A switched-on Manchester City, rapier Robin van Persie and Norwich's mental strength are all discussed in TEAMtalk's Premier League Picks.

On evenings throughout the 2011/12 season, TEAMtalk's writers are presenting their Premier League Picks - the special moments, star performers, stunning matches or shocking incidents from the day's action which we expect to dominate the headlines.

We'll be watching all the action unfold on the live TV feeds which are piped into TEAMtalk Towers from grounds up and down the country.

Once you've read through our choices, let us know your opinions by adding a Comment below.

Strong Ox, rapier Robin - now for Wearside

Works on the Victoria Line resulted in a depleted crowd at the Emirates (even if the official attendance was 59,643) but those Arsenal fans that stayed away will have regretted it as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - who continues to go from strength to strength - and hat-trick hero Robin van Persie (a staggering 22 Premier League goals so far this season) ruthlessly took apart Blackburn.

Going a man down on Gunners territory always means an exhausting afternoon, but Rovers were poor as well as overpowered. Radosav Petrovic in particular should be having nightmares about his inept display, and Scott Dann was little better. How the visitors missed Chris Samba, but with his future still uncertain, the Rovers faithful cannot even be sure he will return for the visit of QPR next weekend. Steve Kean's limited January transfer activity failed to suggest a charge up the table in the next few months and like it or not, he is intrinsically linked with the Venky's regime so will likely have to continue to bear as much criticism as the owners - despite David Dunn's protestations.

As for Arsenal, there was also much to admire in the attitude and application of Tomas Rosicky (even if he was lucky to escape a booking, let alone a red card, for his tackle on Jason Lowe). The Czech has been much maligned in recent years but his display proved Arsene Wenger was right to rest Aaron Ramsey on Saturday - and it's not often the Gunners boss has been praised for his attacking-midfield selections of late (Chamberlain aside). On this form, Arsenal can certainly seize fourth, but RvP and the Ox need their defence to be sturdier at places at Sunderland (next on the fixture list) if they are to finish above their rivals. Even if Rovers' goal counted for little in the end, Laurent Koscielny's clumsy challenge on the edge of the box emphasised where they must brush up. Jon Holmes

Lucky Latics look for a turning point

It's often said that luck is against you when you're fighting for your lives at the foot of the table, but Wigan certainly couldn't complain about the absence of Lady Luck on Saturday afternoon.

Phil Neville will in fairness blame anyone but himself for his own goal opener at the DW Stadium on Saturday, with a combination of Tim Howard, a curious spin on the ball and a strange divet all playing their part in one of the weirdest goals of this or any season.

Unfortunately for Latics, they couldn't hold on for all three points as Everton hit back through Victor Anichebe to leave their hosts five points adrift of safety. If you can't win when you get lucky, then you can't hold much hope when things are going against you and it looks as though the sands of time are running out on Wigan's Premier League adventure. James Marshment

Wolves fans must enjoy dances while they can

Congratulations to Wolves - and especially Mick McCarthy - on what will have been a cherished victory over QPR, but relief rather than satisfaction will surely be the feeling among most of the visiting fans after the Loftus Road clash.

QPR were playing some excellent football (witness the slick interplay between Djibril Cisse, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Bobby Zamora that lead to the hosts' opener) before Cisse lost his head and decided to go for the jugular on Roger Johnson's throat, rather than the Wolves goal.

It's a genuine shame for the Premier League that the Frenchman will now be banned for three games as he's reminded us in a very short time with Rangers that he's still a crowd-pleaser. After his dismissal, the QPR reshuffle appeared only to allow Matt Jarvis and Kevin Doyle the time and space they needed to do some serious damage, but this was exactly the kind of encouraging result that Wolves needed and was a hark-back to the start of the season - a fight back from a goal down to win, just like they did at Blackburn back in August. Wolves have been crying out for an imposing presence in the rearguard like Sebastien Bassong, and Wayne Hennessey will have been glad of the extra protection.

Next weekend should therefore be a good time to play West Brom in the Black Country derby, although Albion look much better away from home at the moment. At least you can guarantee Mick won't stand for any complacency at Compton Park in the build-up to that one... JH

Norwich show their mental strength

Norwich overcame the loss of their two central defenders to beat Bolton 2-0 and the victory showed the mental strength of Paul Lambert's side. Daniel Ayala and Zak Whitbread both went off with hamstring problems in the first half on a cold afternoon at Carrow Road. Russell Martin and Elliott Bennett came on and City just got on with it as they bounced back from their midweek defeat at Sunderland.

Goals from Andrew Surman and Anthony Pilkington earned City the victory and they are now ninth in the table with a very respectable 32 points. Another eight points and Norwich will reach the golden 40-point mark that pretty much guarantees Premier League safety.

Lambert has moulded a squad where every player is pulling in the same direction and he surely has to be a contender for Manager of the Season. Sam Nightingale

Cats purring under magic Martin

The inclement weather was certainly felt around the country on Saturday, and Tony Pulis' Stoke were no different. His team froze under the pressure at the Britannia Stadium as the Premier League's in-form team, Sunderland, looked under no real threat during their 1-0 victory.

Since Martin O'Neill's installation as the Wearsiders manager, Sunderland have amassed 22 points from a possible 30 - more than any other club during the same period. With the emergence of supreme talents Stephane Sessegnon and goalscorer James McClean among others, O'Neill most certainly has the Black Cats purring.

The question now has to be - when will O'Neill's charges be considered as genuine Europa League qualification material?

And more to the point - how does Brendan Rodgers, despite his excellent work as Swansea manager, get the nod as January Manager of the Month ahead of the Sunderland boss? O'Neill has turned around the Cats' fortunes in such a short space of time, and they surely deserve much more recognition and respect.

While their close rivals Newcastle have been the Premier League's surprise package with their impressive performances so far this season, Sunderland may soon arrive to crash the top-six party at their expense.

Who'd bet against it following the incredible turnaround at the club? Certainly not me, especially considering they have the luck of the Irish in their manager. Matt Stead

Gylfi the main man for Swans

On-loan midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson inspired Swansea to a 2-1 victory at West Bromwich Albion and he looks to be one of the signings of the winter transfer window. Sigurdsson arrived from Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim last month until the end of the season and scored City's equaliser before setting up the winner for Danny Graham.

The Iceland star worked with Swans boss Brendan Rodgers at Reading and after this performance, he could well have earned a permanent move to the Liberty Stadium in the summer. SN

City slickers look in the mood again

A sizeable reason behind the golden era of success that Manchester United have enjoyed under Sir Alex Ferguson has been his side's ability to bounce back in the face of adversity.

After strong start to the season, City have not had things all their own way in recent weeks with suspensions to key players Vincent Kompany and Mario Balotelli coupled with the loss of African Nations Cup duty Kolo and Yaya Toure. Add into the mix their 1-0 reverse at Everton on Tuesday and the double cup elimination that preceded it, and it'd be easy to see City feeling a little sorry for themselves.

But as everyone's favourite 80s singer (?) Billy Ocean once sang, 'When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going' - and that's exactly what City did on Saturday evening with a mean, menacing and thoroughly-determined display that simply swatted toothless Fulham aside.

We're just about entering the business-end of the season now and if City can repeat this gritty and switched-on performance from here on in, the title could yet be wrestled from Fergie's grasp. JM

Let us know your thoughts on Saturday's action by posting a comment below.