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Gilberto so impressed by fast-learner Denilson
By Chris Harris

It's a good time to be a Brazilian at Arsenal. Gilberto has won plaudits for his goals and captaincy, Julio Baptista has emerged as a Carling Cup hero and now Denilson has nudged his way into the first-team picture.

The Brazil Under-19 captain has spent much of his first season at Emirates Stadium studying one of his compatriots. "Gilberto makes football look simple and I want to follow that example as much as possible," he told Arsenal TV Online. It seems the admiration is mutual.

Gilberto was hugely impressed by Denilson's display in the first leg of Arsenal's Carling Cup tie against Tottenham last month. The World Cup winner had the chance to play alongside his fellow countryman in the second leg and had no reason to change his opinion.

"Denilson is a great character," Gilberto told Arsenal.com. "Like many of the youngsters he's not scared of playing in the team. It's amazing to see such young players show such great performances, great character and great ability on the pitch.

"Denilson has adapted so quickly to the system of the team in the short time he's been at the Club. It's great to see."

When Gilberto arrived in the summer of 2002, fresh from Brazil's triumph in the Far East, he relied on another compatriot, Edu, for guidance. The former Gunner helped Gilberto adapt to a new culture, a new language and a new life. Now Gilberto is doing the same for Denilson.

"Edu helped me to settle and I am trying to help Denilson feel comfortable," he said. "He is enjoying his time at the club, he is enjoying living here and he is learning the language like I had to do when I first came here.

"I have tried to help him as much as I can can to make him feel comfortable in the Club and he's doing very well."
 
Arsenal-


Wigan Athletic-


By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger has urged his team not to underestimate Wigan on Sunday.

The Frenchman is a fan of Paul Jewell’s side and, despite a run of nine straight defeats that has sent them plummeting down the Premiership, he is confident they will avoid relegation.

Arsenal squeezed out a narrow 1-0 victory at the JJB Stadium just before Christmas. But Wenger’s side have not been so efficient at home this season. Although they remain unbeaten, five draws in 12 Emirates Stadium games has not been sufficient to sustain a title challenge. However, they have won their last three home games in the Premiership — the best League sequence so far.

“One thing is certain, we will not get away with 90 per cent effort,” said Wenger. “So we will have to give everything if we want to continue our run. What a shame it would be if we beat Manchester United, then drop points all because we are not focussed enough.

“Wigan have just turned the corner,” he went on. “I don’t think they will be in a battle to go down. Without a doubt they have the ability to stay up.

“Of course they have not won for nine games and you always have a doubt in your mind. But they have just beaten Portsmouth so that shows that they have the quality to beat strong teams.

“I must say whenever I watch them I don’t think they are going to lose, because they always play well, but perhaps they have just lacked a little bit of confidence which happens when you have a bad run.”

Philippe Senderos is suspended after his red card last weekend at Middlesbrough. Johan Djourou is likely to deputise. Julio Baptista (groin) and Adou Diaby (knee) are fit after minor problems while Alex Hleb and Freddie Ljungberg (both hamstring) should return to training in the next few days. William Gallas (thigh) and Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) are still out. Meanwhile Wenger is being very cautious in his prognosis for the return of Robin van Persie (foot).

“We count six to 12 weeks,” said the manager. “Let’s say closer to 12 and maybe we will have a nice surprise.”

Wenger has not officially given up the title race. However, during his pre-match press conference, he did accept it was “fighting the statistics” to suggest Arsenal and Liverpool could catch Manchester United and Chelsea at the top of the Premiership.

The Anfield side are expected to get an injection of funds as a result of their takeover this week. However Wenger refused to accept it would help them pull away from Arsenal.

“I don't know if it is bad news for us,” he said. “At the moment I don't feel so because the number of top level players is limited in the world.

"If you multiply the money by 20 then it means the average player will be paid at the top price but it does not mean you will create top level players.”

