Chelsea’s impressive win against Liverpool was one of the few positives in a weekend that saw Arsenal and Tottenham both lose 2-1 against opponents that they would have expected to beat!
Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea
Chelsea continued their unbeaten start to the season with a superb team victory at Anfield. Goals in the first half from Emre Can for Liverpool and Gary Cahill for Chelsea sent the teams in at the break nicely poised. But another Diego Costa goal gave Chelsea the win with a nest finish following great wing-play from full-back Cesar Azpilicueta to create the chance. Jose Mourinho hailed his team’s performance after a disappointing 1-1 draw in Slovenia in Wednesday, the Blues now go into the break four points clear at the top of the league.
Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace were unfortunate after being narrowly defeated at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon. Juan Mata came off the bench to make the impact but Frazier Campbell missed a guilt-edge chance to give Palace the lead in the first half when the scores were level. James McArthur replaced the suspended Mile Jedinak and it was his pass who cut United open before Frazier Campbell lifted the ball over David De Gea and onto the roof of the net while he was one-on-one with the Spaniard. It was a narrow defeat for Palace, but now only goal difference separates them and Leicester in the relegation zone.
Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Manchester City
QPR were unfortunate after Manchester City twice came from behind to draw at Loftus Road on Saturday evening. Charlie Austin had two goals disallowed before he beat Joe Hart with a low finish and Sergio Agüero levelled swiftly just before the break. QPR restored the lead through a Martin Demichelis own goal. Manchester City equalised when Agüero again latched onto Yaya Touré’s sensational pass and rounded Rob Green and find a finish.
West Ham 0-0 Aston Villa
West Ham missed an opportunity to close the gap on Manchester City after a stalemate with Aston Villa at Upton Park. West Ham certainly looked the most likely to score and substitute Andy Carroll forced the save of the game with his powerful header clawed away by Brad Guzan. The Hammers are now unbeaten and go into the international break pretty in fourth.
Tottenham 1-2 Stoke City
Tottenham dropped to 12th in the Premier League as former Barcelona man Bojan condemned Spurs to their fourth home defeat in five. The spaniard’s lovely run and finish opened the scouring before Jon Walters converted Mame Biram Diouf’s cross to make it 2-0 at the break. Nacer Chadli volleyed home from a tight angle with 13 minutes to play before Kyle Naughton received his marching orders for a foul on Victor Moses but Stoke held on for a deserved win against a very lacklustre Tottenham.
Swansea City 2-1 Arsenal
Arsenal squandered yet another lead as Swansea came from behind to win at the Liberty Stadium . Alexis Sánchez put Arsenal ahead finishing off a beautiful counter-attacking move before a wonderful Gylfi Sigurdsson free-kick levelled things. Three minutes later Bafetimbi Gomis headed home Jefferson Montero’s cross and the Swans gave Arsenal their second defeat of the season and are now only one point ahead of Manchester United in sixth. It was also the second time in a week Arsenal had thrown away a lead after an incredible capitulation at home to Anderlecht on Tuesday.
Millwall 2-3 Brentford
Brentford were pegged back before winning the third game in a week with a3-2 win at The Den. André Gary made it 1-0 slotting under David Forde. Gray then doubled his tally and Brentford’s advantage racing onto a pass to slot past Forde again. John Gregory halved the deficit when he flicked the ball past David Button and Alan Dunne then equalised with a low strike to make it 2-2. Lee Gregory was then denied by the post before Danny Shittu turned last his pen keeper to give Brentford the win and send the west Londoners into the top six.
Reading 0-1 Charlton Athletic
Igor Vetokele scored his eighth goal of the season as Charlton narrowly won at the Madejski on Saturday. Angolan Vetokele headed in with 39 minutes played. Oliver Norwood hit the post for the home side late on but Charlton held on to move up to eighth in the table and within one point of the play-offs.
Fulham 3-1 Huddersfield
Fulham continued their amazing revival under Kit Symons and moved up to 17th in the table with a 3-1 win over Huddersfield at Craven Cottage. Hugo Rodallega put the Cottagers ahead deeding off Ross McCormack’s pass and slotting under Alex Smithies. Joel Lynch equalised for Huddersfield with 15 minutes to go but goals from Lasse Vignette Christensen and a stunner from Ross McCormack gave Fulham all three points as they extended their unbeaten run to six matches.
By Alex Burns
Follow @alexarsenal11