Bendtner turns the tide, Nolan loses his mind, Mata's strop elicits a cool response from Mourinho and Moyes morphs into Sir Alex
*1) Could Arsenal finally see the benefit of Bendtner?*
In so many respects it was classic Nicklas Bendtner. On as a substitute against Cardiff City, he scored the crucial 88th-minute goal for Arsenal yet sprained his ankle in the process to be forced back off. As he limped round the fringes of the pitch he was given a hero's ovation by the same crowd that had jeered him a little over two months previously in the Capital One Cup against Chelsea. Bendtner deals only in extremes. "It's Nicklas's luck," Arsène Wenger said, appearing to agree. Bendtner is out of contract in the summer and, as such, is now free to sign a pre-contract at an overseas club. Wenger estimates that the ankle injury will keep him out for "weeks not days". It seems unlikely that Wenger will give Bendtner a new contract but could the Dane yet enjoy more decisive moments in Arsenal's title push? *David Hytner*
• Read the report: Arsenal 2-0 Cardiff City
• Solskjaer set to be named Cardiff City manager
*2) Why are Norwich so boring?*
Watching Norwich City can be a forgettable experience, especially away from home. The treacherous conditions at Selhurst Park contributed to the lack of quality in their 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace but Chris Hughton should surely be getting more out of his players. While he argued that they were the better side in open play, the fact is that other than Bradley Johnson's fine goal, which was down to an error by Danny Gabbidon, Norwich created only one proper chance in the match, which Nathan Redmond could not take. There are talented players at Norwich – Leroy Fer, Robert Snodgrass, Redmond and Gary Hooper – but too often they are set up negatively by Hughton and, although they look as if they have just about enough to stay up, they are unlikely to give their fans too many thrills along the way. *Jacob Steinberg *
• Read the report: Crystal Palace 1-1 Norwich
*3) Nolan needs to get his head right*
Defeat was bad enough for West Ham at Craven Cottage but what must have made it all the more annoying for their fans was the contrast between their former captain and their current one. When the Fulham midfielder Scott Parker wore the armband for West Ham, he did so with such rousing dynamism that he was voted the club's player of the year three seasons out of four. Kevin Nolan, too, has served the club well but recently he has become a liability: two senseless red cards in his last three appearances have plunged an already depleted side even deeper into relegation trouble. "I have to find out what's wrong with him because his mentality is not right at the minute," said Sam Allardyce, as perplexed as he was vexed. Nolan faces a four-match ban and will struggle to get back into the side if the club make wise use of the transfer window. Parker, meanwhile, will be integral to Fulham's efforts to ensure the Hammers fall. *Paul Doyle*
• Read the report: Fulham 2-1 West Ham
*4) Just how good can Henderson be?*
Liverpool's defeat of Hull City was memorable for another stunning goal for the collection from Luis Suárez but the latest intelligent, composed performance from Jordan Henderson should not be overlooked. The England international was deployed alongside Lucas Leiva in the absence of the injured Joe Allen and with Steven Gerrard returning from injury to the bench but maintained the creative, authoritative form he has shown consistently this season, to the detriment of his former manager at Sunderland, Steve Bruce. The Hull manager said: "I gave Jordan his debut and, when he first came here, I never had any doubts that he'd be a top player. He's got a huge desire to do well and I'm delighted that he is. He's looking every bit a £19m player at the minute and you have to ask if there are many better English midfield players than him right now." *Andy Hunter *
• Read the report: Liverpool 2-0 Hull City
*5) Moyes's manipulation of the facts smacks of Sir Alex*
There was a moment, as David Moyes went through all his grievances about Howard Webb's decision-making, when a journalist in the second row asked him whether he suspected the referee's clichéd reputation* as having Manchester United leanings might have made him reluctant to make a key decision in the club's favour. Moyes did not bite but it was about the only time he showed any restraint. The decision not to award a penalty for Hugo Lloris's challenge on Ashley Young – and send off the Tottenham goalkeeper – was "scandalous", he said. The yellow card for Adnan Janujaz's alleged dive was "terrible". He overlooked the fact that Januzaj might have contributed to his own problem by being a repeat offender and that Daniel Welbeck had got away with what looked suspiciously like a dive earlier in the match. Noticeably Moyes was not so keen either to reflect on the fact United have now lost four home games already this season, including three since the start of December, and are 11 points off the top. Instead he questioned whether Webb's employers should look at his performance and do something about it. It felt like a modified version of the old Sir Alex Ferguson diversion technique: create, or manipulate, the headlines, and try to shift the story elsewhere. Moyes had a legitimate grievance but it was pretty much the only subject he wanted to speak about afterwards and he ignored one key point. Blaming the referee is almost always a cop-out.
