Premier League, Week 26: Arsenal drop points; Reds grab late winner

by Kevin McCauley

The crowd at the Emirates booed. It’s not clear if this was Arsenal fans booing their team’s performance, both sets of supporters booing the performances of their respective teams or everyone in the ground, regardless of affiliation, booing a bad game. No matter what it was, the reaction was appropriate. It was awful, unwatchable garbage, and from a couple of teams that should have been going all-out to win.

Aside from a couple great saves by both keepers late in the match, nothing happened. United will take their away draw, but Arsenal have to see this as two points lost.

Full match report

Greater Manchester Police tweeted confirmation that the game had been postponed, also issuing a severe weather warning in Manchester city centre due to strong winds:

Update: Everton vs. Crystal Palace is off as well. Goodison Park isn’t looking so good.

This game is also another chance for the Arsenal fans to give former Gunners striker Robin Van Persie a “warm” welcome.

United won the first meeting on the season between the two teams in early November 1-0 thanks to a goal from van Persie.

The best games of the midweek round come Wednesday in the Premier League, but there was still plenty to take away from Tuesday’s four matches.

by Kevin McCauley

Chelsea were much better in the early part of the second half, but couldn’t turn their dominance into goals, with most of their shots going into the stomach of Ben Foster. It appeared that Chelsea were headed toward a comfortable 1-0 or 2-0 win, but late in the second half, West Brom started to turn up the heat on their visitors.

Stoppage time was a back-and-forth affair, but didn’t produce any clear-cut chances, and West Brom will likely be happy to snatch a point that their rivals in a tight relegation race might struggle to get.

He saw the cross come to him, hit it with the outside of his boot and it was goal-bound. Mission accomplished.

Next we’ll find out that Marshall honed his skills on the quidditch ground.

Though it didn’t last for long, Southampton did manage to get off to a pleasingly lively start to the match. Only some poor finishing in the area from Rickie Lambert prevented them from taking the lead inside the opening five minutes as Hull looked to sit back and defend.

Hull appeared to be growing in confidence as Southampton’s initial dominance began to fade, though that didn’t stop Jay Rodriguez cracking a brilliant effort against the crossbar from the edge of the area on the half-hour. Jelavić responded with an instinctive prod inside the Saints’ area 10 minutes later, but Artur Boruc was on hand to tip the ball away.

West Ham gained a late win against Norwich City in a vital relegation battle at Upton Park.

The Hammers had not won two consecutive league games since 2011, but against Norwich they made it three in a row thanks to James Collins’ late winner.

The FA Cup takes place over the weekend, with the Premier League taking off. To account for that, we get a set of league games in the middle of the week. But most of the teams remaining in the FA Cup are from the Premier League, so the Championship and other lower divisions will play league games over the weekend.

Can anyone explain why the FA Cup isn’t played mid-week, with the weekend being left to the league? No? Didn’t think so.

West Brom injuries and suspensions

Chelsea injuries and suspensions