Arsenal v Chelsea is the first big game of EPL season

I think it will be a really good game.

Maybe a classic London derby.

Arsenal v Chelsea at 12.45pm on Saturday will be an exciting test for the solid new Arsenal.

But it won\’t be as goal festival, even though it comes right after Arsenal scored six goals against Coventry and Chelsea rattled six past Wolves the night before.

Different players will face each other in the league, obviously, but the goal rush is still a mood-enhancer, something that sharpens the appetite.

Almost all of Chelsea’s goals were slicker than any of the other strikes we saw in Tuesday night\’s Capital One Cup ties, and Arsenal\’s goals were really slick as well.

Giroud broke his duck with a nice flicked shot after Coquelin played him in, then missed a penalty after two streakers had invaded the pitch and delayed the penalty, given for a clumsy barge on Arshavin by Reece Brown.

So it was only 1-0 at half-time.

Arshavin’s relaxed artistry was one of the highlights of last night\’s massacre and the enigmatic Russian set up Oxlade for a 22-yard cracker that made it 2-0. The kid can really hit a ball, as we know.

Arshavin nipped in to stab home for 3-0, then Walcott rifled home in a low cross-shot for 4-0 in 74. Sub Callum Ball pulled a goal back at the other end with a header.

Then Arshavin crossed from the left to allow Miguel to head in for 5-1 and then Walcott slotted from a Thierry Henry position on the left.

Wenger said Walcott would get his chance down the middle. But he\’d have to wait for that.

Walcott isn\’t similar to his hero Henry, except in one regard and last night reminded me of that. More specifically, he reminded me of what I said about Thierry Henry when he was France\’s right winger in some World Cup Finals games in 1998 : his phenomenal pace allowed him to create one-on-ones with the keeper and finish games off.

Walcott was like that against Coventry : his pace gave him the time and space to shoot. Mainly, it\’s that. Although he can score other types of goals as well.

Last Sunday I thought Man City v Arsenal looked like a 1-0 sort of game and I fancied Arsenal to win 1-0 if they didn\’t lose 1-0.

City, the champions, are not playing well this season and were fortunate to get a 1- 1draw.

However, league leaders Chelsea are playing a lot better than Manchester City and that\’s what makes Arsenal v Chelsea the first big game of the EPL season.

Manchester United could have lost to Middlesbrough if John O’Shea’s mistimed tackle on Korean sub Dong-Gook Lee had been called a penalty.

Kieran Richardson scored early on, after Rooney had rounded keeper Schwarzer, but Viduka equalised while Rio Ferdinand was limping with a groin injury. The centreback did not come out for the second half, so United are now without Vidic, Gary Neville and Ferdinand, three of their back four.

Second half, United dominated but could not hit the target.They were edgy, stressed, a bit tired. You could see the pressure undermining their timing and technique and it finished 1-1.

United are now four points ahead of Chelsea but they’ll only be one point clear if Chelsea win at Newcastle on Sunday in the lunchtime PPV game.

Next week, United play at Manchester City. City drew 1-1 at Watford today, relegating the Hornets.

Chelsea are at home to Bolton next week.

Next Sunday Arsenal are at home to Fulham, who installed caretaker manager Lawrie Sanchez to prevent relegation.

With their Champions League place now secured, Arsenal can relax and let it flow. In theory !

Reading might squeeze Spurs out of a Uefa Cup place (see table below).

Steve Copell’s heroes won 3-1 at Bolton today and they are at home to Newcastle next week. Spurs play Middlesbrough away and could get a roasting from Viduka and Yacubu.

On Sunday May 6, Arsenal play Chelsea at the Emirates.

That game is massive now. But it’s bigger for Chelsea.

It would be marvellous of Arsenal could end the season with a bang and not a whimper. But if they can’t beat Spurs, how will they derail the big blue juggernaut ? Arsene Wenger would love to stop Chelsea winning their third consecutive title but does he have the defensive organisation to shut out Drogba and Lampard ?

Man United play AC Milan at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

And Chelsea play Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in the other Champions League semi-final.

Premiership Table
		P	pts
1	Man Utd	34	82
2	Chelsea	33	78
3	Liverpool	35	67
4	Arsenal	35	63
5	Everton	35	54
6	Bolton	35	54
7	Reading	35	51
8	Tottenham	34	50
9	Portsmouth	34	49

AFTER typing the above, I heard a call from downstairs.

“England are 142 for 2 !”

Jan likes a bit of cricket.

“Is KP still there?”

“Yes.”

I went down and watched a fantastic game from Sabina Park, Bridgetown : West Indies and England playing for 5th and 6th place.

Kevin Pietersen got his ton with a gigantic six into the scoreboard and then had his leg stump removed by the next ball.

Veteran Paul Nixon continued the good work and the game went into the last over with England needing four runs to win from six balls. But then the electric Bravo, who got two run-outs, bowled Nixon and I thought we had blown it. But rookie Stuart Broad hit two off the penultimate ball and England won by one wicket, scoring 301-9.

It was Brian Lara’s last international appearance. Sad to see a truly great cricketer lose his last big game by such a narrow margin.

A compelling battle that almost went to the last ball. Great stuff !

When will England be any good? When they pick more South Africans !