10 Things We Learned in the Premier League: Goals Galore

By: Daryl | December 31st, 2007

Goals Galore

Quite a weekend in the Premiership, with last week’s Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa made to look like a snoozefest by Tottenham’s ten goal encounter with Reading. All that and a defeat for one of the big four and arguments for a winter break never seemed so unconvincing.

Here are 10 Things We Learned in the Premier League:

1. Arsenal DO have a Plan B
All the criticism that Arsenal are too fancy and not prepared to get down and dirty seems to be having an effect. After passing their way to a goalless draw at Portsmouth in midweek and finding themselves 1-0 down away to Everton, it suddenly happened. Gael Clichy received the ball in defence, looked up, and fired a long ball straight to Eduardo who scored to send Arsenal on the way to a 4-1 win.

2. Tim Howard and Joseph Yobo need to talk more
The two Everton player’s got in a mix-up over who was going to take responsibility for a through ball, allowing Emmanuel Adebayor to nip between them and end the discussion by scoring.

3. Statistics are surprisingly reliable
Spurs are ranked first and in the Premier League for total number of goals scored in games they feature in. Reading are ranked second. So when the two met it was statistically likely to be a goalfest. And it was, as the game finished 6-4 to Spurs with the final 30 minute resembling a basketball game as both teams seemed to score every time they had the ball.

4. Carlos Tevez is not the new Paul Ince
The man who either saved them from relegation or was the initial cause of all their troubles last season (depending on which way you look at it) got a very warm reception on his return to Upton Park. Ince can still expect a good booing if he ever returns as a Premier League manager though.

5. Touchline bans matter
Would Manchester United still have lost at West Ham if Fergie hadn’t been banished up into the nosebleed seats at Upton Park? I’m saying no. Though it would have helped if Cristiano Ronaldo hadn’t missed his penalty.

6. Missed penalties matter
Ronaldo missed his when Man Utd were 1-0 up. They lost 2-1. Similarly, Steve Howard missed his penalty with Derby 1-0 up against Blackburn, and they also went on to lose 2-1. Seems the psychological impact of missing a spot-kick is immense.

7. Roy Keane hearts Kenwyne Jones
With a goal and two assist in Sunderland’s 3-1 win over Bolton, Jones looks like the only man capable of keeping Sunderland afloat this season. He’s also the only signing to suggest Roy Keane should be trusted with Niall Quinn’s friends’ money.

8. Manchester City can defend tooth and nail
Well tooth at least, as Micah Richards had one of his nashers knocked out in a challenge with Fernando Torres. But Richards managed to grin (with a gap obviously) and bear it as City fought for 90 minutes to get a 0-0 draw with five in midfield and late Richard Dunne goal-line clearance.

9. Roman Abramovich is going to get cheque-writing cramp in January
Both their goal-scorers against Newcastle will be heading off for the Africa Cup of Nations, Michael Essien with Ghana and Salomon Kalou with Ivory Coast. Didier Drogna (also Ivory Coast) and John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) will also be heading off in search of international glory, while John Terry and Frank Lampard are injured. Chelsea will either sign reinforcements or their season will quickly wither away next next month.

10. Dimitar Berbatov is classy, sort of
His four goals against Reading were out of this world. Especially his third where he patiently held off Ibrahim Sonko and waited for the ball to drop before volleying home with his back to goal. Less classy is his agent’s announcement just over 24 hours later than Berbatov would be interested in a move to “a big club.”