THE FOOTBALL THREAD Vol 2
- Thread starter fgl
- Start date
fgl
Well-known member
Arsenal
Wigan Athletic
- Alcaraz 41 (og),
- Bendtner 67
Arsenal
- Wojciech Szczesny
- Laurent Koscielny
- Johan Djourou
- Kieran Gibbs
- Emmanuel Eboue
- Jack Wilshere
(73) - Denilson
- Robin van Persie (c)
(73) - Theo Walcott
- Carlos Vela
- Nicklas Bendtner
(85) - Substitutes
- Bacary Sagna
- Samir Nasri
(73) - Andrey Arshavin
- Craig Eastmond
(73) - Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
(85) - Havard Nordtveit
- James Shea
- Ali Al Habsi
- Steve Gohouri
- Antolin Alcaraz (c)
- Maynor Figueroa
- Steve Caldwell
- James McArthur
- Hendry Thomas
- Ben Watson
- Ronnie Stam
(79) - Mauro Boselli
(82) - Victor Moses
(36) - Substitutes
- Franco Di Santo
- Charles N'Zogbia
(36) - Michael Pollitt
- Jordi Gomez
(82) - Mohamed Diame
- Callum McManaman
(79) - Jordan Mustoe
- Referee
Martin Atkinson - Attendance
59,525
By Richard Clarke
Arsenal reached the League Cup Semi-Final for a record 14th time with a 2-0 win over Wigan at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
The home side struggled in the snow early on and only broke the deadlock three minutes before the interval when Antolin Alcaraz inadvertently nodded a Theo Walcott corner into his own net.
They kicked on from there and, just past the hour, Nicklas Bendtner slid in a low cross from Carlos Vela to make it 2-0.
Walcott and Vela had chances to at least double the score in the final stages as Arsène Wenger’s side cruised home.
Reaching the Carling Cup Semi-Final is hardly a season-long aim for Arsenal but a youthful crowd seemed pretty happy this evening as they celebrated with Mexican Waves. The victory also helped ease the home form issues that have been troubling Arsenal for a couple of months.
In fairness Wenger has always said he wanted to win the Carling Cup, as it is now called, to complete a domestic set. This year he has backed that desire with a stronger team.
West Ham’s win over Manchester United means Arsenal’s will be installed as favourites to lift the trophy in February. That is jumping the gun.
But after tonight’s warming victory, this competition can now be put to bed until 2011.
The main talking point in Wenger’s team selection concerned Robin van Persie. The Dutchman started his first game since the 2-1 win at Blackburn on August 28 and also took the armband.
Walcott and Bendtner returned to the starting line-up after their heroics at Newcastle in the last round. Wojciech Szczesny and Vela also featured after starring at St James Park.
Jack Wilshere and Laurent Koscielny were the only players to retain their places from Saturday’s 4-2 win at Villa Park.
Denilson, Kieran Gibbs and Emmanuel Eboue were also inserted into the side.
Wenger’s bench was part insurance (Andrey Arshavin, Bacary Sagna and Samir Nasri), part education (James Shea, Jay Emmanuel Thomas, Havard Nordviet and Craig Eastmond).
A fluttering of snow greeted the players as they came out. There had been no real question marks over the game going ahead but it was still bitterly cold. Eboue took action against the freezing temperature by donning white tights. Perhaps he was just marking his 200th game in Arsenal colours.
Either way, it made the Ivorian stand out – and he would be caught out a couple of times in the opening 10 minutes.
First, Victor Moses turned him and fired into the sidenetting from a dangerous distance.
Then his errant backpass was anticipated and intercepted by Mauro Boselli. Fortunately the Argentinean’s first touch was so heavy that it stifled the opportunity.
Bendtner had nodded wide in the opening seconds and, on the quarter-hour, headed into the sidenetting. Vela saw a deflected shot go behind and Koscielny sent the resulting corner over the bar.
Still they were only half-chances. As we passed the midway point of the first half, Arsenal had simply not settled and Wigan were probing away at the home defence. It was a very even affair.
However, in the 26th minute, Vela should have tipped the balance.
Wilshere fed Van Persie on the edge of the area with his back to goal. The Dutchman must have spotted the Mexican racing through. He produced a gorgeous back-flick to send Vela into acres of space. Faced with only the keeper to beat, the striker tried his trademark lofted finish over the keeper. This time it drifted wide.
Moses had caused Arsenal problems so it was a body blow for the visitors when he collapsed under a challenge from Walcott holding his wrist. The former Crystal Palace striker was stretchered off in some distress. Charles N’Zogbia came on.
Seven minutes from the break, Arsenal had a loud shout for a penalty when Maynor Figueroa appeared to handle with Van Persie lurking at the far post.
Seconds later, Vela and Bendtner steered decent headers wide of the target.
Then, three minutes from the whistle, Arsenal broke the deadlock. Walcott fired over a corner from the left, Bendtner rose highest but missed the ball. It hit Alcaraz on the edge of the six-yard box and flew in.
Almost immediately the defender nearly had his revenge. Ben Watson thumped in a corner and a header from Alcaraz was nudged on by Boselli. Szczesny saved at the second attempt.
Suddenly this game had found some life.
In the dying seconds, another sumptuous flick from Van Persie sent Vela clear again. This time he stumbled as he raced into the area.
The Dutchman had been the stand-out performer in the first half and, within seconds of the restart, he was in the action again.
Van Persie threw himself into a header but got a bash on the nose for his trouble. After treatment he carried on.
Finally, Arsenal had started to take a full grip on the game. Walcott waltzed to the byline and Bendtner headed over.