* That's three Manchester United games in a row that Howard Webb has refereed and they have lost. Time to drop a joke that wasn't very funny in the first place? *Daniel Taylor *
• Read the report: Manchester United 1-2 Tottenham
• Moyes says Lloris decision was 'scandalous'
• Jamie Jackson: Five talking points from Old Trafford
*6) Mata's misery doesn't matter to José*
Juan Mata's struggle to hold down a place in the Chelsea first team this season has been well documented yet, if there was ever a sign that there existed frustration on the player's side then it was apparent at St Mary's. After his substitution in the 53rd minute with the score goalless, Mata trudged to the bench where he hit a seat in anger. The Spaniard had, though, made little impact on the match while his replacement, Oscar, went on to play an integral part in the 3-0 victory. It seems remarkable that a player who excelled to such an extent last term could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge but José Mourinho admitted such a possibility could occur. "I want to keep him, I don't want him to go. That's my wish but my door is open and the club's door is open too," said Mourinho. *James Riach*
• Read the report: Southampton 0-3 Chelsea
*7) Pennant pays penalty for Stoke's misguided tactics *
Mark Hughes said his Stoke players showed the commitment and bravery he demanded of them by repeatedly putting their bodies on the line to deny Everton in the later stages of the game. This they did, with Erik Pieters in particular making several last-ditch blocks to protect the inexperienced Jack Butland in the Stoke goal. But should Stoke really have been playing that way, defending too deep, almost inviting Everton to come at them? With Peter Crouch as a target man Stoke should have been trying to hold the ball and play further up the pitch. Everton got their penalty in the end because they were virtually laying siege to the Stoke area. Perhaps replacing Jon Walters and Charlie Adam, who can both keep the ball and play through midfield, was not the best idea. Especially when Jermaine Pennant came on to offer an attacking outlet but ended up trying to make a tackle in his own penalty area. *Paul Wilson *
• Read the report: Stoke 1-1 Everton
*8) City's revolving midfield propels title charge*
Manchester City left the Liberty Stadium with three points but will feel they left behind a significant marker in the title race. It is the first time City have won back-to-back away league games under Manuel Pellegrini. They lie one point behind the leaders, Arsenal, in the title race and are many people's title favourites. Perhaps most ominous is their threat from all angles, as the club's revolving midfield provided goals from Fernandinho and another for Yaya Touré in the continuing absence of Sergio Agüero. *Samuel Rowntree *
• Read the report: Swansea City 2-3 Manchester City
*9) Is Cattermole worth the trouble?*
It is surely no coincidence that the squad revolt which saw off Paolo Di Canio came at the end of the weekend in which Lee Cattermole finally returned to Sunderland's first-team fold for a defeat at West Brom. Gus Poyet knows full well the part Cattermole played in his predecessor's downfall but has presumably attempted to play the combative midfielder along in the hope he can help avert relegation. Another performance like the one against Villa and such an awkward compromise will be dead in the water; anyone in any job can make a mistake but Cattermole's first-half performance against Villa – not just his part in the concession of Gabriel Agbonlahor's winner – was shocking. Small wonder Poyet withdrew him at half-time. It will be interesting to see how many more games Sunderland's New Year's Day captain plays this season. *Louise Taylor*
• Read the report: Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa
*10) West Brom indebted to Downing*
From the likeable Keith Downing's post-match press conference there was no sense of his protesting too much that he does not want the Albion manager's job on a full-time basis. The former Wolves midfielder will prepare West Brom for Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie against Crystal Palace but thereafter clearly hopes the Albion hierarchy make an appointment that will allow him to fade back into the supportive coaching role that for the time being at least he believes best suits him. Asked what he has done to change things around since taking over from Steve Clarke, Downing shook his head. "Nothing much. Just because I've won a game and not been beaten it doesn't make me the best coach in the world. The bottom line was try and galvanise the players, get them positive, get the right results and then for the new man to come in." Job most effectively done. Whoever is appointed will owe Downing a considerable debt. *Richard Rae*
*• *Read the report: West Brom 1-0 Newcastle Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.
