The English Premier League
Where to start? This season has been really action packed, the victor declared only after the last game of the season. There had been a fight at the bottom of the table as well.
The season started in September with the Community Shield: Chelsea vs Manchester United. After a dramatic display, Man Utd. won on penalties. But this would be their worst start to their season as they first lost to rivals City and kept their bad form going on throughout September.
Arsenal, who had lost Henry to Barcelona, had signed Eduardo over for a $15 million deal. Arsenal took control of the season, seizing the top of the table in the first few weeks. Chelsea and Liverpool (who brought Athletico Madrid Fernando Torres) had moderate starts to their season.
But the Red Devils recovered and started battling with Arsenal. The first encounter between the BIG 4 was Arsenal vs Liverpool where Gerrard scored early before Gunner hero Fabregas scored to give Arsenal a draw. A big match Arsenal vs Man Utd. was on the cards. This battle between the top two was dramatic as a Gallas own goal before half time gave Reds the lead, before Fabregas levelled. But the champs were hungry and took the lead again through an Evra pass, beating goalkeeper Almunia to Ronaldo who knocked the ball into the net. If this wasn’t enough, Gallas made amends by heading the ball into the net in injury time when Van Der Sar leapt to stop it, only to fall in to the goal as the match was drawn 2-2.
Man Utd’s bad form continued as they lost to Bolton 1-0 through a brilliant Anelka goal before getting knocked out of the Carling Cup with a loss to lowly Coventry. Arsenal kept winning, which kept them in
the lead, Man utd on their heels.
December saw another clash between the big four, as Arsenal defeated Chelsea dramatically 1-0 and Man utd beat Pool by the same margin.
Arsenal seemed unstoppable as their strikers Eduardo and Adebayor scored goals with ease. Manchester too had its player Cristiano Ronaldo who got into devastating form at around this time. Torres too scored goals as the above strikers ran amok.
The transfer window opened in February. Jermaine Defoe was sold to Pompey, Nicholas Anelka came to Chelsea and Woodgate to Tottenham.
Now started the turn of events. Arsenal lost to Tottenham at White Hart Lane in the Carling Cup 5-1, which turned favourable for their opponents. Arsenal then won only one of their next six matches (in the UEFA Champions league against AC Milan 2-0), surrendering to Manchester United. Many believe (me included) the horrendous Eduardo injury put them in shock as they drew 5 continuous matches.
They then played Manchester in the FA Cup and lost to them 4-0. Arsenal’s dip in form was copied by Liverpool who lost to Barnsley in the FA Cup, 2-1. Arsenal then lost to Chelsea 2-1 through a Drogba double.
Their reason for losin
g so humiliatingly was the bad refereeing. They conceded penalties which weren’t so, they were given yellow cards for no reason, and offside goals were scored against them. The quality of refereeing which had been good in the first half of the season had turned so bad the “it now stank like a pig sty”.
Liverpool then lost again to Man Utd 0-3 and they were cemented in first spot. Arsenal conceded the second spot to Chelsea.
Then came a turning point again. Manchester United drew with Blackburn and Chelsea won their game, putting them a few points below the red devils. Chelsea played United and won 2-1(thanks to Michael Ballack) and Chelsea were tied in first spot with Man U with only 3 games to go.
But by now, 8 managers had been replaced. Kevin Keegan’s side had come out of relegation, putting Birmingham, Bolton and Reading along with Fulham in the relegation danger. Derby had already been relegated. The fight came down to the wire as on the last day of the EPL, Fulham won heroically as they escaped relegation. Reading and Birmingham, though equal on points, were relegated due to inferior goal difference.
Meanwhile, Manchester United played Wigan in their bid for their second EPL title at the same time Chelsea hosted Bolton.
Manchester United got the lead through Ronaldo and eased to victory after Giggs, who broke Sir Charlton’s 758th match record, scored. Chelsea meanwhile drew with Bolton after a late injury time goal kept them 2 points behind Manchester United. Arsenal limped to 3rd after a dismal second half of the season. Liverpool completed the quartet after they fought with Everton for fourth place.
Ah well!! The inexperienced Gunners reached third this time. Manchester United were the deserving winners at the end.
Best of luck Gunners, and Gooners!!!!!!!
