Power Rankings: Palace on the Rise, Liverpool Fall Again

1. Chelsea (1): Another easy win for Chelsea who dispatched of Aston Villa easily at home.  Diego Costa now has eight from six premier league matches, and Jose Mourinho celebrated his 250th match in charge of the club.  Chelsea will look to take advantage of Arsenal’s injury troubles next weekend and replicate the last meeting between the two London clubs.

2. Southampton (2): Since losing at Anfield on opening day, Southampton are undefeated in all competitions (seven matches), riding the high of Ronald Koeman’s brilliant philosophies.  Graziano Pelle’s strike could be the goal of the season already, and Ryan Bertrand looks keen to jump ship from Chelsea permanently.  

3. Manchester City (3): The top three remains unchanged here, given Southampton’s form in September.  City won 4-2 at Hull City, but made it harder on themselves than necessary; Eliaquim Mangala will want to forget this day which saw him conceded a penalty and put one in his own net.  

4. Arsenal (4): Arsenal only stay in the top four of the rankings by virtue of the four teams behind them losing.  Saturday’s North London Derby was a disappointing result for the Gunners, with fans scratching their heads wondering why Alexis started on the bench.  The Chilean has been Arsenal’s best player in the young season, and his introduction changed the game late on.  A full 90 from Arsenal’s big signing could have seen a different outcome.  

5. Crystal Palace (9): Crystal Palace’s rise in the last two weeks has been meteoric; two wins in six days an a recent home victory over talk-of-the-town Leicester will put to rest any doubts about Neil Warnock’s pedigree for now.  Mile Jedinak continues to log impressive shifts in the middle for Palace; there are probably a host of top teams wishing they had a player of his solidarity.  

6. Leicester City (5): Leicester couldn’t continue the blistering pace with which they dispatched of Manchester United last Sunday, and subsequently fell to Crystal Palace 2-0 on the road.  Nigel Pearson is a manager who, however, ‘gets it,’ and they should look to impress more moving forward. 

7. Aston Villa (6): That’s two losses from two for Aston Villa, but this one won’t sting like last weekend’s 3-0 home loss to Arsenal.  Chelsea are in a different class, and it’s important for Paul Lambert and Roy Keane to refocus their efforts toward more winnable fixtures ahead.  

8. Swansea (7): For the second week in a row, Swansea drop a spot in the rankings.  Lukasz Fabianski was a busy man on Saturday, and also for the second weekend in a row Swansea ended the game with 10 men.  This time it was Angel Rangel who received his marching orders, but credit Sunderland for making it very difficult for Swansea to find chances throughout.  

9. Everton (13): Everton stood firm in the season’s first edition of the North London Derby.  Phil Jagielka’s pile-driving effort assured a point for Roberto Martinez, but today’s here for Everton was American Tim Howard.  Howard had a disastrous outing last Sunday, making two unforgivable errors.  On Saturday, Howard was Everton’s best player, making several impressive saves even while falling victim to Steven Gerrard’s brilliant free kick.  

10. Stoke City (12): Another club on the rise for the second week in a row, Stoke City easily dispatched of sputtering Newcastle United.  This could be the last nail in the coffin for Alan Pardew.  

11. Hull City (8): Steve Bruce will applaud his side’s resilience after going down 2-0 so early, but won’t be happy with some of the lazy marking which allowed Sergio Aguero to open the scoring.  Had it not been for Eliaquim Mangala’s day to forget, it could have been much worse for the Tigers.  

12. Manchester United (15): 19 year old Paddy McNair was handed his debut by Louis Van Gaal, more papering over the cracks than a must-see first start.  However, credit the debutant for holding his ground and managing a near-physically impossible clearance down the stretch from a dangerous West Ham cross.  Wayne Rooney’s sending off only adds to the laundry list of questions directed toward the Red Devils’ captain.  

13. Liverpool (11): Liverpool missed an opportunity to springboard into a run of excellent form, as they did last year when they dismantled Everton 4-0 at Anfield.  Brendan Rodgers’ side took 37 or the next 39 available points after that, and a team struggling to find it’s post-Suarez identity won’t look to this one for any encouragement.  

14. Tottenham (14): Tottenham scored against Arsenal, something they didn’t manage once last season, so that has to be a huge positive coming away from this one.  

15. West Brom (17): West Brom dismantled Burnley, thanks to a brace from Saido Berahino.  Berahino’s impressive start to the season continues, and Fabian Delph’s call-up gives the youngster hope of seeing action in Roy Hodgson’s England squad.  

16. West Ham (10): Taking a closer look at this game, West Ham missed an opportunity to snatch a point from Old Trafford.  Enner Valencia blasted wide from a Daley Blind error, United capitalized on a terrible error for their second and game-winning goal, and Wayne Rooney's sending off should have boosted the Hammers coming off their win over Liverpool last weekend.  

17. Sunderland (18): Sunderland are also still searching for their first win of the season.  A draw to Swansea isn’t the worst thing that can happen, but Gus Poyet may see pressure from above if he continues to go winless.  

18. Newcastle (18): If cats have nine lives, Alan Pardew surely has hundreds and is by now running out.  Newcastle lack inventiveness, organization, and fighting spirit.  Only a matter of time now until SackPardew.com can finally be deemed irrelevant, but while it’s not, check it out; lot of interesting facts about the Pardew era on there.  

19. Queens Park Rangers (20): The only thing keeping Queens Park Rangers out of the DFL zone is Burnley’s unworldly poor form.  However, had it not been for Graziano Pelle’s unworldly strike, Harry Redknapp could have walked away with a point from the South.  

20. Burnley (16): Ironically enough, Burnley had three bids for Michael Dawson rejected over the summer.  Dawson scored from Chris Brunt’s corner to only worsen the 4-0 defeated handed to them by West Brom, while Burnely are currently riding a 526 minute streak in which they have not scored a league goal.  

Alexis' Exclusion a Head-Scratcher

Saturday’s draw with Tottenham will do nothing to quell the frustration of Arsenal supporters who remain adamant that Arsene Wenger committed an unforgivable error in not securing a top defensive midfielder in the summer.  Mathieu Flamini’s error was what directly caused Nacer Chadli’s opener, but the exclusion of Arsenal’s most expensive signing of the summer is the bigger-picture question we’ll all be asking going forward.  

I see Arsene Wenger’s reasoning behind keeping Alexis on the bench.  Naturally, a player which such inventiveness and pace would be the ultimate substitute.  His inclusion for the final third of the match saw a change in directness and quality from Arsenal, while every decision has it’s reasoning that may not meet the eye.  

It is important to understand who Alexis is as a footballer.  Always second-tune to Lionel Messi and company at Barcelona, Alexis’ direct style of play and individuality are what saw him become surplus to requirements a the Nou Camp.  He gives the ball away more than one would fancy, but that’s the element of risk in putting him in.

