties. Both times the players, stepped up to take the spot kick, a miss looked in the offing. Between these, and Rvp's failure from the spot has made it 7 missed from a possible 10 penalties given this year. Outstanding! Fittingly Blackburn felt were kicked in the teeth as Fellaini was challenged unfairly in the box seeing Everton being awarded with a penalty in the final minutes. Manager Steve Kean was disgusted as he, and Blackburn fans know that the silky Spaniard, Mikel Arteta doesn't miss from there.
Chelsea's battle with Norwich should be all but a formality for the West London club, but proved to be more difficult than expected. Debut's were given to new boy's Juan Mata, and Romelu Lukaku off the bench and the Spaniard brought a new dimension to the Blues attack instantly. Almost purchasing an assist with his first touch through serving a delicious cross into the box's harks back to the days of Robben and Duff's wing-play for Chelsea. Mata's goal was icing on the cake as Malouda hat already put them ahead after Grant Holt had equalized for the Canaries.
An easy win over Bolton is what Liverpool needed. Slightly lucky against Arsenal last week, this week required a convincing win over an Epl mainstay like Bolton. Jordan Henderson opened his Liverpool account with one of the many, many, goals of the weekend with a left foot curler into the top corner. The second came from a corner met by the shaved head of substitute Martin Skrtel, beating Zat Knight to the punch. Zat Knight was once again involved as Charlie Adam hit a grass cutter form out side the box, through the big center backs legs to give the Red's 3 goals, and 3 points.
Players of the week:
Not in order...
1.) Samir Nasri: Had the best of debut games in the game vs. Tottenham, cementing in nicely to the fluid ( contradictory) forward line of City. With the likes of Silva, Aguero and Dzeko all rotating and mixing positions it was practically a swingers party. Coming up with assists and playing instrumental in the build up for the first two Dzeko goals, the frenchman looks the final cog in City's goal machine.
2.) Juan Mata: another debutant who, against the still stale Chelsea squad, looked like a mt. goat on speed. Popping up left and right, giving width to attack and even scoring a goal to seal the win. Thought be it a substitute appearance...AVB will surely have him from the start come their game against Sunderland, Sept 10th.
3.) Wayne Rooney: Had a hat trick in their drubbing of Arsenal, two from free kicks, and one from a penalty. His passing, goals, and work rate proved too much for Arsenal to cope with.
4.) Ashley Young: Looks the part, once again proving Sir Alex's prowess in signing fantastic players ( for the most part). His skill on the ground, crosses, and shots! Scoring two fantastic curlers past Scezney one as good as the next. He had one of the games of the weekend, and if not for Dzeko, he would be my player of the weekend.
5.) Edin Dzeko: Now to the cream of the crop. 4 goals for the red hot Bosnian, all with variation. From simple tap-ins, to picking his spot from outside the box and wrapping his foot around it. It was just one of those games he couldn't have gone wrong in. Justifying his spot over Carlos Tevez, a pick of mine for flop of the season, Dzeko looks like proving me dead wrong with 6 goals out of 3 games! Magnificent.
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