Arsene got one over Big Sam, Chelsea in a “didn’t score six” shocker, penalty duties come to Rooney’s rescue and help break his scoring duck, and Andy Carroll continues to show he’ll be a real menace in the Premier League this season. Here’s some notes on yesterday’s games….

Despite a physical away game at Ewood Park, Arsene Wenger dropped the aerial threat of Marouanne Chamakh to the bench, as the Moroccan made way for fit-again Robin Van Persie up front. Wenger kept with last season’s preferred 4-2-1-3 formation, suggesting Chamakh’s starts may be limited, taking his place in the queue behind Van Persie for the lone frontman role. With Theo Walcott continuing to show impressive form, the Arsenal line-up at Blackburn seems pretty much their first-choice XI. Van Persie’s 33rd minute ankle injury, however, could allow Chamakh further chance to establish himself in the starting XI, depending on scan results this upcoming week.

With the continually-impressive 18 year old Phil Jones now pretty much a first-team fixture , Sam Allardyce gave another youngster, Mame Diouf, his first Premier League start, and the on-loan Man Utd man continued his recent goalscoring form with his goal against the Gunners being the fourth this week, following a Carling Cup hat-trick. Diouf’s pace showed he can be utilised in wide areas, as well as through the middle.

Hold onto your hats ladies and gentlemen, the Saturday night reports look to be more than a little worrying for 34.8% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers right now.

The Daily Mail are reporting this evening that Wayne Rooney has stayed behind in Manchester this weekend with a stomach bug while his team-mates travel to London for their fixture with Fulham tomorrow afternoon.

We have no actual quotes from the manager, or anyone in the know at Manchester United, so this could all prove to be idle speculation. Given that Didier Drogba took his FPL points tally to 30 points in two games, there will be many managers out there cursing that they kept faith with the out of form United striker – not least my “boss” Mark who did just that.

If any more official and solid news comes through, we will report it you as and when it comes, but it looks like sleepless nights may be ahead for many managers right now. All we can do now is await the arrival of the United team bus at Craven Cottage tomorrow, and see if Rooney is with the traveling party.

Samir Nasri has gone under the knife for a a meniscal injury suffered in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Anfield. The Frenchman will be sidelined for a month according to Arsenal’s statement.

Nasri was employed in a central role up in support of lone striker Marouane Chamakh having made that position his own in Arsenal’s pre-season. He had shown fine form throughout the summer and with Cesc Fabregas rested following his World Cup exploits, Nasri had attracted almost 6% ownership in the Fantasy Premier League game. His owners now face major disappointment ahead of the “kind” weekend clash with Blackpool at the Emirates.

The news appears to make the return Fabregas for that game more likely. The Arsenal skipper missed Sunday’s game with a chest infection but if fit, the absence of Nasri will surely open the way for him to slot back into the midfield. Alternatively Wenger could go with two up front with Robin Van Persie perhaps given a role up with Chamakh.

We can only await further news with Wenger likely to give his usual press conference tomorrow.

Rio Ferdinand has been ruled out for at least another six weeks with his knee ligament injury, opening the way for an understudy to start the season alongside Nemanja Vidic.

The news came direct from Alex Ferguson himself as he gave an appraisal of United’s current crop of injuries prior to their next fixture in their US tour; United take on Kansas City this afternoon.

“Rio should be six weeks, maybe. It was a knee ligament injury and you’ve got to be careful with those.”

Ferdinand’s setback is just one of many prolonged absences through injury in recent seasons and these persistent problems have seen him slip in Fantasy terms from a highly sought after purchase, to a forgotten figure. His only significance to Fantasy Managers now revolves around his spells out which immediately present opportunities to cash in on a cheaper option in the United defence…

So Petr Cech is out for a month before a competitive ball has been kicked. The setback is typical of a player haunted by a constant battle with his body which appears to break down with alarming regularity but also sums up the lack of security that Fantasy Managers can find amongst Carlo Ancelotti’s celebrated back five.

That Chelsea defence was second only to United’s in terms of clean sheets last term and will likely be vying with them and perhaps Liverpool, for the same accolade in the coming season. Capitalising on this from a Fantasy perspective is far from easy however given that there are injury or rotation concerns over every leading candidate available…

Fernando Torres faces up to three weeks out following the abductor injury sustained in Sunday’s World Cup Final.

Liverpool have confirmed the “good” news this evening following the results of scans that took place in Spain on Tuesday. The official statement offers us this from their “Head of Sports Science and Medicine” Peter Brukner…

“The initial assessment was he had a mild adductor tear and the Spanish medial staff didn’t consider it to be too serious at the time…He had an MRI scan yesterday which confirmed a small tear. He should be able to resume training within two to three weeks and be able to play again within three to four weeks.”

Given this news it would appear that Torres will be available to Roy Hodgson for the season opener with Arsenal on August 15. He will however definitely sit out the two-legged Europa League qualifier on July 29 and August 5…