THE FOOTBALL THREAD Vol 2

[fgl]

bring on Huddesfield 2 molo

[fgl]

2

Arsenal


1

Huddersfield Town

• 
  Once again, a late spot-kick from Cesc Fabregas proved to be Arsenal’s salvation in the FA Cup on Sunday.
  
  In the Third Round, the Spaniard came off the bench to slot home a last-gasp equaliser from 12 yards against Leeds. This afternoon, the captain saw off Huddersfield with a penalty four minutes from time.
  
  Suffice to say, it was a huge relief for everyone - bar the 9,000 visiting fans - at Emirates Stadium.
  
  Arsenal had started well and deservedly took the lead through Nicklas Bendtner’s deflected drive midway through the first half. But Huddersfield defied the 45 places that separated the two sides in the ladder of English football. They pressured the home team and, after Sebastien Squillaci had been dismissed for hauling down Jack Hunt, fully merited Alan Lee’s leveller in the 66th minute.

That Fabregas finale was a blessed relief. After a historically busy January, the last thing Arsenal needed was another replay.

Their Sunday was also blighted by a hamstring injury to Samir Nasri.

But at least they are through in the FA Cup.

It was a day of comebacks for Arsenal. Manuel Almunia started his first game since the 3-2 defeat to West Brom just over four months ago. The Spaniard had been sidelined by an elbow injury and then, just as he was about the return, he had badly damaged his ankle.

Abou Diaby was also back for his first game since the 2-2 draw at Wigan on December 29. He had been suffering from a calf injury. Squillaci, returning himself from a hamstring problem, had scored a late own goal at the DW Stadium that night. He had only played one game since then – the Third Round tie against Leeds. In addition, Tomas Rosicky was back after three weeks out with sickness but he only made the bench.

This was Arsenal’s ninth game in January - a club record – so the remainder of Wenger’s changes were the usual ‘shuffling’.

Emmanuel Eboue, Kieran Gibbs and Marouane Chamakh all returned after starting as substitutes against Ipswich in midweek. Bacary Sagna was missing after collecting a head injury during that game but Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Wojciech Szczesny and Jack Wilshere were available yet left on the bench. Gael Clichy and Johan Djourou were omitted entirely.

Huddersfield were without Benik Afobe. Unlike Sanchez Watt in the last round, the on-loan Arsenal striker was not eligible play. The Yorkshire side filled their ticket allocation at Emirates Stadium. In recent weeks, that sort of support had become a regular and welcome sight in North London.

Arsenal had been lethargic against Leeds in the Third Round tie at the start of the month. But they started much better this afternoon.

After three minutes Arshavin hacked a shot over the bar having been set up but Bendtner’s persistence.

In the 12th minute, the Russian returned the favour but the Dane bundled it wide from close range.

Arsenal were attacking at will with Arshavin getting on the end of most of the good work. However, by Wenger’s own admission, the 29-year-old is not at his sharpest right now.
In the 20th minute, Nasri’s chipped a cross-field pass to Bendtner on the right of the area. He hung out a lame leg and dribbled a shot at keeper Ian Bennett. It drew the derision of the visiting fans.

A minute later, Bendtner cupped his ear to the same supporters in celebration after controlling a similar pass from the Frenchman and firing home. However he did receive a helpful deflection from the sliding Peter Clarke.

Huddersfield had conceded an early goal, usually a nightmare scenario at Emirates, but they were never going to lie down today.

Almost immediately, Anthony Pilkington fired over a dangerous low cross from the right and Lee just failed to add the finishing touch at the near post.

Then, just before the half-hour, Denilson handed the ball straight to Lee who fed Pilkington on the right once more. His low shot flashed across the area and just beyond the far post.

It was proper pressure alright but Arsenal still had all the class. Arshavin shoveled a backheel into the path of Bendtner whose angled drive was smothered messily at the near post by Bennett.

Then, the home side suffered a blow. Nasri pulled up under no pressure holding his hamstring and immediately called for attention. He was replaced by Rosicky – numerically and as captain - before going down the tunnel immediately. With big games coming up in the next month, it was a worrying sign.

