The Best....

Only seven games into the season and Wigan have already experienced some incredible swings in performances and results. Saturday was certainly one of the highs when they put previously unbeaten Chelsea to the sword.

A couple of weeks ago Vito Mannone had to pick the ball out of his own net twice in the first four minutes of Arsenal’s Champions League game away to Standard Liege. But since then the young Italian keeper has turned back all comers. On Saturday he was the difference between a three points for Arsenal and possibly none at all. He pulled off a handful of excellent saves that left Fulham frustrated.   

Louis Saha goal against Portsmouth was a great example of lethal finishing. Saha took a long pass down – it looked as if it was with his cheek – and in one flowing motion he sent the ball past David James in the Portsmouth goal.  

Fredy Montero’s opener for Seattle against New England Revolution was spectacular. Over twenty five yards out and wide on the right side the young Colombian’s effort left Matt Reis rooted to the spot.

Honorable mentions

Fernando Torres – eight goals so far and he is red hot.

This is a difficult one. Was Pat McCourt’s solo run and goal against St. Mirren a piece of magic or atrocious statuesque defending? The benefit of the doubt is given to the former.

Two impressive performances from promoted clubs in Serie A. Bologna stuck to the task and took advantage of a lapse in Juventus concentration to grab a very late equalizer. Bari was unlucky not to take all three points from a trip to the San Siro.

Best forgotten…..

Calen Carr had what must be one of the worst misses of the season in the final seconds of the Chicago Fire’s match against Toronto FC. With the game tied at 2-2 Patrick Nyarko fed the ball across the face of the TFC goal and a sliding Carr managed to miss from less than a yard with the goal at his absolute mercy.

Stat facts…..

Antonio di Natale has scored eight of Udinese’s nine Serie A goals.  

Rangers have not scored for 293 minutes in SPL and have recorded three consecutive 0-0 draws against Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen. The draw also means that Aberdeen have not won at Ibrox since 1991.  

Didier Drogba scored in a losing cause against Wigan but still became the ninth player to reach the 100 goal mark for Chelsea.

With four goals against Burnley on Saturday Robbie Keane became the 16th player to achieve such a feat in a Premier League match.

Xerez is five games into the Liga season and are still winless and scoreless. One 0-0 draw is all they can claim to so far.

Sampdoria’s win was their first since the 1998/99 season against Inter. It was means that Samp boss Luigi Del Neri has gotten the better of Jose Mourinho for a second straight season. He was in charge of Atalanta last season when Inter lost 3-1.

Wigan had never beaten one of the “big four” in 34 Premier League games but final broke their duck when they beat Chelsea on Saturday 3-1.

Two weeks ago Bolton finally recorded their first away win of 2009 when they beat Portsmouth 3-2. A 2-1 win away to Birmingham made it two-in-a-row.

It was the first time in over a decade that Sunderland scored five goals in a Premier League game. Prior to Sunday the last last time Sunderland went nap was in September 1999 when they beat Derby County 5-0.

What was said….

Gabriele Marcotti contributes a piece on UEFA President Michel Platini.

Whatever happened to Francis Jeffers?

Adidas and Puma bury hatchet after more than 60 years

The Daily Telegraph asks if this is the most exciting Premier League season ever when the question should be is the most exciting start to a Premier League season.

Some shenanigans going on in Bulgaria.

Patrick Barclay pulls no punches on the roots of the game. When you see a reference to a "bitter Scotsman" in the comments section then you know the truth has hit home.

Coming up this week…..

Here are this week’s Champions League and Europa League fixtures.

There are also CONCACAF Champions League matches on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The group stage of the FIFA 2009 Under-20 World Cup continues.

In MLS FC Dallas is at home to the New England Revolution on Wednesday.