Big home wins for both Chelsea and Arsenal saw the pair bounce back from defeats in the previous gameweek. The sides produced five players in the WhoScored All Stars XI, while fellow Londoners Spurs made it three wins in a row to continue their strong recent form. Man City caught Man United at the top of the table but remain second on goal difference after the latter’s draw at Stoke, while Newcastle’s unbeaten start to the season sees them climb into the top four after a comfortable win over struggling Blackburn. Here’s a look at three of the key performers from the weekend gone by:
Ashley Cole, Chelsea. WhoScored rating 7.68
The left-back has been somewhat overshadowed by the performances of Jose Bosingwa on the opposite flank this term. Saturday, however, saw him produce his best display of the season as Chelsea saw off Swansea 4-1, despite playing with10 men for over 50 minutes. As this player position map shows (below right), Bosingwa (17) played further forward than Cole (3) and Brendan Rodgers’ side targeted the Chelsea right flank as a result, with 41% of their attacks coming from their left.
The visitors attacked down Cole’s side of the pitch 33% of the time but the Swansea right winger Nathan Dyer got no joy in his head-to-head with Cole; with no shots, key passes or successful dribbles to his name, Dyer was subbed off after 72 minutes with a WhoScored rating of just 5.49. Cole’s superb defensive display of 3 tackles and 6 interceptions completely nullified his threat.
In possession, Cole had 76 touches- only John Obi Mikel (107) had more for the home side; Bosingwa managed 66 on the opposite flank. He also played 42 passes –with a 90% accuracy- in addition to producing 1 key pass, which led to an assist, as Andre Villas-Boas’ side got back to winning ways and now sit just three points off the top of the table.
Gareth Bale, Tottenham. WhoScored rating 8.72
An injury to Jermain Defoe meant Harry Redknapp tried something a little different in the 2-1 win at Wigan on Saturday. Sandro partnered Scott Parker in the middle for Spurs, with Luka Modric moving out right and Bale returning to his usual position on the left wing. A look at the player position map (below left) shows how Modric (14) drifted inside time and again, allowing the attack-minded Kyle Walker (28) to forage forward from the right-back position and, as a result, Spurs had 42% of attacks down the right flank. Bale’s left flank saw 28% of attacks, with 30% coming through the middle.
Bale (3) produced his most attacking display of the season; with much of the play coming down the opposite side, he pushed forward to support the Spurs attacks and was further forward than Rafael Van der Vaart (11), with the Dutchman stationed just behind lone striker Emmanuel Adebayor (10). As a result, he managed 3 shots at goal, with 2 on target and fired home Spurs’ second on 23 minutes; his first goal of the season.
The Welshman finally looked like the player who won the PFA Player of the Year award last season, delivering 4 key passes –the most of any visiting player- and also made 6 successful dribbles- the rest of the Spurs team managed 4 between them as he picked up the man of the match award with a rating of 8.72. Bale gave Wigan right-back Steve Gohouri such a torrid time the Latics player failed to win a single tackle or interception and was sent off after picking up two yellow cards- both for fouls on the Welshman.
Robin Van Persie, Arsenal. WhoScored rating 9.74
Arsenal brushed off their defeat to Blackburn last week by dismantling a sorry Bolton Wanderers 3-0 at the Emirates. Arsene Wenger brought back Theo Walcott to the starting XI after benching him last week, as Gervinho moved over to the left again. Despite failing to score in the first 45, the Gunners completely bossed the game- they had 63% possession and fired off 19 shots to the Trotters’ measly 2.
A look at the player positions map (right) shows how much both Gervinho (27) and Walcott (14) came inside to join Van Persie (10), meaning the Dutchman was rarely isolated when Arsenal were on the attack. While the wingers’ pace and trickery tore the visitors apart, Van Persie produced a brilliant offensive performance as he notched for the first time at home this season, grabbing a brace as he made it a century of goals in Arsenal colours.
Van Persie had 7 shots at goal, with 5 on target; his average shots per game for the season –including this game- is 3.7 and highlights just how much more of a danger he was compared to previous performances. This is further backed up by his 2 key passes and 3 successful dribbles on Saturday- his season average is 1.8 and 1 respectively. With Gary Cahill absent through illness for the visitors, the performances of both their centre halves were far from inspirational- Zat Knight and David Wheater scored 5.83 and 5.49 in the WhoScored ratings.
