Premier League Round-up – Gameweek 2

Arsenal were top performers of the weekend

Premier League fans were treated to a mid-week fixture rearranged from August 31st because of the UEFA Super Cup to be played between Chelsea, under Jose Mourinho (Europa League winners under Rafael Benitez) and Bayern Munich, under Pep Guardiola (Champions League winners under Jupp Heynckes), La Liga fans will be thus eagerly waiting for a rehash of the earlier El Clasico between ex Real Madrid and Barcelona managers with different teams.

But while Chelsea were expecting an easy contest with Aston Villa even after their upset of the Gunners at home, the midweek fixture was nothing short of entertaining!

Paul Lambert, possibly still stinging from the horrific 8-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in the previous season, was determined to get his team forward in terms of creating chances and being positive. And they were on the verge of taking away a point from the game even though they conceded an own goal courtesy of Antonio Luna who was unable to move his feet away after Brad Guzan had blocked curling shot from Eden Hazard. But try as they had, the Blues did not find easier ways to score as fluently as they had in the earlier fixture.

The Special One’s record of unbeaten Premier League matches at home was in danger when Gabriel Agbonlahor, doggedly followed by Branislav Ivanovic on the left, tapped one to Christian Benteke who slotted an equaliser past Petr Cech just before half time.

Mourinho can thank referee Kevin Friend for not awarding his Serbian defender another yellow card when a late pulling of Benteke with an arm in the box had earned him one already. But Jose was happy when moments later the Serbian himself headed in a Frank Lampard free kick, freely, to put Chelsea ahead and give his boss a sigh of relief.

Changes were made when Fernando Torres was removed from the squad, Demba Ba was played upfront along with Chelsea’s Player of the Season Juan Mata starting. Both starters were replaced by Romelu Lukaku and Andre Schurrle respectively who ultimately did not add to the score-line. All in all, everything is safe again at Stamford Bridge, Blues fans.

The tempo of the opening weekend came down by several notches as teams with fixtures on Saturday, with the exception of Arsenal at Craven Cottage, either managed a one goal win or a yawning draw. Liverpool continued their golden clean sheet run with a Daniel Sturridge goal at Aston Villa as the hosts didn’t manage to recreate the magic that had troubled the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, troubling new keeper Simon Mignolet only a few times.

Newcastle United and West Ham United along with Everton and West Bromwich Albion had scoreless draws which saw many chances not reach the back of the net for lack of a better description, the Baggies reeling from the absence of main man Nicolas Anelka after his brother-agent passed away earlier in the week.

While new boys on the block, Hull City, managed to register their first win of the campaign, thanks to a penalty from Robert Brady even though 5 minutes later Yannick Sagbo was sent off against Norwich City, while Crystal Palace continued to miss their talisman, Wilfried Zaha, as they lost rather tamely 2-1 to Stoke City with former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh scoring for the Eagles as Charlie Adam and Ryan Shawcross did for Mark Hughes’ men.

Southampton and Sunderland had a goal draw with Jose Fonte scoring a late equaliser after new signing Emanuele Giaccherini had opened the scoring for the Black Cats very early in the game.

Arsenal bounced back from their shock home defeat against Villa by thumping Fenerbahce and continued their brilliant form from their Champions League playoff, away leg in Turkey amidst pounding rain in Craven Cottage as Fulham were dismantled by Lukas Podolski’s brace following Olivier Giroud’s opener again.

Aaron Ramsey set up the opener while Wojciech Szcezsny was denied a clean sheet again despite brilliant saves and rebound saves until Darren Bent, on loan from Aston Villa, managed to sneak a goal in past the Pole in front of new owner Shahid Khan. David Stockdale continued to deny Theo Walcott and Adel Taarabt remained a strong presence countering Ramsey for the Cottagers.