N’Zogbia’s pace caused consternation on a couple of occasions but, in the 67th minute, the home side added a second.
Vela fired a low, left-wing cross to the far post and Bendtner slid his third goal of the season.
The Mexican was starting to shine. He could have added a third on two occasions just after that. But Ali Al Habsi denied his sliding shot from the angle having been put through.
Thirteen minutes from time, Vela sent Walcott clear. The winger’s sidefoot shot beat the keeper but drifted just beyond the far post.
Five minutes later, the England international would have another effort. This one appeared to be blocked by the arm of Figueroa.
In injury time, Nasri skipped past the keeper but his shot was booted of the line.
However, by then, this game had been more than won.
Arsenal are in the last four of this year's Carling Cup.
Last edited:
fgl
Well-known member
2Arsenal
1FulhamNasri 14, 75Kamara 30ArsenalLukasz Fabianski
Bacary Sagna
Laurent Koscielny
(33)Sebastien Squillaci
Gael Clichy
Andrey Arshavin
Tomas Rosicky
(63)Samir Nasri
Jack Wilshere
Alex Song
Marouane Chamakh
Substitutes
Wojciech Szczesny
Kieran Gibbs
Johan Djourou
(33)Denilson
Theo Walcott
Robin van Persie
(63)Nicklas Bendtner
FulhamMark Schwarzer
John Pantsil
Brede Hangeland
Aaron Hughes
Matthew Briggs
(28)Zoltan Gera
Clinton Dempsey
Dickson Etuhu
Danny Murphy
(88)Simon Davies
Diomansy Kamara
(73)Substitutes
David Stockdale
Chris Baird
(28)Stephen Kelly
Damien Duff
Jonathan Greening
Andrew Johnson
(73)Eddie Johnson
(88)officialReferee
Chris Foy
By Richard Clarke
Samir Nasri struck two goals of rare quality as Arsenal went top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 win over Fulham on Saturday.
The Frenchman has been simply brilliant in recent weeks but this afternoon he excelled himself.
Fourteen minutes from the start, he left two defenders on their backsides before thumping home from close range.
Fifteen minutes from the end, he bustled into the area, rounded one defender and then the keeper before hooking the ball home.
To be honest, much of the intervening time was filled with frustration. Diomansy Kamara equalised after Laurent Koscielny had been left dazed from an accidental collision with team-mate Sebastien Squillaci.
Arsenal chased the game with urgency and intelligence. But Fulham had drawn around 60 per cent of their games this season and you could see why.
Their tactics were to smother Arsenal’s invention and then snatch what they could via a breakaway or set-piece. Wenger’s men spent the afternoon prising them open.
After successive home defeats to Newcastle and Tottenham, the pressure was on. But they responded manfully.
Everton’s late equaliser at Chelsea and the postponement of Manchester United’s game allowed Arsenal to go top.
Now they simply have to stay there.
Wenger made nine changes from the midweek win over Wigan in the Carling Cup. Only Jack Wilshere and Koscielny kept their places.
However compared to Villa last weekend, the side was unchanged. Once again Tomas Rosicky was captain.
That Wigan win had lifted a little of the pressure on Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. But home form was still an issue for Wenger’s men in the title race. A defeat this afternoon would be their third straight in the Premier League – something that had not happened for 33 years.
But then Fulham hardly had history on their side. They had NEVER won a League game at Arsenal – and they had been trying since before the First World War.
In the opening stages, it seemed that run would carry on.
After seven minutes, Wilshere’s right-wing free-kick headed high towards Andrey Arshavin at the far post. The Russian waited for the ball to drop and let fly from point-blank range. Mark Schwarzer spread himself widely to block.
The Russian then prodded Nasri through the centre but he poked the ball wide of the upright.
The Frenchman would not have to wait long for his goal. In the 14th minute, Arshavin cut in from the left and, again, released Nasri on the right of the area.
He still had plenty to do – but he went and did it. Nasri weaved inside one defender, and then another before thumping home his 10th goal of the season. The Frenchman ran to the corner flag as the two bamboozled Fulham players picked themselves off the floor.
Arsenal might have doubled their lead soon afterwards but Wilshere elected to tee-up Marouane Chamakh instead of going for goal. Midway through the half, Arshavin thieved the ball, shrugged off a lame challenge and forced a scrambling save from distance.
The home side were looking to put the game to bed and Nasri was acting as the nightcap.
He muscled past Matthew Briggs on the right and his cutback was turned goalwards by Dickson Etuhu. Schwarzer saved on the line as Arshavin threatened.
Seconds later, Rosicky crossed from the right and Alex Song steered a shot just wide.
It was more than more than one-way traffic. It was a motorway of oncoming chances.
A lot of those had been coming down the Arsenal right and shortly afterwards Hughes took off left back Briggs. He did not appear to be injured.
However while home form is a new problem. Profligacy is an old one.
Despite that, the goal that Arsenal conceded on the half-hour would be laced with misfortune. Fulham staged a rare foray up front and, in clearing a ball, Squillaci headed his team-mate Koscielny clean in the face. The latter Frenchman was still groggy when Clint Dempsey clipped a ball into the space he should have been occupying. Kamara took it in his stride and sidefooted home.
As the goal went in, Koscielny fell to the floor. He was stretchered off and Djourou came on.
Suddenly those home comforts had gone. The nerves returned and Fulham tried to winkle Arsenal open at the back.
In injury time they did. Etuhu sent Kamara clean through but Fabianski stood up to make a crucial save.
That chance came seconds after Bacary Sagna had sent over a cross from the right and Chamakh’s bullet header found the hands of Schwarzer when he should have found the net.