Of course that particular skill remains a Wenger speciality.
 
fgl can i ask, y do u have sooooo much time quoting all these crap about arsenal when no one give 2 cents about what u state? I dont understand, its funny but annoying at times...coz too much dey!! u so fanatic sia! chill bro!!
 
eh..dont like that la bro..

at least fgl bro give us some convenience in catchin up with football(okay la..arsenal) while surfin thru music stuffs..
 
just shows how much Pool need a top striker to play alongside Kuyt.. Sure Bellamy put away one goal, but he had 4 other chances to score and probably should have got himself a hat-trick..

All credit to Newcastle for their perseverance and shite pitch though..
 
Match Report
Barclays Premiership
Emirates Stadium
Sunday, February 11, 2007, 4pm


Arsenal2Hall 81 (og), Rosicky 85


Wigan Athletic1Landzaat 35


By Richard Clarke

Another week, another comeback.

For over an hour of this enthralling Premiership clash, Wigan looked likely to become the first team to beat Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. The side that had so nearly pooped the Final Salute party at Highbury took the lead this afternoon with a stunning strike from Danny Landzaat 10 minutes before half time.

However Arsenal are an irrepressible side this season. This was the 14th time they have trailed and yet come back to take at least a point. As it turned out two goals in the last nine minutes this afternoon would bring them all three.

First, Fitz Hall put into this own net from Mathieu Flamini’s low cross then, five minutes later, Tomas Rosicky powered home a close-range header.

To be honest the drama of the comeback was better than the Arsenal performance. For long periods, the home side struggled to get their passing together.

However, in a long hard season, character counts for a lot. At full time this afternoon Arsenal had completed two thirds of the current League campaign. It is shaping up well.

They remain fourth in the Premiership, hopeful in the Champions League and FA Cup plus they are already Cardiff-bound in the Carling Cup.

Then there is the sheer, adulterated drama of matches like this one.

Wenger made three changes from the side that had drawn at Middlesbrough last weekend. The dismissal of Philippe Senderos in that game meant Johann Djourou came in alongside Kolo Toure. Theo Walcott replaced Flamini on the right of midfield meanwhile Emmanuel Adebayor dropped to bench. His omission meant that Julio ‘The Beast’ Baptista was paired up front with Thierry Henry for the first time.

However it was Emile Heskey who would make a muscular menace of himself in the opening stages this afternoon. The former England striker nearly scored with the first opportunity of the game when he got on the end of Lee McCulloch’s looping shot. Heskey would be a thorn in Arsenal’s side all afternoon.

Walcott was equalling worrying for Wigan with his early right-wing raids. He linked up well with Henry on a couple of occasions and produced an invitation of a cross that arrived just too early for the onrushing Baptista.

Rosicky was also catching the eye on the other flank. In the opening 15 minutes he let fly from distance and then spanked a fierce shot wide after being put through in the left hand channel.

Although Landzaat went close from distance, the home side were dominating. An Arsenal goal seemed inevitable and, after 15 minutes, it seemed to have arrived when Walcott again sent over another inviting low ball. It needed the simplest of RSVPs from the unmarked Henry at the far post. However he somehow spooned the ball high over the bar. It was about as unlike Henry as you could get.

It was proving to be a decent scrap with neither defence having much of a grip on the opposition attack. Midway through the half, Leighton Baines wasted a good position with a weak cross into the arms of Jens Lehmann. A couple of minutes later Henry might have done better with a free-kick just outside the area and then an error by Emerson Boyce allowed Rosicky’s speculative ball to wander dangerously past the far post.

However, as half time approached, Arsenal lost their focus and their passing started to become ragged.

Their punishment was swift and severe.

In the 35th minute, Julius Aghahowa and Djourou went shoulder to shoulder in the right-hand channel. The Nigerian striker had won the ball by the time they had reached the touchline and, via the Arsenal defender’s outstretched foot, it found its way to Landzaat 10 yards outside the area. The Dutch midfielder met it with a curling left-foot drive that flew past Lehmann into the top corner of the net.

