The EPL Weekend-Round 12

The EPL returned from a two week international break with lots of talking points.

The weekends big match was without a doubt Manchester United trip to Arsenal. Both teams were looking to build some momentum having had largely disappointing seasons. Arsenal had a poor record against United lately having only defeated United once in the last 14 games. The Gunners started the game so well and engineered wave after wave of forays into the United goal area but without making it count. In the first 25 minutes Arsenal had at least 3 good opportunities to score but the wasted their chances. United struggled to impose themselves and the inexperienced defense was looking very uneasy. Van Gaal had opted to start with 3 central defenders with Shaw and Valencia as wing backs. Blackett looked the most nervous and erratic of the 3 center halves.He had a torrid time against Chamberlain who i thought played really well and has been my best player for Arsenal recently. Arsenal however did not make United pay and after the break, United slowly grew into the game.  The first goal was always going to be key and a lot of luck and fortune swung United's way when Gibbs first knocked of Schezny before inadvertently poking the ball into his own net. That provided the games turning point since after that United were able to sit back and hit Arsenal on the counter. Welbeck had a poor game against his former employers and for me he is yet to really convince me that he was a good signing for Arsenal. If he hadn't been around, Giroud would probably have been thrust straight into action and i doubt he would have missed the couple of headers Welbeck missed in the first half. Wilshere got injured and looks set for a spell on the sidelines but crucially for Arsenal, Koscielny and Giroud are back. For United, another injury to Shaw added to their injury woes but they now need to put together a run of wins to solidify their grip on top four.

Chelsea as usual produced a disciplined performance against West Brom, it ended 2 nil but it could easily have been 7-0 had it not been for Ben Foster and some wayward finishing by Chelsea. The Blues are surely on their way to winning the title. They have the most discipline defensively and no other team understands how to defend as a unit more than Chelsea. Even Hazard who last season was criticized by Mourinho for not tracking back has been doing his own share of defensive duties. In Matic they have the leagues best defensive midfielder and with Fabregas and Costa having shaken off injuries, Chelsea only look set to stretch their lead at the top.

Liverpool once again lost, this time against Palace. The Reds are tinkering on having a crisis and Rodgers is now facing questions about the security of his job.
The Reds defense particularly appears too vulnerable whenever the opposition are attacking. Lovren in particular has been having a nightmare of a season and maybe it's time Rodgers tried out the experienced Kolo Toure. Lambert did get his first goal for the club and with Balotelli sidelined he now needs to start showing he is capabhle of leading the line.

Manchester City got back to winning ways in a tricky fixture against high flying Swansea. City had to rely on the power of Yaya Toure to see them through as they kept alive their feint hopes of catching up with leaders Chelsea. City are not the real deal so far but they will feel that as long as they don't let Chelsea get too far ahead of them, they will still have a chance. Their next match against the Saints is absolutely crucial. City are certainly not at their best at the moment but as long as they keep grinding out results, anything is possible.

Team of the week
de gea, kelly, smalling, dummet, robertson, toure, sissoko, jedinak, hazard, rooney, ings
Player of the week
danny ings