Premier League: Arsenal slip to 10th, Manchester City held

Monitoring Desk

LONDON, England (TheSportsNEXT) December 2, 2012: There was concern for Arsenal fans at the Emirates Stadium as Arsene Wenger's side were outplayed by Swansea and lost 2-0 thanks to a late Michu brace.

The Gunners had been lucky to hold on with Wojciech Szczesny pulling off a superb double save to deny Angel Rangel, then a crucial interception from Thomas Vermaelen denied a certain goal for Nathan Dyer. Szczesny also saved well to deny Swansea debutant Dwight Tiendalli late on before Michu slid home the opener two minutes from time, and struck again in injury time as Arsenal left the field to a chorus of boos.

Jack Wilshere

Manchester City leapfrogged Manchester United back to the top of the table but only on goal difference after they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against impressive Everton at the Etihad Stadium.

Marouane Fellaini's eighth goal of the season had put David Moyes' men in front in the first half before Carlos Tevez equalised from the penalty spot two minutes before the break after Fellaini was adjudged to have felled Edin Dzeko in the box.

Harry Redknapp's home debut in charge of Queens Park Rangers ended in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Loftus Road, in a game from which both sides will be frustrated not to have claimed all three points.

Brett Holman rammed the visitors in front with just eight minutes on the clock before Jamie Mackie equalised with an 18th minute header. Shaun Wright-Phillips hit the post for Rangers before Stephane Mbia was stretchered off in first-half injury time after an off-the-ball collision with Gabriel Agbonlahor.

The home side largely controlled the second period but were almost made to pay for their missed chances when Villa substitute Karim El Ahmadi fired just wide with two minutes to go.

Jermain Defoe scored twice as a superb second half show from Tottenham saw the visitors canter to a 3-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. Sandro put Spurs ahead when he caught out Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer from long range in the 55th minute, before Defoe took over, sliding home from a set-up by Gylfi Sigurdsson on 72, and completing his side's win five minutes later.

Daniel Agger's 43rd minute header proved enough as Liverpool chiselled out a 1-0 win over struggling Southampton at Anfield. The home side largely dominated with Jonjo Shelvey hitting the post in the 36th minute, then a Luis Suarez free-kick rebounded off the bar and fell to Glen Johnson, whose cross back into the box set up the winner for Agger.

Substitute Dean Whitehead snatched a 75th minute winner for Stoke at The Hawthorns as West Brom fell to their second successive defeat. A dismal game sprang to life in the final quarter hour after Whitehead - a 54th minute replacement for Charlie Adam, poked home from a ball into the box by Michael Kightly to give the Potters a 1-0 win .

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Manchester United surge to top of English Premier League

Robin Van Persie helps Red Devils stun The Gunners at Old Trafford

Monitoring Desk

LONDON, England (TheSportsNEXT) November 4, 2012: Robin van Persie piled on the misery for former club Arsenal as Manchester United went top of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford after Chelsea were held for a 1-1 draw by Swansea City.

Victory in the early kick-off match saw United replace Chelsea in first place and that is where they stayed after the European champions were held to a 1-1 draw at Swansea City later on Saturday. In Manchester, Van Persie needed fewer than three minutes to put United in front before Patrice Evra doubled their lead in the 67th minute.

Arsenal's day got worse when midfielder Jack Wilshere, in only his second game back following a long injury lay-off, was sent off for a second bookable offence after he caught Evra on the ankle. "It was a special day, in the end it was about the game and I think we played well," Van Persie told Sky Sports.

United manager Alex Ferguson praised Van Persie's goal and his all-round performance by saying: "It was an ideal start for the Manchester United cause and it was good for Robin. I thought he was fantastic today. His movement, his penetration was fantastic."

Van Persie, playing against Arsenal for the first time since his £24million pre-season move from the Gunners, wasted little time in giving United the lead.

He struck in the third minute when, after Thomas Vermaelen failed to clear a Rafael cross from the right, he shot into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area. It was the 29-year-old's tenth goal in 13 United appearances.

United should have doubled their lead shortly before half-time when they were awarded a penalty after Santi Cazorla blocked Ashley Young's cross with his arm. But England striker Wayne Rooney saw his spot-kick go well wide of Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone's right post.

However, Evra did make it 2-0 when he headed in a Rooney cross following a short corner. Cazorla pulled a goal back for Arsenal with virtually the last kick of the match, but defeat meant the Gunners were left nine points off the summit just ten games into the season.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his side had done themselves few favours in falling 1-0 behind so early in the match. "It was important not to put ourselves in trouble, which is what we did," said Wenger.

"Yes (Wilshere's sending-off) looked harsh from the stand, the second yellow," the Frenchman added. "I think we were a bit unlucky, especially with the penalty decision."

After a goalless first half, Nigeria winger Victor Moses gave Chelsea a 61st-minute lead at the Liberty Stadium with a flick-on following Gary Cahill's header from an Eden Hazard corner. But Pablo Hernandez's equaliser two minutes from time saw the points shared.