*1) Could Arsenal finally see the benefit of Bendtner?*
In so many respects it was classic Nicklas Bendtner. On as a substitute against Cardiff City, he scored the crucial 88th-minute goal for Arsenal yet sprained his ankle in the process to be forced back off. As he limped round the fringes of the pitch he was given a hero's ovation by the same crowd that had jeered him a little over two months previously in the Capital One Cup against Chelsea. Bendtner deals only in extremes. "It's Nicklas's luck," Arsène Wenger said, appearing to agree. Bendtner is out of contract in the summer and, as such, is now free to sign a pre-contract at an overseas club. Wenger estimates that the ankle injury will keep him out for "weeks not days". It seems unlikely that Wenger will give Bendtner a new contract but could the Dane yet enjoy more decisive moments in Arsenal's title push? *David Hytner*
• Read the report: Arsenal 2-0 Cardiff City
• Solskjaer set to be named Cardiff City manager
*2) Why are Norwich so boring?*
Watching Norwich City can be a forgettable experience, especially away from home. The treacherous conditions at Selhurst Park contributed to the lack of quality in their 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace but Chris Hughton should surely be getting more out of his players. While he argued that they were the better side in open play, the fact is that other than Bradley Johnson's fine goal, which was down to an error by Danny Gabbidon, Norwich created only one proper chance in the match, which Nathan Redmond could not take. There are talented players at Norwich – Leroy Fer, Robert Snodgrass, Redmond and Gary Hooper – but too often they are set up negatively by Hughton and, although they look as if they have just about enough to stay up, they are unlikely to give their fans too many thrills along the way. *Jacob Steinberg *
• Read the report: Crystal Palace 1-1 Norwich
*3) Nolan needs to get his head right*
Defeat was bad enough for West Ham at Craven Cottage but what must have made it all the more annoying for their fans was the contrast between their former captain and their current one. When the Fulham midfielder Scott Parker wore the armband for West Ham, he did so with such rousing dynamism that he was voted the club's player of the year three seasons out of four. Kevin Nolan, too, has served the club well but recently he has become a liability: two senseless red cards in his last three appearances have plunged an already depleted side even deeper into relegation trouble. "I have to find out what's wrong with him because his mentality is not right at the minute," said Sam Allardyce, as perplexed as he was vexed. Nolan faces a four-match ban and will struggle to get back into the side if the club make wise use of the transfer window. Parker, meanwhile, will be integral to Fulham's efforts to ensure the Hammers fall. *Paul Doyle*
• Read the report: Fulham 2-1 West Ham
*4) Just how good can Henderson be?*
Liverpool's defeat of Hull City was memorable for another stunning goal for the collection from Luis Suárez but the latest intelligent, composed performance from Jordan Henderson should not be overlooked. The England international was deployed alongside Lucas Leiva in the absence of the injured Joe Allen and with Steven Gerrard returning from injury to the bench but maintained the creative, authoritative form he has shown consistently this season, to the detriment of his former manager at Sunderland, Steve Bruce. The Hull manager said: "I gave Jordan his debut and, when he first came here, I never had any doubts that he'd be a top player. He's got a huge desire to do well and I'm delighted that he is. He's looking every bit a £19m player at the minute and you have to ask if there are many better English midfield players than him right now." *Andy Hunter *
• Read the report: Liverpool 2-0 Hull City
*5) Moyes's manipulation of the facts smacks of Sir Alex*
There was a moment, as David Moyes went through all his grievances about Howard Webb's decision-making, when a journalist in the second row asked him whether he suspected the referee's clichéd reputation* as having Manchester United leanings might have made him reluctant to make a key decision in the club's favour. Moyes did not bite but it was about the only time he showed any restraint. The decision not to award a penalty for Hugo Lloris's challenge on Ashley Young – and send off the Tottenham goalkeeper – was "scandalous", he said. The yellow card for Adnan Janujaz's alleged dive was "terrible". He overlooked the fact that Januzaj might have contributed to his own problem by being a repeat offender and that Daniel Welbeck had got away with what looked suspiciously like a dive earlier in the match. Noticeably Moyes was not so keen either to reflect on the fact United have now lost four home games already this season, including three since the start of December, and are 11 points off the top. Instead he questioned whether Webb's employers should look at his performance and do something about it. It felt like a modified version of the old Sir Alex Ferguson diversion technique: create, or manipulate, the headlines, and try to shift the story elsewhere. Moyes had a legitimate grievance but it was pretty much the only subject he wanted to speak about afterwards and he ignored one key point. Blaming the referee is almost always a cop-out.