The Frenchman’s departure seemed to affect Arsenal and they nearly conceded twice before half-time. First, Pilkington ghosted in and headed wide from Joey Gudjonsson’s cross then the Icelander drifted a cross just wide.

Then three minutes from the whistle Arsenal were hit by another blow. Hunt burst through and was bundled over by Squillaci. The Frenchman was the last man and referee Mark Clattenburg had little option but to administer a red card.

It was Arsenal’s seventh dismissal of the season but Squillaci’s first in five years.

Denilson covered the centre back role until the break but that was never a longer-term option.

With Djourou missing, Song was the only solution on the bench. The issue was which player made way. In the end, Chamakh got ‘hooked’ at half-time.

But it was now a different game.

Yes, Arshavin drove a shot into the sidenetting in the opening seconds however Huddersfield dominated the third quarter of the game. They smelt weakness in Arsenal and went for the jugular.

In the 55th minute, Arshavin tracked back and got a crucial toe-poke to the ball as Gudjonsson seemed set to score.

Then Jamie McCombe and Lee went perilously close with headers - the second of which brushed the post.

Almunia made a brilliant save from the latter on the hour; clawing the ball from behind him like David Seaman had down so famously against Sheffield United in the Semi-Final eight years ago.

But Huddersfield had built up a head of steam now and a goal seemed be coming.

It arrived in the 66th minute when Lee thundered home a header from Pilkington’s corner.

Wenger’s response was to bring on Fabregas for Diaby. Arsenal’s response was to go close twice. First, Koscielny’s drive was blocked and, when the ball was returned, Bendtner nodded inches over the bar.

The Dane cracked a drive over shortly afterwards – as did Arshavin. It seemed that Arsenal had steadied themselves.

With 10 minutes left, Denilson pulled up in similar fashion to Nasri. With all their substitutes made, Arsenal would have been left with nine men if the Brazilian was forced off.

After treatment he hobbled on but did not seem to be 100 per cent right.

Strangely, Huddersfield had taken their foot off the gas after their goal and allowed Arsenal back into the tie.

Four minutes from time, they were made to regret it when Bendtner appeared to be hauled down by McCombe and Fabregas steered home the penalty.

In the final stages, the captain was happy to hold the ball in the corner and kill time. Meanwhile the home fans applauded Huddersfield off the pitch.

They had pushed Arsenal to the limit this afternoon and a side with less mental fortitude would have buckled.

But Wenger’s men are better than that this term.

[extremers]

Torres's departure from Liverpool is inevitable, rumors floated furiously beginning of the season when Liverpool finished 7th. Alonso predicted it would happen and left after one of the best seasons they've ever played in decades. Shortly after, Benayoun and Mascherano followed.

Fret not, at least, in my confidence, I feel that Gerrard and Carragher will end their careers in Liverpool, and maybe Lucas too.

[fgl]

lets take care of their mersey neighbours tonite ..

CMON U GUNNERS!

[extremers]

done deal, with a come back win! ARSHAVIN!~~~~~~~~~

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rXzrVKv0QE

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2

Arsenal


1

Everton

• Arshavin 70,
• Koscielny 76

• Saha 24

Arsenal

• Wojciech Szczesny
• Bacary Sagna
• Johan Djourou
• Laurent Koscielny
• Gael Clichy
• Tomas Rosicky
  (62)
• Cesc Fabregas
• Theo Walcott
• Jack Wilshere
  (69)
• Alex Song
  (45)
• Robin van Persie
• Substitutes
• Manuel Almunia
• Kieran Gibbs
• Emmanuel Eboue
• Andrey Arshavin
  (62)
• Abou Diaby
  (45)
• Marouane Chamakh
• Nicklas Bendtner
  (69)

Everton

• Tim Howard
• Phil Neville
  (79)
• Johnny Heitinga
• Sylvain Distin
• Leighton Baines
• Seamus Coleman
  (79)
• Diniyar Bilyaletdinov
  (65)
• Marouane Fellaini
• Jack Rodwell
• Mikel Arteta
• Louis Saha
• Substitutes
• Jan Mucha
• Phil Jagielka
  (79)
• Leon Osman
  (65)
• Victor Anichebe
  (79)
• Magaye Gueye
• Jermaine Beckford
• Jose Baxter

official

• Referee
  Lee Mason

By Richard Clarke at Emirates Stadium

There are ‘moments’ in any title-winning season; history may portray this as one.

