PREMIERSHIP REVIEW
A bit like Manchester United being written off in certain quarters, Paolo di Canio has also had his critics of late but, just like United, he showed his true class to inspire a magnificent and much-needed win for the Hammers, their first of the season.
After Jermaine Defoe had cancelled out Jimmy Floyd Hasselbainks 21st minute penalty, his first in the Premier this season, di Canio took centre stage and struck a late winner after earlier scoring a contender for goal of the season.
The Italians deadly double helped ease the pressure on West Ham boss Glenn Roeder who said of his mercurial match winner: "Everyone at West Ham loves him - and he loves the place as well. This is the longest hes stayed at any club in his career. We all recognise the talent hes got and the players have great expectancy in his ability.
"What a time for him to score two goals the way he did. He even tried to make the first one difficult by having another touch and popping it up in the air to hit! That was his fourth game in four months, but look at the amount of ground he covered.
"Hes the ultimate professional in the way he trains, so theres more to him than the touch of genius we know he has."
About result, Roeder added: "This was a very important game for the club, for myself, the players and the fans because we are all in this together. If wed got nothing from the game it would have been terrible."
Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri said: "We played for only 20 minutes in the second half. West Ham wanted to win the game more. They wanted to fight, to suffer to get the win. We didnt."
EVERTON 2 FULHAM 0
Instead of talking about the win which elevates Everton to ninth place, most of the post-match gossip was about the late touchline melee which marred a hard fought, but healthy Premiership encounter.
Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar raced from his line to become involved in the pushing and shoving that followed a clash between Andy Melville and Kevin Campbell which resulted in both players being booked by referee Steve Dunn as all hell threatened to break loose.
Everton boss David Moyes wasnt happy with the Dutch keepers involvement and said: "There really hadnt been anything like that in the game. I felt Kevin was kicked and for whatever reason their players felt Kevin was play acting and before you know it theres a lot of players involved over something that was really nothing at all.
"Then when it got settled down their goalkeeper comes rushing out to get involved. That is the one I would question, because he actually came out to try to get one of our players sent off and thats what disappointed me. Why he ran out after the whole situation had been diluted and gone away Ive no idea.?"
As for the game, Moyes added: "That was a good win and a good performance. Its the players who should be talking, not me. Theyre the ones who did the job. It was a good, professional job too."
Fulham boss Jean Tigana was not so impressed with his mob, saying: "I am disappointed. We had a good start and created some terrific chances but didnt take them. That little period before the break killed us and we did not recover."
LEEDS 1 ARSENAL 4
This was Arsenal at their irresistible best and even the most eloquent of footballer followers and writers would run out of superlatives to describe the Gunners after goals by Kanu (2), Toure and Henry destroyed Leeds whose only bright spot was Harry Kewells 84th minute consolation goal. Some consolation.
So who better to describe a sublime Arsenal performance than the educated Arsene Wenger who was asked how close that was to perfection. He said: "Perfection? Its difficult to say. We want to get nearer and nearer, but what is very positive is that a champion always tries to improve and my players have this kind of attitude.
"They try to improve their game, their collective, their team play and they managed to do it with an outstanding spirit. Its one of the top performances I have seen during my six years with the club. It was just outstanding and a pleasure to watch.
"The fact the team got the man of the match award was a good indication of what it was like. We played like a real team, with crisp passing, good defending, always composed and calm on the ball and dangerous every time we went forward. After the way we played on Wednesday and again today, I just want to congratulate the team because it was just marvellous."
Wenger maintains that Arsenal can still go through the whole season unbeaten, and Leeds boss Terry Venables was in no mood to contest the Frenchmans outrageous belief.
"We were well beaten today, no doubt about that, by a much better side," commented Venables. "We found it very difficult to get to grips with them and they were just too good for us on the day.
"Thats the second time Ive seen them this week (he saw them in Eindhoven) and it wasnt very enjoyable - the first time was. On the evidence of that performance theres no reason why they cant go through the season unbeaten."
About his own team, Venables added: "Its important for us not to lose our heads. Ive said that maybe trying to change things for what I think is best for the team in the long run is my fault. That would be laid at my feet. Ive got to re-think and see where we go from here."
