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Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio reacts towards the Sunderland fans after the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich, on September 21, 2013. West Bromwich Albion won 3-0. (ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images)
After five rounds of games, the Premier league still leads the way in terms of excitement. The North London clubs – Arsenal and Tottenham are leading the pack with Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool right behind them.
Paolo Di Canio became the first managerial casualty in the Premier league this season. PDM lost everything – football games, the dressing room, fans backing and finally the board room. Sunderland chairman Ellis Short wasted no time in getting rid of the Italian who spent less than six months in charge.
The 45-year-old former Swindon manager was expected to struggle after bringing in 14 new players for the start of his first full campaign at the Stadium of Light. His final game was a humiliating 3-0 loss to West Brom at the Hawthornes where former Black Cat, Stephane Sessegnon opened scoring.
Elsewhere in the north, it is not equally exciting at the Gallow gate as Newcastle lost 2-3 to Hull City in a highly entertaining encounter. Alan Pardew’s men must have been pretty confident considering how they had picked themselves up after an opening day defeat at Man City to earn seven points from three games including an away win at Villa Park before the Tigers visit.
The sword of Damocles may still be hanging in the North if the Magpies lose their third round Capital one cup encounter midweek against Leeds. #PardewOut may be chorused at St James Park.
Liverpool were brought back to earth after a strong start to the season. The early pacesetters suffered their first defeat to the team that last beat them at home. Philippe Coutinho’s absence can be well illustrated with the Liverpool’s midfield display – no real cutting edge as Southampton held on for their second away win of the season.
The Reds can console themselves that their talisman, Luis Suarez, will return to the side after completing his ban. Across the road, neighbours Everton continue to impress under Roberto Martinez. The Catalan born manager got an impressive result at a difficult ground, Leighton Baines proved to be a class above with two well dispatched free-kicks to level the score at 2-2 before Romelu Lukaku finished off with a debut goal.
Paul Lambert continues to irritate the Carrow road faithful. His Villa side turned the corner with an away win at his old club, his third over the canaries since leaving the club in acrimonious circumstances in July 2012.
On his return to the capital, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea entertained Fulham in a West London derby late Saturday with the 2010 league champions having suffered back-to-back defeats to Everton and Basel respectively. Chelsea laboured to a 2-0 victory thanks to Oscar and can anyone guess who got the second? John Obi Mikel. Yippe!!!
The Nigerian international got his first league goal in his eighth season at the club. Roman Abramovich, who was present at Stamford Bridge, was caught on camera celebrating Mikel’s brilliant finish. Congrats Mikel! I’m sure you know what it feels like scoring a Premier league goal now cause your celebration said a lot. *Chuckles!
Arsene Wenger manager of Arsenal looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Stoke City at Emirates Stadium on September 22, 2013 in London, England.
“You don’t know what you’re doing” were the chants at the Emirates Stadium after a disappointing 1-3 loss to Aston Villa on the opening day of campaign. The Gunners were irritated by promises made of adding quality acquisitions to the side, but nothing other than youngsters appearing at the entrance door to the Emirates to pen deals, but this term the Professor shocked the football world with a club record signing of German international Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid.
The 24-year-old has wasted no time in settling down to business with four assists in two league games. In a contrast of styles, Arsenal scored their three goals via set pieces against STOKE! The rhetoric has now moved to ‘In Wenger we Trust’.
Yes, Stoke City, the Brittania stadium club!
Man of the moment, Aaron Ramsey, grabbed the first. The victory took Arsenal to the top of the table. Here is the point – can Arsenal supporters start dreaming of the title considering how other rivals are performing with particular reference to Manchester United? I believe this is a question that will be answered in May 2014.
For the records, Arsenal have won league titles in a World Cup year – 1997/98 as well as 2001/02. This is a world cup year. I’ll leave it at that.
Swansea hit Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park with two good goals from Michu and Nathan Dyer. No European exhaustion for the South Wales team who gave a dominant performance against Ian Holloway’s team. Perhaps if he was not suspended, his presence in the dugout could have lifted a dispirited Palace side. It has been a great week for the Swans.
Tottenham left it late, but as the saying goes, it’s better late than never. Paulinho back-heeled in Erik Lamela’s low cross right at the death. Bluebirds goalkeeper David Marshall produced a series of outstanding saves to keep the Londoners at bay, but in the end, it was more than a deserved victory for AVB’s side who dominated for long periods during the game.
The fixture of the round – The Manchester derby – did not go according to script.
We saw City blow United away in a convincing display. They ensured David Moyes’ first derby as Manchester United manager ended in abject humiliation with a crushing defeat at the Etihad Stadium. It was a day of delight for new City boss Manuel Pellegrini as he watched the rampant Sky Blues make a powerful statement about their Premier League ambitions.
United did not have Robin van Persie because of injury, but the absence of one player – no matter how significant – cannot account for the manner in which they were utterly outclassed.
City have made a huge statement, Arsenal are getting the job done, Jose Mourinho is still looking for the right balance and approach for Chelsea while United have struggled in games so far. Only Sunderland have pressed the panic button as we prepare for another round of excitement next weekend.
Do you think Arsenal can mount a serious challenge this campaign? Who will be the next manager to vacate his office? Leave your comments in the space provided below.