James McNicholas put it best today in labeling Alexis as a ‘soloist,’ which sums up his body of work on the pitch.  Alexis loves to square up to goal with the ball at his feet and take defenders on fearlessly.  At Barcelona, they prefer the free-flowing style of tiki-taka, so giving the ball to Alexis didn’t necessarily bode well for their run of play.  

At Arsenal, Alexis is more of a focal point on the field than he was with Barcelona, so the risk in putting him in is only magnified.  As opposed to Danny Welbeck, Alexis is prone to giving the ball away.  Welbeck was included in the side not just for his impact on the score sheet against Aston Villa, but also for his outstanding ball-retention and passing skills.  

On the other hand, taking a step back from the situation and looking at the bigger picture really makes one wonder how on earth he wasn’t included.  As an opposing manager, it has to be a welcome sight to see Alexis start on the bench; that in itself could warrant the Chileans inclusion in almost every big match.  

Rumblings out of Arsenal’s London Colney training ground suggested Alexis has the stamina and ambition of a six year old chugging green tea.  Two days after playing 90 minutes against Southampton, Alexis had to be told by several of the Arsenal players to ‘take it easy’ on what was supposed to be his second day of recovery.  

The eagerness and desire is there with the Chilean; that is something no one will ever doubt, so why not include him in a game of this magnitude?  Of all the things that have gone wrong for Arsenal this season so far, Alexis has been the biggest bright spot.  

Finally, a summer which saw Arsene Wenger fail to address the squad’s biggest need makes it hard to warrant the exclusion of the 35 million pound man.  ‘As long as the club isn’t going to spend money on the right players, why not play the ones they actually spent on?’ is a question many Gooners will be asking themselves after Saturday.  

Perhaps Alexis was a little too psyched up, or there’s something we don’t know about.  Regardless, it’s inexplicable for a player of his quality and energy to not be included in a game which calls for both in bulk

Round Five: Studs & Duds

Studs

Frank Lampard, Manchester City: Don’t do a double take, that’s right, Frank Lampard plays for Manchester City now, at least for a few more months.  No one could have predicted this storyline a year ago, one which saw the former Chelsea man score the equalizer in a hotly contested match against the club he spent over a decade at.  His emotional goodbye to the traveling Chelsea supporters was a heartwarming sight, and his refusal to celebrate his goal showed his undeniable class.

The Leicester City Forwards: Leonardo Ulloa scored a booming header seconds after United extended their lead to 2-0, and later a spot kick after Jamie Vardy won the second of two penalties.  Vardy’s work-rate was inhuman on Sunday, while the eight million pounds Nigel Pearson paid for Ulloa is paying dividends.

Winston Reid, West Ham: Reid opened the scoring with a simple tap-in from James Tompkins’ flick off of an excellent Stewart Downing ball in.  Reid was constantly in the right place defensively, serving as a leader on the West Ham back line.  His goal was what started the momentum for the snatch-and-grab Hammers.

Ryan Bertrand, Southampton: Bertrand had expensive shoes to fill at the Saint Mary’s Stadium following Luke Shaw’s move to Manchester United, but the on-loan Chelsea man has proved his worth in the South.  Bertrand, billed as the successor to Ashley Cole a few years ago when he joined Stamford Bridge, is finally flashing the form we all expected of him back then. 

Mesut Ozil, Arsenal: “I don’t play to prove anything to anyone, I play for Arsenal.”  These were the words of Arsenal record signing Mesut Ozil in the morning papers, who silenced critics with a scintillating contribution at Villa Park on Monday.  Everyone points to the positional change as the reason for Ozil’s performance, but it’s nice to see the player confidently stand up for himself with both his words and his play on the pitch.  

Duds

Wilfried Bony, Swansea: Bony cost his side a chance to continue their strong start when he inexplicably earned himself two very bad yellow cards.  The second challenge on Maya Yoshida was unforgivable, and the suspension which follows the red card will further cost the Welsh club.  Credit to his teammates for keeping it close playing a man down for so long.   

Steven Gerrard, Liverpool: I called Gerrard’s display ‘spineless’ in my power rankings today, and after much contemplation, I concluded that this was not too harsh of a word to describe the former England captain.  Gerrard’s positioning as the only defensive midfielder doesn’t help him, but the one-club man’s influence is waning on Merseyside.  

Wayne Rooney, Manchester United: Rooney assisted on Di Maria’s mercurial tally in the first half, but otherwise struggled in the playmaking role for Manchester United.  The image of Wayne Rooney losing his head after Leicester tied the game won’t vacate twitter anytime soon, and neither will the speculations that Van Gaal chose the wrong man to captain his side.  

Tim Howard, Everton: It was unusual to see Howard make two such glaring errors.  First, Howard and Jon Stones had a collective brain fart, then the American missed his punch which led to Frazier Campbell’s goal.  As an American, I’m not used to seeing Howard make such awful mistakes.  

Liverpool Back Line: Between Manquillo, Lovren, Moreno, and Sakho, the Liverpool back line from Saturday’s horror show have one year of premier league experience.  Brendan Rodgers, known for his philosophies on the offensive side of the ball, may want to allocate more attention to his increasingly shaky back line led by a big-money signing who admitted to a lack in confidence early on.  

Round Five: Leicester, Palace, Hammers Rise

1. Chelsea (1): Perhaps unhappy to have not capitalized on the sending off of Pablo Zabaleta, Jose Mourinho will still be satisfied with one point at the Etihad Stadium.  Diego Costa's goal output is impressive but his temperament could cost Chelsea if it doesn't subside.  

2. Southampton (3): Ronald Koeman is manager of the year so far without a doubt.  This week, it was Victor Wanyama’s turn to play the hero, as the Nigerian came off the bench to sink Swansea on the road.  Roll on you Saints.  

3. Manchester City (2): Frank Lampard has proved his worth in each of his two appearances.  The former Stamford Bridge man looked embarrassed and apologetic after equalizing for the Citizens, but his last farewell to the Chelsea traveling fans would put a smile on even Fabio Capello’s face.  

4. Arsenal (4): On a weekend where Liverpool, City, United, Everton, and Tottenham all dropped points, Mesut Ozil stamped his influence on a three-goal outburst in the same amount of minutes.  The North London Derby beckons on Saturday. 

5. Leicester City (11): Enough cannot be said about Leicester’s resurgence in the top flight.  Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa led a stellar line of direct football against Manchester United.  Nigel Pearson’s unorthodox positioning up above during matches looks to be paying off for the Foxes.  

6. Aston Villa (6): There were plenty of positives to take from Aston Villa’s 3-0 loss to Arsenal on Saturday.  Had a nasty bug not taken hold of several players slated to play, this one could have been closer.  Paul Lambert cannot let his club slip into obscurity after just one bad day at the office.  

7. Swansea (6): On a weekend which saw Chelsea and Manchester City duke it out, England boss Roy Hodson’s attention was on this fixture.  Players like Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge, and Fraser Forster were unjustly denied a better opportunity to impress the England boss by Wilfried Bony’s overzealous pair of fouls on Maya Yoshida which resulted in a rightful sending off.  

