Keep Faith! Part 2 More of the season’s best

Ah you returned! How loyal of you! Which is more than what can be said of many footballers these days, constantly transferring and demanding ever increasing wages just so that their wives can get famous too. Football is losing popularity and generating criticism from even the purists but I remind you that on the field, much has continued as before, masses of talent and bags of goals, just as we like it! As I continue my countdown I urge you to not lose track of these spoilt millionaires’ off field lives and to indulge in the highs of 2010 so far.

6. Manchester City 0-3 Arsenal, 24/10/10

2 teams who hadn’t decided yet whether they would challenge for the title or not met at Eastlands for a Super Sunday that delivered. If you were an Arsenal fan that is as City defender, Dedryk Boyata clumsily fell Marouane Chamakh after 5 minutes to reduce them to 10 men with the rest of the match to play. In the end it wasn’t really a contest but more of a challenge to see how Wenger’s team would profit from such an early mistake. The result was 3 unanswered goals as Arsenal ripped City to shreds with their very own ‘Arsenal brand’ football. City tired and evidently struggled to contain the pass happy visitors who claimed the points to please Arsene.

5. Newcastle 5-1 Sunderland, 31/10/10

A Halloween horror show for Steve Bruce welcomed him at St. James’ Park at the end of October. The first Tyne-Wear derby in a year was definitely an occasion to have been patient for for Magpie fans as the stunning performance from Kevin Nolan who grabbed a hat-trick made up for a year of solidarity in the Championship. Nolan began proceedings with a well taken overhead flick to confound Sunderland keeper Mignolet and added a second 8 minutes later slamming home a simple tap in. Ameobi grabbed one from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time as Newcastle went in 3-0 up. To make matters worse, calamity defender, Titus Bramble was sent for an early bath for tripping Andy Carroll as Ameobi grabbed his second of the match soon after. Nolan headed his third before Bent grabbed a trademark last minute goal as a consolation. The bragging rights were well and truly Newcastle’s as under fire boss Chris Hughton got some much deserved praise from his peers and players.

 4. Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham, 30/10/10

A controversial decision involving United and Spurs is about as shocking as a similar decision being made in a Liverpool versus Sunderland game so this may not surprise you. If Mark Clattenberg is reading this then I advise you to cease as we all know Mark, you truly mucked up. At 1-0 to United, Nani went all theatrical on us as he appealed for a penalty after a Spurs defender breathed on him. Although staged at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’, Clattenberg was having none of it and refused to even brandish Nani’s dive with a score it was so poor. Meanwhile opposing custodian, Heurelho Gomes had picked up the ball and motioned to take a free kick. While Nani cursed his luck and whinged to himself that Ronaldo would have won that he capitalised on some indecision between Gomes and Clattenberg. For the referee hadn’t actually blown for a free kick so Nani was left to simply tap into the unguarded net. Gomes appealed wildly, claiming that Nani had handballed it, which he had, but Clattenberg nor his assistant had given a set piece. Spurs lost the match 2-0 and Harry Redknapp made his face turn even redder than before in anger at the judgement.

 3. Newcastle 6-0 Aston Villa, 22/8/10

Without a permanent manager after Matin O’Neill’s shock departure, Kevin Macdonald had the task of picking up the pieces at Villa Park. After winning 3-0 against West Ham, things looked promising even without influential O’Neill. Newcastle were bouncing back from a 3-0 drubbing from Manchester United so this contest was only going to have one winner if you believe the form book. Obviously geared up by the fans for the first top fight game at St. James’ in a year, the hosts displayed the same sort of attacking velocity that won them the Championship. Villa were pushed aside by a Carroll hat-trick, a Nolan double and a Barton sizzler and could have been mistaken for just another lower league team without a hope. To make matters worse, John Carew missed his target of the actual goal when his penalty kick surprised an unsuspecting fan in the second tier of the stand.

2. Everton 3-3 Manchester United, 11/9/10

With the focus pre-match on Everton’s impressive victory against United at Goodison last season, the odds were very much against the Toffees to repeat that feat. And with the team 3-1 down in stoppage time at the end of the second half , the bookies must have breathed a sigh of relief. Everton took the lead in the 39th minute through Pienaar before Fletcher equalised 4 minutes later. United then scored 2 further goals through Vidic and Berbatov to arrogantly believe they had gained yet another 3 points. But Moyes’ side are no pushover as right at the death Tim Cahill scored to make it 3-2. The impressive Aussie notched yet another one with his head. Not bad for someone who isn’t even as tall as Nani’s shoulder.

The drama didn’t impede however as Mikel Arteta lashed a last minute shot against Paul Scholes’ chest and into the bottom corner to seal a deserved 3-3 thrilling draw. As you can guess Sir Alex was fuming. Not even sure I can print his comments. I guess Everton had ‘done a United’ on United. As a neutral it serves them right too!

1. Arsenal 2-3 West Brom, 25/9/10

Firstly can I say how thankful I am to not be Pat Rice. How must he have coped with the wrath of Arsene Wenger upon the moment his Gunners went 3-0 down at home to newly promoted West Brom? It doesn’t bare thinking about. Probably the worst thing on Arsene’s mind was the fact that Arsenal deserved to be behind by such a margin. And it could have been worse! Chris Brunt had a first half penalty saved by Arsenal goalie Manuel Almunia who proved to be the hero for the last time that day. Peter Odemwingie slotted home on 50 minutes only for Almunia to bring shame to himself with a calamitous error. Gonzalo Jara, not the most potent of players struck a shot heading for the near post. It should have been a routine save but it was far from that. The call for a new goalkeeper at Arsenal had never been stronger than at that moment as Almunia somehow managed to let the ball deflect off of his leg and find the net. It was like Robert Green at the World Cup but without the hands. His misery was compounded later on as former Gunner, Jerome Thomas made it 3-0 to the Baggies after woeful defending.

Arsenal grabbed 2 consolation goals but fell deservedly short as West Brom recorded an amazing result. Arsenal, more often than not breath taking at the Emirates were a shadow of their former selves and a proud Di Matteo lapped up the applause, praising his courageous side who provided us with the shock of the season so far.

So that ends the countdown, it is inevitable that there will be poor matches once in a while but whenever in doubt of footballs mercurial powers, just remember that it is just as inevitable that there will be another splendid spectacle just around the corner!