Normal service resumed in the Premier League as all of the top three as well as Chelsea and Arsenal won. Moreover, Manchester City thrashed someone again, Mario Balotelli scored and sulked, United won 1-0 in a dull game and Arsenal eviscerated Wigan with Robin van Persie on the scoresheet.
After last week’s draw with Liverpool and a recent – and relative – slip in scoring, City returned to rampant form against Norwich, winning 5-1. Sergio Aguero opening the scoring in the first half before Roberto Mancini’s side finally cut loose in the second with all of Samir Nasri, Yaya Toure, Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson. Steve Morison at least spoiled a City cleansheet by making it 4-1 just before Johnson wrapped things up.
At the same time, Tottenham compounded Owen Coyle’s recent troubles with an easy – and impressive – 3-0 win. Gareth Bale and Jermain Defoe kept up their recent goalscoring form with Aaron Lennon hitting in between. That put Bolton into second bottom and Spurs – temporarily – into second in the table until United travelled to Villa.
It wasn’t just that position which put Alex Ferguson’s team under pressure, however, as they hadn’t won in four and, most troubling for the manager, couldn’t convert a series of late sieges. No such trouble against Villa, however, as Phil Jones scored the first senior goal of his career and only one of the game. As such, United ran out winners in relatively routine fashion. There was some bad news for Ireland, though, as Shay Given had to go off after pulling his hamstring.
Chelsea, meanwhile, moved into fourth as well as easing recent worries thanks to a 3-0 win that may have ended up emphatic but, throughout the course of the game, was anything but. Indeed, there was a lot of trouble for Chelsea as David Luiz was lucky not be sent off after four minutes for hauling down Demba Ba in a one-on-one, Frank Lampard missed a penalty and Newcastle hit the frame of the goal amid a series of good chances. John Terry also had to clear a shot off the line. Ultimately, though, Didier Drogba’s superb first-half header gave them a cushion throughout before they ruthlessly finished off Newcastle in the closing minutes thanks to strikes from Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge.
Arsenal also overcame last week’s draw with Fulham by brushing Wigan aside 4-0. Despite a strong start from Roberto Martinez’s side, two goals in two minutes terminated their chances. First, Mikel Arteta fired from distance before Thomas Vermaelen headed in a Van Persie corner. Gervinho then finished off another before the Dutchman got in on the act himself.
That result put Wigan back bottom of the table after Blackburn Rovers claimed a gutsy 4-2 win over Swansea. The win, of course, was largely down to four-goal hero Aiyegbeni Yakubu but he made sure to put on a public show of hugging Steve Kean after the first.
In the very middle of the table, QPR and West Brom played out a 1-1 draw with Shane Long cancelling Heidar Helguson’s opener.
