Jon Mcleod
Andrew MacdougallThe Final Word on the weekend
Arsenal
The success of Samir Nasri’s Arsenal career could be defined in the coming months. A bold statement but with Cesc Fabregas injured for a further few months, Nasri’s creativity and scoring touch from midfield will be decisive in Arsenal’s push for Champions League football. The Frenchman, who started the season so brightly, scored on Saturday and must now consistently impose himself on Arsenal’s season.
Aston Villa
The question is will Ashley Young’s dismissal derail Villa’s surge towards the top four. They will certainly miss his pace, goals and assists and crucially absence could place too much pressure on Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Blackburn
Hard, direct and damned effective: this is football Sam Allardyce style. Blackburn has never been as pretentious to claim they only value `beautiful football` unlike one of Allardyce’s most recent clubs and Saturday’s opponents. The question is who are the happier?
Bolton
If Bolton successfully avoid the trap door this season they will have Jussi Jaaskelainen to thank. The goalkeeper may not have been able to save them on Saturday but by the end of the campaign he will no doubt done enough to save them.
Chelsea
The relief was evident as Frank Lampard led a swarm of Chelsea players racing to the touchline to celebrate with boss Felipe Luiz Scolari. But possible more defining in Chelsea’s season is the injury to Joe Cole. Chelsea are desperately short on width and creativity at present and Cole, at his best, can bring both. Is this the time for Miroslav Stoch.
Fulham
For such a consistent and disciplined defence, Fulham’s back four had an erratic day which was exemplified by Paul Konchesky. The left-back hit a stunning long-range drive before cutting down Carlton Cole, for which he should have been sent off, to give away a stupid penalty.
Hull
Their slide down the league is gathering a queasy momentum that could see them drop out of the top 10 soon. But they have garnered sufficient belief and nous over the past five months to see them through.
Manchester City
There is only one name to be heard at the Eastlands at present and no it is not Pablo Zabaleta - who scored the winner against Wigan. However the Argentine illustrated an important point: it will be the men around Kaka that will define the £100million man`s success as much as the player himself..
Manchester United
That which seemed inevitable for months has finally happened. United have hit the top and despite his indifferent demeanor Dimitar Berbatov is looking priceless.
Middlesbrough
Could chairman Steve Gibson, `the merciful`, even be forced to wield the axe? The guardian angel of beleaguered Boro bosses may have to fire Gareth Southgate should Middlesbrough continue their fall towards the bottom and the Championship.
Newcastle
Can Joe Kinnear open his month without spitting vile abuse at anyone in his presence? He was amazingly fortunate to have got the job and even more so to keep it so long. His continued presence only signifies the depths to which Newcastle’s expectations have plunged.
Portsmouth
Sol Campbell looked fearful of the potential stream of abuse awaiting him as the teams lined up in the tunnel ready to emerge onto the pitch, but for the majority of the game he showed none of it. A mighty response from the former Tottenham defender.
Stoke
So the creator turns the finisher. Rory Delap, so often the tormentor, took advantage of some atrocious Chelsea defending to slot home to prove he is much more than a human catapult. Though it was not enough for the draw, Stoke face bigger games ahead.
Sunderland
Life after Roy Keane is not necessarily rosier as you’d expect. May be Sunderland should have waited a little longer to give the reigns to Ricky Sbragia on a full time basis.
Tottenham
Spurs can surely claim to have the most wasteful strike line in the Premiership. They missed a sack load and more. Darren Bent was the simplest chance but Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko also fall into the category of less than efficient forwards.
West Brom
They were beginning to take root, but West Brom are off the bottom of the Premier League table. A crucial psychological barrier overcome or a temporary window full of false hope? Almost certainly the latter.
West Ham
A 3-1 win over Fulham proved that there is plenty of talent in the squad beyond Craig Bellamy. They must snap Mark Hughes’ arm off if he offers the rumoured £14million for the Welshman who has only started to play in recent weeks when the transfer window came into sight.
Wigan
In the summer Wigan manager Steve Bruce look back on Amir Zaki’s horrendous miss and thank his lucky stars. The Egyptian headed over when scoring seemed infinitely easier but it should help Zaki stays off the radar during transfer window and give Bruce a decent shout at signing the striker in the summer.