* That's three Manchester United games in a row that Howard Webb has refereed and they have lost. Time to drop a joke that wasn't very funny in the first place? *Daniel Taylor *
• Read the report: Manchester United 1-2 Tottenham
• Moyes says Lloris decision was 'scandalous'
• Jamie Jackson: Five talking points from Old Trafford
*6) Mata's misery doesn't matter to José*
Juan Mata's struggle to hold down a place in the Chelsea first team this season has been well documented yet, if there was ever a sign that there existed frustration on the player's side then it was apparent at St Mary's. After his substitution in the 53rd minute with the score goalless, Mata trudged to the bench where he hit a seat in anger. The Spaniard had, though, made little impact on the match while his replacement, Oscar, went on to play an integral part in the 3-0 victory. It seems remarkable that a player who excelled to such an extent last term could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge but José Mourinho admitted such a possibility could occur. "I want to keep him, I don't want him to go. That's my wish but my door is open and the club's door is open too," said Mourinho. *James Riach*
• Read the report: Southampton 0-3 Chelsea
*7) Pennant pays penalty for Stoke's misguided tactics *
Mark Hughes said his Stoke players showed the commitment and bravery he demanded of them by repeatedly putting their bodies on the line to deny Everton in the later stages of the game. This they did, with Erik Pieters in particular making several last-ditch blocks to protect the inexperienced Jack Butland in the Stoke goal. But should Stoke really have been playing that way, defending too deep, almost inviting Everton to come at them? With Peter Crouch as a target man Stoke should have been trying to hold the ball and play further up the pitch. Everton got their penalty in the end because they were virtually laying siege to the Stoke area. Perhaps replacing Jon Walters and Charlie Adam, who can both keep the ball and play through midfield, was not the best idea. Especially when Jermaine Pennant came on to offer an attacking outlet but ended up trying to make a tackle in his own penalty area. *Paul Wilson *
• Read the report: Stoke 1-1 Everton
*8) City's revolving midfield propels title charge*
Manchester City left the Liberty Stadium with three points but will feel they left behind a significant marker in the title race. It is the first time City have won back-to-back away league games under Manuel Pellegrini. They lie one point behind the leaders, Arsenal, in the title race and are many people's title favourites. Perhaps most ominous is their threat from all angles, as the club's revolving midfield provided goals from Fernandinho and another for Yaya Touré in the continuing absence of Sergio Agüero. *Samuel Rowntree *
• Read the report: Swansea City 2-3 Manchester City
*9) Is Cattermole worth the trouble?*
It is surely no coincidence that the squad revolt which saw off Paolo Di Canio came at the end of the weekend in which Lee Cattermole finally returned to Sunderland's first-team fold for a defeat at West Brom. Gus Poyet knows full well the part Cattermole played in his predecessor's downfall but has presumably attempted to play the combative midfielder along in the hope he can help avert relegation. Another performance like the one against Villa and such an awkward compromise will be dead in the water; anyone in any job can make a mistake but Cattermole's first-half performance against Villa – not just his part in the concession of Gabriel Agbonlahor's winner – was shocking. Small wonder Poyet withdrew him at half-time. It will be interesting to see how many more games Sunderland's New Year's Day captain plays this season. *Louise Taylor*
• Read the report: Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa
*10) West Brom indebted to Downing*
From the likeable Keith Downing's post-match press conference there was no sense of his protesting too much that he does not want the Albion manager's job on a full-time basis. The former Wolves midfielder will prepare West Brom for Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie against Crystal Palace but thereafter clearly hopes the Albion hierarchy make an appointment that will allow him to fade back into the supportive coaching role that for the time being at least he believes best suits him. Asked what he has done to change things around since taking over from Steve Clarke, Downing shook his head. "Nothing much. Just because I've won a game and not been beaten it doesn't make me the best coach in the world. The bottom line was try and galvanise the players, get them positive, get the right results and then for the new man to come in." Job most effectively done. Whoever is appointed will owe Downing a considerable debt. *Richard Rae*
*• *Read the report: West Brom 1-0 Newcastle Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.