8. Hull City (13): The purchase of Mohamed Diame is looking like one of the bargains of the summer, while the rest of Steve Bruce’s vast crop of recruits are settling in nicely at the KC stadium. 

9. Crystal Palace (16): A major, major result for Neil Warnock, who earned his first win as the Golden Eagles’ new boss.  Mile Jedinak’s leadership and the uncharacteristic errors of Tim Howard aided Palace to a much-needed victory at Goodison Park.  

10. West Ham (17): A fantastic atmosphere and an even better win will cool the critics regarding Sam Allardyce’s future.  Enner Valencia is looking to be an excellent signing, while former top-club players Stewart Downing and Alex Song impressed.  

11. Liverpool (7): Another spineless performance from Steven Gerrard allowed West Ham to snatch victory from the Reds at Upton Park.  Daniel Sturridge’s return could not come any sooner on Merseyside.  

12. Stoke City (14): Mark Hughes was denied a chance to exact total revenge on his former club Queens Park Rangers in a 2-2 draw.  Peter Crouch, who played for QPR as a youngster, scored for both teams in a game which twice saw Stoke surrender the lead.  

13. Everton (9): Tim Howard was strangely vulnerable in the home loss to Crystal Palace, misjudging a punch and failing to communicate with young Jon Stones on the second Palace goal.  The Toffees showed flashes of brilliance, but unforgivable errors at the back ultimately cost them.  

14. Tottenham (10): Since their two wins to start the season Tottenham have struggled.  A home loss to bottom feeders West Brom won’t do Spurs any favors, but shouts for the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino are ridiculous.  

15. Manchester United (8): Another plummet in the rankings for a disorganized and undisciplined United squad.  They showed how capable they are going forward but must do something about their gaping exposure at the increasingly unfit back line.  

16. Burnley (12): Sean Dyche missed a terrific opportunity to notch his first premier league win against Sunderland at Turf Moor.

17. West Brom (20): West Brom rebounded from a day at the Hawthorns with Everton which ended with the home fans booing their team off the pitch.  The Baggies were unlucky not to have won a first-half penalty, but a 74th minute James Morrison strike was the only goal in an uplifting win for a struggling club.  

18. Sunderland (15): Ashley Barnes’ late drive off the crossbar was the difference in what could have been another disappointing result for Gus Poyet.  Emmanuelle Giacherrini was a threat in an otherwise lethargic Black Cats team.  

19. Newcastle United (18): Alan Pardew avoided all-out anarchy on Tyneside when he saw his Magpies come back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a point.  His job is safe for now, but his leash must be running very thin.  

20. Queens Park Rangers (19): QPR’s start to the season, although not as terminally awful, is mirroring that of 2012/2013.  Harry Redknapp’s side dropped more points at home, not the best rebound to the 4-0 thrashing they endured at Old Trafford.  

Arsenal Find Balance, Ozil Enjoys Himself

Arsene Wenger firmly defended record signing Mesut Ozil in his pre-match press conference yesterday.  The Arsenal manager, along with the always-loyal contingent of Ozil fanatics, stuck by the German through his extensive dip in form, a shred of loyalty which paid off today at Villa Park. 

The obvious and correct assumption to make about Ozil’s excellent performance today is that playing him centrally makes all the difference.  Starting underneath Danny Welbeck, Ozil’s license to roam the pitch was returned to him.  

In recent matches, Ozil would start on the wing and still drift into the middle of the park, but starting him here makes a huge difference.  

This way, Ozil was able to pick up the ball in the middle with 360 degrees of options with which to choose from as opposed to being bogged down on one of the touchlines.  His movement off the ball was fantastic as well, maintaining a certain level of fluidity with his playmaking mate Cazorla.  

Early on, it was evident Ozil was enjoying himself.  His first touch was astronomically more confident than it has been since the start of the season, and a side that lacked Arsenal's two best players from last weeks 2-2 draw benefited as a result.   

However, the positional shift is just part of the reason why Ozil enjoyed such a fruitful afternoon.  Without Alexis and Jack Wilshere in the side, more space was allocated in the middle for the German, and as a result there was much less congestion in the area of the pitch he is most dangerous in. 

Wilshere had been arguably the best Gunner in the past two fixtures, but he can’t play every game, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Aaron Ramsey on the bench next time out for Arsenal.  He needs a rest, and his dip in form has reached a boiling point.  

Similarly, Alexis’ exclusion was also necessary, as the Chilean has been tireless in his recent performances which have yielded three goals in four games.  Santi Cazorla deserved his start today, as did Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who has been a spark plug in each of his substitute appearances for Arsenal.    

Without a doubt though, the confidence Arsene Wenger instills in his players was on full display today.  Ozil, so often criticized both fairly and unfairly in his Arsenal tenure, has always had the support of his manager.  

Patrick Vieira, captain of the Invincibles side from 2003-2004, claims that the French manager’s biggest strength is the trust he has in his players.  Through thick and thin, Wenger has trusted Ozil and made sure he keeps the billing as Arsenal’s biggest and most important signing.  

Wenger could have subbed the German later on, but opted to leave Ozil on the field; he was simply enjoying himself too much to be taken off.  

Going into the match, Aston Villa were lauded for their early-season form, but Arsenal had other ideas.  Playing Ozil underneath the striker had a lot of to with it, but the balance that Arsene Wenger found in his side was phenomenal.  

Today Arsenal featured a side without one player playing out of position; something we’re not very accustomed to seeing.  It isn’t necessarily about getting all of the best players on the field at once, it’s about getting the right ones, something Arsene Wenger nailed in today’s statement win on the road.  

Arsenal Face a Familiar Foe

Some rivalries live forever.  There are those which fizzle out and are forgotten, and some so ridiculous that not even those involved ever reconcile.  Then there’s the rivalry between Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane. 

Arsenal face a familiar face on Saturday when they travel to Villa Park to take on Paul Lambert’s red-hot Aston Villa side.  The two clubs don’t necessarily have a heated rivalry, but one of the men on the Villa touchline has quite a history with the North London club.

For nine intense years, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira gave fans some of the most intense matches to date.  The two captains simply hated each other and had a hateful playing relationship to put it lightly.  The Battle of Old Trafford amidst Arsenal’s unbeaten 2003/2004 season comes to mind, as does the famous tunnel incident that took place before the opening whistle had even blown. 

It’s in Gooners’ blood to hate Keane, and it’s in Red Devils’ to hate Vieira.  There isn’t a personal rivalry in the league today that even sniffs at the feuds between these two giants of the past.  For Keane though, his new position as assistant manager at Aston Villa gives him a chance to exact some more pain on Arsenal. 

Defender Alan Hutton recently hailed the influence Keane has had on the squad, citing the former Manchester United man’s motivational skills and belief he holds in his players.  Similar to how Steve Bould has transformed the Arsenal back line in the last few years, Keane has added an extra bite to a side who feeds off positive energy and momentum. 

