There were mixed fortunes for the big guns in the EPL this weekend. Source: AAP
The Barclays Premier League needed no time to return to full swing after the international break - but it's a bit of PlayStation Football that headlines this week's Good, Bad and Ugly wrap of the weekend action.
GOOD
WENGER'S DREAMS COME TRUE
How often over the years have we heard that Arsenal's problem is they try to walk the ball into the back of the net?
Well, they did just that to open the scoring against Norwich, with Jack Wilshere finishing a six one-touch move with aplomb. It was majestic - the type of PlayStation football Arsene Wenger has remained devoted to and is now reaping rich rewards with.
It was a fitting goal to return Arsenal to the Premier League summit.
"Certainly one of the best," Wenger said when asked to rate the goal. "We would like to play all the time at that speed, but it is not always possible."
Despite the scoreline, Norwich still showed positive signs, but the margin highlights the level of Arsenal's swagger at the moment.
On such an irresistible day, it's fitting that Mesut Ozil, the catalyst this season, netted his first two Premier League goals. England squad goalkeeper John Ruddy stood tall, but was powerless as Wenger unleashed Ozil with Santi Cazorla for the first time this term.
When Matthew Flamini went off after a head-knock, Arsenal had Aaron Ramsey, Cazorla and Ozil on the pitch at the same time.
And to make things worse for the chasing pack, Olivier Giroud continues to show his worth - repaying the favour to the German by turning supplier.
NEWCASTLE-LIVERPOOL THRILLER
Another Cabaye cracker, Gerrard's 100-goal milestone, Newcastle's tenacity and the SAS again. There was so much to enjoy about this cracking fixture.
Alan Pardew's side played for almost 50 minutes with 10 men after Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa's dismissal – no surprise that Luis Suarez was involved, but it's hard to argue with the decision.
"I've no massive problem with the sending off," Pardew said.
With both managers sending out adventurous formations, the neutral was the winner.
Liverpool look world beaters at times, and no surprises that Sturridge set up Suarez to win the penalty, and the roles reversed for the game's equaliser.
There are still frailties at the other end, exposed with Lucas and Jose Enrique absent, but the progress being made under Brendan Rodgers is still positive.
So too the revival for the home side, who had fans protesting before the match about Mike Ashley's stewardship of the club.
As for Gerrard, he joins Messrs Owen and Fowler in the 100-club.
"Just to be in that company is very flattering," Gerrard said.
"For a midfield player to get 100 goals, I have to be pleased. But I'm going away from here not so much happy with my own achievement but disappointed we didn't get maximum points."
TOWNSEND'S THE MAN
Gareth, who?
It was a big couple of days for Andros Townsend. England's bright young spark was a star against Montenegro and then celebrated a four-year deal at White Hart Lane with a match-winning effort as Tottenham beat Aston Villa to remain three points from the lead.
27s IMPACT
It was Retro Day at Goodison Park but with Roberto Martinez's side continuing to impress, it seems there's no looking back at the David Moyes era.
Steven Pienaar equalised 27 seconds after being sent on as a substitute to keep Everton above their former manager's new side.
Everton's lucky charm - on-loan Gareth Barry - was at the centre of everything. Hull boss Steve Bruce thought he got an off-side touch on Kevin Mirallas's opener, and should have faced punishment for challenges on Danny Graham and Sone Aluko.
SUPER SERGIO
Manuel Pellegrini's side finally broke free from the shackles in games they should win, but had to withstand a spirited West Ham side who just were not at the same class as City won their first away game of the season.
Sergio Aguero's intricate movement made West Ham's centre-halves chase shadows as Fernadinho and Yaya Toure played incisive, direct passes from midfield and the Argentine, second top scorer behind Sturridge, did the rest.
BIG WEEK FOR THE BIG BOSNIAN
What's a 0-0 draw between Stoke and West Brom doing here?
The performance of the goalkeepers stole the show, with Asmir Begovic reminding everyone of why he's one of the league's best stoppers, with a match-winning performance, including a one-on-one stop in the final moments. Boaz Myhill also had to be on his toes for Charlie Adam's audacious attempt from half-way.
