Saturday 26 October 2013

Barclays Premier League Review

Crystal Palace 0 2 Arsenal



Coming back from a champions league mid-week defeat against Dortmund, Arsenal got back to winning ways as they cruised past managerless Crystal Palace two goals to nil @ Selhurst park. Arsenal once again started with FIVE midfielders and at a point in the game the possession stats read 70% to the gunners, but they failed to work the Palace goalie Julian Speroni in the first half. All the gunners did was hold on to the ball and if they recognised any opening in the palace defence, they will try and explore.. but the Palace defence was water tight. Am an advocate of the passing game, but that tiki-taka game has to be progressive, you need to flirt with your opponents in the final third, Wenger obviously read my mind when he was giving the team talks during half time as his men came out all attack in the second half.

It took just two minutes in the second half for Arsenal to take a well deserved lead as Sergi Gnarby did well to cut Adlene Guedioura who then made a clumsy challenge on the young German inside the area.. PENALTY! Arteta stepped forward to score his first goal of the season. Hero turned villian after the hour mark as the Spaniard received a straight Red Card for a professional foul on former team mate Marouane Chamakh after he appeared to be racing on goal. The balance of play tilted and Palace were the ones with the momentum, with Wojciech Szczesny working his gloves off to keep Arsenal in the lead with a couple of world class saves. Arsenal even with the numerical disadvantage refused to crack under severe pressure from the Eagles and went ahead to seal the win from a Giroud header after wonderful composure from Ramsey who did very well to find the French man. Up next for Arsenal: Chelsea, Liverpool, Dortmund and Manchester United!

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after he game : "We showed a lot of resilience and patience and good organisation against a team who were really up for it. It was a very convincing win because when we were down to 10 men we mastered the situation quite well.

"They came at us and we dealt well with the long balls. Every time we came out in the last 15 minutes it looked like we could score, and we got one with two minutes to go, which was a relief, and gives us three important points."

"It's a bit early but it's nice to be there [at the top of the Barclays Premier League]. It's good as well for the character of the team to respond after the disappointment of Tuesday night."

Manchester United 3 2 Stoke City



Manchester United displayed the character we all are used to seeing them have as they twice came from behind to edge past Stoke 3 - 2 in the Theatre of Dreams. Man United may not be the force they were under Sir Alex but there is no denying their character, as David Moyes was always on ground to grind out their fourth win of the season. Albeit,The Red Devils should really be worried, because when your goal keeper is your man of the match against a team like Stoke, there is Fire under the mountain. At this rate, David De Gea will be in Brazil next summer, The Spanish goalie made point blank reflexive saves to keep his team in the game. Even when Crouch pounced on the first goal, it was from a rebound off possibly the save of the season. Another concern i have about this United team, is if David Moyes is in REAL control of the team? For the first time in my life i saw Robin Van Persie shying away from an in-swing corner, that's not accepted! RVP must always take corners from the right, it should be added to the laws of the game! The Dutch man neglected his strong left foot in favor of the possibility of a weak header.. Anytime United had a corner, my subconscience kept screaming, Van Persie Cross this ball!! He probably heard me at the 78th minute mark when he crossed in from that spot that he's deadliest, Guess what? Rooney headed home.

Stoke on their own haven't done their home work, they conceded three goals from set pieces when they faced Arsenal, here again Three goals flew past their goalie from three crosses.

Manchester United manager David Moyes: "It was a big challenge to make sure we won the game but we did it. We showed great energy after the midweek game against Real Sociedad to go until the end.

"Stoke have not scored many but they have not conceded many either, so we knew we would have to work hard after going behind.

"I was worried it wouldn't come - especially when we were 2-1 down. But I think we deserved it in the end. We kept at it and deserved to score."