Arsenal went into the break in a position of unnecessary parity.
Song set up Rosicky to fire wide in the opening minutes of the second half. Once again it was all Arsenal in the early stages.
Arshavin tried a ‘Nasri’ by weaving inside two defenders and letting fly. However his shot hit the feet of Schwarzer.
The traffic continued but the chances dried up. That prompted Wenger to bring on Robin van Persie for Rosicky in the 63rd minute.
It was turning out to be a frustrating afternoon. The Arsenal team were chasing every ball and closing down every opponent but Fulham were disciplined, organised and ate up clock where they could.
Midway through the half, Song muscled off John Pantsil and, from an angle, fired over the bar.
However, Fulham offered some danger. Fabianski missed his punch at a corner and Zoltan Gera’s header was booted off the line by Van Persie. Shortly after that Squillaci headed a probing cross from Simon Davies away from goal. Gera’s overhead kick then drifted wide.
With 17 minutes left, Fulham swapped Kamara for Andy Johnson while Theo Walcott came on for Wilshere.
The end-game was upon us – but before it had really begun Nasri put the visitors in check-mate.
Van Persie shaped to shoot on the edge of the area but instead fed the Frenchman. He dodged past one defender and danced past the keeper. His angle was now acute but he recovered sufficiently to hook his shot past Aaron Hughes on the line.
Fulham were not spent. Etuhu scrambled a shot inches wide almost immediately but Chamakh could have killed it but when, after receiving Clichy’s cross, he fired over.
Fabianski made a crucial late save from Gera and Fulham pushed for the equaliser.
But Arsenal deserved this.
They will have to show much more of that spirit to be there in May.
However, title triumphs are built on ground-out victories like the one at Emirates Stadium this afternoon.
1FulhamNasri 14, 75Kamara 30ArsenalLukasz Fabianski
Bacary Sagna
Laurent Koscielny
(33)Sebastien Squillaci
Gael Clichy
Andrey Arshavin
Tomas Rosicky
(63)Samir Nasri
Jack Wilshere
Alex Song
Marouane Chamakh
Substitutes
Wojciech Szczesny
Kieran Gibbs
Johan Djourou
(33)Denilson
Theo Walcott
Robin van Persie
(63)Nicklas Bendtner
FulhamMark Schwarzer
John Pantsil
Brede Hangeland
Aaron Hughes
Matthew Briggs
(28)Zoltan Gera
Clinton Dempsey
Dickson Etuhu
Danny Murphy
(88)Simon Davies
Diomansy Kamara
(73)Substitutes
David Stockdale
Chris Baird
(28)Stephen Kelly
Damien Duff
Jonathan Greening
Andrew Johnson
(73)Eddie Johnson
(88)officialReferee
Chris Foy
By Richard Clarke
Samir Nasri struck two goals of rare quality as Arsenal went top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 win over Fulham on Saturday.
The Frenchman has been simply brilliant in recent weeks but this afternoon he excelled himself.
Fourteen minutes from the start, he left two defenders on their backsides before thumping home from close range.
Fifteen minutes from the end, he bustled into the area, rounded one defender and then the keeper before hooking the ball home.
To be honest, much of the intervening time was filled with frustration. Diomansy Kamara equalised after Laurent Koscielny had been left dazed from an accidental collision with team-mate Sebastien Squillaci.
Arsenal chased the game with urgency and intelligence. But Fulham had drawn around 60 per cent of their games this season and you could see why.
Their tactics were to smother Arsenal’s invention and then snatch what they could via a breakaway or set-piece. Wenger’s men spent the afternoon prising them open.
After successive home defeats to Newcastle and Tottenham, the pressure was on. But they responded manfully.
Everton’s late equaliser at Chelsea and the postponement of Manchester United’s game allowed Arsenal to go top.
Now they simply have to stay there.
Wenger made nine changes from the midweek win over Wigan in the Carling Cup. Only Jack Wilshere and Koscielny kept their places.
However compared to Villa last weekend, the side was unchanged. Once again Tomas Rosicky was captain.
That Wigan win had lifted a little of the pressure on Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. But home form was still an issue for Wenger’s men in the title race. A defeat this afternoon would be their third straight in the Premier League – something that had not happened for 33 years.
But then Fulham hardly had history on their side. They had NEVER won a League game at Arsenal – and they had been trying since before the First World War.
In the opening stages, it seemed that run would carry on.
After seven minutes, Wilshere’s right-wing free-kick headed high towards Andrey Arshavin at the far post. The Russian waited for the ball to drop and let fly from point-blank range. Mark Schwarzer spread himself widely to block.
The Russian then prodded Nasri through the centre but he poked the ball wide of the upright.
The Frenchman would not have to wait long for his goal. In the 14th minute, Arshavin cut in from the left and, again, released Nasri on the right of the area.
He still had plenty to do – but he went and did it. Nasri weaved inside one defender, and then another before thumping home his 10th goal of the season. The Frenchman ran to the corner flag as the two bamboozled Fulham players picked themselves off the floor.
Arsenal might have doubled their lead soon afterwards but Wilshere elected to tee-up Marouane Chamakh instead of going for goal. Midway through the half, Arshavin thieved the ball, shrugged off a lame challenge and forced a scrambling save from distance.
The home side were looking to put the game to bed and Nasri was acting as the nightcap.
He muscled past Matthew Briggs on the right and his cutback was turned goalwards by Dickson Etuhu. Schwarzer saved on the line as Arshavin threatened.
Seconds later, Rosicky crossed from the right and Alex Song steered a shot just wide.
It was more than more than one-way traffic. It was a motorway of oncoming chances.