Arsenal trailed to a highly-controversial goal for 45 fraught and frantic minutes on Tuesday night before a rapid double repaired their Premier League aspirations.
Louis Saha struck midway through the first half to give Everton the lead. The Frenchman was clearly offside when Seamus Coleman chipped through a pass but the officials somehow interpreted that the ‘second phase’ had been enacted when Laurent Koscielny’s attempted clearance dropped into the path of the striker.

The decision hung over the game like a black cloud after that. The visitors’ robust, well-structured game plan only added to the frustration.

In the circumstances, it was highly ironic that Andrey Arshavin would prove to be a catalyst for the revival. The Russian has been off-form recently and therefore started this game on the bench. Eight minutes after his arrival in the middle of the second half, he would volley Arsenal level.

The goal broke Everton’s resistance and, five minutes later, Koscielny plundered a header from Robin van Persie’s corner.

With Manchester United and a resurgent Chelsea both winning this evening, victory was essential. Arsenal held their nerve and their sense of injustice sufficiently to come through unscathed.
It bodes well for the battle ahead.

Before Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Huddersfield, Wenger had predicted that he would play two different sides for back to back games in 48 hours. He was nearly right.

Only Koscielny was retained from the weekend. The returnees were entirely expected – the notables were Tomas Rosicky replacing Arshavin and Bacary Sagna coming back after suffering a head injury last week against Ipswich.

January had been a mammoth month for Arsenal and had ended with a mammoth transfer deadline day.

The passing of both represented a minor watershed in the campaign. A line had been drawn and the rest of the season started now.

However, Arsenal did not match the mood in the opening 15 minutes. The home side were lethargic and Everton made them pay. They did not create chances, only pressure, but the visitors had outplayed Arsenal at Emirates Stadium last season and were unfortunate to only get a point. Despite their lowly position, Moyes' men were of a similar calibre this term – tough, aggressive with a more than a smattering of class.

Arsenal knew what was coming.

However by the quarter-hour, the home side had woken up. Van Persie’s right-wing free-kick was deflected behind by Phil Neville. Then the Dutchman backheeled a wonderful opportunity for the onrushing Fabregas, who shanked his shot wide.

In the 22nd minute, Alex Song challenged Johnny Heitinga on the edge of the area and the ball fell kindly for Walcott, whose drive cannoned off the legs of Tim Howard.

The home side had snatched control of the game so the opening goal was against the run of play in itself. The controversy surrounding it only added to the annoyance around Emirates Stadium.

Coleman tried to find Saha from midfield but miscued his attempted chip through. When the ball was played, the Frenchman was offside however Koscielny tried to clear the ball and hooked it straight into the path of Saha, who played on and scored.

The Arsenal defence stood aghast as Everton celebrated. They had fully expected a flag. After the ball had been placed back on the centre spot, the referee and his assistant consulted but, to a cacophony of boos, the original decision stood.

The home tried to rally. Djourou nudged a header wide from Van Persie’s corner then Fabregas burst through and drove beyond the far post.

But a sense of injustice remained – both on the pitch and in the crowd.

Arsenal were struggling to retain their poise while, quite understandably, Everton were looking to take advantage. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Marouane Fellaini drove dangerously down the left-hand channel

The half-time conversations around Emirates were crammed full with indignation and interpretations of the offside law. That goal was not going away.
Abou Diaby replaced Song for the restart. The Cameroon international had required treatment during the first half and presumably that had forced him off.

The opening 10 minutes were full of energy and endeavour by Arsenal. Van Persie hit a free-kick into the wall and then stung Howard’s hands. Inbetween Gael Clichy’s optimistic drive deflected wide.
Tensions were running high. On the hour, Van Persie earned the sixth booking of the evening for trying to haul Mikael Arteta to his feet after a foul.
It was an indication of the frustration Arsenal were now suffering. Everton’s shape and discipline only added the problem. Arshavin came on for Rosicky, then Nicklas Bendtner replaced Jack Wilshere.

