Arsenal

The Weekender

By Matthew Day ⋅ August 20, 2007 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Story of the Weekend
No one would have dreamt it, but Wigan went top of the Premier League, albeit temporarily, after Saturday’s seven matches following a 3-0 hammering of Roy Keane’s previously impressive Sunderland. There was an unjustified wave of sympathy for big-spenders Tottenham after successive defeats, and so the world breathed a sigh of relief when they dispatched Championship-bound Derby at White Hart Lane – ‘the season starts here’, exclaim the media and supporters. A hospital is set to be built outside Craven Cottage after Saturday’s surreal encounter between Fulham and eventual 2-1 winners Middlesbrough. Referee Lee Mason went off injured early on, and he was followed by Fulham duo Brian McBride and Hameur Bouazza inside the first 35 minutes. Mido scored on his debut – helped by the incompetence of Fulham goalkeeper Tony Warner – and the hosts were denied an equaliser in added time despite David Healy’s shot clearly crossing the line. West Ham picked up their first victory at struggling Birmingham, and three points headed the way of Reading and Portsmouth.

Defending champions Manchester United already have a big mountain to climb if they are to retain their crown after falling 1-0 at Manchester City, thanks to a Geovanni effort. United dominated but lacked a cutting edge, leaving them on just two points after three matches having scored only one goal in that period and they lie five points off favourites Chelsea, who benefited from a stroke of luck to earn a 1-1 draw at Anfield against Liverpool. Fernando Torres scored a brilliant opener, but Frank Lampard levelled when referee Rob Styles incorrectly ruled that Florent Malouda had been fouled in the box. Both sides remain unbeaten and look set to battle it out for top spot over the next few months, especially after Arsenal failed to take advantage of their rivals’ results. A 1-1 draw at Blackburn offered little indication that the Gunners would compete any better this season than they did in the last.

Match of the Day Watch
The programme’s producers incur the wrath of fans each week who claim their team is always last on the show. The Weekender will record which match is on last, throughout the season…
Saturday 11 August: Everton 2-1 Wigan
Wednesday 15 August: Fulham 2-1 Bolton
Saturday 18 August: Newcastle 0-0 Aston Villa

3 x Fulham
Each of Fulham’s three Premier League matches have finished 2-1, the team scoring first losing on every occasion, and the winner has come from a midfielder each time (Hleb, Arsenal; Smertin, Fulham; Cattermole, Middlesbrough).

½ Penalties
The games at Wigan and Birmingham brought three penalties, but there ought to have been double that number. Chris Hutchings’ Wigan side had two excellent shouts for a spot-kick in the first half versus Sunderland while West Ham’s Kieron Dyer was caught in a headlock, but Mark Halsey was unmoved. Altered scores: Wigan 5-0 Sunderland; Birmingham 0-2 West Ham.

NUMBER CRUNCHER

7 The number of penalties awarded this season
2.48 Premier League goal average: 67 in 27 matches

Quote…Unquote

“I think he will watch the video of the match and admit that his penalty decision was a mistake.”
Rafa Benítez on Rob Styles’ penalty award

“I think it is a difficult game for referees. Overall Mr Styles had a positive game.”
The always fair-minded José Mourinho praises a referee for once

“I felt there was a desire for violence more than commitment in their challenges.”
Arsène Wenger reopens the discussion on whether teams are over-aggressive against Arsenal

“There is a fine line between loyalty and stupidity. I have been stupid. It won’t happen again.”
Roy Keane doesn’t disappoint as Sunderland are beaten. He warns there is no room for sentiment after showing a little to the ineffective Dwight Yorke

“Maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree, but it does seem to be the small clubs do not seem to get those decisions.”
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce’s paranoia has returned to your TV screens

Who’d want to be a goalkeeper?
It seemed Jens Lehmann had got rid of his erratic goalkeeping after two outstanding seasons on the bounce. Praise was frequent, especially for his role in setting a new Champions League record for consecutive clean sheets in Arsenal’s run to the final in 2006, but after a wrangling over a new contract for most of the summer, his time in North London might be drawing to a close after two errors in as many top-flight games. 50 seconds into the season opener against Fulham, he miscontrolled a passback and allowed David Healy to score, and at Ewood Park, his lack of concentration gave Blackburn an equalising goal after the ball slipped through his fingers. However, goalkeepers are usually shown mercy so while this season might be Lehmann’s last, he will still be aggravating reserve ‘keeper Manuel Almunia by taking a position between the sticks.

The German is probably thankful he isn’t the only Premier League goalkeeper in the limelight for committing errors. Fulham’s Tony Warner, ironically after a heroic performance at the Emirates Stadium on the opening weekend, has since committed two blunders. Against Bolton in midweek, he dropped a wet ball and Heidar Helguson stroked it into the unguarded net – though Fulham won 2-1 – and three days later, he fumbled a weak Mido effort into the back of the net as Middlesbrough won 2-1. Like Lehmann, his first error went unpunished, but lightning doesn’t often strike twice…

Sven’s £415 bottle of wine: “I will not be sharing it with him. I will take it home instead,” said Sir Alex. And he will need every drop of it.

Related Articles

• No related posts.