A lot of those had been coming down the Arsenal right and shortly afterwards Hughes took off left back Briggs. He did not appear to be injured.
However while home form is a new problem. Profligacy is an old one.
Despite that, the goal that Arsenal conceded on the half-hour would be laced with misfortune. Fulham staged a rare foray up front and, in clearing a ball, Squillaci headed his team-mate Koscielny clean in the face. The latter Frenchman was still groggy when Clint Dempsey clipped a ball into the space he should have been occupying. Kamara took it in his stride and sidefooted home.
As the goal went in, Koscielny fell to the floor. He was stretchered off and Djourou came on.
Suddenly those home comforts had gone. The nerves returned and Fulham tried to winkle Arsenal open at the back.
In injury time they did. Etuhu sent Kamara clean through but Fabianski stood up to make a crucial save.
That chance came seconds after Bacary Sagna had sent over a cross from the right and Chamakh’s bullet header found the hands of Schwarzer when he should have found the net.
Arsenal went into the break in a position of unnecessary parity.
Song set up Rosicky to fire wide in the opening minutes of the second half. Once again it was all Arsenal in the early stages.
Arshavin tried a ‘Nasri’ by weaving inside two defenders and letting fly. However his shot hit the feet of Schwarzer.
The traffic continued but the chances dried up. That prompted Wenger to bring on Robin van Persie for Rosicky in the 63rd minute.
It was turning out to be a frustrating afternoon. The Arsenal team were chasing every ball and closing down every opponent but Fulham were disciplined, organised and ate up clock where they could.
Midway through the half, Song muscled off John Pantsil and, from an angle, fired over the bar.
However, Fulham offered some danger. Fabianski missed his punch at a corner and Zoltan Gera’s header was booted off the line by Van Persie. Shortly after that Squillaci headed a probing cross from Simon Davies away from goal. Gera’s overhead kick then drifted wide.
With 17 minutes left, Fulham swapped Kamara for Andy Johnson while Theo Walcott came on for Wilshere.
The end-game was upon us – but before it had really begun Nasri put the visitors in check-mate.
Van Persie shaped to shoot on the edge of the area but instead fed the Frenchman. He dodged past one defender and danced past the keeper. His angle was now acute but he recovered sufficiently to hook his shot past Aaron Hughes on the line.
Fulham were not spent. Etuhu scrambled a shot inches wide almost immediately but Chamakh could have killed it but when, after receiving Clichy’s cross, he fired over.
Fabianski made a crucial late save from Gera and Fulham pushed for the equaliser.
But Arsenal deserved this.
They will have to show much more of that spirit to be there in May.
However, title triumphs are built on ground-out victories like the one at Emirates Stadium this afternoon.
fgl
Well-known member
Updated
16:55 04thDecember 2010
|Home|Away|
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16:55 04thDecember 2010
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loldude333
New member
Samir Nasri has really stepped up this season. Now no Fabregas, no problem.
fgl
Well-known member
3Arsenal
1Partizan Belgradevan Persie 29 (pen), Walcott 73, Nasri 77Cleo 52ArsenalLukasz Fabianski
Bacary Sagna
Laurent Koscielny
Kieran Gibbs
(24)Sebastien Squillaci
Alex Song
Samir Nasri
Denilson
Andrey Arshavin
(67)Robin van Persie
Marouane Chamakh
(76)Substitutes
Wojciech Szczesny
Tomas Rosicky
Carlos Vela
Theo Walcott
(67)Jack Wilshere
Emmanuel Eboue
(24)Nicklas Bendtner
(76)Partizan BelgradeVladimir Stojkovic
Medo
Radoslav Petrovic
Milan Jovanovic
Stefan Savic
Aleksandar Lazevski
Mladen Krstajic
Stefan Babovic
(81)Cleo
Almami Moreira
Sasa Ilic
Substitutes
Radisa Ilic
Vojislav Stankovic
Darko Brasanac
Aleksandar Davidov
(81)Joseph Kizito
Ivica Iliev
Milan Smiljanic
officialReferee
Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)
By Richard Clarke
Arsenal took their place in the last 16 of the Champions League for the 11th straight season thanks to a 3-1 win over Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday.
Arsène Wenger’s side only needed a win to secure safe passage but it turned to be a rather nervous night against the bottom side in Group H.
In fact, they could only breathe easily when Samir Nasri fired home the third 13 minutes from time.
Robin van Persie gave Arsenal the lead on the half-hour from the penalty spot but they failed to kick-on from there. Cleo’s 52nd-minute equaliser was hardly on the cards but it was always a danger.
Theo Walcott came off the bench to fire the home side back into the lead in the 73rd minute.
After Nasri’s goal, Arsenal should have cruised home but this was a not a fluent night at Emirates.
In the final stages, Bacary Sagna was sent off for a last-man foul on Aleksandar Lazevski.
Shakthar's win against Braga mean they have won Group H. That could present Arsenal with a problem in the draw on December 17.
But this was a night when Wenger’s side simply had to get through.
And they did.
The manager made three changes from the side that had squeezed past Fulham on Saturday. The most noteworthy was Van Persie, who came straight in as captain. It was only the Dutchman’s third start of the season and, interestingly, he operated ‘in the hole’ behind Marouane Chamakh.
Elsewhere, Denilson replaced Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs came in for Gael Clichy who had gone down with sickness.
It was mighty cold at Emirates Stadium this evening. Much had changed – including the season – since Arsenal had hit 11 goals in those mighty wins over Shakhtar and Braga.