Where to start? This season has been really action packed, the victor declared only after the last game of the season. There had been a fight at the bottom of the table as well.
The season started in September with the Community Shield: Chelsea vs Manchester United. After a dramatic display, Man Utd. won on penalties. But this would be their worst start to their season as they first lost to rivals City and kept their bad form going on throughout September.
Arsenal, who had lost Henry to Barcelona, had signed Eduardo over for a $15 million deal. Arsenal took control of the season, seizing the top of the table in the first few weeks. Chelsea and Liverpool (who brought Athletico Madrid Fernando Torres) had moderate starts to their season.
But the Red Devils recovered and started battling with Arsenal. The first encounter between the BIG 4 was Arsenal vs Liverpool where Gerrard scored early before Gunner hero Fabregas scored to give Arsenal a draw. A big match Arsenal vs Man Utd. was on the cards. This battle between the top two was dramatic as a Gallas own goal before half time gave Reds the lead, before Fabregas levelled. But the champs were hungry and took the lead again through an Evra pass, beating goalkeeper Almunia to Ronaldo who knocked the ball into the net. If this wasn’t enough, Gallas made amends by heading the ball into the net in injury time when Van Der Sar leapt to stop it, only to fall in to the goal as the match was drawn 2-2.
Man Utd’s bad form continued as they lost to Bolton 1-0 through a brilliant Anelka goal before getting knocked out of the Carling Cup with a loss to lowly Coventry. Arsenal kept winning, which kept them in
the lead, Man utd on their heels.December saw another clash between the big four, as Arsenal defeated Chelsea dramatically 1-0 and Man utd beat Pool by the same margin.
Arsenal seemed unstoppable as their strikers Eduardo and Adebayor scored goals with ease. Manchester too had its player Cristiano Ronaldo who got into devastating form at around this time. Torres too scored goals as the above strikers ran amok.
The transfer window opened in February. Jermaine Defoe was sold to Pompey, Nicholas Anelka came to Chelsea and Woodgate to Tottenham.
Now started the turn of events. Arsenal lost to Tottenham at White Hart Lane in the Carling Cup 5-1, which turned favourable for their opponents. Arsenal then won only one of their next six matches (in the UEFA Champions league against AC Milan 2-0), surrendering to Manchester United. Many believe (me included) the horrendous Eduardo injury put them in shock as they drew 5 continuous matches.
They then played Manchester in the FA Cup and lost to them 4-0. Arsenal’s dip in form was copied by Liverpool who lost to Barnsley in the FA Cup, 2-1. Arsenal then lost to Chelsea 2-1 through a Drogba double.
Their reason for losin
g so humiliatingly was the bad refereeing. They conceded penalties which weren’t so, they were given yellow cards for no reason, and offside goals were scored against them. The quality of refereeing which had been good in the first half of the season had turned so bad the “it now stank like a pig sty”.Liverpool then lost again to Man Utd 0-3 and they were cemented in first spot. Arsenal conceded the second spot to Chelsea.
Then came a turning point again. Manchester United drew with Blackburn and Chelsea won their game, putting them a few points below the red devils. Chelsea played United and won 2-1(thanks to Michael Ballack) and Chelsea were tied in first spot with Man U with only 3 games to go.
But by now, 8 managers had been replaced. Kevin Keegan’s side had come out of relegation, putting Birmingham, Bolton and Reading along with Fulham in the relegation danger. Derby had already been relegated. The fight came down to the wire as on the last day of the EPL, Fulham won heroically as they escaped relegation. Reading and Birmingham, though equal on points, were relegated due to inferior goal difference.
Meanwhile, Manchester United played Wigan in their bid for their second EPL title at the same time Chelsea hosted Bolton.
Manchester United got the lead through Ronaldo and eased to victory after Giggs, who broke Sir Charlton’s 758th match record, scored. Chelsea meanwhile drew with Bolton after a late injury time goal kept them 2 points behind Manchester United. Arsenal limped to 3rd after a dismal second half of the season. Liverpool completed the quartet after they fought with Everton for fourth place.
Ah well!! The inexperienced Gunners reached third this time. Manchester United were the deserving winners at the end.
Best of luck Gunners, and Gooners!!!!!!!
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