Arsenal in Serious Trouble? Expect Wenger to Start Crying: Daily Premiership Recap (8/26/06)
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by user SuperFrankieLampard
Josh here again to give you the daily EPL recap. Full slate of games today:
Arsenal at Manchester City Arsenal may be in serious trouble only two games into their race for the Premiership trophy, as they were sent packing today by Manchester City as Joey Barton gave City, themselves in a bit of despair in recent days, a 1-0 win. The loss leaves Arsenal with only one point so far, and depending on how a couple games go tomorrow they could spend some time embarassed in the relegation zone.
City had scored no goals so far this season and for the past few days has been embroiled in the controversey birthed by Ben Thatcher's horror challenge. Add to that the fact that their Manchester counterparts, United, were at the top of the table, and you've got a very bad week for ManCity. Surprisingly, especially against an Arsenal side usually recognized as one of the best in the EPL, City was able to gain the full three points today and now have more points on the season than Arsenal.
Manchester City had not beaten Arsenal in 15 years but banded together today to defy their detractors. Barton's goal came off a penalty kick in the 41st minute, but the rest of the team should not be forgotten as City got good play from Richard Dunne and Sylvain Distin in defense, and keeper Nicky Weaver who denied Thierry Henry twice with brilliant saves.
Arsenal did have chances, hitting the post on more than one occasion, but so far this season they are looking like a shadow of the team that reached the final game of the Champions League only a couple months ago. Of course it is too early to count out a side like Arsenal, but they do look to be in trouble if they cannot find a way to give Henry some help. While Henry is a brilliant player he cannot do it all himself. Being a Chelsea fan, I'm fine with Arsenal not doing anything this season. I'm always entertained by Arsene Wenger's crybaby antics, and some trouble for his side might bring about some more of that. The less challengers to Chelsea's crown, the better for me.
An update on the Ben Thatcher situation: He has been suspended by City for his awful tackle against Pedro Mendes earlier in the week. Thatcher has said he will accept any punishment given to him by City or the FA and has apologized for his actions. The general consensus is that Thatcher obviously crossed the line with his tackle that left Mendes in the hospital overnight, but he is not a malicious person in general. He seems to be acting respectably in this situation, willingly taking his punishment for what he knows he did very wrong. His team-mates have said Thatcher is shaken to his core because of his actions, and is not the same person he was before the tackle. "Normally Ben is such a bubbly character, but he has lost all that," said City captain Richard Dunne. "He doesn't want to speak to anyone. He is really down in the dumps, and rightly so." Video of that tackle can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTRaS7ffyWg. It's one of the worst tackles I've seen in a long time.
West Ham United at Liverpool The Anfield Kop celebrated their 100th birthday in the best way possible today as Liverpool beat West Ham 2-1 with both goals coming in the final minutes of the first half.
Bobby Zamora gave West Ham the early lead when he fired a goal into the net in the 12th minute, but Liverpool tied the game and then took the lead when Daniel Agger cracked a shot from 35 yards out in the 42nd minute and Peter Crouch scored only three minutes later. Both goals came in front of the home stands behind the goal, The Kop, possibly the most famous section of stands in all of English soccer. West Ham's Lee Bowyer nearly equalized in the 80th minute but saw his shot bounce off the post.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, back into the starting lineup after playing as a sub last match due to a stomach virus, made his presence felt from the starting whistle as he pushed a shot just wide from 25 yards out in the opening minute, and was part of the passing sequence earning Crouch his goal later in the match.
Liverpool now has four points in two games but must still continue to improve, and quickly, if they are to really challenge Chelsea for the Premiership trophy this season.
Manchester United at Watford EPL newcomers Watford nearly managed a valuable tie at their home ground but a 52nd minute goal from Ryan Giggs put the game away for good after a miserable missed chance on Watford's part.
Mikael Silvestre opened the scoring for United in the 12th minute, and United continued to control the game before Damien Francis put a ball through in the 34th minute to knot the game at one apiece. In the second half Watford had few real chances but missed out on a very easy goal in the 50th minute as Darius Henderson steered the ball across an empty goalmouth. Inexplicably, Dan Shittu and Francis both stood dumbly by as the ball bounced by them. Giggs would make them pay less than a minute later when he flicked the ball around Watford goalie Richard Lee and slid home the winner.
