R16 Good, Bad and Ugly: are Manchester City title favourites after 6-3 win over Arsenal
THERE'S only one place to start Good, Bad and Ugly in round 16 - at Etihad, where it's almost impossible to win.
ON a weekend the Barclays Premier League title race was blown wide open there was plenty of Good, the usual Bad and the occasional dose of Ugly.
Read on for our review of round 16 of the EPL.
THE GOOD
YOU THINK YOU'RE THE EPL FAVOURITES?
Arsenal was widely considered title favourites before their capitulation at Etihad Stadium, but has the balance of power now shifted towards Manchester City?
Manuel Pellegrini's side were devastating in attack, putting six goals past a hapless Gunners side to cut the Premier League leaders' gap at the top.
Like they've shown all season at their home fortress, Etihad Stadium, City were swift and incisive in attack and the other big clubs must now surely be worried about the men in sky blue.
Football isn't always about numbers, but City's at home are staggering nonetheless, notching eight wins in eight matches with 35 goals plundered along the way.
While everyone at the top is dropping points, City are getting the job done against their rivals - their routing of Arsenal followed a 6-0 defeat of Tottenham and 4-1 victory over Manchester United already this campaign.
David Silva is back pulling the strings in midfield, Alvaro Negredo has found his feet at the club and Vincent Kompany looks to have shaken off his injury troubles. The only concern is a calf injury Sergio Aguero sustained in the win over the Gunners.
SUAREZ THE SKIPPER
Daniel Levy looked like one furious chairman as Liverpool embarrassed Tottenham on their own patch at White Hart Lane.
Spurs, granted, were decimated at the back, and lost Paulinho to a reckless red card early in the second-half. But it was a performance bereft of life, with not one attempt on target in the entire 90.
On the flipside, Luis Suarez grew even taller entrusted with the arm band, and Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson were as dangerous as they've been all season.
Brendan Rodgers singled out Henderson and Joe Allen for exploiting Spurs' 'high line' in a complete team display.
"First and foremost, our work-rate, how we pressed the ball as a team, was outstanding and that earned us the right to play.
"We got five goals and could easily have had seven or eight. That was probably the most complete performance since I've been here, and just continues the evolution of what we're trying to do."
No Liverpool striker has ever had as many goals as Suarez's 17 by Christmas. How Andre Villas-Boas would love to borrow a few of those. This shellacking joins the 6-0 loss to Manchester City in his kit bag and adds another strong case to those arguing he is not the man for the job.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
While Spurs continue to languish in mid-table, Manchester United, out of the huffing and puffing at the top of the table, grabbed a very useful three points as they attempt their December ascent.
A third straight league defeat was on the line for David Moyes's side, but they haven't lost at Villa Park in 18 years, so it was a welcome trip away from the scrutiny at Old Trafford.
Aston Villa have their concerns - namely Christian Benteke's first barren EPL run now a concerning 10 games - but Moyes will be relieved to see Danny Welbeck open his season's account in Robin van Persie's absence, Antonio Valencia respond to the manager's declaration that he is willing to wield the axe in January, a rare goal for Tom Cleverley and Darren Fletcher's return from long-term injury.
SWEET TOFFEES
Champions League football is the aim and Everton are well on track to achieve it, with Fulham the latest side to go down to the Toffees.
Despite prevailing 4-1 at Goodison Park, Roberto Martinez's men were forced to work hard for all three points and only secured them late in the game.
Leon Osman's opener was one of the better goals you're likely to see this season, and you know things are going well when Gareth Barry gets on the scoresheet.
Sceptics have asked questions of Everton and whether they have the squad to keep pace with the top four for the whole season. From what they've shown 16 games into the season, there's no reason why they can't break into Europe's top club competition next season.
BLUES WIN UGLY
Chelsea's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace wasn't particularly easy on the eye, but the three points would have been a thing of beauty to Jose Mourinho.
The Blues failed to take the game by the scruff of the neck against the lowly Eagles, but took advantage when it mattered to move into second, just two points behind Arsenal.
Ramires's rocket was undoubtedly the highlight of the match and it came at a crucial time, six minutes after Palace had restored parity through Marouane Chamakh.
Petr Cech was imposing between the sticks, and while Mourinho thinks the title race will come down to the wire, he was happy to see his team win ugly.
"I think in this league to be top of the league by December or even by the end of January is not crucial. I think it will be open until very late," the Blues boss said.
His team can go top as soon as next weekend, when they travel to none other than … Arsenal.
THE BAD
GRUMPY GUNNERS
Are cracks starting to appear at the ladder-leading Gunners?
Arsene Wenger downplayed the incident, but Per Mertsacker was involved in an angry exchange with compatriot Mesut Ozil after the final whistle when the little German didn't applaud the travelling Gunners fans.
Ozil - the man seen as the cornerstone on which Arsenal's resurgence has been built - gifted City their third goal with a rare misplaced pass that Fernandinho pounced on, while midfield partner Jack Wilshere could find himself in hot water for an obscene one-fingered gesture to City fans.
A stubborn Wenger refused to lavish praise on his side's conquerors following the humbling loss.
"They are one of the teams to beat, but not more than any other one that we have played until now," Wenger told the media after the game.
"We have played Everton, who were as good as City. We have played Southampton who were as good as City."
"I think we had a penalty turned down and the referee had a bad game.' Wenger stated.
PACK YOUR BAGS, CLARKE
West Bromwich Albion slumped to their fourth loss on the trot on Saturday and Steve Clarke has paid the price, sacked by the club.
The Baggies invested plenty of money in the off-season, breaking their transfer record twice for Victor Anichibe and Stephane Sessegnon and were expected to go close to repeating their efforts last season, where they finished eighth.
But the results and goals haven't followed, with the club languishing in 16th, two points off the relegation zone, forcing club directors to act drastically.
THE UGLY
HANDBAGS AT HALF-MAST
Ugly scenes marred the end of the 1-1 draw between Newcastle and Southampton.
During injury time, tempers flared between the backroom staff of both clubs as they confronted each other after a foul by Morgan Schneiderlin on Massadio Haidara.
Andy Woodman and Toni Jimenez, the two teams' goalkeeping coaches were sent to the stands by the referee Mike Jones, and Saints coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted it wasn't a good look.
"What happened at the end of the game is not a good example for football," Pochettino said.
Toon counterpart Alan Pardew played down the incident, describing it as "handbags at half-mast".
"It wasn't a brawl and the game wasn't spoilt by it," he said.
FULHAM'S FASHION
What was with the alternative kit Fulham donned for the match against Everton?
The red and white stripped number caused a stir with punters on Twitter, but obviously didn't inspire the Cottagers, who slumped to defeat at Goodison Park.
CRUNCH
There were grave fears for Nathan Dyer after he was stretchered off against Norwich, but good news for Swansea fans is his injury might not be as bad as suspected.
It was an awful blow after he got on the scoresheet, and overshadowed a quite spectacular goal from Gary Hooper for the Canaries.
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