Defeats in both those places had left them needing to match the result of the Portuguese team in Ukraine to qualify. Braga were unlikely to win and Arsenal seemed a shoo-in against a side that were trying to avoid becoming only the 11th team to achieve zero points in a Champions League group.
It should have been straightforward for Arsenal but there was the potential of a nerve-jangling night.
And the first half-hour did not go to plan.
Although the home side were on top territorially, they created little. The closest they came was when Nasri tried to feed Van Persie at the near post.
Meanwhile the pacy Cleo was sitting on the shoulders of the Arsenal centre backs chasing long balls over the top and waiting for a mistake.
Then, in the 14th minute Gibbs turned his ankle in midfield. He tried to soldier on but only lasted 10 minutes. Emmanuel Eboue came on. But the right-sided defender was covering at left back and the move did nothing for Arsenal’s balance.
On the half-hour, Arsenal were thrown a bone.
Song flicked Van Persie into space in the area and a rash challenge from Marko Jovanovic brought him down.
The Dutchman fired home from the spot. It was his first goal since the last game of last season.
Naturally the goal was a lift. Eboue’s quick feet took him past two defenders on the left and his probing cross was hacked over his own bar by Mladen Krstajic.
But they could not continue in that vein. Arsenal’s first 45 minutes this evening had been edgy and disjointed.
The opening minutes of the second half were better. Keeper Vladimir Stojkovic denied Chamakh and then Denilson's cross was deflected to Nasri, who thumped his shot high over the bar.
It seemed that Arsenal were finally getting going.
And then Partizan equalised.
The visitors worked the ball in from the right to Cleo just outside the area. He let fly and the ball took a crucial deflection off Squillaci to beat Fabianski.
It was only the second goal the Serbian side had scored in Group H – and that had been a penalty against Arsenal in Belgrade.
At this point, Braga were still drawing at Shakhtar so Wenger’s men were still through. But they seemed determined to take it to the wire.
Sagna’s cross drifted just beyond Van Persie at the far post and there was a glimpse of an opportunity when Stojkovic dropped a cross under pressure from Song. But they were only half-chances.
Midway through the half, Wenger made a change. Arshavin came off and Theo Walcott replaced him.
Arsenal were now building up some sort of momentum. When the substitute was blocked on the edge of the area, Van Persie’s free-kick was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Stojkovic. From the resulting corner Song curled an effort wide.
Arsenal were getting closer and they would soon make the breakthrough. In the 73rd minute, Sagna’s cross was nodded out straight to Walcott by Aleksandar Krstajic. The England international chested down the ball and fired into the far corner.
The relief was palpable and six minutes later the win was secure. Song danced through a couple of challenges and, after passing to Nasri, looked for the return. The Frenchman, however, dragged the ball back and fired low into the corner.
At the same time, over in Donetsk, Shakthar were taking the lead.
That killed off any chance of top spot. But, in reality, Arsenal still had a job to do here.
Five minutes from time, Sagna brought down Lazevski on the edge of the area. The right back was the last man and, unfortunately, had to go. Fabianski made a fine save from the free-kick from Radosav Petrovic.
It was a tough end to a tough night. But, despite it all, Arsenal are through.
1Partizan Belgradevan Persie 29 (pen), Walcott 73, Nasri 77Cleo 52ArsenalLukasz Fabianski
Bacary Sagna
Laurent Koscielny
Kieran Gibbs
(24)Sebastien Squillaci
Alex Song
Samir Nasri
Denilson
Andrey Arshavin
(67)Robin van Persie
Marouane Chamakh
(76)Substitutes
Wojciech Szczesny
Tomas Rosicky
Carlos Vela
Theo Walcott
(67)Jack Wilshere
Emmanuel Eboue
(24)Nicklas Bendtner
(76)Partizan BelgradeVladimir Stojkovic
Medo
Radoslav Petrovic
Milan Jovanovic
Stefan Savic
Aleksandar Lazevski
Mladen Krstajic
Stefan Babovic
(81)Cleo
Almami Moreira
Sasa Ilic
Substitutes
Radisa Ilic
Vojislav Stankovic
Darko Brasanac
Aleksandar Davidov
(81)Joseph Kizito
Ivica Iliev
Milan Smiljanic
officialReferee
Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)
By Richard Clarke
Arsenal took their place in the last 16 of the Champions League for the 11th straight season thanks to a 3-1 win over Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday.
Arsène Wenger’s side only needed a win to secure safe passage but it turned to be a rather nervous night against the bottom side in Group H.
In fact, they could only breathe easily when Samir Nasri fired home the third 13 minutes from time.
Robin van Persie gave Arsenal the lead on the half-hour from the penalty spot but they failed to kick-on from there. Cleo’s 52nd-minute equaliser was hardly on the cards but it was always a danger.
Theo Walcott came off the bench to fire the home side back into the lead in the 73rd minute.
After Nasri’s goal, Arsenal should have cruised home but this was a not a fluent night at Emirates.
In the final stages, Bacary Sagna was sent off for a last-man foul on Aleksandar Lazevski.
Shakthar's win against Braga mean they have won Group H. That could present Arsenal with a problem in the draw on December 17.
But this was a night when Wenger’s side simply had to get through.
And they did.
The manager made three changes from the side that had squeezed past Fulham on Saturday. The most noteworthy was Van Persie, who came straight in as captain. It was only the Dutchman’s third start of the season and, interestingly, he operated ‘in the hole’ behind Marouane Chamakh.
Elsewhere, Denilson replaced Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs came in for Gael Clichy who had gone down with sickness.
It was mighty cold at Emirates Stadium this evening. Much had changed – including the season – since Arsenal had hit 11 goals in those mighty wins over Shakhtar and Braga.
