Manchester City, English Premier League Pick Up Right Where They Left Off

Right around the time Southampton's second goal flew in the net Sunday afternoon, the comparisons started being made.

With that goal—a tidy low-level strike at the far post by Steven Davis only minutes after he had entered the match as a substitute—itty-bitty Southampton had taken a 2-1 lead on mega-rich Manchester City in both clubs' first English Premier League match of the season.

The lead didn't last, of course. It couldn't have. This was Manchester City, after all, and this is the English Premier League.

Or, to put it another way, this was just another Sunday afternoon stroll for an adrenaline-junkie club that's put together the most exciting football team in the world's most exciting football league.

And we're only one match into a nine-month season.

Manchester City went on to win the match 3-2, completing an exciting opening-day turnaround on what's been an exciting opening weekend in the Premiership.

But if you're thinking right now that the thrills will slow—that they can't possibly keep coming—don't.

Last time out, this very same team did almost the very same thing, only in more dramatic fashion. Three months and six days earlier, Manchester City won the 2011-12 Premier League title with a stirring, epic, raucous and improbable 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Queens Park Rangers.

It happened in the same exact stadium, and at times, Sunday's match almost looked like the exact same match. City's dominance was certainly the same, as was Southampton's sucker-punch equalizer and unlikely go-ahead goal.

The main difference on this day had to do with timing. Three months and six days ago, we were treated to the most dramatic ending in English football history. On Sunday, we had to make do with a ho-hum second-half fightback.

Only a fool would think the drama is anywhere close to done.

Most unwelcome-but-still-welcome news

The Robin van Persie transfer saga stretched on for several brutal weeks—just long enough, in fact, for a certain B/R writer to publish an irate open letter to everyone involved, complete with demands for an end to it all.

The end eventually came, as it always does, coincidentally only hours later. And while the end of the saga must have been welcomed by all Gooners, RvP's final destination most certainly was not.

Van Persie chose Manchester United, which for Arsenal fans was the worst club—even Manchester City would have been better, honestly—that he possibly could have joined.

The transfer sent the wrong message about Arsenal and their lengthening trophy drought, as well as their efforts to catch up to the very same club they just helped by selling RvP.

And with RvP went the idea that Arsenal can these days hold onto their biggest assets and brightest young stars thanks to their gleaming 60,000-seat stadium.

But, hey, at least the saga is done, right?

Headline of the week

The RvP transfer saga wasn't all doom and gloom for Arsenal fans, and it wasn't all joy and gloating for United supporters.

Amid all the big news, humor was still to be found.

Isn't that right, De Telegraf? (Via Who Ate All the Pies)

Quote of the week

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was ejected from his team's 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

His crime was pushing the linesman after an inconsequential call allowed Tottenham to continue playing after the ball seemed to roll over the touchline.

His apology read thus (via The Guardian):

"

I've been pleading with my players all this week to behave themselves and show Olympic spirit – and then I get sent off. I can only apologise. I've been telling the players to be humble and do everything the right way but they did the right things and I didn't.

It was 100% stupid. It was silly. I don't know what I was thinking.

"

That, friends, is an apology. Politicians everywhere could take note.

Best back-pass ever

We leave the Magpies there. On Saturday, one Newcastle player produced the best back-pass you're ever likely to see.

Watch it at right. Insert puns below.

Biggest FAIL of the week

It must be hard being Cristian Tello sometimes.

Breaking into the Barcelona first team is an absolute nightmare, and those pesky British news outlets can't seem to figure out who the heck he is.

As 101 Great Goals points out here, Tello was mistaken for both Adriano and Isaac Cuenca on the same day.

Are they having a laugh?

Prettiest goal of the week

Finally, we leave you with the Open Mike Monday goal of the week. This week's effort comes from the fantastically science fiction-ish-sounding Zoltan Gera of West Bromwich Albion.

Zoltan is a radical prototype cyborg with ultra-human intelligence and footballing powers Hungarian international midfielder who has quite the nose for goal and apparently a jackhammer where a foot usually goes.

As you can see, our little cyborg friend can score goals as pretty as they come. It's only the first week of the English Premier League season, but we might not see anything this good again.

Follow @MikeCummings37