Premier League: A Photographic View of Week Two
In these slideshow we take a view through the camera of the second English Premier League week.
Many big teams fumbled and many mighty were humbled while the smaller clubs got glory. Numerous goals were scored as three teams won with margin of 6-0 creating a record of sorts.
Arsenal Steamrolls Promising Blackpool
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Newcomers Blackpool had impressed one and all with their displays against Wigan Athletic on the opening day of the new season.
The Lancashire outfit were flying high after that emphatic win in their first appearance in the Premier League and were touted by many to create troubles for the injury-hit Arsenal. But their trip to the Emirates' Stadium proved to be an eye-opener for the newly-promoted as a young Gunner named Theo Walcott gave them a taste of the tough life ahead in the Premier League.
The extremely talented Walcott delivered a memorable performance as he waltzed past the baffled Blackpool defenders to score his hat-trick and help the Gunners' register a 6-0 victory. Arshavin, Diaby and new signing Marouane Chamakh scored apiece as Wenger's boys completely controlled the game.
Birmingham Overcome Allardyce's Big Boys
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Birmingham, who had impressed one and all with their displays last season came back from a goal down to beat the gritty Blackburn Rovers as Sam Allardyce screamed at his players but to no avail.
Blackburn dominated the first half and would have been 2-0 up when N'Zonzi scored the first goal if not Gamst Pedersen had missed a penalty earlier. The Blues' fought back and were rewarded soon as they equalized within three minutes from Craig Gardner.
That goal seemingly turned flow of the match and Birmingham started taking control. They got their noses in front again when midfielder Craig Gardner scored a well-crafted goal in the 72nd minute.
Thereafter, Alex McLeish's men did enough to hold onto their first win in the new season.
Everton Fumbles Yet Again
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It is becoming a tradition of sort for Everton to fare poorly in the first half of the season and then turn around when there is nothing more to fight for.
The past season the Toffees suffered from injury problems to their star players as they made a late surge to finish in the top ten. This season they have all their players fully fit and it was expected that they would make a good start to the season. But the Merseyside Blues' have failed to live up to their expectations as they drew consecutive matches against comparatively weaker teams.
This week was no different as David Moyes' boys faltered again at home, this time against lowly Wolverhampton.
Everton had gone ahead in the first half from a Tim Cahill goal. Tough they were the better of the two sides they failed to convert chances. The Wolves fought bravely and equalized through Ebanks-Blake in the 74th minute as the Toffees failed to find the goal.
It was another weekend of bafflement and frustration for David Moyes' squad.
Nervy Spurs' Shake Off Gutsy Potters
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After an impressive previous season and a good display in the first week of the new season against Manchester City, Spurs' looked a bit nervy during their visit to the Britannia Stadium.
Having struggled against the BSC Young Boys' in their Champions League encounter and many players out with injury the North London outfit looked to be a bit off-colour. They went ahead within the first 20 minutes from a Gareth Bale goal.
The Potters' were given some glimpses of hope when striker Ricardo Fuller equalized within five minutes from a well cut-out move.
But Stoke's hopes were short-lived. Gareth Bale scored a scorcher within the next five minutes and that could very well help him contest for the Goal of the Season award. A cross from Aaron Lennon found Bale on the edge of the box and he delivered a superb volley to score the winner.
Stoke were harshly denied the equalizer when new signing Jon Walters last minute goal was disallowed. But replays showed that it had clearly crossed the line. Stoke dominated the second-half but failed to create chances and Harry Redknapp's boys held onto their lead to win their first match in the Premier League.
West Brom Registers First Win Back in the Premier League
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West Brom, who have returned to the top flight after one year, came back from their 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Chelsea in the opening week to register a win against Sunderland.
The Baggies looked to have overcome their opening day horror as they played with control. New signing Peter Odemwingie scored the winner on his debut match. His coolly taken shot helped the Midlanders' take their first points after returning to the top flight.
For the Black Cats' it was the same story as they struggled again in their away match. It has become a style of sort for Steve Bruce's men. Though they created a handful of chances, they were not able to convert them.
It was a phoenix-like win for West Brom whereas it was same away day blues' for the Black Cats.
Bolton Hammers West Ham Yet Again
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Hammers' boss Avram Grant must be a distraught man after he saw his team succumb to defeat again as they fizzled out 3-1 to Owen Coyle's inspired boys.
After having scraped past relegation last year, these year seems no different as the East Londoner's have failed to find their form and struggled against Bolton, who have now seven consecutive wins against West Ham.