United dominated this game and should have ended up with more than two goals. Boss Alex Ferguson was not happy with his team's effort and after the game demanded better play from his team if they are to challenge for the league crown. Surely he is looking forward to the return of Wonderboy Wayne Rooney but first he will have to get past Tottenham in two weeks without his star player. Christiano Ronaldo again stood out in this game but will have to do a bit more against a better side in Tottenham before his striking counterpart comes back. Still, United are at the top of the table with nine points from three games.
Bolton Wanderers at Charlton Athletic Referee Mike Dean grabbed the spotlight in this match as he gave out two straight red cards and five yellows. Charlton's Hermann Hreidarsson earned an immediate red for his elbow on Bolton's Kevin Davies in the 28th minute, and Davis earned an automatic red himself in the 72nd minute to even both sides at ten men.
Darren Bent's second half goal brace was the difference for Charlton, who earned their first win of the season for new manager Iain Dowie. Bolton should have taken the lead on the hour mark as El-Hadji Diouf earned a penalty kick but was turned away on a fine save by Charlton keeper Scott Carson.
Reading F.C. at Wigan Athletic Wigan earned their first win this season against new-to-the-Premiership side Reading, with Emile Heskey getting his first goal in six months, and the only goal of the game, in the 38th minute. This match was Heskey's 500th in club play, and he is hoping to convince England manager Steve McClaren he can still play after being off the national team since Euro 2004.
Wigan was surely the better side today, and Heskey could have earned a second goal or possible a hat trick if he had finished better on a couple choice chances, but his side will be happy to earn their first points in this young season. Reading, after their loss here and the opening loss to Aston Villa, are still looking for their first points in top-tier soccer.
Sheffield United at Fulham Jimmy Bullard again came through for Fullham, securing the win at Craven Cottage. Bullard was Man of the Match on Wednesday against Bolton due to his 90th minute goal for the win, and today was the match's only scorer.
Bullard was impressive in all areas of the match today, controlling the midfield on both sides of the ball and scoring in the 40th minute. However, the brilliant play of the 27-year-old did not mask his side's lack of creativity everywhere else. With captain Louis Boa Morte not playing up to his usual level, Bullard was the lone bright spot on the entire team. Thankfully for Fulham, Sheffield United did nothing to help themselves until the last twenty minutes of the match, when they began to play with a little urgency. Against a better side, as showed by their 5-1 defeat against ManU earlier in the week, Fulham is sorely lacking. They now have four points from three games, enough so far to be out of the relegation group, but they are surely not out of the woods for good.
Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Andrew Johnson celebrated his England National Team call-up with a fantastic performance at White Hart Lane to give his Everton side the win, despite the team finishing with ten men due to Kevin Kilbane being sent off in the 33rd minute.
Tottenham turned in possibly their worst performance so far under boss Martin Jol's direction, and when Everton packed the midfield to cut off anny passing to Aaron Lennon, it was clear that Tottenham is sorely lacking a real left-winger. Even after Everton was reduced to ten, Spurs had no idea how to use their numbers advantage and ended the game on a low note after an own goal in the 53rd minute and Johnson's strike in the 66th.
If Tottenham are to do anything at all this season, they must devise a way to get Aaron Lennon some help. While he is a promising young player, he cannot carry the team on his own and Spurs need to recognize that. They have now lost two games and won only against mediocre Sheffield United, and there are cracks starting to be seen that must be plugged, and quickly.
So far in the season:
Top Four (with win-loss-draw record and points): Manchester United (3-0-0;9), Everton (2-0-1;7), Portsmouth (1-0-1;4), West Ham United (1-1-1;4)
Bottom Three (with record and points): Watford (0-2-1;1), Blackburn Rovers (0-1-1;1), Sheffield United (0-2-1;1)
Upcoming EPL games on Sunday August 27:
Aston Villa v. Newcastle United; Blackburn Rovers v. Chelsea
Source
- espn.com
- setanta sports
Date
Sat 08/26/06, 11:32 am EST
Update these standings