It was a throw of the dice by Wenger – a gamble.

And it paid off.

In the 70th minute, Fabregas clipped a lofted ball forward and Jack Rodwell’s miscued header dropped kindly for Arshavin, who volleyed home. It was similar to the first strike, only this time the scorer was clearly on side when the ball was played.

Meanwhile, the identity of the scorer was a massive irony. Arshavin was perhaps the only player on the pitch that needed a goal more than his team.

Suddenly, Arsenal were re-born.

Bendtner bicycled kicked a shot into the arms of Howard, then Van Persie’s free-kick forced the Everton No 1 to fingertip the ball on to the roof of the net.

Shortly afterwards, Arsenal struck again. Van Persie floated a corner to the far post and Koscielny thundered home his third goal of the season.

Everton responded as best they could but, after the early goal, they had barely tested Wojciech Szczesny. It was too little too late for them.

Arsenal, however, had found their goal-scoring touch just in time tonight.

[fgl]

cmon U gunners!

[fgl]

Manchester United suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season in a shock 2-1 loss at bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers.



Ferdinand out for two weeks
..In a top versus bottom clash that all but the most optimistic Wolves fan assumed would be a United walkover, two goals from George Elokobi - although Kevin Doyle will try to claim the second - overcame Nani’s opener as the champions struggled to create opportunities against their stubborn hosts.

Defender Elokobi had never scored in the Premier League before but it was United who were bereft of ideas as they lost their first league game at the 25th time of asking.

Despite the result Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are four points clear of second-placed Arsenal after the Gunners threw away a four-goal lead at Newcastle, while Wolves stay at the bottom following Wigan’s win, behind West Ham only on goals scored.

United had a fabulous start when, on three minutes, Nani scored a trademark goal, cutting inside from the right and - with everyone expecting the cross - firing a wicked drive inside Wayne Hennessey’s exposed near post.

Wayne Rooney should have made it 2-0 soon afterwards but fired straight at Hennessey after excellent hold-up play from Dimitar Berbatov. After that, though, United’s performance was nothing short of abject as they barely created a meaningful opportunity.

Wolves levelled on 10 minutes as United fell asleep at a quick corner routine, Elokobi flicking an excellent header into the bottom right with the visiting defence all over the place.

Down the other end Christophe Berra was granted a reprieve by 25-year-old referee Michael Oliver when he appeared to block Nemanja Vidic as he arrived to meet a corner.

That was on the quarter hour and, for the rest of the half, it was all Wolves, with Jamie O’Hara testing Edwin van der Sar at the near post and a superb Nenad Milijas free-kick deflected just wide with the soon-to-retire Dutch keeper stranded.

The cultured left boot of Serbia midfielder Milijas had a huge say in Wolves’ second goal five minutes before the break, which came about from his wonderful inswinging free-kick from the right, flat and almost impossible to defend as both Elokobi and Doyle claimed the goal.

Doyle stooped into a header but it appeared to strike the shoulder of the Cameroonian full-back: it was impossible to tell but Elokobi mock harassed the Irishman into letting him have the goal.

Nani headed one over just before the break, although with his lack of aerial ability it was generous to afford it half-chance status, and United were sent out early for the second half as Ferguson opted for the low-level humiliation that worked at Blackpool.

There was no such joy this time though as United, for all their possession, never really tested Hennessey in the second 45 minutes.

Just before the hour mark half-time substitute Paul Scholes slid a Rafael cross well wide, while Berra blocked Rooney’s effort after his keeper failed to claim a routine cross.

Late on Patrice Evra had a penalty shout correctly rejected when he fired a cross against the arm of Ronald Zubar from point-blank range as United huffed and puffed through the latter stages, which included a generous five minutes of injury time awarded by Oliver.

To say Wolves held out would be flattering - they merely had to remain solid - as United’s poor away record threw the title race back open.

[fgl]

dances with WOLVES!