Not a lot surprises me in the world of football anymore. But I have to admit that Ben Thatcher's challenge on Pedro Mendes last week left me shocked and stunned.

The Manchester City player has always been a tough-tackling defender, never one to back out of a challenge or shirk from the physical side of the game. A good old-fashioned passionate defender.

But his high-speed elbow assault on the Portsmouth player was nothing short of outrageous and he should be severely punished for it – both by the FA and his club. Not to mention his conscience.

In fairness, Ben himself has expressed remorse for what he did. But then again I hardly think he could do otherwise. Still, he deserves everything that is coming to him and he has already said he will take whatever punishments are handed out without even thinking of appealing. Take it on the chin, so to speak.

Having said that I don't agree with those who are suggesting he should be given a life ban. Have these people forgotten what sort of stuff has gone on the football pitch before now? Cantona's karate kick? Teammates fist fighting? Two footed challenges?

Thatcher's attack was made that much worse by the proximity of the cameras. Over history I am sure there have been many similar incidents which may not have been picked up by 10 cameras in full technicolour glory.

Ultimately Thatcher will probably end up with something like a five-match ban and a maximum fine from his club. In some people's eyes that may not be enough but I think it is fair.

Hopefully he will have learned his lesson and won't do anything even remotely close to that again. And equally hopefully any other player that may have been thinking about mixing mugging with football will also think twice.

In that way, maybe some good might come out of this ugly situation after all…

Strangely enough there has been another thing, which has surprised me in the past week - the form of Arsenal.

I admit I didn't expect them to be the best team in the league before the season started – I always thought they were a couple of players short of regaining their form of three years ago – but I did think they would be mounting a better challenge than they have.

True, they have only played two games so far, but to have taken just one point from them is really quite astonishing when you consider the opposition – Villa and Manchester City.

Not that I am complaining. With just the one point, Arsenal find themselves towards the bottom of the table and that makes it slightly less embarrassing for Sheffield United.

Which brings me to the Blades who already look destined for the drop after taking just one point from three games and scoring just a single goal. Obviously a lot can change over the next 35 matches and we could end up shocking everyone.

But, realistically speaking, we need to buy at least two more players before the transfer window closes or the fight could already be lost by the time it re-opens again in January.

Even if we do get relegated I just hope it is not in as humiliating a fashion as it was for Sunderland last season – something that has to be considered as a distinct possibility the way things have started off.

Maybe it's something to do with red and white stripes…

Talking of Sunderland, I think the appointment of Roy Keane is a masterstroke by the club. The Irishman doesn't have any managerial experience, true, but he has just about every quality you need in a person to become a successful football boss.

To be honest it is just the tonic Sunderland needed after their almost laughable start to the season. Having failed to find a good manager, chairman Niall Quinn appointed himself, gave himself a vote of confidence after a few defeats and then effectively quit before he had chance to fire himself.

But Keane is just the man for the job, to turn things around and get Sunderland moving back up the table. His mere presence at the ground for their match against West Brom on Monday was enough to spur them on to get their first points of the season.

It may have come a couple of months too late, but I still think that this could be one of the managerial appointments of the season.

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