Epl Thread
- Thread starter fgl
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AEnimic
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Slash04 sounds so gay! haha!!! Well,to hell with chelsea,they still bought lots of world class players just to get a higher league rank.they still cnt play ball with the other european teams.
and any fans from the Zola era cnt be alot,coz at that time Chelsea wasnt the best.but now i see alot of fans,and say they are from that era.i dun believe them one bit.
and any fans from the Zola era cnt be alot,coz at that time Chelsea wasnt the best.but now i see alot of fans,and say they are from that era.i dun believe them one bit.
fgl
Well-known member
Match Report
Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal Stadium
Tuesday, September 26, 2006, 7.45pm
Arsenal2Henry 37, Hleb 47
FC Porto0
By Richard Clarke
Thierry Henry hit his 50th European goal as Arsenal took charge of Champions League Group G with a controlled and competent 2-0 win over Porto on Tuesday.
The Frenchman reached the landmark in his 105th game in Continental competition with a well-executed far-post header from Emmanuel Eboue's incredible cross eight minutes before half time.
Two minutes after the interval, Henry and William Gallas set up Alex Hleb to thump home a second goal. In reality, Porto's spirited first-half challenge died after that and Arsenal cruised home.
With CSKA Moscow beating Hamburg in the other group game, Arsène Wenger’s side now top the table with six points. The Russian side are second with four.
The manager had said a victory tonight would go a long way to putting them through to the Knockout Stages. The utterly dominant nature of this performance suggests Arsenal will complete the job sooner rather than later.
Wenger's team-sheet saw two changes from the side that had beaten Sheffield United on Saturday. Alex Hleb came in for Freddie Ljungberg and Emmanuel Adebayor was replaced by Robin van Persie.
However, in the warm-up, Johan Djourou aggravated the foot injury that had been troubling him and Justin Hoyte stepped up from the bench. The England Under-21 defender slotted in at left back with Gallas switching to centre back.
The opening exchanges belonged to Arsenal. Van Persie and Tomas Rosicky bothered Porto keeper Helton with shots from distance. Inbetween those efforts Kolo Toure stabbed home the ball from close range but the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.
However, this busy Porto side soon managed to push the hosts back. In the 13th minute, Bruno Alves met Anderson's corner at the near post. Jens Lehmann saved adroitly with his feet.
The Portuguese champions began to recycle possession efficiently. However chances were scarce. In the 22nd minute, Lehmann flailed at Anderson's corner, Lucho Gonzalez miscued his shot and Alves made a hash of an expansive overhead kick.
Not that Arsenal were creating much at the other end. Henry and Eboue found space on the right flank and an sent inquisitive crosses into the area. No one could get on the end of them.
The chance the home side had been waiting for arrived on the half-hour. Henry meandered his way across the edge of the area before slipping a pass to the isolated Van Persie on the right side of the area. The Dutchman took one touch and then another. He was eight yards out with only the keeper to beat. He went for power over placement and hacked his shot high over the bar.
It was a bad miss but it seemed to fire up Arsenal. Fabregas fired over and Van Persie stung Helton's hands low at the near post.
Eight minutes from the break they finally got their goal they had been threatening. Eboue teased and tempted Marek Cech before sending in an ambitous curling cross. It had sufficient pace to beat the leaping Pepe and yet not enough to fly over Henry, who was stationed just behind him at the far post. The Frenchman's header was not particuarly powerful but it was expertly directed downward and into the far corner of the net.
Henry and his team-mates ran to Eboue as the crowd celebrated. That tells you everything about who deserved the most credit for the goal.
Three minutes after the re-start, the Arsenal players were mobbing Gallas after his part in the second strike. The defender danced through a couple of Porto challenges and fed Henry. He spread the ball wide to Hleb, who buried a low right-footed shot into the far corner of the net.
Rosicky skewed Henry's short corner high over the bar immediately afterwards but, in reality, Arsenal started to cruise after that and their next chance came with 12 minutes left. Henry cut the ball back from the byline and Cesc Fabregas arrived like a steam-train to hammer a shot into Helton's chest.
At the other end, Ricardo Quaresma cut in from the byline and let fly. Lehmann spilled the ball and just managed to recover before the ball crossed the line.
Nothing would be allowed to spoil Arsenal's night
Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal Stadium
Tuesday, September 26, 2006, 7.45pm
Arsenal2Henry 37, Hleb 47
FC Porto0
By Richard Clarke
Thierry Henry hit his 50th European goal as Arsenal took charge of Champions League Group G with a controlled and competent 2-0 win over Porto on Tuesday.
The Frenchman reached the landmark in his 105th game in Continental competition with a well-executed far-post header from Emmanuel Eboue's incredible cross eight minutes before half time.
Two minutes after the interval, Henry and William Gallas set up Alex Hleb to thump home a second goal. In reality, Porto's spirited first-half challenge died after that and Arsenal cruised home.
With CSKA Moscow beating Hamburg in the other group game, Arsène Wenger’s side now top the table with six points. The Russian side are second with four.
The manager had said a victory tonight would go a long way to putting them through to the Knockout Stages. The utterly dominant nature of this performance suggests Arsenal will complete the job sooner rather than later.
