English Premier League: Top Five Talking Points of Week Six
Week 6 of the Premier League season has been successfully completed.
The season is now in full swing as September draws to a close and teams have now settled back into the routines and rigours of the Premier League season.
As ever, this round of fixtures has created plenty of talking points. So, here are my top five talking points of the week.
Feel free to comment and let me know what you think.
Arsenal Vs. West Brom
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To say that West Brom's 3-2 win was unexpected is something of an understatement.
True, Arsenal were missing some key players, but their performance didn't suggest for a moment that they are a team competing for the league title.
Their performance was error prone, not least from Manuel Almunia who gave away a penalty, went on a suicidal charge, and got beaten at his near post.
In contrast to Arsenal's abject display, West Brom were brilliant. They had some early nerves, struggling to clear their lines, but once those had been overcome, they played adventurous football and created numerous chances.
It took West Brom's third goal to snap Arsenal back to reality. Nasri pulled back two, but West Brom followed Sunderland's example from last week and hassled Arsenal, not giving them time on the ball, before securing a first win in 19 Premier League matches against Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger was very critical of the display, but refused to single out players for criticism. Despite this, it's obvious that Wenger regrets not buying a new goalkeeper in the summer.
Already this season both of his 'keepers have shown that they aren't up to the job of helping Arsenal to a first Premier League title since 2005.
Liverpool
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Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Sunderland at Anfield. This result can't just been seen as an off day for Liverpool, as it once would've been.
Liverpool were lucky to take the lead after a Sunderland free-kick that may or may not have been taken allowed Fernando Torres to run through and play in Dirk Kuyt.
Christian Poulsen, who has been less than impressive since arriving at Liverpool, then proceeded to give away a penalty, before Darren Bent added a second.
Steven Gerrard saved his side with a late header, but Liverpool must realise that they were lucky to come away with as much as a point.
A loss to Northampton in mid-week can't have done much for morale, something Roy Hodgson must boost if Liverpool are going to really get their season started.
Liverpool are currently 16th, with just six points from their first six games.
Maybe this is where Liverpool should now be expecting to perform. Their few star players are either misfiring or simply unable to make up for incompetence elsewhere on the pitch.
Matters aren't helped by the situation off the pitch, where the debt is mounting, owners want to sell, and fans are angry.
Liverpool need to make changes, both on and off the pitch if they want to be considered a serious threat once again.
Wayne Rooney
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So far, this season has been a forgettable one for United's leading man. After a bleak World Cup, one goal so far this season isn't the type of return Rooney will have been hoping for.
On top of all this, Rooney's personal life has come under the spotlight as rumours of prostitutes and affairs have surfaced.
Sir Alex Ferguson reckons it's this focus on his private life that has been responsible for Rooney's poor form.
However, there are others who point to the fact that Rooney is always surrounded by publicity. Either way, he has looked out of sorts so far, and Sunday was no different.
Rooney failed to hit the target with a long shot, and with a shot from inside the six yard box, before been taken off after 60 minutes for Macheda.
Macheda looked more lively than Rooney had, something that Rooney, a player who is usually the most active on the park, needs to change.
Manchester United are lucky that Berbatov has found his form. Last season United were heavily reliant on Rooney, something that may be beginning to take its toll.
Manchester United have plenty of options going forward, but when it comes to attack, Rooney is what really puts them in the upper echelons of world football.
United need Wayne Rooney to start firing if they want to a win another Premier League title.
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Chelsea Stumble
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Chelsea had been pretty dominant for the first five matches of the Premier League season.
Granted, they hadn't come up against any really threatening opposition, but 21 goals with just one conceded in five games speaks for itself.
However, a 1-0 loss to Manchester City also tells us something: Chelsea are vulnerable.
Chelsea's prospective title rivals showed that they belong at the top footballing table with a confident and disciplined display, culminating in a fine break away goal from Tevez.
Chelsea had chances of their own, but they couldn't finish, coming closest when Ivanovic hit the post with a header.
Tevez's fine form continued as he netted for the 25th time in 29 Premier League matches, and the sixth time in five games against Chelsea.
Manchester City's performance proved that Chelsea aren't the dominant force some were making them out to be.
Chelsea struggled against a team of similar strength and must now realise that winning a second consecutive league title will be a tough, but by no means impossible, challenge.
The Premier League Is Strong
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Bolton 2-2 United
Liverpool 2-2 Sunderland
Arsenal 2-3 West Brom
West Ham 1-0 Tottenham
These results show that the Premier League is very competitive. Yes, the same few teams tend to dominate the top spots, but at the same time, there is no fixture you can go into knowing that you'll win.
West Ham had picked up just one point before today, yet they beat Champions League Tottenham.
Last week, Sunderland drew with Arsenal, this week with Liverpool. Bolton nearly snatched a win against the mighty United.
Arsenal once went 49 games unbeaten. With the strength of the Premier League at the moment, it's a feat that doesn't look like it's going to be repeated any time soon.
Honourable Mentions
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Michael Owen scores 200th English club goal
Emile Heskey scores....again.
Fulham are still unbeaten
Stoke's surprise away win
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