With more twists and turns than ever, this PL season, arguably is headed for a most thrilling home stretch: Two weeks back, United, it seemed, had the title sewn and stitched and Villa had the all important all last CL place firmly in the safest of deposit lockers. Two weeks later, both of the set theories has gone out the window. Liverpool produced a destructive performace to blow open the title race against United and the latter did its cause even more harm, after losing to Fulham 2-0. Arsenal have gone from strength to strength and are destined,now, to challenge Chelsea (who were embarrased by Arry's Spurs yesterday) and Liverpool, but only two weeks
earlier were combating Villa and Everton in a direct three-way shootout for the fourth spot.
Manchester United
Th entire season has turned on its head and among all the top gaffers in the league, Fergie surprisingly is the one looking over his shoulders to see the mostly beleaguered but recently rejuvenated Rafa, standing over him like an indestructible horcrux, images which have surely left Fergie, the unflappable Scotsman, flapping in thin air.
There were talks of an unprecendented Quintiple in the red-side of Manchester which has now been blown to smithereens. Worse is set to follow for United. Vidic and Scholes will atleast miss the next two games with Rooney also missing the next one atleast. And that game is against Martin O Neill's Villa, who themselves have hit a brick wall while trying to chase a very impressive Arsenal side of late, who seem to be back to their best: Shaky defensive play, excellent counters, scoring and missing goals for fun.
The Big four of English football have kept up their appointments in the last 8 of the CL, but what is happening in the domestic league is becoming far more unpredictable.
The double back to back losses for United, their first in nearly five years, might even have shaken the cold hearted critics. The reason: United are the best English side when it comes to a title run-in and while other teams have a fear of failure, United possess no such fears. The gap has now been reduced to four points (could well be one, IF pool beat Villa). Saying all that, its still United's title to lose anthough their seemingly impregnable defense is now less vulnerable. And a quick look at the fixture list reveals that United won't be having any dollies. They still have to play Arsenal in the top four, atleast three in the relegation battle and two clubs whose European ambitions are far from settled. Add to this the Everton tie in the Semi-finals of the F.A cup and Porto in the CL, rest assured, Sir would have to come up with a huge hair-dryer.
Liverpool
Two weeks back, there was Madrid, United and an unresolved contract. Two weeks later, the first and the second have been slayed without breaking sweat, while the contract has been settled with Rafa extending his stay till 2014.
What has turned Liverpool's season would remain a mystery buried in the deepest embers of Anfield, but the contribution of Gerrard and Torres cant be even for one moment be doubted.
After leading the table for such a long time, there was a flurry of draws coupled with an embarrasing defeat at the hands of Middlesborough. Pool's season was heading for freefall. This handed the advantage to United on a platter. But Pool are far from being done and dusted. They have come back all guns blazing and are now realistically in with a chance of dethroning United's unrelenting march to that magical No 18.
Their fixture run-in however does not do them any favours. The home fixture against Arsenal stands out like a sore thumb while their annual European clashes with Chelsea are also in there. They again, like United, face a no of relegation scrappers, which sure is no jolly ride. If Torres and Gerrard stick together, they will run United close and probably beat them in the battle as well. For Rafa, its going to one hell of a runin exercise which might still be unforgettable but at the same time unforgiving.
Chelsea
This has been a funny old season for Chelsea. Largely brilliant away from home, far from uncompromising in their forttress: Stamford Bridge, they arguably have had the most ups and downs in the fortunes for the year.
At the start of the season, they missed out on Robinho, but were producing some "SAMBA"
themselves, courtesy of Big Phil. They went on an incredible away run, while carelessly dropping points at home. Roman was not satisfied while Drogba went on an AWOL more than once. They got beat by Pool and Arsenal at home and United away, and Big Phil was sacked (people argued this still showed that Roman cared for the club, while others pointed out to a bizarre fact: paying compensation to four managers; Jose, Grant, Phil and Hiddink (their latest temporary manager).
They crawled their way up first, by beating fellow third place challengers Villa(which subsequently sent Villa into a downward spiral), then dumping Juventus out of the CL and generally returning to the tried and tested Mourinho years. All was well with Hiddink till yesterday night. That loss at Spurs will have hurt them and now they need to lift their game and keep chipping away at United.