Liverpool 4 - 1 West Brom



I keep asking this question every week, What will Liverpool do without Suarez? The Uruguayan scored a magnificent hat-trick as Liverpool saw off West Bromwich Albion with a commanding 4-1 victory at Anfield. It was his fourth hat-trick for Liverpool – but his first at Anfield. Suarez’s three goals takes him to 16 Premier League goals in only 18 matches in 2013. A solo effort and a stunning 18-yard header gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break and Suarez’s treble was complete when he converted Steven Gerrard’s 55th-minute free-kick.

Although substitute James Morrison handed West Brom a lifeline when he converted a penalty Daniel Sturridge crowned a highly satisfying afternoon for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers with a breathtaking long-range lob.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers: "We were outstanding today. West Brom are a very good side, they went to Old Trafford and won, so for us to score four goals - and could have had a few more - it was an outstanding team performance. When you have the two boys up front, and that attacking threat, it's fantastic. We're disappointed with the penalty decision but other than that we're very pleased.

"Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge are very hard to contain. Both of them have different qualities and both are goalscorers. I thought our midfield three today were excellent. We're just looking to keep improving, not getting carried away, and the boys at the top end did their job and got the goals. It should be a brilliant game (against Arsenal) next week."

Aston Villa 0 2 Everton



This was the 197th meeting between these two prestigious English teams - the English top flight’s most-played fixture - and both sides looked determined to claim three points as chances flowed at both ends, with Lambert bringing back striker Christian Benteke after a month out with a thigh injury. But the Belgian missed an 8th minute penalty after Tim Howard guessed the right way to produce a wonderful save.

Attentions quickly shifted to another Belgian as Romelu Lukaku came back to haunt Aston Villa as he scored in the 2-0 win at Villa Park.

Villa manager Paul Lambert admitted during the week that he tried to sign Lukaku last season, and the Belgian star swept home Leon Osman's pass from the edge of the box in the 68th minute to open the scoring and register his fifth league goal of the campaign. Osman hit a second later in the match to secure the Toffees' away win.

Southampton 2 0 Fulham

Clear: Saints players celebrate after Jay Rodgriguez's goal put them 2-0 up

Strike duo Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez lifted Southampton up to third place in the Barclays Premier League as Fulham were beaten 2-0 at St Mary’s Stadium.

England striker Rickie Lambert was a substitute in the draw at Manchester United last weekend, but marked his return to the starting line-up by scoring his third Saints goal this season following an assist from Rodriguez.

Saints dominated the first half and were rewarded with a second goal just before the break, when Lambert this time presented Rodriguez with a simple opportunity to head home from close range.

Mauricio Pochettino's side have made their best start in the top-flight for 30 years and can boast the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just three times in their first nine games. Fulham, on the other hand, now find themselves 14th in the table.

Norwich City 0 0 Cardiff City

Norwich v Cardiff
Norwich City were held to a goalless draw by Cardiff City at Carrow Road.

The closest the match came to being decided was when Leroy Fer inadvertently rolled the ball into the net on the 94th minute with keeper David Marshall out of his goal after Cardiff had put the ball out, but the goal was disallowed due to an infringement occurring while the throw-in was taken and both sides had to settle for the point.

Until that point the match had been lit up by the heroics of Marshall. The 28-year-old – who played for Norwich between 2007 and 2009 – produced a string of fine saves in his first outing against his former club to deny the hosts their second Barclays Premier League home win of the season.

8 comments:

  1. C'mon You Gunners!!

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  2. Woow! Itunu Spot on.. I pondered why RVP dint take d corners too, sumthn dat neva hapnd unda Wenger and Fergie.. Moyyes needs 2 get hold of dat team

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  3. Omo ur Subconcious na genius oooo.. Arsenal for life

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  4. See as u tey describe Arsenal match in details.. Blaady gooner. But Itunu dyu reali feel u guyz can win the league?

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  5. Hehehe @ added to the law of the game.. Walcott nids 2 come back for Arsenal fast, if not Ozil will luk like a weist.. Cos too many No 10's in the team

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  6. Itunu history, records and statistics!!

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  7. Buh shey Southampton wan win league ni..lol

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  8. yea RVP has become proud since he won the EPL.. is he the first?

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