Gallas markets his book on enemy ground and thoughts from MLS Cup

William Gallas (right) took it to Salomon Kalou and his old team as Arsenal shocked Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Clive Mason/Getty Images The Limey's Mailbag Keep the banter flowing to The Limey. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

LAS VEGAS -- Coming at you with a bucket of hot wings and a, ahem, perfect view at Hooters, it's the Limey. Half of Team Limey is halfway through its American vacation, and this week we've got an exclusive interview with New York Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio, an English perspective on MLS Cup and all the latest English Premier League goings-on.

The action in the EPL was furious this past weekend, with some surprise results having a big effect on the standings. Arsenal approached last Sunday's Big Four matchup with Chelsea still reeling from the aftershock of Gallas-gate. After losing the captaincy and $280,000 in wages, William Gallas' frenzied marketing exercise for his new book, Case for the Defense, moved from slamming his own teammates to a past employer in West London.

Gallas described his last days at Chelsea as "a living hell," and rubbished the claims of his former boss José Mourinho that he was willing to score an own-goal in order to engineer a move from the club. "They ignored the truth," wrote the Frenchman. "For them, I was a player who would score an own-goal. Who cared if I'd given them five years of my life, my passion, a Premier League title to share."

All of this stoked the fire nicely for Gallas' return to Stamford Bridge for a match Arsenal couldn't afford to lose if it was to hang onto its already threadbare title hopes. Chelsea dominated the early exchanges and its pressure finally paid off in the 31st minute as José Bosingwa, the only player who seemed capable of providing any width for the Blues, sent in a dangerous cross that Arsenal center back Johan Djourou turned into his own net.

Except for the own-goal, the Swiss youngster was having perhaps his best game so far in an Arsenal shirt, as he and enemy No. 1 Gallas repelled Chelsea's aerial threat, an area in which the Gunners have been guilty of being exposed in on numerous occasions this season.

Chelsea's stranglehold on the game evaporated in the 59th minute when Dutchman Robin van Persie drilled home an equalizer from what appeared to be an offside position. Chelsea has been criticized this season for lacking a plan B, and that was evident as Arsenal took control. In the 62 minute, van Persie cleverly turned and shot into the bottom corner of Petr Cech's net to win the game for the North Londoners.

After the match, Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari was left fuming and in need of spiritual forgiveness from referee Mike Dean over van Persie's first goal. "Offside killed my team," said the Brazilian. "They are not God. They made a mistake and I understand. I don't want three points, I just want 'sorry.'"

Chelsea has now lost at home to both Arsenal and Liverpool, and drawn with Manchester United, the worst record of a "Big Four" team against its own ranks. The honeymoon period for Scolari appears to be over. In contrast, Arsenal sits on top of the Big Four mini-league thanks to wins over Chelsea and Man. United. And after the Chelsea match, Arsène Wenger was in festive spirits, cracking open the mulled wine and drawing up his Christmas wish list. At the top is apparently a book by a certain Monsieur Gallas. "Frankly, I don't read many but I will read this one," Wenger said. "It's on my Christmas list!"

Chelsea's defeat left Liverpool with a golden opportunity to open up some space at the top of the table in Monday's match with West Ham. A resolute Hammers defense frustrated the Reds, and although a 0-0 draw and the point that came with it put Liverpool on top of the EPL, it wasn't the return Rafa Benítez or his players were after.

Meanwhile up north, Man. United consolidated third place with a hard-fought 1-0 win at rival Manchester City. City manager Mark Hughes only had himself to blame though as his team's first-half roster was a perfect example of how to gift your opponent midfield domination. Didi Hamman, in front of the excellent central defensive partnership of Vincent Kompany and Richard Dunne, was dislocated from the main four-man midfield, as was lone striker Benjani Mwaruwari who, without significant support, simply didn't have the pace or creativity to trouble Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic.

Similarly, the four-man midfield of Robinho, Stephen Ireland, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Darius Vassell lacked strength, bite and the ability to win the ball and control play. Ireland has been world-class this season, but with three wingers as support, he looked a lost lad as United's Michael Carrick dominated the engine room.

When Wayne Rooney tucked away his 100th club goal shortly before halftime, it was no more than United deserved. Even though the Red Devils created few real chances, they dominated first-half play. City's halftime substitutions of Kompany for Hamman and especially Elano for Vassell created the midfield linkages that brought the home team back into the match and the second half was played on level terms. Indeed, when Cristiano Ronaldo received his second yellow for inexplicably handling the ball in City's penalty area, it looked feasible that the Citizens would rescue the game. They were, however, unable to find another gear, and United held on for the 1-0 win.