Wenger's team-sheet saw two changes from the side that had beaten Sheffield United on Saturday. Alex Hleb came in for Freddie Ljungberg and Emmanuel Adebayor was replaced by Robin van Persie.
However, in the warm-up, Johan Djourou aggravated the foot injury that had been troubling him and Justin Hoyte stepped up from the bench. The England Under-21 defender slotted in at left back with Gallas switching to centre back.
The opening exchanges belonged to Arsenal. Van Persie and Tomas Rosicky bothered Porto keeper Helton with shots from distance. Inbetween those efforts Kolo Toure stabbed home the ball from close range but the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.
However, this busy Porto side soon managed to push the hosts back. In the 13th minute, Bruno Alves met Anderson's corner at the near post. Jens Lehmann saved adroitly with his feet.
The Portuguese champions began to recycle possession efficiently. However chances were scarce. In the 22nd minute, Lehmann flailed at Anderson's corner, Lucho Gonzalez miscued his shot and Alves made a hash of an expansive overhead kick.
Not that Arsenal were creating much at the other end. Henry and Eboue found space on the right flank and an sent inquisitive crosses into the area. No one could get on the end of them.
The chance the home side had been waiting for arrived on the half-hour. Henry meandered his way across the edge of the area before slipping a pass to the isolated Van Persie on the right side of the area. The Dutchman took one touch and then another. He was eight yards out with only the keeper to beat. He went for power over placement and hacked his shot high over the bar.
It was a bad miss but it seemed to fire up Arsenal. Fabregas fired over and Van Persie stung Helton's hands low at the near post.
Eight minutes from the break they finally got their goal they had been threatening. Eboue teased and tempted Marek Cech before sending in an ambitous curling cross. It had sufficient pace to beat the leaping Pepe and yet not enough to fly over Henry, who was stationed just behind him at the far post. The Frenchman's header was not particuarly powerful but it was expertly directed downward and into the far corner of the net.
Henry and his team-mates ran to Eboue as the crowd celebrated. That tells you everything about who deserved the most credit for the goal.
Three minutes after the re-start, the Arsenal players were mobbing Gallas after his part in the second strike. The defender danced through a couple of Porto challenges and fed Henry. He spread the ball wide to Hleb, who buried a low right-footed shot into the far corner of the net.
Rosicky skewed Henry's short corner high over the bar immediately afterwards but, in reality, Arsenal started to cruise after that and their next chance came with 12 minutes left. Henry cut the ball back from the byline and Cesc Fabregas arrived like a steam-train to hammer a shot into Helton's chest.
At the other end, Ricardo Quaresma cut in from the byline and let fly. Lehmann spilled the ball and just managed to recover before the ball crossed the line.
Nothing would be allowed to spoil Arsenal's night
fgl
Well-known member
Wenger - Henry can be tremendous in the air
Arsenal 2-0 FC Porto
Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal Stadium
Tue, Sep 26, 2006, 7.45pm
on Arsenal's overall play...
"Well it was a good performance. The first 10 minutes we looked a bit hesitant, but after we looked always dangerous and in control. We had a good variation in our attacks, even if sometimes in the second half we eased off. But overall it was a great team performance against a good Porto side. I'm pleased because we looked stronger and stronger, well balanced, and confident going forward. It was a very positive performance tonight."
on Henry scoring again with his head...
"He's now here for seven years, he can learn about them. They [players] show you things in their game that you don't think they have. I feel as well he has the timing to anticipate the cross. I feel as well in the last two games there was two great crosses by Eboue. You would like him to do that even more because he can be tremendous in the air when he wants."
on Gallas' injury...
"Gallas has a hamstring problem. It looked to me very serious. We hope it's not too bad, but for Saturday certainly he'll be short. [After that] I don’t know, if he will be available for the French national team or not."
on last year's run to the final...
"It has given us belief, but frustration as well, because we were very very close to the line, and we want to come back. Because we have a young team we think we can be better and improve. I feel the played who joined us are getting stronger and stronger. Players like Gallas, and Rosicky tonight, they put in great performances and they can help us get even better."
Arsenal 2-0 FC Porto
Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal Stadium
Tue, Sep 26, 2006, 7.45pm
on Arsenal's overall play...
"Well it was a good performance. The first 10 minutes we looked a bit hesitant, but after we looked always dangerous and in control. We had a good variation in our attacks, even if sometimes in the second half we eased off. But overall it was a great team performance against a good Porto side. I'm pleased because we looked stronger and stronger, well balanced, and confident going forward. It was a very positive performance tonight."
on Henry scoring again with his head...
"He's now here for seven years, he can learn about them. They [players] show you things in their game that you don't think they have. I feel as well he has the timing to anticipate the cross. I feel as well in the last two games there was two great crosses by Eboue. You would like him to do that even more because he can be tremendous in the air when he wants."
on Gallas' injury...
"Gallas has a hamstring problem. It looked to me very serious. We hope it's not too bad, but for Saturday certainly he'll be short. [After that] I don’t know, if he will be available for the French national team or not."
on last year's run to the final...
"It has given us belief, but frustration as well, because we were very very close to the line, and we want to come back. Because we have a young team we think we can be better and improve. I feel the played who joined us are getting stronger and stronger. Players like Gallas, and Rosicky tonight, they put in great performances and they can help us get even better."
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