"It is a disappointment we weren't able to finish the game off," said Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo. "It is a shame because we scored the goal and held on until two mintues from the end."

Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini scored twice as Everton replaced Tottenham Hotspur in fourth place on goal difference with a 2-2 draw at Fulham. Fulham took a seventh-minute lead when Bryan Ruiz's 25-yard free-kick went in off a combination of post and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.

However, Everton equalised through Fellaini in the 55th minute and 17 minutes later he struck a low shot past Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. Steve Sidwell, though, rescued a point for Fulham with a late strike.

Wigan Athletic won 1-0 away to Tottenham with Ben Watson scoring the only goal when he shot home from close range following a 56th-minute corner.

Elsewhere, Gabriel Agbonlahor scored for the first time in 29 league games as Aston Villa pulled clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win against a Sunderland side managed by former coach Martin O'Neill.

Meanwhile strugglers Norwich City won 1-0 at home to Stoke City, with Bradley Johnson's header a minute before half-time the difference.

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FA slaps four-match ban on John Terry

By Ashley Williams

LONDON, England (TheSportsNEXT) September 28, 2012: The English Football Association slapped a four-match ban on Chelsea captain John Terry on Thursday after finding him guilty of racial abuse in a four-day hearing.

 

John Terry, who had retired from all international soccer, appeared before the FA disciplinary committee over allegations that the former England captain had racially abused Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in a Barclays English Premier League match played in October 2011.

It is important to mention here that John Terry was acquitted by the British law courts in July over the racism allegations.

John Terry’s solicitor told local media after the verdict, "John Terry is disappointed that the FA commission has reached a different conclusion to the clear not guilty verdict of a court of law. He has asked for the detailed written reasons and will consider carefully before deciding whether to lodge an appeal."

Apart from the four-match ban, John Terry has also been fined 220,000 pounds and the penalty is suspended until after the verdict of any appeal lodged against the verdict within the next two weeks.

The Football Association said in a statement, "The Independent Regulatory Commission will provide written reasons for its decision in due course”.

John Terry will have to miss two of the Chelsea’s most crucial encounters against Arsenal FC and Manchester United, the first one in the English Premier League and the second one in the League Cup.

Chelsea FC released a statement saying the EPL club respected the decision. It stated, "Chelsea Football Club notes and respects today's decision by the Football Association regarding John Terry”.

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Manchester United down Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield

By Ashley Williams

LONDON, England (TheSportsNEXT) September 23, 2012: Manchester United came from behind to stun their arch-foes Liverpool 2-1 in English Premier League match at Anfield on Sunday.

 

Liverpool, who are yet to meet victory this season, were cut down to 10 men in the 39^th minute when Mark Halsey showed Jonjo Shelvey the Red Card for a stupid foul and ended up recording their worst calendar year since 1993 in terms of most number of defeats.

Skipper Steven Gerrard scored for Liverpool in 46^th minute but Rafael took only five minutes to equalize the affair before Robin van Persie sealed the deal for Manchester United in 75^th minute.

After this crucial victory, Manchester United are now second in the EPL points table, just a point below leaders Chelsea FC while Liverpool are among the three worst teams in the league.

In other English Premier League matches this weekend, Tottenham Hotspur defeated Queens Park Rangers by 2-1, Newcastle United beat Norwich City by 1-0, while Manchester City were held for a 1-1 draw by Arsenal FC.

Following is the complete list of results from the English Premier League this weekend.

Everton 3-0 Swansea City on September 22, 2012

West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Reading on September 22, 2012

West Ham United 1-1 Sunderland on September 22, 2012

Chelsea FC 1-0 Stoke City on September 22, 2012

Fulham 2-1 Wigan Athletic on September 22, 2012

Southampton 4-1 Aston Villa on September 22, 2012

Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool FC on September 23, 2012

Newcastle United 1-0 Norwich City on September 23, 2012

Manchester City 1-1 FC Arsenal on September 23, 2012

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Queens Park Rangers on September 23, 2012

 

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Arsenal off the mark as Podolski, Cazorla sink Liverpool

By Ashley Williams

LONDON (TheSportsNext) September 3, 2012: The lady luck has finally started smiling at Arsene Wenger and company as Arsenal FC won their first match in the Barclays English Premier League 2012-13 on Sunday when they outclassed Liverpool FC by two goals to nil, thanks to new signings Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla who struck goals in either half.

German striker Lukas Podolski proved his worth for The Gunners in the high-pressure encounter against Liverpool as he gave Arsenal FC the advantage in 31^stminute.

Podolski successfully converted a pass from Steven Gerrard and despite of the Liverpool FC showing great intention to level the odds it was Arsenal FC who once again were successful in making the ball hit the net.

Santi Cazorla doubled the lead for Arsene Wenger's side, which have seen indifferent last year or so in the English Premier League as well as the European soccer tournaments.

Cazorla hit the second goal midway through the second half to seal the first victory for The Gunners.

With this victory, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, who are yet to lose a game this season, are now placed seventh in the points table while Liverpool FC are languishing at 17^thplace.

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