Chelsea displayed great mental strength to come from behind to beat Stoke while Manchester United deflate Tottenham's balloon.

By Eugene YS Han

HEROES

CHELSEA
After a traumatic week when the foundations of Chelsea were shaken by FIFA's transfer ban, the Blues replied to the charges the only way they can. By playing just like the Chelsea of old. Coming back from a goal down to beat the opposition. Check. Frank Lampard threading an instinctive through-ball to Didier Drogba to score. Check. Petr Cech showing frailty in goal. Czech. Could this be their year? Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti would have breathed a sign of relief after Chelsea were given a stern test by Stoke City. Three points were very welcome at this stage in time but the experience provided by Stoke's battlers would be priceless to Ancelotti. He will look at every team as seriously as the next.

MANCHESTER UNITED
Facing high-flying Tottenham who started the season with a 100% record, the reigning English champions Manchester United schooled them in a devastating display of attacking football. United were in a different mood after their last away defeat at Burnley and were determined not to stumble twice. After falling behind to August player of the Month, Jermain Defoe, United hit back and how. Ryan Giggs continues to amaze people with his ability and longevity. With his goal against Spurs, the PFA Player of Year has now scored in every Premier League season since its inception in 1992. Anderson also scored his first goal for United - a crucial second goal that gave his team a vital lead just before half-time. Rio Fedinand's return from injury meant United are no stronger at the back although, they struggled to cope with the aerial threat of Peter Crouch. Well, they won't be playing him every week. Much has been made about Tottenham's strength in depth, but Manchester United have so much quality across the squad. Paul Scholes will be suspended after his sending-off at Spurs but Sir Alex Ferguson will not be worried.

WAYNE ROONEY
Fresh after scoring and helping England qualify for the World Cup, Wayne Rooney continued his good form by scoring for Manchester United as well. Rooney showed how effective he is when he has a striking partner to play with. He scored a goal and could have scored more if not for Spurs 'keeper Carlo Cudicini. And even when the Red Devils were down to ten men, it didn't matter. When you play Rooney, it's like having one player do the job of three. That's just how good he is.

MANCHESTER CITY
The first 'real' examination and Manchester City passed it. Arsenal were the first of the Big Four to visit the City of Manchester in the league and Arsenal were taught a lesson in counter-attacking football, something the Gunners (used to) do really well. Manchester City's spine is now very apparent. Shay Given, Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry, Stephen Ireland and Emmanuel Adebayor. Not earth shattering but BPL proven or should I say harden. These players know how to defend and attack in the helter-skelter tempo of the Premier League. City are becoming a team that's hard to beat and difficult to defend against. And Arsenal literally found this out the hard way.

LIVERPOOL
What can you do with £80million? You can buy:Cristiano Ronaldo; four Fernando Torres; 1 million tickets to watch Arsenal vs Wigan at the Emirates; Restart work on a new stadium. What about reinvigorate the flagging morale of a club? Just when Liverpool needed a morale booster, their record-breaking shirt deal gave them a much-needed encouragement off-the-field. The funds could in theory help to fund a new stadium and it could also help give Rafael Benitez more funds to be used during the next transfer window or offer improved contracts to any player. This cash-injection could well become a major turning point in Liverpool's season.

ASTON VILLA
There wasn't a lot of goals in the the midlands derby between Birmingham and Aston Villa but there sure was lots of commitment. Aston Villa's defenders withstood everything Birmingham threw at them and at time, Villa were throwing their bodies, legs and any legal areas of their anotomy in the way of the opposition's line of fire. Villa just didn't know how to lose. And then Gabby Agbonlahor popped up with a late goal to grab the spoils and bragging rights for the Villa fans - who were not too long ago booing their team at half-time in the opening game of the season. It's from jeers to cheers for Martin O'Neill's men.

DARREN BENT
It took Darren Bent just five league games to score four goals for his new club Sunderland. Considering the fact that it took him 17 games to score the same number of goals. Bent, whose finishing in front of goal was described as worse than Harry Redknapp's wife, looks like rediscovering his Charlton form. The same form that saw him called up for England.

TOMAS ROSICKY
The Czech Republic play-maker scored a goal on his first appearance for Arsenal since January 2008 - 20 months ago.

ZEROES

ARSENAL
In a mess, that's what Arsenal are in now. They have now lost twice in Manchester, the tidal wave generated by their momentum generated by the 6-1 win at Everton is now reduced to a mere ripple. Arsene Wenger's boys were not outplayed, but they were out-fought, out-thought and out-scored by Manchester City's expensive collection of BPL warriors. Just as in the United game, individual mistakes also cost Arsenal dearly in the City defeat.

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR
Manchester City's victory was marred by Adebayor's overzealous celebrations and his rearrangement of Robin van Persie's face. Adebayor was so pumped up for the Arsenal game that when he scored he ran the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Arsenal fans. It nearly triggered a Third World War. Not only that he left a souvenir for van Persie. Apparently exchanging jerseys is not in vogue anymore. The FA should clamp down hard on Adebayor. If diving was bad, what about stamping on the face of a fellow professional? I mean how is van Persie going to earn that L'Oréal contract?

PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth bought in new players extensively in the closing moments of the transfer window, hoping to see the effect bought on by reinforcements. And it didn't work. Portsmouth crashed to their fifth defeat in-a-row. Pompey handed out five debuts but it didn't work. Pompey manager Paul Hart is under more pressure now that his team have made such massive investments.

EVERTON
Everton also bought in new players after selling Joloen Lescott but the new arrivals came in to late to change things around at Goodison Park. The Toffees were beaten by a very ordinary Fulham side and lacked ideas and cutting edge up-front. Everton left their new signings on the bench but the presence of competition did little to spur the regular Everton players to perform better. Amid the fuore surrounding Lescott's departure to Man City, manager David Moyes may also have to do more to raise morale at the battered club.

Your comments

No excuses for Arsenal and Ade
I think we're just worrying too much about Arsenal being there in this list. Unlucky wouldn't entirely describe their state. Sure they've lost key players in the midfield, but what's the use of a squad if you cannot adapt? Surely Arsene Wenger cannot use that as a possible excuse for his team's poor showing. I've admired Arsenal's ways of playing for a while too, but I just cannot understand why they sometimes refuse to turn up for the big games.

On another note, I think what Adebayor did was a total disgrace to the game. I mean, ok, his relationship with Arsenal fans isn't really the best, but that is not how you react as a professional footballer. It was very unfortunate to see him do what he did and I think it will be really, really unfair if he goes unpunished by the FA.
Kaushik

Arsenal lost their fear factor
If we take the high standards which Arsenal or Arsene Wenger set for club, then I think it's really ZERO for Arsenal last weekend. Two or three seasons ago, even Liverpool feared Arsenal. There was one match which Batista put four goals past Liverpool in a 6-goal trouncing. Maybe the other teams have learnt how to take on Arsenal. Most of all I think the current playing staff is just not good enough. Previously even Batista was only a reserve!

Arsenal must have all its best players on the field or it could be pushed out of the top 4. I seriously think it could happen when the last weekend's team started with Bendtner on the wing! Arshavin, Nasri, Rosicky and Eduardo must be fit and playing in addition to Fabregas. Without these players, Arsenal could be passing ball all day long but would not get a result. Teams in the EPL no longer fear Arsenal.
Yap You Wai

Blame it on Alumnia and Bendtner
Itz not right to include arsenal in that zeroes list. Arsenal weren't outplayed in that game instead they were outscored. Almunia is the real zero from that game; actually he is the one who has started the nightmare for Arsenal after a wonderful first 15 mins. Arsenal has got such wonderful attacking options but time and again they are failing to hold onto the midfield play which is so important but i can foresee the success for Arsenal in the coming week after that wonderful display from Rosicky in the second half.
Fabregas will be relieved to see Rosicky back as Diaby is not worth to be there in the team. He is wearing a label of defensive midfielder but considers himself as a clinical striker and always launches himself into the opposition box, instead he should play as a holding midfielder. Nasri's skills are so badly missed along with Walcott's stunning pace across that right wing. What is Bendtner doing in a team like Arsenal? He's such a useless player who never deserves a place at least strictly not into the starting eleven. So actual Zeroes from this game are Almunia and Bendtner and not Arsenal. Never forget Adebayor who was reckless and busy in traumatizing the face of his former team mates instead of concentrating in the game.
Rahul

A disappointed Arsenal fan
First of all, I  do not think that Arsenal deserve the words zeroes.They are without top players for that match on saturday which is Arshavin and Nasri. They are just not in a good condition to battle against MC who have a lot of top players such as Adebayor and Kolo Toure as well as Gareth Barry.If Arsenal had Nasri and Arshavin on the court, it will be a different story. Next, Arsenal are lacking strong holding midfielders who can intercept cross balls or long passes. The problem is Arsenal depends too much on young players rather then bring in experience player to guide them. I remember the season of 03/04 where we can see P.Vieira holding the position the midfield. Arsenal are yet to find such talent. Even Diaby does not match the quality of Vieira and I think Arsene Wenger should sell him off. Then onto attack. I do not see the previous style of playing of Arsenal where they used to play with a lot of short passes and good counter attacking style of football. WHAT HAPPEN TO ARSENE WENGER's MIND?. I can see they are dribbling more outside the box then to pass into the box rather than try to shoot the ball outside the box whereas they are not mark. Bendtner and Diaby are the worst players I can see so far. There are much to comment about Arsenal's performance.As a fan of arsenal,i feel disappointed wearing the arsenal jersey out to the street nowadays.I hope to see once more the old style of arsenal football where they have Thierry Henry, Vieira, Pires, Ljungberg and Bergkamp. Anyway we hope to see a big changes in Arsenal football after 5 years of draught!
Henry Foong

In defence of Arsenal
I just read the article of BPL Heroes and Zeroes 05 and in the Zeroes list you have made a mistake by putting Arsenal in there. They were not Zeroes. They were unlucky against Man Utd and Man City. Not Zeroes. There is a difference between being unlucky and being a Zero.
Karthik

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