A defensive crisis saw Daryl Janmaat as an emergency centre-half alongside Mike Williamson. The words “knife”, “through” and “butter” my first thoughts when I saw the team sheet. Arsenal had Mesut Özil missing through injury, with Danny Welbeck getting a start. It was Welbeck who got the assist for the first goal as he got the touch on a Cazorla free kick. The lucky recipient? Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman netting his 12th ofthe season, and his 5th in 5 consecutive games. Awesome record.
Less than 5 minutes later Giroud doubled his - and Arsenal's tally - heading home a corner from the impressive Cazorla. Here's some stats for you fact fans; in 2015 Giroud has the same number of goals (11) and one more assist (14) than a guy who plays in Spain who goes by the name of Christiano Ronaldo.
After the break - and having obviously not read the script - Newcastle pulled a goal back. After good work from Cabella out on the flank, his cross was met by Moussa Sissoko. The goal gave Newcastle some renewed hope and confidence and they definitely played better in the second half. But this is a ruthless Arsenal side that despite flopping in the Champions League, definitely have an eye on maybe trying to snatch the Premier League title this season. Who knows what could still happen?
SOU v BUR
On paper, a sure fire home win - until Burnley turned over the reigning Premier League champions last week. To do it in such style made everyone sit up and take notice, and come to the conclusion that maybe Sean Dyche's men can do the impossible. But a visit to St Mary's is no easy feat this season.
The first talking point came on 13 minutes when keeper Fraser Forster (my own transfer in this week) had to come off injured and was replaced by Kelvin Davies. Forster has been a colossus in goal for Saints this season, and perhaps this was one of those pieces of good fortune that teams like Burnley need in order to survive.
The belief lasted until the 37th minute. That was when Shane Long met Nathaniel Clyne's cross to put the home side a goal to the good. The crossbar denied Pelle his first goal in 13 games, but I guess when your luck is out, it's really out. Danny Ings had a great chance for Burnley, but Davies was proving to be a useful stand-in between the sticks. As at the Etihad in the lunchtime game, the crossbar had a part to play at both ends. A header from Davis was pushed onto the bar by Heaton.
In the second half, just before the hour mark, Ryan Bertrand did on the left what his counterpart Clyne had done on the right in the first half. His cross was met by the unfortunate Jason Shackell who deflected it in past his own keeper. Burnley left empty handed, more FPL points headed the way of managers who own Saints defenders, but Forster owners and England fans will be left awaiting news of what looks like a serious setback for the big man.
Bertrand - 3pts
Clyne & Long - 2pts
TOT v LEI
With Agüero flopping earlier, those that captained Harry Kane hoped for big things. Those that didn't watched on nervously. Kasper Schmeichel was given a recall in goal for the Foxes, in a move that raised a few eyebrows as Mark Schwarzer has been playing exceptionally well in his absence. However, it was the Spurs keeper, Hugo Lloris, who provided the first talking point as he was stretchered off after only 3 minutes following a collision with his own defender. Dembélé was sacrificed to bring on Michel Vorm.
It took Kane 6 minutes to prove the #AlwaysCaptainKane camp right. He tapped in Eric Dier's flick on from a corner at the far post. It got worse (or better depending on your viewpoint!) as Kane scored his second which was deflected in by Robert Huth on its way in. The soon-to-be England striker was still awarded the goal. Although it looked like Walker got the assist, it has not been awarded. A first half hat trick was denied by the linesman's flag for offside, but you sensed it was only a matter of time.
Christian Eriksen was denied by the post as he tried to get in on the action, but it was Jamie Vardy who got the next goal, this time for the visitors. David Nugent provided the final ball to him with a great cross to the back post. After the break it was Leicester who pulled level as Wes Morgan headed home a Matt James corner. In the 64th minute. Harry Kane got the chance to complete his hat trick as Spurs were awarded a penalty follwing a foul on Danny Rose. He took the chance, and with it overtook Diego Costa at the top of the scoring charts with 18 goals. When things are going your way, they're REALLY going your way...
A breakaway move by Spurs saw Christian Eriksen's heavy touch come off Schmeichel and rebound into the net off the unlucky Jeffrey Schlupp who had no chance of avoiding the loose ball. 4-2 the score, but still time for Leicester to make the home fans nervous. Vertonghen hesitated to allow David Nugent to slot home from Jamie Vardy's ball. Nugent and Vardy hadn't played this well together since the 5-3 win over Manchester United back in GW5. Spurs were able to see it out though, and claim another 3 points towards the race for Chamions League places.
Kane - 3pts
Vardy - 2pts
Dier - 1pt
STO v CRY
Two teams similar in many ways at present. Glimpses of great form letting themselves down with the odd unexpected poor result. This had draw written all over it for me. And a hard fought one at that, probably just a 90 minute midfield battle. Stoke drew first blood, with Mame Biram Diouf keeping up his recent record of scoring in every other game. He was lucky as the ball deflected to him but he had the presence of mind to steer it home. The assist was courtesy of a free kick from Charlie Adam.
The equaliser came from the penalty spot; Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic collided with Bolasie and the Ref pointed to the spot. Glenn Murray slotted home for his 4th goal in 5 gameweeks. Deep in first half injury time, Wilfred Zaha ran onto Murray's flick on and put the visitors 2-1 ahead. The second half was pretty uneventful, apart from Scott Dann hitting the post. Pardew and Palace claimed all 3 points, and they leapfrog his old club Newcastle into 11th place.
Murray - 3pts
Adam - 2pts
Zaha - 1pt
WHU v SUN
A week is a long time in football. Following the humiliation at home against Villa last time out, Sunderland have dumped Poyet and appointed Dick Advocaat. Here's another stat; managers appointed after mid-March in the Premier League are five times more likely to take that club further down the league, rather than the other way round. West Ham are almost certainly going to part company with Sam Allardyce this Summer - could this have been an audition for his next club?
Advocaat opted to start with Defoe, Wickham and Fletcher in an ambitious attacking set-up. Wes Brown went off injured after 12 minutes and was replaced by Vergini. Both teams went in at the break with the score at 0-0. After the break, West Ham enjoyed better possession, and the breakthrough came late in the day (88th minute) as Diafra Sakho placed the ball past Pantilimon in the Sunderland goal following a neat ball from Mark Noble. 1-0 the final score. Remember that stat - 5 times more likely to slip further. Good luck Dick, you're going to need it!
Sakho - 3pts
Noble - 2pts
Jenkinson - 1pt
So, a good day for the #AlwaysCaptainKane brigade, definite red arrows for those who decided to #AlwaysCaptainAguero. As for me? I'm on Hazard. I guess there are a few of us who need Chelsea to do the business at Hull tomorrow. Liverpool v Manchester United is always worth keeping an eye on, and QPR will try and take advantage of an Everton team who looked to be in rag order last Thursday night.
Join me tomorrow for Part 2 of the Suffix.