BAD
WHEN WILL MOYES TURN THINGS AROUND?
Harsh on Southampton to call this bad. Harsh on Adnan Januzaj's defence splitting pass for the opening goal, to call this bad.
But since when do Manchester United gift opponents an 86th minute chance to level the score at Old Trafford, before conceding meekly off a corner minutes later?
The aura is well and truly gone, as David Moyes's side sit just as far from relegation as they do from the top four. And four points adrift of fifth-placed Southampton.
"We took time to react to conceding the goal but, overall, it was an amazing effort from us," said their manager Mauricio Pochettino, whose side edged United, at Old Trafford, in the possession stakes.
The effort from United? There's plenty of commentary suggesting the side is suffocating under Moyes's claustrophobic negativity, which includes the continued absence of Shinji Kagawa, Javier Hernandez and Wilfried Zaha in a side that dropped deeper and deeper at the death against the Saints.
Here's how Sky Sports scathingly summed up the retreat:
"Moyes' judgement in the big job has thus far been clouded by fear, beginning with his over-reliance on Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic (both missing against Southampton) in United's shaky start to the campaign and continuing against Southampton with three crushingly negative substitutions that predictably spurred Saints to find an equaliser. Replacing Nani, who was having one of his better days, with Ryan Giggs exhibited weakness; bringing on Danny Welbeck for Marouane Fellaini was absurd; and to sub Wayne Rooney for Chris Smalling in the dying stages was needless."
United hit the woodwork once in each half as they failed to capitalise on an improved performance, and just as Moyes was answering the press' questions, Sir Alex Ferguson appeared on MUTV.
"For David, winning a trophy would be a fantastic achievement," the former manager said.
"No matter what it is -- the League Cup, FA Cup, European Cup or Premier League.
"It is not easy winning a trophy in our league because you could say there are six teams fighting for the league."
OVER TO YOU, GUS
Different manager, same story for Sunderland.
New manager Gus Poyet said after his side's 4-0 capitulation against Swansea: "I said to the players, "Don’t give me the chance as a manager to change the team and pick someone else". Unfortunately, they’ve given me the chance to do that".
Bizarre would probably be a more apt name as Jose Mourinho once again ensured Stamford Bridge was a place of great theatre for those wanting Saturday afternoon entertainment.
First, there was David Luiz's comical defending that helped Jordon Mutch open the scoring, but Chelsea's equaliser should not have stood.
We may not see referee Anthony Taylor for a while, after he allowed play to continue after Samuel Eto'o poked the ball from David Marshall's grasp as the goalkeeper bounced the ball.
FIFA regulation 12 states: "When a goalkeeper has gained possession of the ball with his hands, he cannot be challenged by an opponent.
"A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball while the ball is between his hands and any surface (e.g. ground) and while in the act of bouncing it on the ground."
A frustrated Malcky Mackay fumed: "I did go in and ask for clarification at the end, just purely for clarification of the ruling and what the referee and linesman saw," Mackay said.
"And the explanation leaves me really disappointed because I've since looked at it. The explanation was they felt the goalkeeper dropped the ball. And I asked for clarification because my goalkeeper bounced the ball.
"He saw Samuel Eto'o standing next to him and he bounced the ball. I asked for clarification on if he had bounced the ball and it is in his control, and they said immediately that would be a foul.
"At that point I hadn't seen the incident again. It's only afterwards I've looked at it and you can see quite clearly he sees Samuel Eto'o there and he has the ball in his control. They thought he had dropped the ball and it was in open play. And that is a mistake."
Then, there's Mourinho - still complaining about the refereeing despite the generous equaliser, marched to the stands.
From there, it was only good for Chelsea fans, who chanted "José Mourinho, he sits where he wants" when the Special One cheekily sat with supporters just behind the dugout.
Oscar brilliance and a maiden goal for Samuel Eto'o - in clearly his best display for the club - rounded out the day.
