Chelsea met expectation as they cruised to victory against Burnley on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.

A close range goal by Anelka on 45 minutes gave the home side a goal advantage. Drogba breaking down the right from a well-visioned through pass only had to knock it  back across the face of the goal for Anelka to touch the ball into the net.

Ballack made it two for the Blues after initial involvement from Anelka allowed Lampard to delightfully float the ball for the German to head home.

On 52 minutes, Burnley was made to pay again courtesy of Frank Lampard’s presence. Exchanged passes between the midfield man and Ashley Cole led to the latter striking past Brian Jensen to seal all 3 points.

Manchester United edged past Arsenal after an own goal by Abou Diaby broke the deadlock at one goal a piece. Arshavin scored for the travelling Gunners on 40 mins with one heck of  screamer. Things were levelled by Wayne Rooney when he made no mistake from the penalty spot subsequent to being brought down by Almunia.

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• Adebayor strike hands victory to blue side of Manchester over Wolverhampton Wanderers. [Read more at ESPNsoccernet.com]

• Sunderland beat Blackburn Rovers thanks to Kenwyne Jones double. [Read more at ESPNsoccernet.com]

• Arsenal continue rampat form against Porstmouth. [Read more in Find Futsal Malaysia reports ]

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• Birmingham and Stoke City Play Out Goalless Draw at St. Andrews. [Read more at ESPNsoccernet.com]

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Goals from Arsenal vs Portsmouth, 22 August 2009, Emirates Stadium.

Image from (AP Photo/PA, Sean Dempsey)

Portsmouth made it all too easy for Arsenal at the Emirates yesterday with the home side notching a comfortable 4-1 win.

Abou Diaby got the Gunners their first goal with a relatively simple finish past David James from an Eduardo cutback from the left.

Cesc Fabregas managed to get into the mix of things in Arsenal’s second goal as his craftily deployed lob landed perfectly in Eboue’s path, simplifying his pass into the penalty box for Diaby to net his second of the match.

On 37 minutes, Portsmouth managed to claw a goal back when Younes Kaboul rose highest to head home a Nadir Belhadj cross and hand his team a lifeline.

All hope evaporated for Portsmouth however when the home side claimed their 3rd goal on the evening. Arshavin’s freekick took touches from Van Persie, Vermaelen before being put in the back of the net by William Gallas.

But the Gunners were not done yet and had an appetite for more. On 68 minutes, Aaron Ramsey latched on to a brilliant through ball from Van Persie and increased Aresenal’s goal advantage.

Wenger was pleased with the showing and we’re sure we will all be looking forward to next week’s crucial clash between the Gunners and Manchester United.

Match highlights from yesterday’s match between the English Champions and Wigan Athletic.

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Woohoo. United were rampant in the second half in their fixture with Wigan away from home.

Rooney (2), Berbatov, Owen and Nani managed to colour the scoresheet with their names in what proved to be a resounding response to the loss against Burnley in midweek.

I was on the road during the first half so I couldn’t really comment on their performance but a friend noted that United were rather wasteful and Wigan were quick and dangerous on the counter-attack.

The 2nd half was a whole different story though. The lads didn’t exactly come out flying out of the gates, they patiently went along with a steady build-up play as Valencia looked to be more and more confident with the ball on the right flank.

Image from morethanthegames.co.uk/gettyimages

And it was the Ecuardorian’s cross from the same flank that got things started. in the  56th minute of the game. Rooney took United a goal up after connecting with Valencia’s perfectly weighted cross for goal number 100.

Image from soccernet.com

Berbatov was next in line, having a good game this time around and providing brilliant little touches for this teammates. His goal came only 2 minutes after United opener, his deft touch playing a role in his contribution, lifting the ball over Kirkland with feather-like touch and finishing off acrobatically.

Photo by AP Photo/Nick Potts

From a Berbatov pass in the 65th minute, Rooney added another to his tally after intelligent tight handling of the ball in the box although he was very much aided by a fortunate deflection off a Wigan defender and left Kirkland rather wrong-footed.

Image from telegraph.co.uk

Sir Alex Ferguson put United’s new no.7 in place of Rooney on 72 minutes and just 13 minutes later the Englishman scored his Manchester United Premier League debut goal. And a fine one it was. Nani running down the middle managed to detect Owen horizontally run across the Wigan penalty box and slid the ball into the stride of the United forward. Needing only a look and a touch, it was a stylish highlight to his debut goal.

Nani was on hand to round things off for the Red Devils in injury time. The Portuguese has been under constant fire from critics as being wasteful although possessing immense talent. And he didn’t waste this opportunity to silence critics by scoring from a dead ball situation, almost signalling his intent to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

Photo by AFP/Liu Jin

I have to say that it was a good match to have watched, especially the second half and what’s important is that with results like these so early in the season, it gives hope to fans all around and proves that there is indeed life after Ronaldo.

• Chelsea overcame Sunderland 3-1 after falling behind thanks to a first half Darren Bent goal. [Read more at ESPNsoccernet.com]

• Andrew Keogh’s 6th minute strike helped Wolverhampton beat Wigan at home. [Read more at ESPNsoccernet.com]

WEDNESDAY, 19 AUGUST 09

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• Liverpool back on track with 4 goals against Stoke City. [Read more at ESPNsoccernet.com]

• Late penalty gifts win to Birmingham against visitors Portsmouth. [Read more at ESPNsoccernet.com]