Fabian Delph is the poster-child for the club right now, as he recently won his first caps with England.  Delph’s call-up is indicative of the work the entire club has put in.  His inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s squad for Euro qualifiers gives hope to Tom Cleverley, whose once promising career spiraled and spiraled downward until he was promptly loaned to Villa on deadline day. 

Always lacking confidence with United, it will come as no surprise to see Cleverley reinvent himself under the tutelage of Lambert and Keane.  Often the scapegoat to supporters, the Englishman was never going to succeed at a club whose supporters want absolutely nothing to do with him.

Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Cleverley saw limited playing time in his favored position, and as a result his form and confidence were shot.  Keane, who less then a year ago called Ferguson ‘egotistical,’ will instill the same rebellious and fiery approach in Cleverley that he abided to in his playing days. 

Last December, Keane and Vieira together reconciled and re-lived all the epic battles in which they were involved.  In essence, this rivalry embodies the perfect personal rivalry in sports; two men who hate each other on the field, but one day have the respect and intelligence to acknowledge his counterpart’s passion and ability.

The Frenchman now manages the reserve squad at Manchester City, while the Irishman no longer associates himself with Manchester United.  The intensity of these two men’s rivalry will likely never be replicated in today’s more harshly policed style of play, but on Saturday expect every bit of Roy Keane’s hatred for Arsenal and passion to be injected into a hungry Aston Villa side.

United Face Tougher Tests Ahead

The dust has settled, the rumors are over, and six new faces have joined the ranks at Old Trafford in the summer.  Louis Van Gaal’s re-vamped Manchester United side impressed in their last outing against Queens Park Rangers, but the coming weeks will be a better indication of how good this team really is.  

The win against QPR was albeit a spectacular match to watch from a red perspective, but as I have already stated beating arguably the worst premier league side at home is not a proper barometer for the caliber of this group.  

Angel Di Maria is drawing rave reviews after his first two performances for United, Ander Herrera marked his return from injury with a goal, while Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, and Falcao each made their debuts last weekend.  To cap things off for the new boys, Jonny Evans declared Luke Shaw talented enough to be the best left back in the world today.  

Spirits are high at Old Trafford right now, but it’s imperative that Van Gaal decipher what system works best for this group, and also the personnel that will get the best out of the system (and vice versa).  Playing four in the back looks like the front-runner as of now, with Daley Blind’s two-way play justifying this formation.  

Thus, after a midweek rest during European competition, Van Gaal has had sufficient time on the training ground to figure out what works best for his team.  Between now and the end of November, United will face their first true tests of the season in the premier league.  

It starts this Sunday, when the Red Devils travel to Leicester and take on a group fresh off an upset win on the road at Stoke City.  Then, Van Gaal will take the Red Devils into a slightly more manageable fixture when they host West Ham six days later.  

The following Saturday, Manchester United host Everton in what will be Van Gaal’s toughest test to date.  The defensive midfield duo of James McCarthy and Gareth Barry are never easy to break down, and Roberto Martinez is more than capable of setting up his team accordingly to thwart United.  

After another two weeks rest, United travel to the Hawthornes and take on a desperate West Brom side, followed by an evening with Chelsea at Old Trafford on the 26th of October.

November is when United will be tested the most.  By then, expect a fully integrated squad with familiarity and confidence.  November second sees the first United derby of Van Gaal’s tenure, followed by a trip to the Emirates two games later on the 22nd.  

What benefits Manchester United in this upcoming schedule is that they only have to focus on one competition.  Champions League football is obviously not coming to Old Trafford this year, but their chances of bringing it back are boosted by this in itself.  

The tough part for the players will be staying patient and knowing their place in the squad with so fewer games to play.  The players have buy into the long-term goals of the club if they are to be competitive in the league this season. 

After just four games, United have accrued just five points while playing a very manageable schedule.  Going forward though, the absence of European football will help see this group through a rough transitional period as it did for Liverpool last year.  

Arsenal Must Improvise

Do what you can, where you are, with what you have was always an idea instilled in me growing up.  The transfer window closed two weeks ago, yet what seems to be the biggest concern among Arsenal fans still is the failure to sign a defensive midfielder.  

Rather than sit in front of a computer and find a creatively profane way to berate Arsene Wenger, Ivan Gazidis, or Mesut Ozil on twitter, one must look at what the club have available to them at this exact moment.  

Yesterday’s game against Borussia Dortmund was indicative of the fact that Mikel Arteta is not the answer at the base of midfield for Arsenal.  Arteta appears to be getting slower by the fixture, and his once sharp ball-retention isn't what it once was.  

Anyone who watches the Gunners knows that Mathieu Flamini is just as subpar of an option.  His intensity and work rate are outstanding, as is his on-field leadership.  Like Arteta though, he is slowing down physically.

Per Mertesacker and Laruent Koscielny have not been as sharp as they were last season thus far, but there is hardly any cover in front of them.  Arteta’s listless display showed a change is absolutely necessary, but since buying a top player is not an option for a few months, the Gunners must improvise.  

It wouldn’t be so farfetched of an idea to try and play Aaron Ramsey out of position at the base of midfield.  The Welshman has endured a poor start to the season, and albeit he has scored some clutch goals late on in matches, his overall quality cowers to that of last season’s.  

Ramsey is a tough tackler, an excellent passer, and his work rate is outstanding.  Arsenal fans will point to the fact that his offensive game lifts the team, but right now the Gunners are so thin in front of their back line that other needs must be addressed.  

Ramsey’s struggles are not as well-documented as those of Mesut Ozil, but they are arguably just as bad at the moment.  Dropping him into a deeper role may not be the flashiest move in the public eye, but who else does Arsenal have right now?

Ramsey would, of course, have to improvise as well.  His license to streak forward would have to be suspended, as would his affinity for audacious moves with the ball at his feet.  In the long run, it’s a stretch to say Ramsey’s future is in the defensive midfield.  But, that’s what Arsenal need right now and over time a simpler approach will benefit the Welshman’s overall game.  

People tend to forget that when Mikel Arteta was purchased from Everton, he was a #10, and not a steely midfielder.  Arteta has logged a few decent performances since Wenger moved him to a deeper role, but he doesn't have enough gas left in the tank to be the player Arsenal need.

For all the offensive weapons Arsenal have in midfield, they can afford to temporarily play someone out of position who has the quality to succeed there.  Jack Wilshere is another option, but he isn’t in the same physical mold as Ramsey and has a history of poor temperament. 

Calum Chambers is also an idea, and probably the best immediate solution.  However, Chambers’ talents right now need to be allocated to covering the thinnest back line in the premier league, especially given the fitness of Mathieu Debuchy and Nacho Monreal.  

The idea of Ramsey being utilized where Arteta currently is wouldn’t be a proper utilization of the Welshman’s talents.  However, it is a temporary solution, and could very well be the best one for Arsenal.  

