Manchester United 1-0 Newcastle; Berbatov back on form, and Scholes as strong as ever.

With five minutes remaining, this game was capped by a golden moment of Manchester United brilliance. As Paul Scholes picked up the ball on the edge of the box, Ryan Giggs came surging into the view down the left side of the field. Maybe he has eyes in the back of his head, or maybe it was just that he'd done it a million times before, but Scholes' pass to Giggs seemed instantaneous - played almost before he even entered his line of vision, as if he was expecting it. Giggs' finish was standard and the pair looked as young as they did when they were making the same plays fifteen years ago. Scholes received man of the match, and was doubtless our most solid player.
As for the rest of the team, I'd be amiss if I didn't mention how much Dimitar Berbatov impressed me. Who'd have thought after last season with Rooney being the star of the Premiership, amid rumours of an £80m move to Real Madrid, that the 2010 season would start with Berbatov starring the United lineup and Rooney looking like a player afraid to shoot?! These, for me, are the two main talking points for United at the moment. On the one hand, there is a temporary demise of the great Wayne Rooney, looking almost unable to score - yet luckily, at the same time, Berbatov seems to be undergoing a surprise resurgence. As for Rooney, I'm not a believer in the whole "he's still not fit" cry that I've been hearing. He had an injury, he came back too early, and it came back; but any injury he once had shows no sign prevailing. All that remains is a total lack of confidence and self belief which he's struggling to get over and I'm starting to worry what it's going to take to get him back again.
Overall though, it was a solid performance from United. As for Newcastle, I can see them struggling this year and I'm not so confident that they can stay up. Berbatov missed a couple of chances late on that would have made 5-0 and after the first goal Newcastle never posed a threat. The fact that eight players remain from their relegated 11-man line up two years ago isn't a positive fact either. And moreover, one of the more recognisable names in their squad - former star Alan Smith - is still yet to score a goal since moving from United in 2007. I know you could argue that he's played a central midfield role since moving from United, but take any good United forward, turn them into a midfielder and make them play in the championship for a year after two years in the Premiership: chances are they'll have gotten at least a few goals...
The premiership is undoubtedly better with Newcastle in it, but if they're to stay up, they've got a tough task ahead.

Joe Cole is devastated - and he's a nice guy. Reason enough to rescind a red card?

All in all, Arsenal dominated most of the second half, and would have been unlucky not to have gotten something out of the game. Liverpool's major achievement, I feel, was their stellar defending. Maybe it was some tactical genius by Roy Hodgson, but Liverpool completely had Arsenal's number throughout the second half and rarely gave them a chance to shoot or even get in the box. This much Liverpool can take from game.
As for the Joe Cole tackle, I don't care whether people are saying there was contact or not or citing the fact that Kolscielny came back out fighting fit for the second half after making a meal of the challenge before half time, the decision is simple: was it reckless? Yes. Did he intend to? Did he mean to hurt Kolsciely? It doesn't matter. Hodgson knows this, he's an intelligent fellow, and coming out with ridiculous comments like "He's not the kind to hurt opponents" and "he's never been sent off" makes him sound stupid. None of this matters. And if we're to go along those lines then I'll bring up what I thought when I heard such an opinion voiced: if that was Robbie Savage, there would be no discussion. End of.
So with one minute left, Reina drops the ball into his net and it ends 1-1 but little needs to be said about that. Fine, Liverpool dropped points with minutes remaining, but that's football - and as Andy Gray cleverly pointed out in slow motion, the sun was in his eyes! Thanks Andy.
The bottom line is that I can't see either one of these teams mounting a title run right now. Liverpool looked pretty solid at the back though and look safe for a top six finish if nothing more. And in all honesty, they were a lot better than I'd expected. And as for Arsenal, well the sooner they get their goalkeeping situation sorted out, the better...