EPL title race: Manchester United break away at the top

On a day when India lifted the ICC Cricket World Cup in Mumbai and Jose Mourinho lost his 151 match unbeaten record at home after almost a decade, how could the most electrifying football league in the world not come up with its own episode of thrills and spills. There were goals galore, drama, ecstasy, agony and for once the headlines weren’t grabbed by erring referees or foul-mouthed managers.

The day’s early kick-off saw league leaders Manchester United travel to West Ham, a ground where they have been made to bite the dust in the past, most recently in the form of a 4-0 drubbing in the Carling Cup. Chelsea too had a potentially tricky trip to the Britannia stadium to face Stoke who were unbeaten at home since the turn of the year. With their title rivals treading on potential banana skins, it was a golden chance for Arsene Wenger and his boys to pile more pressure on Manchester United. On their path were Blacburn Rovers, a team that had lost 9 of their previous 10 away games, surely a stroll in the park for the Gunnners at the Emirates.

West Ham vs Man Utd

A lunch time kick-off on Saturday, coming off an International break is always an added burden on teams heavily dependent of players coming back from national duty. It gets tougher when one is without a first choice central midfield pairing, a central defender and a right-back but character in the face of adversity is what champions exhibit and nothing short of it would do for Manchester United. Though they had skipper Nemanja Vidic back to bolster their defense, he could not stop Carlton Cole from winning back to back penalties both dispatched with aplomb by Mark Noble. A tactical switch at half time saw Ryan Giggs going at left-back with Hernandez introduced to support Wayne Rooney as United desperately sought a way back from 0-2 down.

Wayne Rooney: Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man

When it mattered the most, Rooney stepped up to convert a sublimely free kick before scoring his 100^th premier league goal for United to draw them level. By then the momentum was well and truly with United and the Upton Park faithful could haplessly watch Rooney convert a penalty to claim his hat-trick and Hernandez add yet another tap in to his already impressive goal tally this season. The mood in the United camp was exemplified by Sir Alex who summarized, “I think we played like Champions today. We kept our heads up, didn’t lose faith in our ability and it was a great boost to us in that respect.”

Stoke City vs Chelsea

Having learnt about Rooney’s heroics earlier in the day, it was imperative for Chelsea to keep up the pressure but shockingly found themselves trailing within the first quarter when Jonathan Walters left David Luiz for dead on the left wing, burst into the box , stepped inside to ride a Michael Essien challenge and unleashed an unstoppable drive beyond Petr Cech. Carlo Ancelotti had realized the importance of this fixture and relied on his tried and tested strike partnership of Anelka and Drogba to produce the goods for Chelsea. They repaid their manager’s faith when Drogba latched on to a Anelka cross and equalized with an immaculately timed diving header.

A Baptism by Fire experience for David Luiz

But this match was far from over as Kenwyne Jones and Walters gave David Luiz a torrid time at the back. In a spell of thirty seconds Stoke rattled the upright twice, Mark Wilson’s stunning free kick followed by Robert Huth’s thumping header, but despite coming close they failed to add to their tally. Drogba had his fair share of woodwork-cracking as well but Stoke weren’t to be denied what was in the least a well deserved point if not a couple of points dropped.

Arsenal vs Blacburn

With no Champions League clashes in midweek to worry about Arsene Wenger gave Theo Walcott his first start in six months as Arsenal looked to close the gap between them and league leaders Machester United back to five points. Arsenal started brightly with Theo Walcott almost inducing an own goal off Ryan Nelson and then drawing a smart save from Paul Robinson from a tight angle. But the half’s best chance was to befall on the ever improving Jack Wilshere as Nasri found the English International in space, but his rather lame attempt wasn’t even on target. Blackburn grew in confidence as the half wore on and came close to scoring with Nzonzi’s header flying inches beyond Almunia’s right hand post. Arsenal had to go for the kill in the second half as Arsene Wenger brought on captain Cesc Fabregas and then Marouane Chamakh. Their task was made simpler when Nzonzi was given his marching orders by Phil Dowd following a two-footed lunge on Koscielny. With still about 15 minutes to play Wenger threw Nicolas Bendtner into the mix and his header had to be chested off the line by former Real Madrid right back Michel Salgado. With the clock ticking away, one felt there was going to be one last chance for the Gunners and it felt to their in-form Dutch striker Robin Van Persie. From just six yards out he couldn’t keep his header down from a perfectly weighted cross by Sagna. Arsene Wenger could do nothing more but shake his head as he saw his side throw two vital points at home.

Its slipping away…….

It was almost a perfect weekend for Manchester United (Liverpool succumbed as Roy Hodgson got one up over his past employers with West Brom coming from behind to win 2-1 at the Hawthorns) as daylight started to emerge between themselves at the top and Arsenal. United still have to travel to the Emirates and Arsenal do have a game in hand but more than anything it’s the belief that counts in such tense situations and at Old Trafford, “WE BELIEVE”. Such has been the nature of this season that there is bound to be more twists in the tale but you do get a feeling this run in has Manchester United written all over it.