Arsene Wenger will be keen to sign a defensive midfielder in January, but until then sacrifices must be made with what pieces are already at the club’s disposal. 

Power Rankings: Chelsea's Reign Continues

1. Chelsea (1): No surprises that Chelsea have claimed the top spot for the third time in four weeks.  Diego Costa now has seven from four games, and if he keeps this up Chelsea can get away with the odd defensive error that they are culpable to commit.  Loic Remy also got in on the action, scoring his debut goal for the Blues.  

2. Manchester City (3): Manchester City are given the second spot by way of a hard-fought draw at the Emirates and the shocking home defeat to Liverpool.  With Fernando out, City lack steel guarding the back line, but like Chelsea, this team can score in bunches.

3. Southampton (5): Graziano Pelle is turning out to be one of the buys of the summer for Ronald Koeman, whose stock is soaring at the Saint Mary’s Stadium these days.  The spirit at the club couldn’t be stronger at the moment, with Southampton netting seven from their last two outings.  

4. Arsenal (6): New boy Alexis turned in an outstanding performance on Saturday, but the man of the hour was undoubtedly Jack Wilshere.  So often criticized for his performances for both club and country, the 22 year old Englishman hit back at his critics with a near perfect display anchoring the Arsenal midfield with his tenacity and driving runs.  A collision with Samir Nasri typified Wilshere’s toughness and fearless approach.  

5. Aston Villa (8): Take a bow, Paul Lambert.  Aston Villa pulled off one of the upsets of the season on Saturday, as they snatched three points in front of a stunned Anfield crowd.  Fabian Delph’s inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s latest England squad is a testament to the entire club’s body of work early on in the season.  Tom Cleverly was impressive…there, I said it.  

6. Swansea (4): Swansea were not shy in their clash with league-leaders Chelsea, but the Blues proved too much for Gary Monk’s men.  Swansea have much to be proud of after their gritty performance at Stamford Bridge, and are looking like the 2013/2014 Southampton of this season in the early goings.  

7. Liverpool (2): Liverpool take the biggest plummet in the rankings, as they were left searching for an answer to Daniel Sturridge’s absence.  Perhaps losing their talismanic front man had something to do with it, but resting an in-form Raheem Sterling was a blatant mistake by Brendan Rodgers.  

8. Manchester United (9): Much has been said about how good United looked in their 4-0 dredging of QPR on Sunday.  However, beating arguably the worst team in the league at home should be a formality.  Nonetheless, new signings Angel Di Maria and Daley Blind collectively proved their worth and offered a glimpse into the future for Manchester United fans desperately seeking piece of mind. 

9. Everton (11): Romelu Lukaku impressed in the away victory at the Hawthornes.  Rather than squander a two goal lead as they did against Arsenal, Everton locked down defensively and kept a clean sheet ahead of their home clash with a sputtering Crystal Palace side.  

10. Tottenham (7): It has been a tale of two pairs of outings for Tottenham.  The first two games couldn’t have gone better for Spurs, while the last two are definitely ones to forget.  However, I expect them to learn from last season and do better this year.

11. Leicester City (16): Leicester impressed in their second consecutive fixture with a win at the Brittania Stadium.  Leonardo Ulloa’s winner earned Leicester their first win at Stoke in 10 years.  

12. Burnley (13): Burnley wasted an opportunity to snatch an improbable three points from Selhurst park.  Sean Dyche still searches for his first premier league win as a manager following Burnley’s promotion from the Championship.  

13. Hull City (14): Hull City’s home fixture against West Ham was a riveting contest, and Mohamed Diame haunted his former club with a goal.  New signing Abel Hernandez also netted for the Tigers, but an own goal from Curtis Davies spoiled the win for Hull City.  

14. Stoke City (10): Stoke City were unimpressive in their loss to Leicester at home.  Mark Hughes has to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to add some offense to this side.  

15. Sunderland (15): Gus Poyet’s side benefitted from a late Harry Kane own-goal in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham.  Their performance was subpar, with Christian Eriksen carving up the midfield several times.  The Black Cats will head to Burnley next weekend against a team desperate for three points.  

16. Crystal Palace (12): Crystal Palace had a chance to take three huge points from a fixture involving two winless teams.  Julian Speroni saved a penalty late on, and the Eagles were lucky to end up with just a point in a game that featured lots of poor finishing.

17. West Ham (17): West Ham earned a solid point in one of the more exciting games of the season to this point.  Enner Valencia’s first league start culminated in a stunning goal, hopefully a sign of things to come for the Hammers.

18. Newcastle United (16): Alan Pardew’s job is surely in jeopardy now.  Underdogs going into the fixture against Southampton, the Magpies hardly showed up to play and were subsequently thrashed by Ronald Koeman’s revolutionary side.  Pardew needs results or he’ll join David Moyes in the unemployment line.  

19. Queens Park Rangers (19): The bottom two spots in the rankings stay the same for another week.  Queens Park Rangers were subjected to a coming out party at Old Trafford for several big signings.  Realistically they were never going to get points from this fixture, but a 4-0 shellacking is never good for morale.  

20. West Brom (20): West Brom had a chance to steal a point at home from Everton but were promptly dispatched by Romelu Lukaku and the Toffees.  They show organization for much of their games, but unforgivable gaffes at the back have cost them in recent weeks, Saturday in particular.  

New Boys Shine Brightest

After weeks of wondering, pondering, hoping, and celebrating, the transfer window if finally closed.  Oddly enough, there were three rounds of premier league fixtures while the window was still open, a moot point, but a curious one. 

Nonetheless, the distraction of transfer talk is no more, and we can finally focus on football.  This weekend, it was the new boys on the block who shined the brightest.  

Diego Costa, Chelsea

Praise continues to be heaped on the Brazilian errrhmm…Spaniard.  It remained to be seen if Costa could handle the physicality of the premier league, but this is by no means an issue.  With seven goals from four games, Costa has enjoyed a historic start to life at Stamford Bridge.  

His goal record is indicative of his nature; he simply doesn’t miss when given the chance to score.  Chelsea is brimming with midfielders who make a living off of creating chances, so it’s no surprise Costa has been seeing the back of the net with such frequency.  With the addition of Costa, this could be one of the strongest Chelsea squads ever.  

Alexis, Arsenal

I was recently in a debate as to whether or not Arsenal needed the services of Alexis.  35 million pounds is a lot of money, but so far he has proved he is worth every penny.  The Chilean’s work-rate is ridiculous, and his injection of relentlessness into the lineup seeing Arsenal hunting the ball more effectively high up the pitch.  

His go-ahead goal was a thing of beauty, a perfectly timed side foot volley past a helpless Joe Hart.  The Emirates crowd is adopting Alexis as a fan favorite, a title he completely deserves.  He has now scored a goal in each of his last three appearances for Arsenal, but his performance against the Citizens on Saturday proves he doesn’t shy away from the big stage.  

