The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsA review of all the weekend’s Premier League football. Including shock victories for Bournemouth and Newcastle.
Stoke City 2-0 Manchester City.
What a result this was for Stoke, and Xherdan Shaqiri was in fine form. Two goals from Marko Arnautovic and two assists from the former saw Stoke complete an empathic win over the title favourites. The home side were ahead after 7 minute on the clock, Shaqiri showing great determination to run down the wing and produce a good ball in for Arnautovic to tap home. Eight minutes later and the Potters had doubled their lead, Shaqiri with a world class ball behind the defence to play in Arnautovic for his second of the afternoon. Jack Butland kept out Kevin De Bruyne, Aleksandar Kolarov early on. Arnautovic then hit the post during the second half to be denied a hat trick, in the second half chances were more rare as Stoke held on to a historic win.
Swansea 0-3 Leicester City.
Swansea are in some serious trouble right now, and Gary Monk has now left his role as manager of the club who are plummeting fast. A Riyad Mahrez hat-trick sent Swansea plummeting. Mahrez got his first in the 5th minute, the ball appearing to come off his rib cage and into the net from a corner. Lukas Fabianski then prevented Jamie Vardy from scoring in yet another with a great save. Mahrez then kept his cool to double the visitors lead in the 22nd minute. Swansea came out a different team in the second half and almost halved the deficit when Ki Sung-Yueng hit the bar with his head. The scoring was complete for the afternoon in the 67th minute, Vardy unselfishly assisting Mahrez for his hat-trick.
Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland.
Arsenal finally got back to winning ways, and after slip ups from all the big teams during the weekend, they’re back to having a reasonable chance of winning the title. Goals from, Joel Campbell, Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey were enough to see the hosts take all three points, Giroud netting in his own goal for the Sunderland goal. Petr Cech was alert when he had to keep out two golden chances from Fabio Borini. Mesut Ozil was in incredible form as he assisted the first, playing a beautifully weighted ball for Campbell to latch on and put the Gunners 1-0 up. The party only lasted 12 minutes however, Giroud finding his own net with his attempted clearance via his head. Cech then made a vital goalmouth stop during the early exchanges of the second half, keeping Steven Fletcher’s effort out. Giroud made amends for his earlier own goal in the 63rd minute, heading home from close range to restore the hosts lead. Ramsey then saw his late effort well saved by Costel Pantilimon. Pantilimon could do nothing about the third though, Ramsey forcing the ball in from a scrappy goalmouth scramble.
Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth
What a win this was for the Cherries. Away to last year’s champions and going back to the south coast with all three points is incredible, for the fans and the players. Glenn Murray’s header in the 82nd minute was the difference between the two sides. Chelsea had a handful of good opportunities to open the lead in the first half, Artur Boruc keeping Eden Hazard and Pedro at bay well. Thibaut Courtois had to make two good stops to keep Joshua King out for the visitors. Nemanja Matic had a glorious effort in the second half, heading over the bar from four yards out. That miss came back to haunt the Blues, as with seven minutes left on the clock Murray headed home the winner for an incredible, well deserved victory.
Watford 2-0 Norwich.
If Watford continue this fine form then there is no doubt they will have Premiership status next year, they are playing some impressive football and look like they’ve settled into the top flight very quickly. Goals from Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo saw the hosts to a 2-0 victory. It’s important to note that the work rate of Ighalo was second to none, he could fit into any team within the league and it would not be surprising to see some team with a bigger stature come in for him. Ighalo was fouled for the penalty, Deeney stepped up and scored in his fourth consecutive Premier League match. Only eight to go… Ighalo then had a goal ruled out for offside, replays show it was the correct decision. Robbie Brady had the Canneries first effort, but his effort was well wide of the target. Ighalo saw his hard work payed off in stoppage time of the first half, slotting home to complete a perfect afternoon for the hosts.
