Tottenham and Chelsea share the spotlight at the end of August while Arsenal's Manuel Almunia and Abou Diaby let their team down.

By Eugene YS Han

HEROES

ANDEI ARSHAVIN
Is Andrei Sergeyevich Arshavin human? 24 seconds separated Arshavin's legitimate penalty shout to his wonder goal that shot past a startled Ben Foster. It was quite as unexpected as when Wayne Rooney blasted one past David Seaman back when he made his debut for Everton. It's amazing how both Arshavin and Rooney are so similarly built - stocky, two-footed and hard to knock off the ball. In Cesc Fabregas's absence, the Russian took over the inspirational role not by stringing passes but by leading the line by example and showing his class. He later admitted he was playing with a slight injury but he had to play because of an injury crisis at Arsenal. And even so he was easily the best player on the Old Trafford pitch. Imagine if he had been 100% fit ...

ARSENE WENGER
For having the bravery to stand in front of the Old Trafford fans and bearing the full brunt of their abuse, Arsene Wenger deserves a nod as the Hero of the week. Infuriated by the referee's (correct) decision to rule out van Persie's late effort, the Arsenal manager then kicked an innocent water bottle and was sent to the stands by the overzealous referee Mike Dean just a minute before full-time. And when Wenger couldn't find a seat, he stood, with crossed arms, in front of the United fans and the director box! And all this while, abuse were raining down on him! His team may have lost the game, but the manager gained much respect for his guts.

CHELSEA
It may only be Burnley, but Chelsea's 3-0 victory meant the Blues top the table with a 100% record at the end of August. It looks like Carlo Ancelotti can still enjoy his honeymoon period for a while longer yet. Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are enjoying their partnership while the team looks like they are adapting to the new formation.

TOTTENHAM
It's four victories out of four (five if you count the League Cup) for joint league leaders Tottenham. But in fairness, Spurs had enough chances to see the game to bed just in the first-half. Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane were all guilty of missing great chances. And just as Spurs look to run out of ideas, Peter Crouch came on and made the breakthrough against Birmingham (and sealed his place in the England squad ahead, pun intended, of Michael Owen).

AARON LENNON
Goal machine Aaron Lennon has yet again scored a game-winning strike (thanks to ex-Spurs Stephen Carr) to ensure Spurs go into the international break top of the pile. On this form, the winger will earn a starting line-up for England as well.

BRIAN JENSON
He kept clean sheets against Man United and Everton but Brian Jenson could not do the same against Chelsea. But at least the big Dane managed to keep the scoreline down to just three. While his on-field teammates did not turn up at Stamford Bridge, the 'Beast' made 11 stunning saves to ensure Burnley leave London without a rugby score. Burnley's survival hopes definitely hinges on the form of Jenson in goal this season.

ASTON VILLA
Aston Villa are still far from a Top Four challenger this season but at least they have got back to winning ways. After last week's 3-1 win at Liverpool, Villa collected another three points from a off-colour Fulham side in a rountine 2-0 win. It has not been smooth sailing for Aston Villa especially after they were booed off at half-time in their last home game. This time, O'Neill chose to field inexperienced Keeping a clean sheet would have cheered Martin O'Neill up a little. But what set the happiness level at Villa Park up two notches is the way Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley finally found the form

HENDRY THOMAS
The best tackle of the week from the Honduran defensive midfielder. It bought a chuckle from us and David Moyes.

ZEROES

ALMUNIA & DIABY
We win together, we lose together, sometimes. Arsenal had out-played Manchester United and led for almost an hour until two individual mistakes cost them the match. The Gunners had dominated for most of the match and even 'scored' more goals than the home side. If not for the two silly mistakes, Arsenal would have been three points ahead and not three behind. Arsenal could also be psychologically scarred by the defeat for rest of the season.

