Nineteenth Week Conclusions in the Premiership

Old Man Winter spared only two Premiership matches this weekend, which could be interprated as both a curse or blessing for the clubs who had the weekend off. Some will be pleased that their players got an unscheduled winter break, while others will be wary of the logjam of fixtures that’s forming at the end of the season. Chelsea‘s pensioners will surely be glad to give their legs a break, and that could be the difference in an increasingly cagey title race.

Football is alive and well in England’s second city. We’re not just talking about Aston Villa; Birmingham City held their own against Chelsea and did the same against Manchester United this weekend. It’s all been part of an unbelievable unbeaten run for the newly-promoted side, built around a stingy defence and the industry of bad boy-turned-good Lee Bowyer.

Arsenal were probably not happy about dropping points at the Emirates to Everton, but a little perspective may be in order. They were without their three best players of the season – Cesc, Van Persie, and Song – and frankly they played awfully. On another day Arsenal probably would have caved in and lost this match, so the fact that they came away with a point could be a sign of a new grittiness and hardiness.

Arsenal showed grit and determination on and off the pitch