Angel Di Maria, Manchester United

Di Maria was at the core of most of Manchester United’s attacking moves on Sunday.  His dynamism from a deeper role earned him a man of the match performance.  Had Robin Van Persie finished Di Maria’s sublime outside-of-the-foot chipped pass among other chances, the game could have been worse for QPR.  

As I said on twitter this morning, Di Maria is proving his worth.  His game is much more complete than people imagined, and as a fan of the sport it is always a treat to see a player of his quality develop even further.  Touted as a speedy winger, the Argentine has much more to him than initially meets the eye.  

Graziano Pelle, Southampton

In a way, Pelle is a poor man’s Diego Costa.  The Italian is proven physical poacher.  He takes his chances well, and is a big reason Southampton are in the position they are.  At 29, Pelle is by no means a ripe prospect, but that’s not what Southampton need out of their strikers.  

Pelle is similar to Rickie Lambert, in that he is an intelligent forward who is an exceptional header of the ball.  Ronald Koeman deserves a gold star for signing the Italian, who must prefer his new life in England to the dull nature of the Dutch league.

Pace is the key for Arsenal

Manchester City have had a curious start to the season.  After thrashing Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, City turned around and lost to Stoke City on the same field a week later.  Arsenal have been mediocre at best, taking five points from two easy fixtures and an away trip to Everton.  

Similar in table position, Manchester City and Arsenal did not have similar summers.  Since the deadline-day purchase of Mesut Ozil just over a year ago, Arsenal have put the rest of Europe on alert as a club willing to part ways with loads of money.  

In the latest edition of the transfer window, 35 million pound man Alexis along with Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina, Danny Welbeck, and Calum Chambers have joined for considerable amounts of money.  

Dissimilarly, Manchester City had a quiet summer in the transfer window.  Bacary Sagna and Frank Lampard, former servants of Arsenal and Chelsea respectively, joined on frees, while prolific front-man Alvaro Negredo left the club for 27 million euros.  

Eliaquim Mangala rounds out the summer recruits, but for the most part the usually trigger-happy Citizens holstered their guns for once.  This is an interesting matchup of two clubs moving in different directions, but the right directions.  

Arsenal are joining the party of clubs which part ways with large sums of cash, while City are coming down to earth from a spending point of view.  Thus, it should be a tight contest between two top teams who have endured mixed results so far.

One thing Arsenal bring to the pitch that they didn’t necessarily have for all of last season is pace.  His pace was one of many reasons Alexis was signed, Danny Welbeck brings a new dimension to the Arsenal forwards, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain impressed for England with his speed and driving runs.  

It would be a surprise to see new boy Mangala make his debut in such a big game on the road, so Vincent Kompany will likely line up next to Martin Demichelis.  Sagna has never been the quickest fullback, but he is always reliable to put in a good shift.  

Again however, pace is where Arsenal can expose Manchester City the most effectively.   The few days in training that Danny Welbeck has had to gel with his new teammates are crucial to the Gunners success, as will be Mesut Ozil’s attempts to crack the Manchester City defensive midfield.    

Aaron Ramsey may not be fit for the contest, and Mathieu Flamini’s combative style of play should earn him a spot in the holding role.  In big games, Flamini is disciplined in his positioning, and often the midfield leader without the ball.  

That leaves Jack Wilshere to line up in the center as well.  Wilshere’s habit to holding the ball on his boot and drawing in tackles is something that still hurts his game fitness.  In order for him to play in a more sustainable style, he needs to be confident in his long passing and keep his head on a swivel when he makes his driving runs.  

Coming off a very disappointing loss at home to Stoke City, Manchester City will line up with two of Fernando, Fernandinho, and Yaya Toure.  A crowded midfield with Arsenal is always a must in order to win, but the pace Arsenal can field in the absence of Giroud could throw a wrench in that strategy. 

If Arsenal can utilize their pace and try to be move through the wing and be direct in the final third with Alexis, Chamberlain, and Welbeck, they can beat City.  If City can stay organized defensively and do what they do best, which is turning defense into lightning quick offense, they can spoil the Gunners return to the Emirates.  

Round Four Story Lines

Who takes up Sturridge’s mantle?

Liverpool fans endured a roller coaster international break, seeing Raheem Sterling shine but Daniel Sturridge injured on duty with England.  Thus, Brendan Rodgers has some thinking to do prior to this weekends visit from Aston Villa.  

Rickie Lambert’s presence has changed games late on for Liverpool, but all eyes will be on Mario Balotelli if he is given the start at the weekend.  Balotelli, reportedly hauled off the pitch by Rodgers after stamping on a Wolves player last week, looked rusty in his return to the premier league, but should be ready to go on Saturday.  

It remains to be seen how Rodgers will line his team up.  Will he start Lambert, Balotelli, or both?  Raheem Sterling guarantees his inclusion after his performances with England, while Coutinho recently earned his first call up to the Selecao.  Lazar Markovic is gaining fitness, as is Adam Lallana.  Sturridge is one of the few Liverpool players with a guaranteed role in the side, so there’s no telling how Rodgers will alter his tactics in the absence of his talismanic striker.

Will Danny Welbeck make an impact?

I’ll beat this drum a little more.  Danny Welbeck looks set to feature as the main striker for Arsenal against Manchester City on saturday, his first test as a Gunner.  Barring some big risk-taking from Wenger, it looks like Welbeck will be the lone striker, so his impact could be limited against a team like City.  Unless Arsenal push numbers forward and give him support, I don’t see Welbeck making too much of an impact in such a big fixture.  

This will be Manchester City’s first big trip away from home, so I wouldn't be shocked to see Fernando and Fernandinho line up together in the middle, protecting Vincent Kompany and Martin Demichelis.  However, don’t count out a contribution from Englishman, who has the pace to get in behind the City defense, something Olivier Giroud will never have.

How will Chelsea deal with Swansea?

A home game to Swansea in round 4 of the league might not have been the most menacing prospect for Jose Mourinho several weeks ago.  Now, Swansea are second only to Chelsea in the league table and Gary Monk has his men firing on all cylinders.  

In retrospect, it’s not that surprising Swansea shocked Manchester United on the opening day of the season, but don’t expect the same at Stamford Bridge.  In the days following the instant-classic against Everton, Mourinho surely has been glued to his managerial duties in preparation for answering his three-goal critics.  

Swansea bring more attacking prowess to the table than Everton, but Chelsea are many peoples' title favorites for a reason.  At this point, it’s hard to see anyone outscoring Chelsea at home.

Will Louis Van Gaal earn his first win for United?

Yes.  Well, at least one would hope so when they host QPR on sunday.  Ander Herrera is fit after an opening day injury against Swansea, while Daley Blind, Radamel Falcao, and Marcos Rojo could all make their Manchester United debuts.  

On paper, United set the record for transfer window spending and now have a handful of top-class talents at the club.  The firepower Van Gaal brought in over the summer is unprecedented, but it remains to be seen if the players he has can produce results on the pitch.  