SIR ALEX FERGUSON
Manchester United can only play one way at Old Trafford and that is to take the game to their opponents. Whoever they are. So what exactly was Sir Alex Ferguson thinking when he fielded a defensive formation and told Nani to defend? United's defensive approach nearly went against them when Arsenal went ahead through Andrey Arshavin in the first half as United trooped off to the dressing room, one goal down. Things did improve in the second half but indeed, it was Arsenal who gave them the initiative and gave United not one but two 'Old Trafford dishes'. United escaped and the champions survived and go three points clear of Arsenal. United may have escaped this time but who knows what will happen later in the season. Perhaps Ferguson should have used his infamous 'hairdryer' on himself for his questionable tactics.

MANCHESTER CITY
Underwhelming, formulated, bland. That's what Manchester City's football constitutes now. Heck it's like Chelsea under Jose. City fans won't mind one bit. Pragmatic football meant be boring but at least it is bringing in results. Maximum pts, clean sheets. City's pragmatic football cld be attributed to the influx of new players and them getting used to one another's style of play. But City have time on their side, and the early season analysis is they can only get better.

* Send in your comments to hanys@espnstar.com

In defence of Sir Alex Ferguson

"Your column on heroes and zeroes was incredibly biased. First of all, how could Darren Fletcher not be in the list of heroes? He played the game of his life, and did the work of two people. Every Manchester United fan will remember this performance for a long time. Your own pundits, Steve McMahon and Shebby were full of praise, by the way. Second, how is Arsene Wenger a hero? True, he preserved his dignity, but in the same week, supported a player who blatantly dived. Then, he proceeds to blame Man Utd for playing anti football. How heroic indeed. Third, how is Sir Alex Ferguson a zero? His tactics were spot on. A four man midfield could not have handled the Arsenal midfield. This formation he used was a deceptive one. He played the same one against Inter away, and Arsenal away (in the champions league, albeit with Ronaldo in the side) and United dominated both the matches. The players did not play well in the first half and hence they trailed. They played well in the second half and hence, they led. The formation had nothing to do with it." - From: Varun

Wenger do not have sporting spirit

"I fully agree with Varun! Arsene Wenger cannot be a hero as he did not have sport spirit and this is not a way to react to a referees decision by throwing a bottle in anger. He should learn to respect the referee's decision! Furthermore United's formation didn't have any fault as Arsenal only got a few chances and United got 2 great chances towards the end also which both Berbatov and Nani should have scored on another day!" - From Ali Alavi

In support of Arsenal

"In recent years, Manchester United versus Arsenal has mostly ended up in favour of Manchester United, just like it did on Saturday. However though Manchester United walked away with 3 points, Alex Ferguson had nothing to do with it. His tactics were hopeless and his team would have not even gone away with even a point had it not been for some stupid errors by Manuel Almunia and Abou Diaby. It was a match that just went against Arsenal. Arsenal had dominated the entire game, showed excellent passing and came close a number of times (through Van Persie) whereas United's attackers could not convert simple scoring opportunities (Rooney and Nani). It was a game in which the luckier team and not the better team won. Alex Ferguson and his United team (except Giggs who played a great game) thoroughly deserve to be a zero. By the way I'm not an Arsenal supporter but a Liverpool supporter, so I'm speaking from a liberal point of view." - From Jason D'mellow, India

Mike Dean was just being cruel

"What football match were you watching? Arsenal clearly dominated United for most of the game. Darren Fletcher shouldn't have completed the match for his tackle on Arshavin, not to mention, the ball handling during that foul as well (clear penalty). United only led during the second half because of Almunia's clumsiness, he shouldn't have intercepted Rooney seeing that it was going in a difficult position for Rooney and also because of Diaby's unlucky own goal. And if you look at the chances that United created at the end, they were only able to do that because Arsenal were already pushing hard upfront in hopes of salvaging a point; during the rest of the match, United had difficulty going past Gallas and Vermaelen. Furthermore, their midfielders were dominated by Arsenal for most of the match which is why I think Arsenal were the better team during that match. United were lucky, the ref was not that objective, and most importantly, Fabregas wasn't playing.

As for Wenger, Mike Dean was just being cruel for sending him to the stands with only seconds remaining. Wenger's tactics clearly worked during the match, not many teams try and combat United the way Arsenal always do. As for him supporting a diver, it seems that you're unaware about Rooney's (and formerly Ronaldo's) tumbling exploits." - From Epifanio De Guzman