« Stubbornness: Wenger’s Albatross! | Main | Uncouth Mouth! »
Not Over Yet
By Toyin | December 12, 2009
Two weeks ago, Chelsea was cruising and with the comprehensive defeat of Arsenal at the Emirates, not a few pundits declared that they are the Champions Elect of the Premiership. However, football is a very unpredictable game and the Blues have dropped 5 points in their next two games after that exploit. They were beaten by the new Billionaires of the league, Manchester City and had to battle it out with Everton for a point today at Stamford Bridge.
Similarly, Manchester United who trashed West Ham by four goals to nil last weekend amazingly lost to an unyielding Aston Villa at Old Trafford this evening. Much as they tried to get something out of that game, a combination of inspired goalkeeping from Brad Friedel and excellent rear guard display kept the Red Devils at bay. The animated expressions of SAF towards the end of the match shows that indeed, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
A quick look at the table shows a very interesting fact. Arsenal and Manchester United have both lost four matches while Chelsea has been beaten three times already despite their much touted performance and prowess. Liverpool also have been bettered five times already. The difference between the league leaders, Chelsea and the seventh placed Liverpool is 13 points and they have a game in hand. The way this season is playing out, there is not going to be a runaway winner and it will be as close as ever.
If Arsenal, the fourth placed team on the table wins both its two outstanding matches, it will only be three points behind Chelsea. And that will be game on again; a scenario that was almost inconceivable just two weeks ago.
The reality of this year’s EPL is that the champion could come not only from the so called ‘big four’ but within a new group that I tag the ‘emerging seven’. This group includes Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs. This is my sincere take and I know that at the end of the day the winner won’t be by a mile; it could just be a point that would decide who clinches it.
Interestingly, Villa is now the new giant killer of world football. They have already beaten Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United; only Arsenal remains for them to have clean sweep of big scalps at least for the first legs. And at the rate Manchester City is going (never mind the fact that they have drawn too many winnable games), they will also take some scalps. All this just add to the excitement that’s already synonymous with the league.
Topics: Hot Stars, Cold Sands, Premiership, The Champion, Who Will Win |
December 15th, 2009 at 12:51 am
Events are showing that u are absolutely correct that this is far from over. Short but very nice piece again!