Premier League roundup: Glorious Gunners continue dominance as Cardiff enjoy derby day

Arsenal’s great start to the season continued with a fine display in their 2-0 victory over rivals Liverpool at the weekend. Cardiff City and Swansea City collided for the first time in the Premier League, with the Bluebirds coming out on top.

Arsene Wenger’s table-topping side overcame Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool with surprising ease in the Saturday evening clash at the Emirates. Arsenal’s play was slick and not even the might of SAS could stop what is becoming another fantastic side manufactured by Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners pressed well early on and a smart save from Simon Mingolet was the only thing standing in the way of the first goal for the home side. It took just 19 minutes for Arsenal to break Liverpool down, after Santi Cazorla pounced on a rebound to slot the ball cooly beyond Mignolet in the away goal.

Brendan Rodgers’ side were incensed when they were denied the opportunity to take a quick free-kick, which ended in a goal from Jordan Henderson, but play was bizarrely brought back by referee Martin Atkinson.

Both sides were looking to hit their opponents on the break and the likes of Luis Suárez and Mesut Özil were constant threats. But it was Arsenal who had the cutting edge, and the game looked beyond doubt when Aaron Ramsey fired home a sensational shot that had the outstretched Simon Mignolet flapping at air.

Daniel Sturridge and co had little response to that stunning goal and Arsenal ran out comfortable winners to take the gap at the top to five points.

Cardiff and Swansea met at the Cardiff City stadium on Sunday in what was the first Premier League encounter between the two Welsh clubs. The game had a sting and a bite and a solitary goal from former Swansea City player Steven Caulker was enough to bring glory to the team in red that are ironically nicknamed the Bluebirds.

Despite not grabbing the winning goal, Cardiff City may have found a new hero in Gary Medel. The South American’s performance was described as “almost perfect” by pundits and the tenacious midfielder embodied the hunger and  commitment Malky Mackay’s men needed to claim a famous victory over their rivals.

The decisive goal came in the 62^nd minute, Caulker rising highest to head home Craig Bellamy’s well-delivered corner. Celebrations were wild as the first ever all Welsh Premier League clash ended Cardiff City 1 Swansea 0.

Michel Vorm was sent off in the last minute after bringing down Fraizer Campbell to further dampen a bad day for Michael Laudrup and his team.

Thomas Bradley

Results

Arsenal 2 Liverpool 0
Cardiff 1 Swansea 0
Everton 0 Spurs 0
Fulham 1 Man Utd 3
Hull 1 Sunderland 0
Man City 7 Norwich 0
Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0
Stoke 1 Southampton 1
WBA 2 Crystal Palace 0
West Ham 0 Aston Villa 0