Weekend results prove era of the Big Four may be drawing to close

As things stand Aston Villa, with, let it be trumpeted the length and breadth of the land, 10 Englishmen in the team, scored four, and have insinuated themselves into fourth spot.

That leaves Martin O'Neill's side just one point behind Manchester United, who on their travels have netted only eight goals in as many matches. 

After Sunday's dour draw against West Ham, a game notable for little more than the terrific reception the home fans afforded to Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke, Chelsea have dropped 14 points at the Bridge, unprecedented in recent seasons.

The day before, Liverpool went two down at Anfield against Hull, and needed a bit of help from the ref to draw level. The sign in the players' tunnel, 'This is Anfield', that used to strike fear into the hearts of visitors, hasn't done so for many a long year now.

As for Arsenal, least said soonest mended.

They have already lost five times, and look well off the pace. Their goal difference is a mere nine, compared to Chelsea's 29, and it's hard to disagree with their former captain Patrick Vieira's assessment that no one is afraid of the Gunners any more. I appreciate this is the wrong point in the season to write off the Big Four and I'm not doing so. February and March are when their big squads literally and metaphorically kick in, and the chances must still be that the Big Four will reassert themselves then.

But, I suggest, it will be only after the sort of struggle unheard of in the recent past, especially since the only Premier League club with serious money to spend at the January sales is likely to be under-achieving Manchester City.

All the Big Four have cash concerns going forward that are bound to impact on the pitch.

Roman Abramovich appears to have shut his wallet and the Glazers' capacity to service the massive debts they have imposed on Manchester United without cuts on the playing side may be increasingly called into question

Meanwhile, Liverpool's American owners face a tough time with the Royal Bank of Scotland over renewing their £350million loan next month.

In match after match in the Premier League this season the minnows have refused to be swallowed by the sharks.

This has to be for the good of the game overall. Whether it points to any lasting change, however, remains to be seen.