As usual it was a good weekend for some, not so good for others.  Here's my take in the Monday Mash-Up:

Arsenal's title challenge is over - let me just start by getting that cleared up.  It's not that they lost to Stoke that is worrisome but HOW they lost to Stoke that is so worrisome.  And Robin van Persie - while your shove on Thomas Sorenson was hilarious and all, it perhaps provided the best evidence of all that Arsenal are no where NEAR ready to be champions.

Liverpool's loss to Tottenham does nothing to deter their title challenge though.  The Reds had enough chances to bury a host of different teams and it just wasn't their day.  With Torres coming back - they should be right there at the close.

Jozy Altidore came on in the 90th and scored his first European goal for Villarreal.  As someone who's met and chatted with Jozy a few times, I can't help but be happy for him.  He's a good guy and deserves the success he has worked so hard for.  They won 4-1 too.

Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl had a nice article Monday on something that will surprise no one - David Beckham has an 'out' clause in his LA Galaxy contract.  Wahl says Becks can ditch the Galaxy after the '09 season if he likes - a point MLS and Beck's reps have refused comment on.  I bet after the season he just endured he wishes the clause was moved up a year.

Speaking of MLS - with Toronto's season officially over, the hunt for a designated player should be top of the agenda of one Mo Johnston.  The question is who?  I keep hearing Dwayne DeRosario's name come up - and Houston might be willing to let him go.  But would he be worth what TFC would have to shell out?  I need your thoughts on this one because I'm not so sure.  One thing though - DeRo has shown he can still score goals....It's just the rate at which he scores that could be a BIG question - especially in Toronto - where it seems players have to LEAVE in order to get back to scoring goals (see Jeff Cunningham, Ronnie O'Brien).

And finally - Samuel Eto'o has again been the target of racist chanting at a league game in Spain.  When is FIFA going to make an example out of someone - seriously?  In this day and age for people to STILL be allowed (en masse) to engage in racist behaviour at a football match is appalling.  It also shows that perhaps we haven't come as far as we think.  As much as it will never happen this way - I'd LOVE to see FIFA impose a points deduction AND a stadium ban (10 games minimum) for incidents of racist behaviour.  Oh and in this same game - Leo Messi was caught spitting at Duda.  For that I'd be all for Messi being banned from all competitions for 15-games.  It's not racist but it is perhaps the most disgusting act one player can do to another - and should be punished as such.

Thoughts on all the above would be appreciated.