Two games yesterday may have decided the outcome of the Premier League – one of them could also have been a turning point for the manager of a once great Arsenal team.

Arsene Wenger substituted an inexperienced but highly creative and energetic Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Andrey Arshavin.

That decision was greeted by disbelief by a large section of the Arsenal faithful, who have regarded Wenger for such a long time as infallible, and by his own captain, the star player that is Robin van Persie.

Unfortunately, Arshavin was unable to block a Man U surge that resulted in the winning goal.

The irony being that most of the second half, Arsenal had a number of opportunities to kill the game.

Arsenal are still stylish when attacking, however they are weak at the back – something their great manager has failed to deal with.

And with their current position of fifth – out of the reckoning for a prized Champions League spot – could we just be seeing a contemplation of the unthinkable, the end of the long reign of Arsene Wenger?

As for the first game, Manchester City managed to defeat the surprise that is Tottenham Hotspurs under Harry Redknapp in a very unconvincing fashion.

Once again they were weak in the first half, and almost managed to convert a two goal lead into defeat had Germaine Defoe managed to get a boot onto a great cross from Gareth Bayle.

Eventually, Mario Balotelli – hero or villain take your pick – coolly placed a penalty kick into the back of the net to seal the deal for Roberto Mancini’s men.

City have carved-out results, even when they were not playing well.

United have not played well, but are still at number two.

Both say Spurs are still contenders, and on the evidence of this performance they may not be wrong.

That just leaves behind Chelsea and Arsenal.