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Ticketmaster football round-up #23

The show must go on! Football Blogger Ben Carter brings us all the football news in a slightly different format…

Having been hit with the well-known disease known as ‘man flu’, I’m powering on with a laptop, cold and flu tablets, and a warm cup of Bovril. Okay, so that last part may not be entirely accurate, but man flu exists!

‘Spurs wanted to bounce back’

This week, we’re focusing on the best league in the world, the Barclays Premier League. The weekend started with all eyes glued on White Hart Lane. The Spurs staff had worked tirelessly to replace the hoardings that Arsenal fans had ripped down just three days earlier. With all the attention of Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal being marred by trouble off the pitch, Potchetino’s men made sure that this time around, the media would be talking about what happened on the pitch.

Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City were in town, and the high flying Manc’s were tipped to get all three points. Spurs wanted to bounce back after their League Cup defeat to Arsenal, and no-one could have predicted what was going to take place.

Things couldn’t have started any better for Manchester City, with £58m summer signing Kevin De Bruyne putting City 1-0 up. Pellegrini’s side looked to be heading into half time with the lead, but in the dying embers of the he first half, an Eric Dier screamer left Willy Caballero stranded, and the sides went into half time all level.

Five minutes into the second half, Toby Alderweireld headed Spurs into a shock 2-1 lead. Pellegrini’s side well and truly had the stuffing knocked out of them, and with 30 minutes left on the clock, a 13-hour goal drought was ended. Harry “He’s one of our own” Kane scored his first goal of the new season, doubling Spurs lead in the process.

The icing on the cake may have been seeing Harry Kane’s name on the score-sheet, but £33m winger Erik Lamela applied the cherry to a fantastic Spurs performance. A little bit of trickery found the Argentine with an empty net to tap the ball home, and leave Manchester City with a very long drive home.

‘Arsenal had a very tricky away trip’

Tottenham’s North London rivals, Arsenal, had a very tricky away trip to one of the most dangerous side’s in the league, Leicester City. Arsene Wenger certainly managed to hold off some criticism with the mid-week victory against Tottenham, but he needed to secure three points against Leicester to keep the ‘Wernger Out’ brigade at bay.

Jamie Vardy put the hosts in front early on, before Theo Walcott levelled the game just five minutes later. Arsenal’s star man Alexis Sanchez hadn’t scored all season, but three goals from the Chilean showed that he is well and truly back on form after what appeared to be post-Copa America blues. Leicester’s Vardy pulled a goal back for the Foxes, but it was to no avail as Olivier Giroud finished the scoring as the game finished 5-2 to Arsenal.

‘Daniel Sturridge returned to competitive football’

Another manager currently under pressure is Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers. The former Swansea man may have saved himself some time however, after a 3-2 home victory over a resilient Aston Villa. James Milner opened the scoring for the reds inside two minutes. Daniel Sturridge returned to competitive football brilliantly with a brace either side of a Rudy Gestede goal. The Aston Villa striker then scored again with 20 minutes left on the clock, but Liverpool held out well for all three points.

Black Cats humbled at Theatre of Dreams

Memphis bagged his first league goal of the season for Manchester United in the Red Devils 3-0 victory over a poor Sunderland side. Wayne Rooney carried on the trend of ending goal droughts this weekend to double United’s advantage, before Juan Mata put the game to bed at full time.

The Saints go marching on

Southampton new-boy Virgil van Dijk heading the Saints into a 1-0 lead at home to Swansea after just 11 minutes. Tadic and Mane also got onto the scoresheet at St. Mary’s, and despite a late penalty from Gylfi Sigurdsson, Garry Monk’s side were unable to launch any sort of comeback.

‘Dan Gosling got onto the score sheet for Bournemouth’

With news coming out this week that Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson will be out for six-months with an injury, it is understandable that the Cherries worst part of their 2-1 defeat to Mark Hughes Stoke wasn’t the result. Dan Gosling got onto the score sheet for Bournemouth, but goals from John Walters and Diouf wither side of the midfielder strike left Eddie Howe’s men with a long trip back to the south coast empty handed.

Irons rescue point in dramatic clash against Norwich

West Ham are currently Kings of away trips, with victories at the Emirates, Anfield and the Etihad. Their home form however leaves a lot to be desired. Last weekend, the Irons hosted Norwich, and but for a late Kouyate strike, would have been left red-faced. Robbie Brady put the visitors in front early on, before West Ham’s Sakho levelled the score 30 minutes in. Nathan Redmond looked to have snatched three points for Norwich late on, but three minutes into extra time, West Ham’s powerful midfielder Kouyate rescued a point for Slaven Bilic’s side.

Brazilian magic spares Chelsea blushes

Newcastle and Chelsea always provide us with a fantastic game of football. Last weekend was no different. Ayoze Perez and Dutch midfielder Wijnaldum put the Magpies into a shock 2-0 lead. Brazilian duo Ramires and Willian rescued a point for Chelsea late on, leaving many Geordies frustrated with their obvious defensive frailties.

Cabaye settles tough encounter with Watford

French midfielder Yohan Cabaye sealed Crystal Palace’s 1-0 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road. The former Newcastle talisman won his side all three points from the penalty spot after Allan Nyom brought down Palace substitute Wilfied Zaha just inside the box.

Everton snatch the points in Baggies clash

West Brom taking on Everton on Monday night didn’t really seem like the most interesting of fixtures. However, for those of us that sat down to watch the footy were in for an unbelievable surprise. Baggies striker Saido Berahino put his side into a 1-0 lead minutes before half time, then shortly after the restart, Craig Dawson doubled West Brom’s advantage. Just one minute later however, Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku halved the Toffies deficit. Arouna Kone levelled the game with 15 minutes still to play, and five minutes before the end, Lukaku grabbed his second of the game to complete an unbelievable comeback for Roberto Martinez’s side.

What a week of football! Who scored the best goal? Who’s result was the most important? Let us know on twitter @TicketmasterUK and @BenCarterTMB.

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