• Premier League Plays of the Day

Plays of the Day: Arteta's injury taking the Mikel

ESPN staff
April 21, 2012
Laurent Koscielny: More dangerous than Lionel Messi? © PA Photos
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Missing Mikel
The news that Mikel Arteta has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury is likely to be a real cause for concern for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. Since his arrival at Emirates Stadium at the end of August, Arteta has played a key role in the Gunners' season. Indeed, Arsenal have not won a league match without him. Imagine if he hadn't signed for the club...

Haven't got a Kalou
In the wake of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final first-leg win over Barcelona, when Didier Drogba spent about as much time on the floor as he did on his feet, diving was the word on everyone's lips. Speaking to Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo after the match against Arsenal, Sky Sports reporter Geoff Shreeves asked the Italian if he was impressed with Salomon Kalou for staying on his feet in the box after coming under pressure from Bacary Sagna. Cue a clip of Kalou, who nipped past Sagna before diving spectacularly to the turf. If that's staying on your feet, we may have found the root of the diving problem.

A rich man's Messi
It was worth noting at Emirates Stadium that Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny came within a whisker of netting a winner against Chelsea, sending a header against the bar. Koscielny has not always looked the most stable of players with a football, scoring a brilliant own goal at Anfield earlier in the campaign, but on Saturday he came closer than Lionel Messi managed to breaking the Chelsea rearguard. A swap deal beckons.

A new Toon idol
Remember the slightly rotund, moustachioed figure of former striker Mick Quinn? He was something of a hero at Newcastle, playing over 100 league games for the club, but now one of his records has been equalled by the new Magpies No. 9. Papiss Cisse netted his 11th goal since his January arrival against Stoke, matching Quinn's Premier League record of 11 in his first 10 matches.

A pickle for Pulis
The next time Tony Pulis decides not to bother in a big European game against Valencia, he might want to remind himself that he'll never know how long it will be before Stoke return to such an arena. Certainly if half-time scores are anything to go by this season, the Potters are lucky to even be assured of their Premier League status. If all games in the top flight had finished after 45 minutes this season, Stoke would be 19th ahead of Wolves.

Goals of the day
Two close contenders from Scott Sinclair and Junior Hoilett for the goal of the day prize. Both men cut in from the flank, both aimed for the far top corner, and both hit their target in fantastic style. Excellent efforts from the Swansea and Blackburn stars.

Officially a problem
It was hard to know what deserved more criticism at Aston Villa, Nicklas Bendtner's awful individual performance or the linesman's decision to disallow the striker's second-half goal. Bendtner's contribution was barely worthy of mention as Sunderland secured a 0-0 draw, but he was clearly onside when he netted - lifting his rating from a 2 out of 10 to 2.5.

Home Sweet Home
No wonder Craig Gardner complains of homesickness at Sunderland. Clearly he has a keen love of the Midlands, where he returned on Saturday to get sent off against former club Aston Villa. All four of Gardner's Premier League red cards have come in the city of Birmingham, imagine how many more he could have if he was granted his wish to return home.

A record not good enough for Wembley
Brad Friedel appeared in his 300th consecutive Premier League appearance as Tottenham took on QPR in Saturday's late game, the longest run in the history of the competition. Clearly loyalty is nothing to Harry Redknapp though, who decided to stick with his "cup keeper" Carlo Cudicini for the recent Wembley encounter with Chelsea.

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