EPL Game Week 27

There was a time Singapore has beaten Iraq 2-0, a big upset but today we got crushed 7-1. Console yourselves, Indonesian was decimated 10-0 by Bahrain. I thought it was Badminton.

The game of the week must surely be that 5-2 Arsenal win over Tottenham. Although played at the Emirates, Arsenal's stuttering form following poor losing displays in recent weeks versus Tottenham's new found winning confidence. The fact that Spurs were leading 2-0 said it all. I was sure everyone was thinking a good thrashing awaited the Gunners in front of their own fans.

Normally, in a top match at the highest level, it is unimaginable to be able to crawl your way out of the hole trailing 2-0. Bacary Sagna scored and made it 1-2 and it was an important goal. He further capped a solid performance keeping Gareth Bale quiet. If Sagna's goal was important, van Persie's goal was a gem out of nowhere which gave the Gunners more belief as he conjured it by turning, twisting and curling it past a fully stretched Brad Friedel but if it was not down to Tomas Rosicky prompting it could have been different.

Meanwhile, Theo Walcott gave a vastly contrasting performance in each half. Unsure, indecisive, lacking in confidence in the first half, he made all the wrong decisions with the ball - releasing it too early when he should have held on and passing when he should go on to beat his man but come the second half, the real animal in him was unleashed. He was unstoppable. If only he could master his control every time. Finally, to win 5-2 after going down 0-2 is something to savour. Have Arsenal turned the corner? Well, they have been poor then turned the corner with brilliant displays and repeated the cycle so often you do not know if they are coming or going.

My next poser is do the Spurs fans still love Harry as much. If he was appointed England manager and in his opening match saw England going down 2-5, then what? Life is short but memory and patience are even shorter.

Liverpool v Arsenal - Life can sometimes be cruel. You can feel as if God is testing you with one test after another and you are not in school. After that mammoth and momentous match versus Tottenham now the Gunners are facing Liverpool away. Will they cave in or pull another rabbit out of the hat? That Liverpool have to struggle to beat Cardiff on penalties will offer some hope but that was a Cup Final. My only peeve was I could not get to watch the Cup Final on Mio TV and Mio continues to suck as I have problem almost every week trying to switch it on. Anyway, Liverpool actually has one of the best defence out there and Andy Carroll can cause a few problems during set pieces and this is Arsenal's Achilles heel. Liverpool can't get to Europe on League standing but only through the cups. Arsenal has to ace this one but it will be very tight. 1-2 to the Gunners. Liverpool fans have been suffering like this boy!

http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/young-liverpool-kid-pokes-himself-eye-while-celebrating-195305105.html

Blackburn v Aston Villa - Blackburn is a point behind Wolves, level with QPR and just a point above Bolton and Wigan. Who do you think among them will survive? Villa is just 7 points above Wolves and they scrapped a goalless draw at Wigan. Robbie Kean has returned to NASL so who is there to score for Villa while Yakubu has been amazing scoring 13 goals so far for lowly Blackburn. 1-1.

Man City v Bolton - I have already told you that life can be cruel. After a 3-0 bashing from Chelsea now they face the leaders. Man City can just play the same pattern then Balotelli, Aguero and Dzeko will take turns to score one each. 3-0. Why haven't anybody figure a way to stop them? 

QPR v Everton - Everton has a good rest over the week as their Merseyside Derby with Liverpool was postponed due to the League Cup Final. They should be full of energy to rain their blows even though they'll be playing at Loftus Road. Can Air Asia and Tony Fernandes save QPR? 1-2.

Stoke v Norwich - Stoke will be bolstered by their 2-0 win over Swansea. Norwich cannot be more unfortunate as they didn't deserved to lose to Man Utd. They played well and pressed Man Utd and gave them a game and even equalised with a fine goal. There was Singaporeanness to that goal. If I saw correctly it was Zak Whitbread's header which led to Grant Holt's shot past David de Gea. Zak is the son of former Singapore coach Barry and used to play for Geylang Youth while Holt have turned out for Sengkang Marine in the S-League. You go boys!! 1-1.

WBA v Chelsea - Sunderland was going great guns and they even had Arsenal beaten 2-0 in the FA Cup until they met WBA. Roy Hodgson has always been a good manager and they may give the Blues well the blues and is especially dependent on Chelsea manager AVB's decision on his lineup whether he will name a strange one. As you can see old boys Lampard and Drogba scored and gave him a result but he has been ignoring them. Will he do it again? 1-2 to Chelsea if he fields the right players and 2-2 if he doesn't.

Wigan v Swansea - Swansea does not deserve to be where they are in the table for the way they play. Losing to Stoke means despite their Swan-like grace they haven't had the  muscles. If Wigan can hold Villa they can do the same to Swansea but I believe Swansea's creativity and flowing football will sustain them to victory. 1-2.

Newcastle v Sunderland - This is a Derby, a Tyneside and Wearside local derby. Derbies can be drab affairs or filled with incidents. Both did not get good results and are showing fatigue. The Magpies threw away a 2 goal lead at St. James Park to allow Wolves a fight back to 2-2 while the Black Cats got choked and slaughtered 4-0 by the Baggies. Is the O'Neill effect wearing off? I think it will be a draw. 1-1.

Fulham v Wolves - Craven Cottage is not an easy place even for Wolves despite their gallant figh back against Newcastle and Fulham got full points away to QPR. Wolves wil lhave to produce something special if not it will be 3-2 to Fulham.

Tottenham v Man Utd - Harry Redknapp probably made only one mistake. He played two strikers against Arsenal - Adebayor and Saha. His decision seemed correct when they both scored but once Arsenal equalised and took the lead, both strikers became passive. Maybe they have underestimated the Gunners. The Gunners may have been poor against the weaker teams but they have beaten the better teams by comfortable margins but now Spurs shouldn't show too much respect to the Red Devils. No point to be conservative now. If suddenly they have a string of poor results, Harry becomes England manager easily. One man is red hot and stands in their way - David de Gea who made many outstanding saves from Norwich. How many of you thought that Giggs last crack which became the winning goal last week was "kelong"? Can Harry do a Houdini? Only Man City is the sole benefactor. They bought and loan Adebayor so that he could go score against any team except that he can't play when facing City. Play at pace and watch the Devils' counter-attack. 2-1.

A cracking weekend awaits - Liverpool v Arsenal and Tottenham v Man Utd. Woohoo!!!