Matchday 12 saw a number of standout performances with a number of teams pushing above their weight while we saw two teams swap places at the top of the table. Chelsea carried on their ominous run with a narrow 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, thus notching up their 6th win and clean sheet in succession. The stand-out fixture of the week was a disappointment of sorts with Arsenal failing to turn up and had to rely on Giroud calling on his new super-sub superpower to rescue a point for the Gunners. City moved level with Liverpool after a hard-fought win over Crystal Palace. While Sunderland continued their mini-revival with a resounding 3-0 win over Hull City, Leicester’s downfall continued with another loss.
Let us take a brief look at the 3 strikers who stood out this week.
VICTOR ANICHEBE (SUNDERLAND)
The Nigerian burst onto the radar after a brace against Hull City propelled Sunderland off the foot of the Premier League table. His minutes have been curbed due to injury and his return couldn’t have come sooner for the battered and bruised Black Cats. Sunderland had only Defoe as their experienced attacking option and with Borini also nearing a return, they suddenly look well-armed to try and climb back up the steep Premier League table. The virtual 6-pointer was one-sided and Sunderland need all the positivity they can garner right now.
HARRY KANE (TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR)
The Hurricane is back and how. A late and match-winning brace in the London Derby against West Ham United saw Kane get back into much-needed rhythm. Although he had scored on his comeback against Arsenal, he looked off the pace and was laboured in his play.
The rest in the International break seems to have done him a world of good and Tottenham’s goal-shy days seem to have come to an end. Kane is a vital cog in their solid set-up and it is his goals which make the Lilywhites click. 3 goals in 2 matches for Kane and suddenly thinks are looking good for Spurs.
OLIVIER GIROUD (ARSENAL)
The new super-sub in the Premier League. But it is evident he isn’t too happy with this tag recently associated with him. He wants to start for Arsenal and on recent evidence, he might well do so in the next match. Sanchez has looked laboured in the last couple of matches and it is high time the free-scoring Giroud is afforded another chance to impress. He scored with his first two touches against Sunderland to win the match while he came off the bench to equalise against United to salvage a point for the embarrassingly lacklustre Gunners.
