English Premier League Wednesday Wrap-Up
On Wednesday in the English Premier League, some teams couldn't wait to start scoring. Others looked incapable of doing anything of the sort.
As the Rafael Benitez reign at Chelsea marched on without a goal in sight, both Arsenal and Manchester United needed less than a minute to find the back of the net. Elsewhere, Swansea pulled an upset, Tottenham held on against Liverpool and Stoke heaped more misery on Newcastle.
Read on for all the details from an interesting Wednesday in the Premier League.
Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
1 of 8Scorers: N/A
Quickie recap: Chelsea labored to a scoreless draw for the second time in as many matches under new manager Rafael Benitez, who took over from fan favorite Roberto Di Matteo exactly one week before. Fans booed Chelsea off the pitch at halftime and again at full time following a dull match.
Where it leaves them: Chelsea moved up to third, thanks to West Brom's loss at Swansea. The Blues and Baggies are level on 26 points, but Chelsea have a superior goal differential. Fulham fell to 11th.
Up next: Chelsea visit West Ham on Saturday. Fulham host Tottenham the same day.
Tweet, Tweet
"2 - Chelsea have drawn two successive Premier League games 0-0 for the first time since September 2004. Barren.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 28, 2012"
Bonus Tweet
"Rafa speaks English to English players and Spanish to rest of squad, but Chelsea play in a language no-one understands. More on MailOnline.
— Neil Ashton (@neilashton_) November 28, 2012"
Everton 1-1 Arsenal
2 of 8Scorers: Everton—Marouane Fellaini 28'; Arsenal—Theo Walcott 1'
Quickie recap: Arsenal and Everton shared the points in an entertaining battle of teams hoping to climb into the top five. Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead in the first minute with a deflected shot before Everton equalized midway through the first half. Everton pushed for a winner in the second half, but Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny made eight saves.
Where it leaves them: Everton are sixth with 22 points. Arsenal are seventh, one point behind.
Up next: Everton visit champions Manchester City on Saturday while Arsenal host Swansea.
Draws kings: Everton have drawn six of their last eight league matches and now have seven draws this season (joint most in the league). Arsenal have drawn six matches.
Leading scorer: Walcott's goal made him Arsenal's joint-leading scorer in the league this season with four strikes.
Penalty appeal: Everton had a penalty appeal turned down in the second half when former Toffee Mikel Arteta seemed to foul Steven Pienaar in the box. The referee waved play on.
Tweet, Tweet
"Everton boss David Moyes after Arsenal draw: "I think we deserved to get win but we have struggled to get that second goal in recent weeks."
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 28, 2012"
Southampton 1-1 Norwich City
3 of 8Scorers: Southampton—Rickie Lambert 32'; Norwich City—Robert Snodgrass 45'
Quickie recap: A fortuitous Roberto Snodgrass free kick wiped out Rickie Lambert's opener and handed Norwich a 1-1 draw at Southampton as referee Mark Clattenburg took charge of a match for the first time since Oct. 28.
Where it leaves them: Southampton remain in 18th place and the relegation zone with 12 points. Norwich are 13th with 16 points.
Bad keeping: Southampton keeper Paulo Gazzaniga made a poor attempt to stop Snodgrass' free kick at his near post just before halftime. The ball bounced under the 20-year-old Argentine and into the net.
Clattenburg's return: Clattenburg had been out of action since being accused by Chelsea of racially abusing a player during an Oct. 28 match. He was cleared of the charge, and the fans applauded him before Wednesday's match.
Half-dozen: Lambert's goal was his sixth in the league this season, his first in England's top flight.
Up next: Southampton visit Liverpool on Saturday. Norwich host Sunderland on Sunday.
Tweet, Tweet
"9 - Southampton have made more errors leading to goal than any other Premier League team this season. Inflicted.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 28, 2012"
Stoke City 2-1 Newcastle United
4 of 8Scorers: Stoke—Jonathan Walters 81', Cameron Jerome 85'; Newcastle—Papiss Demba Cisse 47'
Quickie recap: Two late Stoke goals in four second-half minutes overturned Papiss Cisse's opener for Newcastle and heaped more misery on the Magpies.
Where it leaves them: Stoke moved into the top half of the table and now sit in ninth place with 19 points. Newcastle remained 14th with 14 points.
Up next: Stoke visit West Brom on Saturday. Newcastle host Wigan on Monday.