Bolton dominated most part of the match and played the good game. Carlton Cole missed his penalty, in what could have turned the match, in the 33rd minute. Then in the 48th minute Matthew Upson scored an own goal to put the visitors ahead. Johan Elmander increased the lead in the 68th minute by scoring a goal of delightful simplicity.
Though Mark Noble reduced the difference in the 79th minute from the penalty spot the Johan Elmander sealed West Ham's fate when he scored Bolton's third and his second goal six minutes from the end.
Though it was an impressive performance from Bolton the Hammers' did not show much progress from last season.
Chelsea Forges Another Massive Win
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After steamrolling West Brom 6-0 on the first day of the new season Ancelotti's ageing Pensioners' yet again proved how threatening they are while sending out a message to the tile contenders.
The West Londoner's had lost to Wigan 3-1 in the past season at DW season. That loss seemed to have been in their mind as they went all out to avenge that defeat against Roberto Martinez's side.
Malouda who has been impressive in the past season showed his class as a superb move completed Chelsea's first goal in the 34th minute. Thereafter the Stamford Bridge outfit completed a rout by scoring five goals in the second half.
Nicolas Anelka scored two goals in quick succession in early part of the second half. Thereafter Salomon Kalous who came on for Malouda scored two and new signing Yossi Benayoun scored one as the Blues' continued their superb form. They have now gone seven hours without conceding a goal and have scored 29 goals in their last eight outings.
Roberto Martinez looked baffled and bemused as he failed to understand the reason for his team's poor performance, while Chelsea boss Ancelotti enjoyed another emphatic win.
Another 6-0 : Toons Are Back in Business
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The week had already witnessed two 6-0 victories and the Toons' completed what the Gunners' had started.
Perhaps the biggest shock of these weekend. Newcastle outsmarted,outclassed and outplayed Aston Villa at St.James Park and sent out a message to other Premier League teams to be wary of them. It was joy galore at St.James Park as Newcastle showed that they are well back in business by embarrassing the same team that had relegated them in the 2008-09 season.
Aston Villa, who have been struggling with injuries failed to stop the Newcastle attack as the Toons' scored three goals in the first half. Goals from Barton(12'), Nolan(31') and Carroll(34') already had finished of the match as the Villa defenders were unable to stop the Toon onslaught.
Second half goals from Carroll,who completed his hattrick, and Nolan sealed an emphatic win for the Magpies.
United Stumbles at Craven Cottage
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Sir Alex Ferguson will be a worried man as his Red Devil's stumbled at Craven Cottage late on Sunday.
The Red Devils' had had their noses in front early as veteran Paul Scholes scored in the 11th minute. Though United controlled the match the Cottagers' never really gave up and were rewarded duly in the 57th minute as Simon Davies equalized from a beautiful move.
The visitors got ahead again six minutes from final whistle after an unlucky own goal was conceded by Fulham defender Brede Hangeland. But Fulham refused to concede defeat and Hangeland
Nani missed a chance to seal victory when his penalty was saved by Fulham's second-choice goalie Stockdale. United were punished duly as Hangeland got his redemption by scoring a last-gasp equalizer from a header.
Though it is too early to predict who have lost their title initiative, but Nani's miss could prove costly for United when the season comes to an end.
Manchester City Crushes Red Dreams
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City revived from last week's poor performance and delivered a superb all-round performance as the cash-strapped Merseysiders' were thrashed 3-0 by Roberto Mancini's multi-million dollar behemoth.
With over 100 million pounds invested Manchester City's poor performance against Tottenham last week had raised many eyebrows. But Mancini will be a relieved man as his squad of superstars brushed aside Gerrard & Co. to register an emphatic win at City of Manchester Stadium.
The revamped Liverpool arrived at Eastlands after delivering an impressive performance against Arsenal last week. But Torres and the others looked out-of-sync and were outplayed by City.
Gareth Barry who had vowed to make a difference kept his word as he helped City to an early lead by scoring a well-crafted goal in the 13th minute. The Reds' never really looked to get their rhythm and some poor defending cost them the match.
Carlos Tevez scored in the 52nd minute and finally quashed any doubts of a Liverpool comeback as he scored his second and City's third from the penalty spot in the 68th minute.
Liverpool created some chances but were thwarted by the superb Joe Hart who stood as the China Wall under Manchester City's goalpost.
Though it is nothing as yet to hit the panic button but Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson should start thinking of signing some new strikers if Liverpool are to seriously fight for a top four finish. It should be a relief for Mancini who would find himself in a tight spot if City failed against Liverpool.
