Premier League round up

We'll start at the Stadium of Light where yesterday Sunderland beat Arsenal 1-0 thanks to a Darren Bent goal. The goal, well it's well covered ground with the Gunners, defending set pieces. A corner came in which was not dealt with and you have to praise Bent's persistence and hunger to squeeze through and get to that ball first. That was a persistence and hunger that none of the Arsenal players demonstrated, an abject attitude of 'someone else will deal with it.' Arsenal started brightly but the only time I remember us testing the keeper was Rosicky's chance early doors. After that it was a series of nice moves ending in not much of anything. Sunderland certainly deserved at least a point and maybe all 3, this was probably the worst we've played all season, but there was for me a stone wall pen on Vela in the dying minutes. Despite all my claims earlier in the week, yesterday was exactly the kind of game we could have really done with Van Persie to pull some magic out of nothing. Nasri and Rosicky looked like they hadn't played much football of late and even Arshavin off the bench couldn't create that little spark of Russian genius we've come to expect. Sunderland did very well and I'll say again that they are the most improved team of the league for me, and beat Arsenal with Cattermole, Gordon and Jones all missing. Hmm. One of the interesting things to come out of the game was Arsene Wenger's post match comments - now as a full time Gooner I've watched the Arsenal TV stuff, the BBC MOTD full version and the Sky TV full version. Arsene is rarely so critical of his players and you could tell he was very upset and very angry with some of them. He didn't name anyone individually of course but kept referring to 'several players not being prepared properly' and all sorts of stuff. Hopefully he gave them a bit of a shafting and not the usual talk of spirit and resilience and quality that bores me a bit. It's Liege on Tuesday which if we win means qualification and topping the group, before all battle stations turn to murdering Chelsea at the Grove.

Liverpool can't catch a break right now can they. After 18 minutes of their 2-2 draw with City they had already made 2 enforced subs who will join their lengthy injury list. The first half was absolute shit but when Skrtel lost Adebayor (haha) in the City box and turned a Gerrard free kick in, the game finally came to life. City will probably be happier with their point at Anfield (especially considering Lucas missed a great chance last kick of the game) but that is now 6 draws in a row for Hughsey. I don't rate Lescott or Bridge, I think Zabaleta is pretty average and Toure is past his best now so it's clear that the back is where their problems lie. As for Liverpool I can't be the only one to think that they just look poor right now, they look like they're always playing with 9 men or something because there just never seems to be a pass on, they never get it wide, they just look rubbish. They could be out of the Champions League come Tuesday night and then the Mersyside derby at Goodison is next Sunday - Rafa is under the cosh.

Chelsea spanked Wolves with half their team missing and Utd won comfortably against Everton, to leave the gap of 5 points between the two. Arsenal are a further 3 behind now but with a game in hand. If Arsenal can beat Chelsea next weekend and win that game in hand they will only be 2 behind their west London rivals, so it's not panic time in north London just yet. As for Utd, they'll always be there or there abouts and despite not playing well this season (yesterday was the best I'd seen them) they still have the points on the board.

I predicted a draw at the KC yesterday but had no idea what a draw was in store. West Ham went 2-up early on but in typical Hammers style chucked that lead away and somehow went in at half time 3-2 down! A jammy deflection and a shocking penalty decision really contrived against them mind you, and they rallied well to equalise and might have even pinched the win themselves. There was a good win for Birmingham at home to Fulham and jammy Villa got a late goal to nick a point from Burnley. Villa v Spurs next weekend should be a good game, the winner will take a big psychological step to that elusive 4th place - lets hope for a 6-6 draw then. Take her easy.