The Premier League did not disappoint for drama in its first weekend back. The latest Soccer News of this week is that the Big Four all created some intrigue and raised more questions about themselves than a summer of speculation ever could. But the most surprising result of the weekend was certainly Arsenal’s, a 6-1 thrashing of Everton at Goodison Park.
Playing the type of beautiful soccer we knew they were capable of, the Gunners ran riot through the Everton back line and never looked troubled by a side that finished fifth in the league last season. Does it mean that the pundits have badly underestimated Arsenal? Not necessarily. Arsenal’s problems usually come later on, when the long season ravages the squad and weaker sides begin to prey in November and December. Still, Arsene Wenger could not ask for much more to start to the season than a morale-boosting victory like that one. This season, in the Football Betting world, Arsenal's rating has gone down.
After Manchester United edged out Birmingham, 1-0, the questions about how much they will miss Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez followed close behind. But with his first goal of the season, Wayne Rooney showed that he is prepared to shoulder the burden. It may have only been 1-0, but the Reds had a slew of opportunities and are not always known for winning pretty. The way Alex Ferguson saw it, a win was a win. And whether you win 1-0 or 6-1, you get the same three points.
It took Chelsea until the second minute of stoppage time to sneak past Hull 2-1 and it left people still wondering what to make of this team. How long will it take new manager Carlo Ancelotti to really get used to the Premier League? And is this a team that is well enough put together to last the full season?
But perhaps the most shocking result of the weekend was Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat against Tottenham. Liverpool made very few changes to its squad over the summer — the most notable being the offloading of Xabi Alonso — and it could soon come back to bite them. Impressively or not, the rest of the Big Four all did what was required in the first week. Liverpool really can’t afford to start by spotting them all a three-point lead in a season that promises to be highly competitive at the top.
Another result worth noting was Wigan’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, not so much for Wigan’s accomplishment, but rather for a return of harsh reality to Martin O’Neill’s squad. Villa sat in fourth place for much of last season, hoping to edge Arsenal out of the top four, but faded badly down the stretch. Have they still not broken out of that slump?
The beauty of the season’s returning is that we only have to wait until next weekend for the next set of answers but still I can enjoy Fantasy Football for more coming days.
Playing the type of beautiful soccer we knew they were capable of, the Gunners ran riot through the Everton back line and never looked troubled by a side that finished fifth in the league last season. Does it mean that the pundits have badly underestimated Arsenal? Not necessarily. Arsenal’s problems usually come later on, when the long season ravages the squad and weaker sides begin to prey in November and December. Still, Arsene Wenger could not ask for much more to start to the season than a morale-boosting victory like that one. This season, in the Football Betting world, Arsenal's rating has gone down.
After Manchester United edged out Birmingham, 1-0, the questions about how much they will miss Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez followed close behind. But with his first goal of the season, Wayne Rooney showed that he is prepared to shoulder the burden. It may have only been 1-0, but the Reds had a slew of opportunities and are not always known for winning pretty. The way Alex Ferguson saw it, a win was a win. And whether you win 1-0 or 6-1, you get the same three points.
It took Chelsea until the second minute of stoppage time to sneak past Hull 2-1 and it left people still wondering what to make of this team. How long will it take new manager Carlo Ancelotti to really get used to the Premier League? And is this a team that is well enough put together to last the full season?
But perhaps the most shocking result of the weekend was Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat against Tottenham. Liverpool made very few changes to its squad over the summer — the most notable being the offloading of Xabi Alonso — and it could soon come back to bite them. Impressively or not, the rest of the Big Four all did what was required in the first week. Liverpool really can’t afford to start by spotting them all a three-point lead in a season that promises to be highly competitive at the top.
Another result worth noting was Wigan’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, not so much for Wigan’s accomplishment, but rather for a return of harsh reality to Martin O’Neill’s squad. Villa sat in fourth place for much of last season, hoping to edge Arsenal out of the top four, but faded badly down the stretch. Have they still not broken out of that slump?
The beauty of the season’s returning is that we only have to wait until next weekend for the next set of answers but still I can enjoy Fantasy Football for more coming days.
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