Record Day In The Premiership

Yesterday saw 36 goals in just eight Premiership games, a record amount on any one day in the Premiership. You know you're in for a treat when the weekend opener supplies six goals in possibly the coldest day of the year so far. The lunchtime kick-off was at Villa Park as Aston Villa hosted Arsenal, like last week Arsenal had a chance of going top with a win. In truth, it should have been all over in the first half as Villa didn't turn up and Arsenal took full advantage. It took 39 minutes before Arsenal finally broke the fragile defence with Arshavin scoring a delightful solo goal. They went in at half-time 2-0 ahead, although it could have been double that, Samir Nasri volleyed from a corner on the edge of the box to give Arsenal their second. Villa did emerge in the second half and it looked like a spot of deja vu for Arsenal when Ciaran Clark pulled one back for Villa just seven minutes from the restart. With the momentum Villa built up a head of steam but were caught by a sucker punch when Chamakh made it 3-1 just four minutes later. Villa still came back fighting and pulled another goal back when Dunne flicked a header from a corner onto the head of Ciaran Clark to get his second senior goal for Villa, with twenty minutes left on the clock. Villa couldn't find that elusive equaliser and Arsenal made sure of the points when Wilshere netted in injury time to put Arsenal top of the league.

In response to Arsenal's win, Manchester United sent out a statement with a 7-1 win over Blackburn to regain first place. Berbatov became only the fourth player in the Premiership to score five goals in a game and nearly hit the Premiership's first double hat-trick. The Bulgarian's first came just after the first minute before Park netted the second after 23 minutes. Berbatov grabbed his second just four minutes later as United went in at half-time 3-0 ahead. It took just two minutes into the second half for Berbatov to score his second hat-trick of the season and Nani added United's fifth a minute later. Berbatov's final two goals were scored within eight minutes of each other, after the 62nd and the 7oth minute. United failed to keep a clean sheet as Samba scored the smallest consolation seven minutes from time.

Bolton came from 2-0 behind to draw 2-2 at home to Blackpool. The Tangerines took the lead after 28 minutes when Ian Evatt scored his first Premiership goal. The in form Luke Varney doubled Blackpool's lead twelve minutes into the second half. However Blackpool's failure to keep clean sheets meant Bolton had a chance when substitute Martin Petrov pulled one back after 76 minutes. Then one of the best team goals of the season just before injury time meant that Bolton earned a point after Mark Davies rounded the move off.

There four goals, two red cards and an own goal as West Brom surprisingly beat Everton 4-1 at Goodison. Paul Scharner scored his first goal for West Brom after sixteen minutes to give the Baggies the lead. Chris Brunt scored a wonderful free-kick to double West Brom's lead tow minutes before the half hour mark. Tim Cahill scored another header three minutes before half-time to give Everton a decent chance in the second half. However Mikel Arteta was sent off thirteen minutes after the restart for stamping on Gonzalo Jara. West Brom took full advantage as Somen Tchoyi made it 3-1 after 76 minutes. A Sylvain Distin own goal ensured all three points for West Brom three minutes before the end. But there was still enough time for Yousuff Mulumbu to receive a second yellow card just two minutes later to level the team numbers.

Craven Cottage and The Britannia let the side down as both saw a 1-1 draw. Sebastien Larsson finished off a great Alexander Hleb run after twenty minutes to give the Birmingham the lead at Fulham. But Clint Dempsey earned Mark Hughes' side a point eight minutes into the second half. Stoke were much the better team in their game but it was visitors Manchester City who went in front after Micah Richards scored a striker's goal with nine minutes remaining. But a audacious back heel from Tuncay put Etherington one-on-one with Joe Hart and Stoke weren't going to be denied a point.

It's only November but the game between West Ham and Wigan was played as 'Save Our Season' day. Returning Valon Behrami put the Hammers ahead with nine minutes remaining of the first half. Victor Obinna then doubled the score eleven minutes into the second half in front of the celebrating Paolo Di Canio. Wigan had a chance to pull one back but Mauro Boselli took a poor penalty and it was easily saved by Rob Green. Scott Parker put the game beyond all doubt after 75 minutes but Wigan pulled one back when their best player of the game Tom Cleverley scored in the final five minutes.

The final five goals were at Molineux where Wolves beat Sunderland 3-2 in a very topsy turvy affair. All five goals were scored in the second half with Foley breaking the deadlock five minutes after the restart to give Wolves the lead. Darren Bent equalised for Sunderland after 67 minutes before Danny Welbeck gave Sunderland the lead ten minutes later. Stephen Hunt equalised for Wolves with nine minutes remaining before Sylvan Ebanks-Blake won the game just before injury time.