All Things Footie | Monday, December 24 | Jordan
(London) Pride and Prejudice
This week's awards were not easy to choose, again. Both United and Chelsea scored an improbable number of goals, I do think the scorelines in each case were a little flattering however. It is also worth noting that both were at home and playing very poor sides. The same cannot be said of Newcastle, who performed superbly to overcome Leeds in such determined form — but I find it difficult to applaud a team that concedes three goals. Which leaves Arsenal's victory at Anfield.
Against an injury–less Liverpool, missing captain Patrick Vieira and nevermind the Anfield jinx — you have to look back nine years for the last Arsenal victory — everything seemed to be going alright until Gio Van Bronkhorst was sent off for slipping on the snow. I don't believe he dived, he got up again far too quickly and at no point made that ‘so where's my penalty’ gesture. Paul Durkin's tragic case of Little Ginger Man Syndrome™ made it impossible for him to do anything other than brandish an undeserved red card.
The ten men of Arsenal going one step further than hanging on at nil nil, winning the game 2–1 and playing some great football makes them the strongest contenders for the accolade. Player of the Week was nearly as hard to decide, but Ray Parlour's tireless hard work in midfield and his determination to the end just about outshines Ruud Van Nistelrooy's first decent game for United.
Performace of the week : Arsenal vs Liverpool
Players of the week : Ray Parlour (Arsenal)
Goal of the week : Mark Viduka (Leeds vs Newcastle)
Team of the week :
| Matteo Sereni Ipswich |
| Phil Neville Man Utd |
Martin Keown Arsenal |
Danny Higginbotham Derby |
Ashley Cole Arsenal |
| Kieron Dyer Leeds |
Paul Scholes Man Utd |
Ray Parlour Arsenal |
Finidi George Ipswich |
| Ruud Van Nistelrooy Man Utd |
Eidur Gudjonsen Chelsea |
With that done, all I have to say is Merry Christmas everybody, enjoy yourselves and I'll be back boxing day! Don't drink too much though, Arsenal vs. Chelsea is an 11am kick off on the 26th ;)