Defeats in both those places had left them needing to match the result of the Portuguese team in Ukraine to qualify. Braga were unlikely to win and Arsenal seemed a shoo-in against a side that were trying to avoid becoming only the 11th team to achieve zero points in a Champions League group.
It should have been straightforward for Arsenal but there was the potential of a nerve-jangling night.
And the first half-hour did not go to plan.
Although the home side were on top territorially, they created little. The closest they came was when Nasri tried to feed Van Persie at the near post.
Meanwhile the pacy Cleo was sitting on the shoulders of the Arsenal centre backs chasing long balls over the top and waiting for a mistake.
Then, in the 14th minute Gibbs turned his ankle in midfield. He tried to soldier on but only lasted 10 minutes. Emmanuel Eboue came on. But the right-sided defender was covering at left back and the move did nothing for Arsenal’s balance.
On the half-hour, Arsenal were thrown a bone.
Song flicked Van Persie into space in the area and a rash challenge from Marko Jovanovic brought him down.
The Dutchman fired home from the spot. It was his first goal since the last game of last season.
Naturally the goal was a lift. Eboue’s quick feet took him past two defenders on the left and his probing cross was hacked over his own bar by Mladen Krstajic.
But they could not continue in that vein. Arsenal’s first 45 minutes this evening had been edgy and disjointed.
The opening minutes of the second half were better. Keeper Vladimir Stojkovic denied Chamakh and then Denilson's cross was deflected to Nasri, who thumped his shot high over the bar.
It seemed that Arsenal were finally getting going.
And then Partizan equalised.
The visitors worked the ball in from the right to Cleo just outside the area. He let fly and the ball took a crucial deflection off Squillaci to beat Fabianski.
It was only the second goal the Serbian side had scored in Group H – and that had been a penalty against Arsenal in Belgrade.
At this point, Braga were still drawing at Shakhtar so Wenger’s men were still through. But they seemed determined to take it to the wire.
Sagna’s cross drifted just beyond Van Persie at the far post and there was a glimpse of an opportunity when Stojkovic dropped a cross under pressure from Song. But they were only half-chances.
Midway through the half, Wenger made a change. Arshavin came off and Theo Walcott replaced him.
Arsenal were now building up some sort of momentum. When the substitute was blocked on the edge of the area, Van Persie’s free-kick was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Stojkovic. From the resulting corner Song curled an effort wide.
Arsenal were getting closer and they would soon make the breakthrough. In the 73rd minute, Sagna’s cross was nodded out straight to Walcott by Aleksandar Krstajic. The England international chested down the ball and fired into the far corner.
The relief was palpable and six minutes later the win was secure. Song danced through a couple of challenges and, after passing to Nasri, looked for the return. The Frenchman, however, dragged the ball back and fired low into the corner.
At the same time, over in Donetsk, Shakthar were taking the lead.
That killed off any chance of top spot. But, in reality, Arsenal still had a job to do here.
Five minutes from time, Sagna brought down Lazevski on the edge of the area. The right back was the last man and, unfortunately, had to go. Fabianski made a fine save from the free-kick from Radosav Petrovic.
It was a tough end to a tough night. But, despite it all, Arsenal are through.
fgl
Well-known member
Arsenal
Chelsea
-
Arsenal WILL fight for the Premier League title this season.
That was the resounding message Arsène Wenger’s team sent out with a heartening 3-1 win over Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Monday night.
The three points restores them to second place behind Manchester United – but this victory was worth much more than that.
Having lost at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, the critics suggested Arsenal’s campaign would be undermined by familiar weaknesses. One of which was a failure to beat their main title rivals.
However, make no mistake, this evening they fully deserved to beat the reigning champions.
Alex Song bundled through to blast home the opener on the stroke of half time. Then, just after the restart, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott set up goals for one another inside three mad minutes.
Branislav Ivanovic nodded Chelsea back in touch just before the hour and then Carlo Ancelotti’s side kicked on in search of something more.
But this evening, the likes of Song, Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou put in performances of controlled muscularity. Lukasz Fabianski was barely tested in the final half-hour.
This result does not answer all the questions about Arsenal this season. But the trip to Wigan is the midway point of the Premier League campaign and should Wenger’s men win there they will be, at the very least, within a victory of top spot.
No-one knows if Arsenal will win the title but they have put themselves in position to have a chance.
It had been a full fortnight since that disappointing 1-0 defeat at Manchester United and this game had been built up as another season-shaper.
Wenger made five changes, including a couple of surprises. Djourou came in for his first Premier League start since the 2-1 win at Everton on November 14. Sebastien Squillaci dropped the bench. He was joined there by Marouane Chamakh, who was replaced by Robin van Persie. The Dutchman was starting his first Premier League game in four months.
Elsewhere, Fabianski was back in goal after a hip injury. Fabregas and Walcott were on from the beginning having been on the bench at Manchester United.
Perhaps it was the fact that the rest of the Premier League had played a day earlier, perhaps it was Manchester United’s upturn in form, but this game felt simply massive.
Both sides had something to prove. Arsenal needed to show they could beat a recent title-winner (and ended a run of five-straight defeats against the Stamford Bridge side). Chelsea needed to show they were over a damaging dip in form.
It was night when the result was all-important. The performance was secondary.
But then the opening 15 minutes were too frenetic for decent football anyway.
Chelsea fashioned the best chance – when Koscielny gave the ball away in midfield and Drogba drove wide – but Arsenal were always looking to play on the front foot.
And, just before the Ivorian’s effort, Song chipped the ball to the far post but Van Persie miscued his volley from close range with Ivanovic in close attendance.