The success of Samir Nasri’s Arsenal career could be defined in the coming months. A bold statement but with Cesc Fabregas injured for a further few months, Nasri’s creativity and scoring touch from midfield will be decisive in Arsenal’s push for Champions League football. The Frenchman, who started the season so brightly, scored on Saturday and must now consistently impose himself on Arsenal’s season.
Aston Villa
The question is will Ashley Young’s dismissal derail Villa’s surge towards the top four. They will certainly miss his pace, goals and assists and crucially absence could place too much pressure on Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Blackburn
Hard, direct and damned effective: this is football Sam Allardyce style. Blackburn has never been as pretentious to claim they only value `beautiful football` unlike one of Allardyce’s most recent clubs and Saturday’s opponents. The question is who are the happier?
Bolton
If Bolton successfully avoid the trap door this season they will have Jussi Jaaskelainen to thank. The goalkeeper may not have been able to save them on Saturday but by the end of the campaign he will no doubt done enough to save them.
Chelsea
The relief was evident as Frank Lampard led a swarm of Chelsea players racing to the touchline to celebrate with boss Felipe Luiz Scolari. But possible more defining in Chelsea’s season is the injury to Joe Cole. Chelsea are desperately short on width and creativity at present and Cole, at his best, can bring both. Is this the time for Miroslav Stoch.
Fulham
For such a consistent and disciplined defence, Fulham’s back four had an erratic day which was exemplified by Paul Konchesky. The left-back hit a stunning long-range drive before cutting down Carlton Cole, for which he should have been sent off, to give away a stupid penalty.
Hull
Their slide down the league is gathering a queasy momentum that could see them drop out of the top 10 soon. But they have garnered sufficient belief and nous over the past five months to see them through.
Manchester City
There is only one name to be heard at the Eastlands at present and no it is not Pablo Zabaleta - who scored the winner against Wigan. However the Argentine illustrated an important point: it will be the men around Kaka that will define the £100million man`s success as much as the player himself..
Manchester United
That which seemed inevitable for months has finally happened. United have hit the top and despite his indifferent demeanor Dimitar Berbatov is looking priceless.
Middlesbrough
Could chairman Steve Gibson, `the merciful`, even be forced to wield the axe? The guardian angel of beleaguered Boro bosses may have to fire Gareth Southgate should Middlesbrough continue their fall towards the bottom and the Championship.
Newcastle
Can Joe Kinnear open his month without spitting vile abuse at anyone in his presence? He was amazingly fortunate to have got the job and even more so to keep it so long. His continued presence only signifies the depths to which Newcastle’s expectations have plunged.
Portsmouth
Sol Campbell looked fearful of the potential stream of abuse awaiting him as the teams lined up in the tunnel ready to emerge onto the pitch, but for the majority of the game he showed none of it. A mighty response from the former Tottenham defender.
Stoke
So the creator turns the finisher. Rory Delap, so often the tormentor, took advantage of some atrocious Chelsea defending to slot home to prove he is much more than a human catapult. Though it was not enough for the draw, Stoke face bigger games ahead.
Sunderland
Life after Roy Keane is not necessarily rosier as you’d expect. May be Sunderland should have waited a little longer to give the reigns to Ricky Sbragia on a full time basis.
Tottenham
Spurs can surely claim to have the most wasteful strike line in the Premiership. They missed a sack load and more. Darren Bent was the simplest chance but Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko also fall into the category of less than efficient forwards.
West Brom
They were beginning to take root, but West Brom are off the bottom of the Premier League table. A crucial psychological barrier overcome or a temporary window full of false hope? Almost certainly the latter.
West Ham
A 3-1 win over Fulham proved that there is plenty of talent in the squad beyond Craig Bellamy. They must snap Mark Hughes’ arm off if he offers the rumoured £14million for the Welshman who has only started to play in recent weeks when the transfer window came into sight.
Wigan
In the summer Wigan manager Steve Bruce look back on Amir Zaki’s horrendous miss and thank his lucky stars. The Egyptian headed over when scoring seemed infinitely easier but it should help Zaki stays off the radar during transfer window and give Bruce a decent shout at signing the striker in the summer.