Angel Di Maria’s form for Argentina was spectacular in the rematch against Germany, and even Wayne Rooney performed well for England yesterday.  I reckon United win this one definitively, easing pressure on Van Gaal from all angles.  Falcao scoring off of a long-ball from Daley Blind would be dreamy for Red Devil fans.

Bounce back test for Spurs and Black Cats

Both Tottenham and Sunderland suffered poor defeats in round three.  Tottenham were thoroughly outclassed by Liverpool, while Sunderland granted QPR their first win of the season.  

Both squads are in need of a morale-boosting performance.  After their fast start fueled by the feel-good story of Eric Dier, Tottenham failed to solidify their identity as a top-four contender after a dismal home performance.  

Sunderland will be under more pressure at home, with new boy Jack Rodwell expected to make more of an impact the longer his tenure draws out with the Black Cats.  This early in the season, it is hard to call this game a must-win for either team, but the intensity of this contest should be nothing short of electrifying.

Welbeck 'That Guy?'

England put doubts to rest about the state of their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a satisfying 2-0 win over Switzerland tonight.  A nation still suffering the after effects of a horrendous performance in Brazil, England can rest easy that their Three Lions are headed in the right direction.  

Jack Wilshere, albeit not in his best performance, gave a glimpse of what life after Steven Gerrard could be like for England.  Jordan Henderson, tireless as ever, filled his usual quota of long runs and defensive cover.  Often the whip of English fans’ criticisms, Wayne Rooney also turned in a good shift.

The star of the show was Danny Welbeck though.  Arsenal’s latest addition spurned a glorious chance in the first half, but atoned for his lack of opportunism with two goals to secure a winning start in qualifying.  

When he returns to London Colney tomorrow, Welbeck will get his first chance to train with his new Arsenal teammates, culminating in a weekend showdown with holders Manchester City.  It’s almost a guarantee that Welbeck will start at the tip of the Arsenal attack on saturday, today’s performance indicative of what he is capable of.  

Like Olivier Giroud, he brings more to the game than scoring goals, as evident in his excellent passing numbers and ability to interchange with his teammates.  However unlike the Frenchman, Welbeck has the pace to make runs in behind the defense.  This will suit Arsenal’s midfield, which is adept at finding pacing runs in the final third.

What he showed today though, is that he can deliver when trusted in the middle.  Welbeck’s qualities are not that of an ruthless goalscorer like Diego Costa or Falcao, but his all-around game will compliment those who line up next to him.  

At Real Madrid, Mesut Ozil led Europe in assists, thanks in large-part to the pace of Angel Di Maria, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s runs.  In the absence of Theo Walcott and the inclusion of Alexis last season, Arsenal were stagnant, often playing a midfielder on the wing and the less-than-quick Giroud up top.  

Welbeck brings another dimension to the forward position; he has the pace that Giroud will never have, and the size that Alexis needs to be more consistent in the #9 role.  The biggest thing to take from today was his ability to take chances, and there will be plenty of chances at Arsenal.

It’s imperative that Welbeck integrates himself with the side in the days leading up to saturday.  If Arsene Wenger can see this transition through, Danny Welbeck’s impact at the Emirates will be very positive. 

Premier League Stars Shine During Break

Angel Di Maria, Manchester United/Argentina

After the first round of international friendlies, Di Maria is undoubtedly the top performer of anyone involved.  He assisted the first three goals for Argentina before getting in on the action himself for the fourth goal in a shocking 4-2 win over Germany.  Red Devil fans can rest easy that the club’s money was well-spent on this electirying playmaker.  

Loic Remy, Chelsea/France

After Karim Benzema had a goal disallowed in the first half for offside, second half substitute Remy struck to sink Spain, who are still in a free-fall following the World Cup.  

Mathieu Debuchy, Arsenal/France

Debuchy was one of five outfield players for France who played the entire 90 minutes against Spain in a 1-0 win.  Debuchy has made the right back spot his in the national team, keeping ex-Arsenal fullback Bacary Sagna nailed to the bench.  

Raheem Sterling, Liverpool/England

Sterling was by far the best player on the field for the Three Lions, who lacked both invention and energy.  Sterling won the penalty that decided the game, and could have inflicted further damage on Norway when he was granted a central position as Rooney made way.  

Edin Dzeko, Manchester City/Bosnia-Herzegovina 

Dzeko helped Bosnia-Herzegovina to a 3-0 win over Liechtenstein, netting his 37th international goal in 66 appearances.  The physical forward continues to be the face of and lead the line for his national team.  

Erik Lamela, Tottenham/Argentina

Lamela has completely turned around his career in the premier league with some impressive performances in preseason and in the first few fixtures.  His form with Argentina was also impressive last night, scoring the second goal and causing problems for Germany all the while.  

Assessing Arsenal's Window

It is not uncommon for Arsenal to scramble for signings in the closing days of the transfer window.  In years past, Arsenal have left nearly all their business to the last day, the most recent window being a change from the ordinary.

With a war chest of riches to spend, Arsene Wenger had the tools to do almost anything in the realm of possibility.  Early in the summer, Arsenal were one of the star clubs of the transfer window.  Signing Alexis from Barcelona improves the team at multiple positions, not to mention he is nothing short of a world-class player, as he showed in the World Cup. 

Arsenal did an excellent job of replacing the departed players which needed to be replaced.  David Ospina is an upgrade over Lukasz Fabianski, and Mathieu Debuchy started over Bacary Sagna in Brazil.  Furthermore, after loaning Carl Jenkinson to West Ham, Hector Bellerin proved he could produce quality minutes after his performances against Benfica and Monaco in the Emirates Cup.  

Calum Chambers was a bit of a surprise, but it’s now confirmed that he will be the third-choice center back this season.  Under the tutelage of Steve Bould, Per Mertesacker, and Laurent Koscielny, Chambers could pan out to be a top, top defender.  Then again, Arsenal are one injury away from having just two first-team center backs, although that was the case last season as well.

Arsene Wenger did a wonderful job of replacing those who needed to be replaced.  However, he did not add to the squad as so many fans wanted him to.  Last term, Arsenal were in dire need of a center forward to supplement Olivier Giroud and a tough-tackling defensive midfielder.  

Both deficiencies were brutally exposed over the course of a long season; several routs against top teams showed the need for steel in front of the back line, while Giroud could not handle the burden of leading the line consistently.  

Many fans were calling for a world-class center forward, but what people might not understand is that those kind of players don’t grow on trees.  Diego Costa was the only world-class center forward to join the premier league, and Danny Welbeck is a better signing than most would think.

At Manchester United, Welbeck’s goal output was unimpressive to say the least, but this can be attributed to two things.  First off, Welbeck was more often than not featured on the wing; he has the pace to fill that position, but his natural position is through the middle.  

Secondly, with the presence of Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie, Welbeck was far from first-choice, let alone in his favored position.  At Arsenal, Welbeck will likely be played through the middle almost exclusively, and given the absence of Giroud, this could be his chance to shine.  

