Editor Dean Mears takes over the Premier League round up this week.
Chelsea showed signs of starting to connect on the pitch, as Juan Mata and deadline day Raul Meireles made their full debuts, and it was from the former’s free kick that Chelsea took the lead. After Mata’s free kick bounced out off the post, Sunderland failed to clear their lines and John Terry scored his first goal of the season with a measured left footed strike. Chelsea dominated the rest of the game, despite Sunderland loanee Nicolas Bendtner heading a glorious opportunity wide. The result was sealed when Daniel Sturridge, making his first start of the season, sublimely backheeled his finish passed the onrushing Minulat and into the net via the post, after a wonderful through ball from Merieles. Sunderland’s own deadline day signing Ji-Dong Won scored a late consolation goal for the black cats, but Chelsea never had to move out of third gear for this win.
It was an exciting return to the Premier League, as fans welcomed their new summer signings after the closing of the transfer window. Would Arteta, Metersacker and Benyayoun be enough to turn Arsenal’s fortunes around? Would Crouch become a 20 goal a season striker thanks to Delap’s throw ins? And would Meireles be the key to unlocking Fernando Torres?
Arsenal faced Welsh side Swansea in their first competitive game since their 8-2 trouncing at the hands of Manchester United. Deadline day signings Per Metersacker and Mikel Arteta started for Arsenal, but they struggled to find fluency against a detiremed Swansea side who were without manager Brendan Rogers after the passing of his father on Friday night. Arsenal’s goal was perhaps the luckiest you’ll see all season, Swans ‘keeper Vorm rolled the ball into the back of his own defender, leaving Arshavin with the easiest of tasks to slot the ball into the back of net. The 3 points was the important thing for Arsenal after the Manchester United defeat, while Swansea are still searching for their first Premier League goal.
Everton fans held a protest ahead of their game with Aston Villa, disillusioned with the sales of key players, with David Moyes not being able to reinvest the cash into the squad. Everton dominanted the game and took the lead through Leon Osman in the 19th minute thanks to a cool finish from 12 yards. Everton then had a big shout for a penalty, but the referee deemed Barry Brenan’s tackle on Leighton Baines a fair one. Stiliyan Petrov equalised for Villa in the 63rd minute after a beautiful curling finish that left Tim Howard with no chance, but after just 6 minutes Everton were back on top after a Fabain Delph foul in the area allowed Baines to restore Everton’s advantage. It seemed that Everton had a hard earned victory in the bag until Gabby Agbonlahor’s late equaliser meant the two sides would share the spoils.
Sergio Ageuro was the star for Manchester City as they romped to a 3-0 victory at home to Wigan. The Argitinian scored a hat trick to secure 3 points, it could have been a much bigger margain had Carlos Tevez, who returned to the side, not had his first half penalty saved, and Micah Richards and Vincent Kompany’s efforts not be saved by the woodwork. Post Garry Cook things still seem to be going nicely for City, whose attacking prowcese, conducted by David Silva is striking fear into the rest of the Premier League.
Stoke maintained their unbeaten start to the season thanks to a fortunate penalty decision. Jamie Carragher was judged to have brought down Stoke forward Jon Walters, even if he did go down easily. Liverpool were very unlucky not to have a first half penalty themselves as Delap handled in the box and Stoke continued to ride their luck at times and held their lead thanks to a triple Asmir Begovic save, firstly from Jordan Henderson and then Charlie Adam. Luis Suarez had a late penalty shout turned down, although it would have been harsh on Matthew Upson after the ball ricoshayed off his body and onto his arm.
Former Arsenal striker Adebayor scored his first Tottenham goal, as they brushed aside Wolves with a 2-0 win at Molinuex. Spurs’ other deadline day signing Scott Parker released the onloan Adebayor who rounded the own coming ‘keeper and slotted home into an empty net. Karl Henry and Roger Johnson had the best of the home sides chances, but neither could find a way past Brad Freidel in the Tottenham goal. Jermaine Defoe wrapped up the points in the 80th minute with a powerful low finish. Spurs will be delighted with their first win of the season after heavy defeats to both Manchester sides, while Wolves have stilled enjoyed a good opening to the season despite the defeat.
In Saturday’s late kick off, Manchester United continued their impressive start to the season with a 5 goal trouncing of Bolton at the Reebox stadium. Mexican Javier Hernandez opening the scoring after minutes after good movement gave him space at the near post, Wayne Rooney scored twice more in the opening 30 minutes to seal the game before half time. More great movement from Hernandez freed him from Gary Cahill to make the score 4-0 on the hour mark, but it was Rooney who got the match ball, securing his hat trick 10 minutes later. Bolton gave Rooney far too much space for each of his goal, while Cahill was exposed for the first time this season by the pacey Hernandez. Sir Alex and United will be delighted with their explosive start to the season, but will be concerned with the injury picked up by Cleverley after a nasty tackle from Kevin Davies early on in the first half.
An early goal from Peter Odemwingie, on his first start, was enough to secure West Brom all three points against Norwich in Sunday’s early kick off. Norwich handed a first start to 20-year-old Declan Rudd, and after a mistake from on loan Richard de Laet, Odemwingie pounced to score his first goal this season. Norwich had two penalty shouts turned down in the first half, as they tried to get level, but it was in the second half when the first penalty was awarded, but to the visitors. Referee Mark Halsey deeming Steve Morrison’s challenge was worthy of a penalty, but Odemwingie saw his spot kick exclently saved by the 20-year-old Rudd. Norwich had a third penalty shout turned down in the dying moments, as Halsey made sure he was crossed off the Norwich Christmas card list.
Fulham hosted bottom of the table Blackburn Rovers in Sunday’s late game, Fulham’s £10.6 million striker Bryan Ruiz made his debut, well Blackburn had their deadline day purchase Scott Dann at the heart of their defence for his debut aswell. Rovers took the lead thanks to a fantastic strike from Ruben Rochina in the 32nd minute, his shot from the edge of the box fizzed into the back of the net just underneath the crossbar. It was the hosts however, who were carving the best chances, and drew level thanks to Bobby Zamora just 5 minutes later after some poor defending from Gael Givet. Fulham had chances at the death to take all 3 points, especially after a good shout for a penalty after a poor challenge from Michael Salgado. Rovers midfielder Junior Holliet left the pitch in a neck brace after a collision with Fulham ‘keeper Mark Shawtzer giving Blackburn a late chance, but they couldn’t capitalise and had to settle for a point. The pressure is already piling on both Kean and Jol after their poor starts to the season, a positive for Kean however was the solid performance of Scott Dann in defence.
Joey Barton was handed the captains armband, as his new QPR side faced his old employers Newcastle in Monday night’s action. New signing Shaun Wright-Phillips impressed for the hosts, creating a wonderful chance for Jay Bothroyd, who could only spoon his volley over the bar, Wright-Phillips also denied a brilliant goal as his chip was cleared off the line. QPR were perhaps unlucky not to take all three points, as this game finished goal less at Loftus Road.
Goals of the week
PETROV vs. Everton
HERNANDEZ (2nd) vs. Bolton
STURRIDGE vs. Sunderland
ADEBAYOR vs. Wolves
ROCHINA vs. Fulham
WINNER OF THE WEEK: Wayne Rooney. Wayne becomes the fourth player to score back to back hat tricks in the premier league (Les Ferdinand, Ian Wright and Didier Drogba) and his early form for club and country has been superb.
LOSER OF THE WEEK: Michel Vorm. It was Vorm’s blunder that denied Swansea a well-earned point at the Emirates, the Swans who are struggling for goals need to cut of simple mistakes at the back if they are to have any hope of staying up this season.