Tweet, Tweet
"4 - Newcastle have lost four Premier League games in a row for the first time since September 2008. Slump.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 28, 2012"
Newcastle were relegated the following spring.
Swansea City 3-1 West Bromwich Albion
5 of 8Scorers: Swansea—Michu 9', Wayne Routledge 11', 39'; West Brom—Romelu Lukaku 45'+3'
Quickie recap: Swansea's devastating first-half performance ended West Brom's high-flying run in the Premier League. First-half goals from Michu and Wayne Routledge gave the Swans an unassailable three-goal advantage before on-loan Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku pulled one back for the Baggies in first-half stoppage time.
Where it leaves them: Swansea moved up one spot to eighth. West Brom fell to fourth but remain level on points with Chelsea.
Up next: Swansea visit Arsenal on Saturday while West Brom host Stoke.
Hot scorer: Michu has scored seven league goals this season, tied for fourth best in the Premier League.
Hot run extended, hot run ended: Swansea have lost just once in their last nine matches. West Brom were trying to win a fifth straight match in the top flight for the first time since the 1978-79 season.
Tweet, Tweet
"Funny how Swansea's players don't seem so concerned with Michael Laudrup's aloof arrogance now they're playing well and sitting pretty.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmithTimes) November 28, 2012"
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Liverpool
6 of 8Scorers: Spurs—Aaron Lennon 7', Gareth Bale 16'; Liverpool—Bale (o.g.) 72'
Quickie recap: Gareth Bale scored a goal, assisted another and hit a third into his own net as Tottenham moved into the top five with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool at White Hart Lane. Bale was also booked for simulation in the second half.
Where it leaves them: Spurs are fifth with 23 points, three behind West Brom in fourth. Liverpool fell to 12th.
Streaks: Tottenham won their second straight match. Liverpool's eight-match unbeaten run ended.
Stunning run: Bale dribbled about 50 yards through Liverpool's midfield and defense before setting up Lennon for the opener in the seventh minute. He doubled Spurs' lead with a free kick nine minutes later.
Up next: Tottenham visit Fulham on Saturday while Liverpool host Southampton.
Tweet, Tweet
"Gareth Bale becomes the second Spurs player in the #EPL era to score at both ends of the pitch (Chris Armstrong v Arsenal, 19 Mar 2000).
— Infostrada Sports (@InfostradaLive) November 28, 2012"
Manchester United 1-0 West Ham United
7 of 8Scorers: Manchester United—Robin van Persie 1'
Quickie recap: Robin van Persie opened the scoring after 33 seconds and Manchester United held on for a 1-0 home victory over West Ham.
Where it leaves them: United moved onto 33 points from 14 matches and stayed atop the table. West Ham fell to 10th with 19 points.
Up next: United visit Reading in the late kickoff Saturday. West Ham host Chelsea in the early kickoff the same day.
Quickfire: Van Persie's goal was the quickest scored in the Premier League this season (via BBC Sport).
Standing alone: United still have not drawn a match. Every other team in the league has drawn at least twice.
Tweet, Tweet
"1 - Jonny Evans has conceded his first foul of the Premier League season, after 11 hours 31 minutes of play. Hatchet.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 28, 2012"
Bonus Tweet
"'We sold Van Persie for footballing reasons' - Gazidis. Yes, to let United win the League. #IvanTheTerrible
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 28, 2012"
Wigan Athletic 0-2 Manchester City
8 of 8Scorers: Manchester City—Mario Balotelli 69', James Milner 72'
Quickie recap: Mario Balotelli scored his first league goal of the season as champions Manchester City overcame Wigan with two goals in three second-half minutes.
Where it leaves them: City are second, one point behind leaders Manchester United. Wigan are 15th with 14 points.
Up next: City host Everton on Saturday. Wigan play at Newcastle on Monday.
Unbeaten run: City are unbeaten in their last 20 league matches.
Goal drought: Balotelli had not scored in the Premier League since March 31, when he hit a double at home to Sunderland in a 3-3 draw.
Tweet, Tweet
"30 - Mario Balotelli scored his first goal of the PL season with his 30th shot. No player had had as many without scoring. Wait.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 28, 2012"
Bonus Tweet
"14 - Man City are the first team in PL history to avoid defeat in their opening 14 games for two seasons in succession. Consistency.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 28, 2012"
