31 Aug
Premier League overview after the opening 29 games
There appears to be no other team to start with than Arsenal, as the Gunners are in supposed turmoil at the time of writing.
Cast your mind back to 25th February 2001. Travelling Arsenal supporters will remember the 6-1 drubbing (they equalised at one stage!) at Old Trafford with the likes of Seaman, Henry, Pires, andViera in the team but Arsenal did not capitulate overnight and neither will they this time around.
Let’s look at the FACTS and not the specultion. Arsenal are just one point worse off than last year relating to the corresponding fixtures, albeit their goal difference has taken a hammering!
Arsenal qualified for the final stages of the Champions League for the fourteenth consecutive season last week, a feat that only Manchester United can better.
The real worry for Arsenal fans in not so much who Wenger does or does not purchase, more his stubborn streak which is limiting his vision at this moment in time.
London teams look set to stuggle in comparison to recent seasons.
Chelsea have been fortunate in securing seven points to date and whilst they and Liverpool are the only threats to the Manchester teams, both clubs will have to take at least four points from City and United to have any hope of winning the title.
It’s difficult to judge Tottenham having played the two stand out teams in the league but that said, ‘Aarry boy is reverting to type whereby results tend to slip way following a decent start in each of his managerial positions to date.
Fulham appear to have little or no hope of emulating results in the past two years, whilst QPR have to improve to have any chance of avoiding the relegation trapdoor.
People doubted my wisdom when I suggested last January that Wayne Rooney was still a contender for the Player of the Year award and they were ultimately proved right.
That said, United might have struggled to win the title without Rooney in the last few months of the season and Wayne might prove to be the difference in terms of the title this time around, providing fitness remains intact alongside a lack of red cards.
City have come on leaps and bounds however, now that they are playing as a team and they are the ONLY possible dangers to United in my book.
Stoke continue to confound their critics and the work of Tony Pulis and his team is best advertised by the fact that City are joint favourites (in a place) to win their Europa League group!
If Everton, Tottenham and Villa fail to cut the mustard this season, Stoke could well find themselves as high as sixth when proceedings come to an end in May.
West Brom and Norwich are the type of teams that should remain safe, though the same cannot be said of Blackburn and Wigan as you know they will capitulate against the leading sides.
Sunderland and Newcastle will continue to frustrate their north-east fans, whilst Bolton appear to have enough fire power now to resist a relegation fight.
That leaves just Wolves to consider who have done well thus far this season, though their lack of strength in depth remains a worry.
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