Wenger is a perennial risk-taker, but the biggest risk still lies in defensive midfield this season.  Between Alexis, Welback, and Joel Campbell, Arsenal have options up top.  In the defensive midfield, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini will be tasked with much of the load, a scary thought for Arsenal fans.  

William Carvalho, Sami Khedira, and Morgan Schneiderlin were all seemingly available for the taking, but Wenger failed to pull the trigger on any of them.  In this area of concern, there is no excuse.  The funds were available, and even if Wenger overpaid for a player at the position, he would have been unanimously forgiven by fans.  

Arsenal were near perfect in the opening weeks of the window.  They replaced the players who needed to be replaced, and brought in a superstar attacker in Alexis.  However, I don’t see this squad as that much better than last year, and that is due to the lack of hard man in the middle.  

Offensively, Arsenal definitely improved, but Arteta and Flamini are both on the wrong side of 30 and aren’t getting any younger.  Between now and January, Wenger should make it a priority to negotiate some kind of deal to bring in a player who sits in front of the back four.

As I said before though, Arsene Wenger is a risk-taker; always has been and always will be.  However, the jury is still out on whether or not they can compete with the top teams, with their biggest deficiency still being a powerful midfielder, who they had two months to acquire.  

Power Rankings: Chelsea Overtake Stumbling City

Chelsea take the top spot in this weeks power rankings, while Stoke City and Aston Villa made the biggest leaps following their impressive wins at the weekend.  

1. Chelsea (2): Jose Mourinho’s men flexed their muscles at Goodison Park on Saturday, blowing away Everton at the tail end of a 6-3 thriller.  Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have taken this team to the next level, while players already at the club have improved as well.  They’ve been the best team going into the international break, and are 100% deserving of the top spot. 

2. Liverpool (5): Many thought Sunday’s contest with Tottenham would be an even contest, but Liverpool stormed the gates of White Hart Lane to a 3-0 win.  There are always room for improvements, and it will take time for Mario Balotelli to re-acclimate himself with the league.  But, as Brendan Rodgers said this morning, Liverpool is not the Balotelli show, and they showed it.  

3. Manchester City (1): As surprising as the result was for Manchester City, it’s not shocking to see this team go missing for almost an entire game.  This happened several times last season in their road to the championship.  However, Manuel Pellegrini will have to go back to the drawing board in order to get his high-octane offense going once again.  

4. Swansea (6): Gary Monk has enjoyed nine points from nine for Swansea City to start the season.  Going into the international break, Nathan Dyer has given Roy Hodgson something to think about next time around; the winger was a revelation on Saturday, linking up nicely with Wilfried Bony, whose form and power make Michu a forgotten man in Wales.  

5. Southampton (7): For all the work he’s put in in the first three fixtures, there wasn’t a man more deserving of a goal than Graziano Pelle.  The Italian finished off a 3-1 road win at Upton Park which saw Morgan Schneiderlin pick up a brace that will surely ease the pain of being left behind to face the music at Southampton.  James Ward-Prowse is making this team click with his precision long-balls and ability to control the tempo of the game.  

6. Arsenal (4): A flat performance from the gunners saw them drop two points to new boys Leicester City.  The loss of Olivier Giroud is still having an impact on the team, but Danny Welbeck’s arrival should ease pressure off of Alexis Sanchez and the flailing Yaya Sanogo to produce goals from the tip of the attack.  

7. Tottenham (3): Just when we all thought Tottenham were for real, Liverpool came to town and swept them away 3-0 at White Hart Lane.  After two wins to start the year, Mauricio Pochettino has some thinking to do over the international break.  The talent is there for Spurs, but they must figure it out as a unit. 

8. Aston Villa (14): In a matchup of damage control after two respective mid-week losses, Aston Villa were the more resilient side against Hull City.  Andy Weimann continues his excellent start to league play, and Paul Lambert can rest easy during the international break.  Tom Cleverly will improve the side as Carlos Sanchez settles into life in England.  

9. Manchester United (11): I had to move Manchester United up in the rankings despite the disappointing away draw to Burnley because of what they did in the dying days of the transfer window.  Angel Di Maria was the Red Devils’ best player on the pitch Saturday, while Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao should further improve the starting XI.  

10. Stoke City (19): Going into the matchup, finding Jim Morrison alive would be more likely than Stoke City snatching all three points from the Etihad.  Thanks to some excellent organization and defending, especially from Ryan Shawcross, Stoke were able to pull off the deserved shocker against the holders.  

11. Everton (10): Everton were brutally exposed by Chelsea, but it shouldn’t deter Roberto Martinez’ men one bit.  Chelsea put six goals past Tim Howard, but there are plenty of positives to take from a match in which Everton wouldn’t stop clawing back.  The Toffees will look to bounce back in a fortnight when they head to the Hawthornes to take on West Brom.  

12. Crystal Palace (17): Times are looking up once again for Crystal Palace.  New manager Neil Warnock was rewarded a point against Newcastle by new signing Wilfried Zaha, who looks to re-vamp his post-United career. 

13. Burnley (15): Similar to Leicester City, Burnley had a chance to inflict damage on an already hurting club in the confines of their own stadium.  The point against United is a good one, but like their fellow new boys will regret not snatching three shocking points from a doable fixture.  

14. Hull City (12): Hull City endured a poor week, losing mid-week in the Capital One Cup, then falling 2-1 to Aston Villa.  Things could have been much worse for Steve Bruce, who say his Tigers thoroughly outplayed in the first half.  

15. Sunderland (9): Gus Poyet will regret not seeing his team go ahead early on, as they dominated the first portion of the match with QPR.  Overall, a disappointing result against a team who has scored one goal in three matches thus far this season.  

16. Leicester City (18): There are two sides of the coin to take from Sunday’s match with Arsenal.  Leicester City should be somewhat satisfied with a point against the Gunners, but will rue the opportunity to snatch three points against a top four team at home.  

17. West Ham (8): Sam Allardyce will not be happy with the atrocious defending on Southampton’s second goal, which saw the Saints catch the Hammers off guard from a corner.  After a big week two, West Ham are among the biggest fallers in this week’s rankings.  

18. Newcastle United (16): On the bright side, Rolando Aarons has arrived and could be a pleasant surprise for the Magpies this season.  On the not so light side, a late goal conceded cost Alan Pardew two valuable points in an otherwise outstanding contest from a neutral perspective.  

19. Queens Park Rangers (20): The highlight of the game was probably new signing Leroy Fer’s cannon off the crossbar, but other wise a huge step in the right direction for QPR.  Three points will ease pressure on Harry Redknapp, but more work is to be done if they are to stay in the league next season.  

20. West Brom (13): West Brom were thoroughly outplayed by Swansea City on Saturday, and because of it have fallen to the bottom of the rankings.  Swansea are off to a miraculous start, but the usually tough and physical Baggies were overrun by Gary Monk’s men.