It was a speedy, spicy affair – everything you’d expect from two London rivals fighting for the title.
Van Persie had a strong shout for a penalty when Florent Malouda buffeted him off the ball on the edge of the area. A couple of minutes later, Nasri’s fierce free-kick was plucked out of the air by Petr Cech.
As the half went on, Arsenal started to exert some sustained pressure. Fabregas tried to dance through the middle, Van Persie blasted over from an acute angle, Walcott waltzed himself some space on the byline and Bacary Sagna’s rocket shot hit Drogba.
It was worthwhile football from Arsenal but Chelsea’s defence was at its rigid best. The only time Cech was extended was when he tipped over from Nasri’s delicious chip.
Still, Arsenal had done enough to deserve their lead when it came a minute before the half-time whistle.
Song exchanged passes with Wilshere on the edge of the box and darted into the area to get the return. He eventually received it and clipped the ball home. The slight delay came because Paulo Ferreira brought down Fabregas as he tried to intercept.
Had the Cameroonian not scored surely Arsenal would have won a penalty.
Malouda’s late effort was cleared off the line as Chelsea tried to regain parity immediately. But it was too little too late from the visitors in the first half.
Arsenal had been the better side in the opening period and, in the first seven minutes of the second, they would seize control by scoring twice.
Walcott and Fabregas set up the strikes for the other but, in reality, Michael Essien was at fault each time.
In the 50th minute, the Ghanaian was worried into a loose back-pass by Van Persie. Walcott raced clear, drew Cech and tapped a square pass for Fabregas to slot home.
Three minutes later, Walcott stole the ball off Essien’s toe and found Fabregas in midfield. The England winger went sprinting clear and fired into the far corner. It was his ninth goal of the season in only his eighth start.
Emirates was riotous. The home crowd felt a weight lifting off their shoulders as Arsenal’s title colours could be firmly nailed to the mast.
But, football is never so simple. Four minutes later, Fabregas fouled Essien on the left and Drogba’s free-kick was guided past Fabianski by the head of Ivanovic.
The goal changed the game in an instant.
Suddenly Chelsea were the aggressor. Arsenal had thrown away a two-goal lead against Tottenham just over a month before. Surely they could not go one better against the West London side?
Ancelotti’s men were going for it and they pressed back Arsenal. But that did mean Walcott’s pace was now a massive factor when the home side broke out.
Midway through the half, Song found the Englishman in space and his raking cross-field pass reached Nasri on the left of the area. The Frenchman tried to nudge the ball past Cech but the keeper thrust out his hand.
Wenger brought on Abou Diaby and Chamakh for Van Persie and Walcott. There was a sense the manager was trying to ‘see out’ the game. But, in fact, Diaby might have won it.
Ten minutes from time, he found a glimpse of space in the area but dallied too long and his chance was lost.
Chelsea’s expected onslaught did not really arrive late on. Yes, Salomon Kalou bundled the ball home but he was clearly offside and Tomas Rosicky hit the past with the final action of the game. He too had been flagged.
It did not matter. Arsenal had what they wanted - three points and the opportunity to call themselves title-contenders.
Their fate is now firmly in their own hands.
fgl
Well-known member
fgl
Well-known member
Arsène Wenger... reflects on the 3-0 win over West Ham
Barclays Premier League
Saturday, January 15, 2011, 17:30
'We had a good, mature performance today'
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On a comprehensive victory…
It became pretty comprehensive because I feel on the whole we had a very strong first half. That certainly affected West Ham’s morale and in the second half it looked as if it were a bit more flat. West Ham in the second half didn’t put us under pressure, didn’t really get out of their own half, and we always looked like we were closer to scoring the third goal than to conceding one. And from then on it became a comprehensive victory. But we had a good, mature performance today.
On West Ham being affected by uncertainty surrounding their manager…
I would say it was affected first by the quality of our performance. Psychologically, mentally in the second half, I don’t know, the players could answer that much better than I could. It’s very different for me. What is for sure, when there is all this speculation about the job, it can unsettle because your words maybe have less power and your environment is a bit unsettled. It doesn’t help, that is for sure.
On sympathy for Avram Grant’s situation…
I have big sympathy for Avram Grant. I don’t think it affects him at all, but you don’t know how much it affects your environment. Our job is difficult enough not to put some more on your back. It’s difficult enough without problems of that sort.
On a convincing win…
It was a convincing win. In fact we are on a very strong run in the Premier League because we beat Chelsea, won twice 3-0 away from home and a convincing 0-0 against Man City at home. So overall we are on a strong run. I have said many times that the Premier League will be exciting and interesting until the end.
On Van Persie’s two-goal performance…
We have many offensive players and he gets them in well because he keeps the ball and of course you can see now that because he has a few games he’s much sharper physically, and that is very interesting.
On building momentum in the title race…
I think it’s in our hands. In the fact that we play all of the big teams at home and that we have a strong run at home now. We have played many away games, so now we’ll see that it is down to us. Tomorrow we have many big games, but we have done the job today. So we can watch them in a relaxed way a little bit. But we are very interested in one because it is a big test for Tottenham and Man United tomorrow.
