Premiership Weekend Roundup: December 17-18

Aston Villa 0 - 2 Manchester United
I didn't think this was the most commanding display by United, frankly. But Villa didn't offer much of a challenge, either, and United definitely deserved the result. Wayne Rooney was fantastic as usual. Now if only they could get the midfield sorted out. Yes, Darren Fletcher had a decent game for once, but you can't expect that to be more than a fluke.

West Ham 2 - 4 Newcastle
See, this is why Michael Owen is worth umpteen gazillion pounds. West Ham may have been the more dangerous team in the first half, but you let him anywhere near the goal and Owen is deadly -- even if one of the goals in his hat-trick came off his ear. West Ham, on the other hand, had their two come from an own-goal and a penalty -- somewhat unlucky not to have scored more, considering the continuing dismal state of the Newcastle defence (just imagine how much worse they'd be without Shay Given in net).

Manchester City 4 - 1 Birmingham
Yeah, ok, as a United fan I'm supposed to cheer against City. It was a fun game to watch, although mostly to see how many different ways the commentators could find to say "Wow, Birmingham suck." Rough game for the Birmingham keeper, especially, who was their only player who was any use, and didn't deserve the second yellow card that led to him being sent off at the end.

Arsenal 0 - 2 Chelsea
The first time in my life that I've ever cheered for Arsenal, and this is the thanks I get? Bah. I do think the win for Chelsea was a fair result, considering the balance of play in the game. But Robin van Persie's goal was no more offside than Arjen Robben's was, and that might have completely changed things around. Robben (the oldest-looking 21-year-old ever) was probably Chelsea's most dangerous player -- or Michael Essien, depending on how you look at it. Didier Drogba, meanwhile, seemed to think a striker's job was not to score goals but to bitch incessantly at the referee. I suppose he's learned from his manager how to be a gracious winner.

Other results
Everton 0 - 4 Bolton
Fulham 2 - 1 Blackburn
Portsmouth 1 - 0 West Brom
Wigan 3 - 0 Charlton
Middlesbrough 3 - 3 Tottenham