Premier League Winners and Losers of Gameweek 17

The winter football frenzy is officially here, and it showed in Gameweek 17. Starting lineups looked different than usual, with managers looking to rest their key players, but grab the ever-important three points at the same time.

While some clubs at the top slipped up with their fixtures, others came out of the gates as strong as ever to win surprisingly comfortably. The other side of the table saw a huge relegation clash, with Blackburn and Bolton facing off. Both clubs have bombed their seasons thus far, but with Bolton emerging as winners there is some reprieve for them, while Steve Kean and his Rovers are in an absolute mess.

Here are this week's Premier League winners and losers.

Winner: Bolton Wanderers

Bolton grabbed their fourth win of the season with a much-needed victory away to Blackburn Rovers.

Anything but three points could have cost Owen Coyle his job, but the Wanderers came out of the gates fired up and scored two goals within the first 30 minutes of the match. They conceded later in the second half, but it ended up being a mere consolation goal for Blackburn.

Bolton have had a few wins here and there, including a 5-0 drubbing of Stoke, but they all seem to be at random and Coyle's men just can't string a few good results together.

The next fixture could determine whether this was just another random win or if Bolton's luck is finally turning.

Winner: Yossi Benayoun

Out of all of Arsene Wenger's deadline day signings, Yossi Benyoun seems to have made the least effect on the squad.

But I beg to differ.

The midfielder on loan from Chelsea scored an 87th minute winner for the Gunners against Aston Villa on Wednesday, handing them a vital three points. He hasn't gotten much playing time so far this season due to Arsenal's central midfielders staying healthy and in-form, but the Israeli international has had no complaints, and even voiced that he understands a winning side shouldn't be changed.

Benayoun seems to be enjoying his time at Arsenal. With every appearance, it looks like his passion for the club continues to grow. Whenever he's been called to the first team, the attacking midfielder has delivered. Although his effect on the players may not show, it's certainly there.

Benayoun undoubtedly brings experience to a side that has lacked exactly that in recent years, giving them a better mentality and a strong presence. We'll see if Wenger signs him permanently during the summer, but my guess is that Benayoun will want to stay.

Winner: Wigan Athletic

With Wigan playing both Chelsea and Liverpool within the space of five days, you'd think Roberto Martinez's side would get battered and fail to gain any points.

But that's not the case. After a last gasp equalizer against Chelsea to grab a point, Wigan played out a stalemate with Liverpool to gain another unlikely point. The Lactics are now just one point away from being out of the drop zone, and if they keep up this decent form and beat the teams they should be beating, Wigan could survive relegation for yet another season.

Winner: Sunderland

Sunderland's 3-2 win against the Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road was their second in three games since Martin O'Neill took over, with the one loss being against Spurs.

That's a great start for O'Neill. Although the wins have been dramatic those are still some precious three points.

For some reason, I doubt Sunderland would've beaten Blackburn or QPR under Steve Bruce.

Winner: Manchester United

Through all their injury woes and midfield mediocrity, Manchester United have continued to pump out results in the league, and that was highlighted with a 5-0 drubbing of Fulham at Craven Cottage on Wednesday.

They've got Rooney back to scoring and the defense back to keeping clean sheets, but I don't think the Red Devils' issues are in the past just yet.

Like I said, their midfield is lacklustre and one more injury to the squad could put them into a crisis.

We all know how this can be solved.

Hint: it starts with "Wesley," and ends with "Sneijder."

Loser: Blackburn Fans

Nope, Steve Kean's not the loser. After all, he is the bloke who gets away with putting Blackburn into the worst shape they've been in for years and remarkably keeping his job.

It's the Blackburn fans who are the losers. They're the ones who have to support a club run by a manager who doesn't know the definition of winning. They're the ones who have to cope with watching their club essentially get destroyed by a chicken company.

Although I don't like or care for Blackburn, I sincerely feel sorry for the club's supporters, and for football's sake hope that Steve Kean gets sacked.

Loser: Newcastle

I guess we all got a bit carried away when we thought Newcastle could push for a top-four finish after their phenomenal start to the season.

Since picking up their first loss of the season, Newcastle have suffered a drastic dip of form, losing to Norwich and now to West Brom.

There could be a number of reasons behind the turn of form—the reality check of losing, fatigue, but my best guess is simply that the squad is too thin. Without a few key players like Ryan Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini Newcastle is a completely different side, one with a weak defense and no strong presence. 

It'll be interesting to see where Alan Pardew's side finish the 2011-12 Premier League season.

Loser: Fulham

Fulham have been on and off this season, but their 5-0 loss at home to Manchester United on Wednesday was certainly a low point.

It's a result you wouldn't expect from a team boasting some quality with players like Brede Hangeland, John Ame Riise, Mark Schwartzer and Clint Dempsey in the side.

They're losers this week, but I don't doubt that Martin Jol's army will bounce back from this harsh defeat and grab some decent results in the winter schedule.