On the team’s motivation after a poor performance at Ipswich…
I don’t know because it is difficult to compare the competitions. Cup is Cup and you’ve seen that sometimes that teams do well in the championship but not so well in the Cup. Did we underestimate a little bit the difficulty? I don’t know, but certainly you could come to that conclusion if you saw the team today.
fgl
Well-known member
Leeds
Arsenal
- Johnson 37
- Nasri 5,
- Sagna 34,
- van Persie 76
Arsenal
- Wojciech Szczesny
- Bacary Sagna
- Laurent Koscielny
- Johan Djourou
- Kieran Gibbs
- Alex Song
- Denilson
- Samir Nasri
(83) - Andrey Arshavin
(71) - Nicklas Bendtner
- Marouane Chamakh
(71) - Substitutes
- Cesc Fabregas
(71) - James Shea
- Jack Wilshere
- Emmanuel Eboue
- Gael Clichy
(83) - Theo Walcott
- Robin van Persie
(71)
Arsenal marched in the FA Cup Fourth Round with a comprehensive 3-1 win at Leeds on Wednesday night.
Arsène Wenger’s side had needed a 90th-minute penalty to save this tie at Emirates Stadium 11 days earlier but, this evening, they dominated throughout.
Samir Nasri stole a goal in the fifth minute and then, after Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh had missed point-blank chances, Bacary Sagna plundered a second just past the half-hour.
Leeds rallied immediately when Bradley Johnson’s thunderbolt reduced the arrears but Arsenal would kick-on after the break.
Fourteen minutes from time, they ended the discussion when Robin van Persie headed home from Nicklas Bendtner’s inviting cross.
Arsenal had been a little lucky in north London, tonight Leeds were fortunate the visitors were so profligate in front for goal.
Still, they got the job done and can now look forward to a Fourth Round tie against Huddersfield at Emirates Stadium on January 30.
This is a busy month for Arsenal and so Wenger’s side did its usual shuffle.
Bendtner, Chamakh, Kieran Gibbs, Denilson, Arshavin and Sagna all came in.
Cesc Fabregas, Van Persie, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue all dropped out.
This game was a throw-back. Arsenal had been involved in some teak-tough encounters at Elland Road in the 90s and Noughties. Since then Leeds had been down to the third tier of English football but, if their performance in the first game was anything to go by, they were on the way back to the top flight.
Wenger had admitted his side had lacked focus in that match. But this evening it was different straight from the start.
Arsenal bossed the first half and the only concern at the break was that they had not gained the advantage they deserved.
The game had barely settled down when they took the lead. In the fifth minute, Arshavin tucked the ball inside from the left, Bendtner tried to collect on the edge of the area but Nasri swept it away, danced past the final defender before coolly slotting home.
Six minutes later it should have been 2-0. Sagna was hauled down on the right by Ben Parker and Nasri swung over the free-kick. Chamakh had escaped his marker six yards out and made solid contact with his header. However Kasper Schmeichel made a wonderful one-handed save. The keeper then recovered to block Johan Djourou’s follow up.
It was starting to become an Arsenal procession. In the 19th minute, Bendtner fed Chamakh on the edge of the area. He and Nasri played one-touch passes for Arshavin to sidefoot a shot over the bar
Then Chamakh fired a low ball across the face of the area. Arshavin timed his run perfectly to meet the cross. Any positive touch would have doubled Arsenal’s lead but the Russian’s effort was timid.
A couple of minutes later, Arshavin’s drive from distance forced Schmeichel into a low save away to his left. After that, Laurent Koscielny sent a raking ball into the right-hand channel for Sagna to collect. He raced into the area and crossed low for Bendtner but the Dane timed his slide a second too late.
Arsenal were not just creating clear-cut chances, they were creating tap-ins. By the half-hour, they had already manufactured the opportunities to put the tie to bed. But they only had one goal to show for it.
That changed in the 34th minute, Bendtner thundered through and exchanged passes with Nasri on the edge of the area but miscontrolled the return. Andy O’Brien’s clearance fell straight to Sagna on the right. He advanced and fired a rocket shot into the far corner of the net.
It should have all but killed off Leeds but, almost immediately, the home side would respond with a Howitzer of their own. There was little on when the ball fell to Johnson around 30 yards out. He let fly and sent a swerving effort into the top corner.
The Leeds crowd tried to roar their side level before the break but, despite pressure, they did not conjure up a clear chance.
Twenty seconds into the second half, Schmeichel made another sparkling save when Nasri fed Alex Song and the Cameroon midfielder tried to lift the ball over the keeper.
The Danish stopper has been brilliant throughout this tie. But, a couple of minutes later, he made a rare error by dropping Nasri’s free-kick on the line before gathering.
Leeds were trying to create pressure but Arsenal were still having all the chances. In the 55th minute, a wonderful one-touch move involving eight players would have ended in a goal had Robert Snodgrass not swept the ball away from the feet of Arshavin at the last second.
The Russian was having a difficult night. On the hour, Song’s errant, trickling cross found him at the far post. He hacked it horribly over the bar. An in-form Arshavin would have buried it.
Arsenal were still on top but still missing chances. And, every so often, Leeds made them fully aware of the slenderness of the lead they held.
In the 65th minute, Max Gradel, another star of the tie, sent over a penetrative cross towards Billy Paynter at the near post. The home side were within an outstretched leg of drawing level.
Straight after that chance, the striker was replaced by Davide Somma. The South African’s first touch saw him knee a shot behind at the near post.
With 20 minutes left, Wenger brought on his Big Guns - Fabregas and Van Persie – for Arshavin and Chamakh. The manager clearly wanted to get the job done.
Fabregas nearly did it when he curled a free-kick inches beyond the far post.
In the 76th minute, Van Persie did finish the task by steering home a header from Bendtner’s pin-point cross. The celebrations told the story of the goal. Two team-mates ran to the scorer, three to the provider.
The Dutchman nearly curled home another in the dying minutes. By now Leeds were spent.
They had been wonderful at Emirates Stadium but were well-beaten on home turf this evening.
