BPL Heroes and Zeroes 01

Eugene YS Han picks the Heroes and Zeroes from the first weekend of the Barclays Premier League.

HEROES

ARSENAL
The goals were raining in for Arsenal at Goodison Park as the Gunners ran out 6-1 winners to match the biggest winning margin on the opening day of the Premier League. While the result was spectacular, this Arsenal team have showed they can now score goals from a myriad of attacking chances. For one, Arsenal are not known to be deadly from set-pieces - but against Everton, the Gunners scored two from free-kicks. Both Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas made sure their trek to the opposition's penalty box was not in vain. Secondly, Cesc Fabregas ran the length of the field to score - twice. Thirdly, Eduardo has again showed he is the deadly predator in the box with another opportunistic goal. As long as he steers clear of injury, Arsenal finally have someone who can find the goal at the end of their flowing moves. After this team performance, Arsenal look unstoppable. Bring on Celtic!

CESC FABREGAS
Did you select him in our new fantasy game FC Manager? Lucky you. Cesc Fabregas is undoubtedly one of the star performers (scored 18 points) on the opening weekend of the season. Fabregas played a captain's game and he not only ran the midfield - he almost ran the entire length of the field to score his second goal (after he collected Manuel Alumnia's throw). The Spaniard ended the game with two goals and also made two for the Gunners. The speculation over his future did little to mar his game - Fabregas was simply Fabulous.

DIDIER DROGBA
Didier Drogba is playing like a man with a mission and he virtually carried Chelsea on his back in the Hull game. Leading the line up-front, taking kicks along the way, Drogba was at his imposing best and his two goals helped the Blues came from behind to beat Hull. When Drogba's in the mood, he's almost unplayable - so let's hope Carlo Ancelotti can keep the UN's Goodwill Ambassador happy.

MANCHESTER CITY
After spending big during the summer, they were the main team to watch outside of the Top Four. Manchester City did not disappoint with an away win on the opening day of the season. New signing Emmanuel Adebayor started and finished the move that led to the first goal. Mark Hughes' side had lost 12 out of 19 away matches last season - giving the impression that their players only like to play at home (13 wins). Ewood Park was to give the new-look City side a stern test and they passed - just. Blackburn played well and deserved to get something out of this game. Christopher Samba and Jason Roberts were denied certain goals by City goalkeeper Shay Given. Kolo Toure, another new boy, looked a little rusty alongside Richard Dunne but his calming presence was enough to steady the ship. There's no doubt City will find scoring goals easier this season but the real question is whether they can keep them out as well. With Given, Toure as well as the reliable Gareth Barry sitting in front of the defence, City look solid at the back. Based on the scrappy game against Blackburn, they definitely need more time and games to gel. And when they do, Man City could have a major say in the title race this season.

TOTTENHAM
Tottenham rang rings around Liverpool in their impressive 2-1 win at White Hart Lane. New signing Sebastien Bassong kept Fernando Torres quiet all game and even popped up at the other end to score the winning goal. Kudos to manager Harry Redknapp for another astute purchase. Playing alongside and aided by Ledley King, Bassong gave an assured performance at the back and gave the rest of the team the platform to attack. Liverpool could not get to grips with Luka Modric who pulled the strings in the playmaker role while Robbie Keane tried his darnest to score against Liverpool. In the end, the Tottenham faithful witnessed another big scalp collected - and Redknapp has to take credit for how he has transformed the club's fortunes ever since he joined the club last season.

DARREN BENT
With his Tottenham nightmare behind him, footballing Twitterer Darren Bent seems to have found himself a new haven at Sunderland. A debut goal for his new club eased fears that Bent is past his best. Perhaps it can revive hopes that he can re-discover his Charlton form where he scored 32 goals in 68 games. (Btw espnstar.com has a twitter page too)

HUGO RODALLEGA
The Colombian striker could turn out to be a revelation for Wigan this season if he continues what he started. Hugo Rodallega's long-range goal against Villa is already a contender for the goal-of-the-season. Although he had only one goal to show for his efforts, the 24-year-old former Necaxa player was unlucky not to add to his tally on at least two more occasions against Villa.

ZEROES

LIVERPOOL
The title dream remains what it is - a dream for now. Liverpool were out-fought, out-thought and out-played after Tottenham sunk them on the opening day of the season. Tottenham exposed their deficiencies in defence as well as midfield. Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel played like strangers on the field and both of them took each other out in the first-half when trying to clear a long ball. Carragher had to have his head wound stapled together while Skrtel played on with a sore jaw as well as a spinning headache. But the real headache for Rafael Benitez is the Liverpool midfield. Liverpool is missing Xabi Alonso's assured presence and passing range more than some people think. Lucas Leiva, who hopes to take Alonso's place, is too similar to Javier Mascherano and offers precious little to Liverpool's attack. Not even captain Steven Gerrard can steady the midfield and provide the usual inspiration - he gave the ball away far too often at White Hart Lane. It may be just the opening game of the season but the problems are there for all to see.

EVERTON
It was also not a good opening weekend for the Blue half of Merseyside. The euphoria of reaching last season's FA Cup final and fifth place finish was quickly squashed by a rampant Arsenal side who scored six goals at Goodison Park. It seems that the Joleon Lescott transfer saga has adversely affected a porous Everton defence (which admittedly missed the injured Phil Jagielka). David Moyes will not only have to rebuild his players' confidence after this heavy defeat - he will also have to resolve the future of wantaway Lescott.No one likes player power in the game so I hope Lescott does not get off scot-free.

CHELSEA
It was down to luck that Chelsea managed to collect three points. At least Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti avoided the same fate as Luiz Felipe Scolari when the Brazilian's Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw by Hull at Stamford Bridge last season (Big Phil was sacked two days later). Ancelotti's Chelsea also had problems breaking down Hull but it was really more of Chelsea's formation than Hull's defensive qualities. Chelsea's players simply have not adapted to Ancelotti's diamond formation and they are struggling to understand their Italian boss's instructions. The midfielders look as if they were confused by the tactical set-up and frequently got into each other's way. Mind you, this midfield is chalk-full of experienced internationals. It happened against Man United and it happened against Hull. A disappointing draw was only averted when Drogba's cross-shot somehow went into goal during the second minute of injury time. Hull, who several chances to score when it was 1-1, failed to punish Chelsea for their indecisive performance. A much better team than Hull could take advantage should Chelsea fail to find their feet soon.

ASTON VILLA
Aston Villa were roundly booed at the end of their home defeat to Wigan - such was the disappointment of the fans. Even Martin O'Neill looked shell-shocked. Villa did not have Gareth Barry in their midfield for the first time in 12 seasons and while Martin Laursen's retirement left a big hole in defence. If Villa do not improve, they could be destined for a mid-table finish instead of dreaming of the Top Four.

NEWLY-PROMOTED CLUBS
Wolves, Burnley and Birmingham all lost all their opening games for an inauspicious start to the new Premier League season. Only Birmingham played well enough to nearly earn a point at Manchester United (although Alex McLeish may not want that achievement as clubs who have drawn against Manchester United in their opening game for the past two seasons went on to be relegated.). They may want to collect as much points as possible early on before the other teams get into gear.