For the 11th time in 19 matches, Arsenal had fallen behind at Emirates Stadium.

Despite that statistic, Wenger’s team had always come back to take at least a point. However when Heskey went clear and clipped the ball past Lehmann on the stroke of half time Wigan were in danger of sending Arsenal 2-0 behind at home for only the second time.

Agonisingly for the visitors the ball trickled goalwards but bounced back off the inside of the post. Replays later proved that Lehmann had got a crucial fingertip on the ball.

Deep into injury time, Henry nearly pulled Arsenal level. Clichy sent over a high swirling cross from the left and the Arsenal striker rose above Josip Skoko to glance his header inches wide.

One would suspect Wenger was happy to speak to his players at the break. Their first half performance had been below the usual high standards.

However within five minutes of the restart the Arsenal manager would have to adjust. Djourou got a nasty bang on the nose when challenging Heskey for a high ball. The young centre back was dazed and replaced by Adebayor. As a result Gilberto dropped back to centre half and Baptista joined Fabregas in midfield.

To add insult to injury, Wigan might have doubled their advantage while Djourou was receiving treatment on the side of the pitch. Heskey beat the offside trap but fired over from an acute angle.

The changes only added to the tension at Emirates. Bolton had beaten Fulham earlier in the day and Arsenal needed a least a point to stay in fourth place.

Clichy had claims for a penalty when Ryan Taylor abruptly ended his mazy run into the area. Then Baptista and Walcott sent anxious efforts wide.

Once again, the chances were flowing. Skoko scythed an effort just over the Lehmann’s bar then, just past the hour, Rosicky skipped through to scuttle a shot wide.

Arsenal were now piling forward but the threat on the Wigan was not forthcoming. In the 67th minute Wenger played his last two cards — Flamini replaced Hoyte at right back and Aliadiere came on for Walcott. If Arsenal were to lose at Emirates for the first time it would not be for the lack of attacking options.

Arsenal had their back firmly against the wall now. Adebayor did plant the ball in the Wigan net 18 minutes from time but he was adjudged offside. In the 80th minute Heskey bustled clear and tumbled under Flamini’s challenge. Again referee Phil Dowd waved play on.

It was a crucial decision as Arsenal grabbed their equaliser almost immediately. Henry sent Flamini through on the right and his low cut back was turned into his own net by Hall with Henry in close attendance.

The winner followed in the 85th minute.

Adebayor ball sent Baptista through on the right and, from the same position as Flamini’s assist seconds earlier, he cut the back for Rosicky to power home a header.

Another wonderful Arsenal comeback was complete but, just occasionally, you’d like them to choose an easier route to the three points.
 
For a moment, I thought the pitch Liverpool and Newcastle played on had lots of sand on it...saw in the replay just before Bellamy scored his goal, a Newcastle player slid in and poof!
 
Argh, we need to give up this irritating habit of conceding the first goal! But then, what a super strike that was from the Latics. And Lehmann is hopeless when it comes to ballistic missiles like these! (He just jumps for antics, really)

:lol:
 
what I could'nt fathom was hoe come Lehmann got booked for time wasting when he did it ONE time while Kirkland got away doing it SO MANU MANY times w/o even a verbal reprise from the inept ref! WTF man...

GUNNERS FOR EVER!!!!!
 
wah arse fans like to blow the trumpets ah. i remember the match they beat liverpool in epl. headlines went sth like ARSENAL CAN WIN TITLE. the next week they lost

:twisted:
 
maybe... but AQFC CONFIRM WILL FINISH HIGHER THAN POOL....

SOBS...LOOKS LIKE mAN_U'S TITLE THIS SEASON... :evil:
 
Though it looks like MU will probably win it... I PRAY WHAT PURPLEHAZE SAYS will come true & they cock up & dont win the EPL!
 
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