First Half: Monreal is denied by a block save from the keeper. Koscielny has a flicked header parried past the post. Jerome is denied from close range with an effort at the post by a blocked save behind.
Half Time: 0-0.
Second Half: Goal! 1-0, Arsenal take the lead as Oxlade-Chamberlain is put through on goal by Cazorla before chipping over the keeper into the far side. Jerome has a close range diving header parried behind at the near post. Podolski fires a shot into the side netting. Bannan blazed a shot over the bar from the edge of the box. Goal! 2-0, Oxlade-Chamberlain scores again, this time cutting inside before scoring with a low shot into the far bottom corner.
Full Time: 2-0.
Arsenal (1st) 55pts
Palace (17th) 23pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Oxlade-Chamberlain. Arsenal made to earn victory. The first half saw few chances created but Arsenal looked the more likely to score first. However, they had to work very hard to break down a stubborn and well drilled Palace defence. Eventually, two goals in the second half from the Ox was enough to get the job done. With that win, Arsenal go ahead of City to the top of table. Palace really dug in at the Emirates and looked like they may have frustrated Arsenal all the way to a 0-0 draw. Unfortunately, two lapses of concentration proved costly as they conceded twice. The loss means that Palace fall three places to 17th and one place above the relegation zone.
Manchester City 0 v 1 Chelsea Ivanovic (32)
First Half: Ramires has a goal ruled out for offside. Yaya Toure hits a curling shot from the edge of the box just over the bar. Silva fires a low shot from close range just wide of the far post. Ramires has a shot parried before Willian sends an overhead kick over the bar. Goal! 0-1, Chelsea take the lead as Ivanovic scores with a low driven left footed strike from the edge of the box into the far bottom corner. Hazard has a low shot saved at the near post. Eto'o hits the bar with a strike across goal.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Yaya Toure hits a low shot across goal wide. Matic hits a long range strike against the outside of the post. Cahill heads against the far post following a corner. Silva has a free kick tipped over the bar from the near top corner. Silva misses with a low close range effort that goes wide of the near post. Jovetic has a long range curling shot parried over the bar from the far top corner. Nastasic slices an effort wide of the near post.
Full Time: 0-1.
Man City (2nd) 53pts
Chelsea (3rd) 53pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Hazard. Chelsea beat City at the Etihad. City had so many chances but failed to take either one of them. However, they were outplayed by a strong Chelsea team. I really don't know why Pellegrini keeps playing Demichelis as it is so obvious he is the their weak link and clearly not up to the pace of the Premier League. That loss may affect City badly as they have pretty much made the Etihad a fortress this season. Consequently, that loss means they fall down one place to second. Chelsea deserved to win and really should have won the game by two or three goals. Mourinho got his tactics spot on for this game and it paid massive dividends. Ramires had a goal that should have stood, Eto'o hit the bar and Matic struck against the post. They really did a job over City and showed that they are real title contenders. Chelsea are now my favourites to win the title after that performance and they move to within two points of leaders Arsenal.
West Bromich Albion 1 v 1 Liverpool Sturridge (24), Anichebe (67)
First Half: Goal! 0-1, Liverpool take the lead as Suarez finds Sturridge at the back post who simply taps in from close range. Sterling has a low shot deflect wide of the post. Gera fires a long range shot wide of the far post.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Brunt has an effort blocked behind of the far post. McCauley has a header really well saved at the near post. Suarez has a low effort saved. Brunt has a low free kick saved at the far post. Goal! 1-1, West Brom equalise as Toure has a pass across the defence intercepted by Anichebe who scores with a low shot from the edge of the box into the near bottom corner.
Full Time: 1-1.
West Brom (16th) 23pts
Liverpool (4th) 47pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Suarez. Liverpool held at the Hawthorns. West Brom deserved to take a point out of that game and got it from a terrible mistake from Kolo Toure. Anichebe latched onto a shocking pass across the defence and neatly tucked home. It was an important point for the Baggies who look like they could be heavily involved in the relegation battle as they move down one place to 16th after that result. Liverpool were susceptible to the good and the bad within their team. SAS struck once again to put them ahead and they looked like seeing out the game up until Kolo Toure pretty much gifted West Brom an equaliser. Two points dropped for them really and not what they would have been looking to take from the game. With that point, they move eight points behind leaders Arsenal.
Best Goal: Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ivanovic. Winner: Ivanovic
League Leaders:
1. Arsenal 55pts
2. Man City 53pts
3. Chelsea 53pts
4. Liverpool 47pts
5. Everton 45pts
Relegation Battle:
16. West Brom 23pts
17. Crystal Palace 23pts
18. West Ham 22pts
19. Cardiff 21pts
20. Fulham 19pts
Follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/mattaylott
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