Premier League Goal-Fest

The classic Wenger strop pose was to be seen more than once at St James Park today

It was a day of triumph for strikers and disaster for defenders this Saturday, as a glut of goals illuminated the Barclays Premier League and gave fans plenty to cheer about.

The day started the way it intended to go on, with the early kick-off match seeing Stoke and Sunderland share five goals with the home side grateful for the heroics of Huth, their goalscoring centre-back. His late brace gave the Potters a 3-2 win, having been 2-1 down with just seven minutes to go.

That set the tone for goal frenzies up and down the country. In the afternoon kick-off games, Newcastle found themselves 4-0 down at home after just 26 minutes, thanks in part to two goals from Robin van Persie. But, with just 22 minutes left and Arsenal down to ten men after the dismissal of Vassiriki Diaby, a Joey Barton penalty – the first of two he would score – gave the Magpies hope.

The unlikely comeback was complete on 87 minutes when Cheick Tiote levelled at 4-4. Wenger must have been tearing his hair out, and the respective post-match team talks would have been extremely interesting!

Elsewhere, Aston Villa and Fulham shared four goals, with Villa twice going in front and twice being pegged back by a dogged Fulham side.

Louis Saha smashed four goals past hapless Blackpool

Everton finally prevailed 5-3 against Blackpool in a topsy-turvy game that saw the lead change four times. Man of the match, and man of the day, is without doubt Louis Saha who bagged FOUR goals and, in the process tripled his league tally to date. He now has six Premier League strikes this season.

Carlos Tevez continues to carry Manchester City almost single-handedly, and delivered a hat-trick of his own this afternoon in a comfortable 3-0 drubbing of West Brom. His work long since complete, he was afforded a standing ovation on 86 minutes when substituted for Shaun Wright-Philips.

In the lowest scoring match of the afternoon, with just the three goals (!), Spurs overcame stubborn resistance from Bolton, to record a hard fought 2-1 victory. Indeed, it was not until stoppage time at the end of the match, that supersub Nico Kranjcar settled the game for the North Londoners.

Finally, up in the northwest, Wigan and Blackburn divided seven goals as evenly as they could, with the home side claiming the pivotal seventh.

This evening, bottom club Wolves host top club Manchester United in a game that may not be quite as one-sided as first meets the eye. Whilst I’d expect Manchester United to win, Wolves may be worth supporting on the Asian handicaps, receiving a two goal start.

Tags: Arsene Wenger, Aston Villa 2 Fulham 2, Everton 5 Blackpool 3, Louis Saha, Manchester City 3 West Brom 0, Newcastle 4 Arsenal 4, Robin van Persie, Spurs 2 Bolton 1, Stoke 3 Sunderland 2, Vassiriki Diaby, Wigan 4 Blackburn 3, Wolves to win on Asian handicap