Their run-in is a saving grace for them. They arguably dont have to face basement clubs till May by which time the places could well have decided. The ties at Arsenal and at home to Everton might well decide whether they will in it still, come May.
Arsenal
The season which promised most, only to drop bombshell after bombshell. In September, Arsenal were the early leaders, both in terms of points and goals scored. But six months later, Arsenal are mostly in anonymity compared to the title race (although mathematically still in it)
and are in the middle of a heated confrontation with Villa for the fourth spot.
Villa wrested the initiative early in December and O Neill, it seemed, had the Midas touch while Arsenal, it seemed, had lost the plot. Gabby, Young and Barry were turning out to be the chief antogonists for the Arsenal side. Then in January, Arsenal and its fans finally got something which would inspire them, and boy, has it inspired them. Andrey Arshavin.
The Russian, who showed us a prelude of his talents in the Euro championships last year, is now setting the league alight with some sparkling performances and an investment of about $23 million seems well set to see an immediate return of $ 30 million for an appearence in the CL, next season.
The retuning players: Cesc, Adebayor, Rosicky and Eduardo will further enable the Arsenal side of some deprived Arsenal and come May, quite ridiculously, they might still be in it. But they should have the singular ambition of keeping Villa off the their coat tails while looking to build for next season with the F.A cup in its cabinet.
Their run-in has a couple of interesting things: The only remaining side of the top four to face the other three, while also having to face some relegation contenders. The goals are back so why cant the trophies be?
P.S: This is a run-in of the PL season, so I have avoided talking about the present CL ties.
As the clock struck one at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, it all seemed way too familiar. United had just gone up against bitter rivals, Liverpool, but what transpired over the course of the next four hours, could have a telling impact over the course of this season as well as the next. As United were left wondering with what hit them, the diminutive Russian, Andrey Arshavin, was setting the pulses racing in North London with a brilliant display of passing and trickery.
Against a side which has caused us problems before (Blackburn Rovers) and against a manager who has come up trumps before against Wenger (Sam Allardyce), Arsenal produced arguably its best performance of the season as it climbed into fourth (might only be for a day), dislodging Villa.
There were 4 changes made from the side which played in Rome, the most notable one being Robin Van Persie, who dropped down to the bench, but Theo Walcott was starting his first league game of the year. Arsenal, after being goal-shy at home for nearly two months, took less than two minutes to break the deadlock.
Walcott picked a clever ball by Bendtner and raced along right hand side and put it in the six yard box and after a bit of ping pong, the ball nestled in the back of the net. Arshavin was claiming it, but replays suggested that the ball might have struck the defender, Ooijer last. El Hadji Diouf, not the most polite of footballers, could have been sent off for a challenge on Almunia, but there was a yellow card for his troubles.
The Emirates was singing at last and Arsenal had their tails up. The attacks were coming from the left and the right and sometimes through the middle, but some profligacy, mainly from Bendtner, was keeping the lead in check. Just before the break, Pedersen almost had the chance to equalize, but for some fine defending from the Arsenal center backs.
There were no changes from either side at half time and the second half started much the same way as the first. Arsenal was clearly in the ascendancy and if not for their cheap finishing, they might well have been two or three ahead by now.
As the second half wore on, the fans were beginning to get impatient. Then, the Russian showed some amazing footwork down the left hand side, before running past right back Danny Simpson, and slotting the ball into the roof of the net, past a hapless Paul Robinson. This one was most definitely the Russian’s first goal since joining from Zenit. Arshavin was not done yet.
There was a flurry of chances still being created but none went into the back of the net and Blackburn, quite amazingly were still in the game. Walcott and Bendtner were substituted and on came Diaby and Vela.
Vela played a clever little chip over the Blackburn defense to find an unmarked Arshavin but the Russian’s effort was parried brilliantly by Robinson only for Eboue to put the rebound in the back of the net and at last Arsenal had put this game to bed (Eboue had come in for Nasri only five minutes back).
Then in injury time, Vela was brought down by Danny Simpson and up stepped Eboue to put in his third goal in the last two games. Arsenal it seemed had at last started to play anywhere near the high levels they are expected to, while Big Sam will know he ran into a different class.