Jan 12 2008
Arsenal 1 Birmingham 1
Arsenal could not find the goals today and paid the price as they were held to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates stadium. Arsenal dominated the early stages but could find no way past the Blues until Stephen Kelly was adjudged by referee Phil Dowd to have fouled Eduardo in the box in the 21st minute – and Adebayor slotted in the resulting spot-kick. The Gunners could not hold their lead, though, Garry O’Connor’s header from a corner levelling the match only three minutes after the break.
Which means that Manchester United had a chance to go top of the league if they won their match against Newcastle United. And they did just that as Cristiano Ronaldo notched a goal for the Red Devils, who were in blistering form, while Carlos Tevez struck twice and Rio Ferdinand was also on target at Old Trafford as Newcastle, reeling after Harry Redknapp rejected the chance to become their manager, were dismantled after keeping their hosts goalless in the first half.
In other matches, West Ham beat Fulham 2-1, Chelsea beat Tottemham 2-0, Liverpool managed to salvage a draw against Middlesborough, Aston Villa beat Reading 3-1 and Everton beat Manchester City 1-0.
Last night I got to watch Arsenal went all stylistic & ballistic &Â go 2 points clear of Manchester United at the top of the league. Arsenal went to the half time break a goal down to Tim Cahill’s 19 minute effort but retaliated with 4 second half goals, thanks to Eduardo’s double strike and late goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Tomas Rosicky in a fiesty clash that saw both sides finish with 10 men at Goodison Park. Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner was sent off for a second booking after a nasty two-footed lunge on Andrew Johnson. Everton’s Mikel Arteta saw red for an elbow on Cesc Fabregas with six minutes to go before Rosicky struck with a low drive in stoppage time.
Arsenal will close the year at the top of the Premier League. Beating their cross town rivals Tottenham Hotspurs, gave the Gunners the 3 points needed to stay on top even if Manchester United wins tomorrow. Nicklas Bendtner proved an unlikely hero for Arsenal as his late goal secured a precious 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Saturday. Arsene Wenger’s side were confronting the dismal scenario of dropping two home points when the Denmark striker, on as a second-half substitute, headed in to extend his team’s lead at the top of the English Premier League to four points. Emmanuel Adebayor’s opener and Spurs then spurned a gilt-edged chance to forge ahead when Robbie Keane’s penalty was saved by Manuel Almunia. This defeat stretched Tottenham’s winless streak against Arsenal to an astonishing 20 matches.
Today was a very special Sunday as far as football and the English Premier League is concerned. Two matches, 4 giants of the game. Liverpool vs Manchester United & Arsenal vs Chelsea on the same night shown live on tv! Can’t ask for more than that if you are a football fan. Ok, so Manchester United went to Liverpool hoping to get a win and go top of the League. The two teams went at each other and Man U came out on top, winning on a solitary Carlos Tevez goal. Liverpool tried to get back into the game and although it was an entertaining match, the Red failed ton draw or win at home. Manchester went 2 points ahead of Arsenal.
The mark of a good team is being able to win matches even when they haven’t played at their best. That was what last night’s game at Villa Park was all about. Arsenal were outplayed for most of the second half by a brave Aston Villa side, urged on by the sound managerial skills of Martin O’Neill. However it was the Gunners who came out the winners at the end. They need to win games like this one, which will probably going to count in the long run for the Championship. Villa went ahead after 18 minutes thanks to a Craig Gardner goal but Arsenal replied back to take the lead through goals by Mathieu Flamini and Emmanuel Adebayor.
Our captain was the inspiration when we needed it the most against a resilient Wigan Athletic side that frustrated Arsenal for 83 minutes. William Gallas headed in a goal after a driving run from midfield and cut in front of Titus Bramble to steer home a Sagna cross at the near post. Coach Arsene Wenger was forced to rearrange his side due to the suspension of Cesc Fabregas, and injuries to fellow midfield players Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini, while Gilberto Silva was suffering fatigue. Teenage Englishman Theo Walcott began up front alongside Emmanuel Adebayor, while inexperienced pair Lassana Diarra and Denilson paired up in the centre of the park.
A few years ago, I became a fan of Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta. He was Valencia CF’s captain, playmaker & midfield general, the heart and soul of the team. I watched as this very talented footballer lead his club to the top 4 of the Spanish League. Valencia were a very talented team and they won many admirers throughout the football world with their exciting & passionate play, based around the gifted Mendy, as he is affectionately called. He led Valencia to two consecutive Champions League finals in 2000 & 2001 only to lose both. In 2001 he made a big move move from Valencia to Italian giants Lazio for 48 million pounds but he had a very disappointing season with them. Lazio loaned him to Barcelona for the 2002-03 season and then to English side Middlesborough in 2003-04. He made the move to the EPL permanent and is still a member of the ‘Boro squad.
I completely forgot about the Arsenal vs Manchester United game to be played yesterday. I am kicking myself in the ass at this time but I was lucky enough to wake up early and check the tv to see that they were showing highlights of the match. Lucky for me! Anyways, the Gunners drew with their rivals 2-2 and preserved their position on top of the League. Both Arsenal & Man U have 27 points with 8 wins & 3 draws each and the Gunners top the league due to a better goal difference. But Arsenal have played a game less than Man U and have not lost any games yet, while United have! The game exploded into life when United went ahead in first half stoppage-time when William Gallas turned Wayne Rooney’s shot into his own net. However Arsenal were back on terms two minutes into the second-half as Cesc Fabregas collected Bacary Sagna’s cutback to slot into the bottom-corner for his 10th goal of the season. Ronaldo restored United’s lead in th 82nd minute, when Patrick Evra burst into the penalty area and passed the ball to the Portuguese international. The home team were not finished though and they snatched a point in the dying seconds when Gallas scored at the right end by turning in Theo Walcott’s scuffed shot.
The 2014 World Cup was scheduled to be held in South America, that continent due to host the most popular & biggest sporting tournament in the world. The last time the continent hosted one was 1978 in Argentina!
Today evening saw the showdown at Anfield between the two undefeated clubs in the Premier League. Arsenal faced off at Liverpool and needing a win or a draw to climb above Manchester United in the standings and go back to #1. Liverpool & Arsenal both hit the posts many times in the match and created numerous chances in this flowing & exciting game. Each team wanted to win it badly and create a psychological advantage in the race for League bragging rights. Both goalies were tested at times and came up with great saves to keep the match open. Steven Gerrard struck first for the home side as Jon Arne Riise lays the ball for Gerrard on the freekick and the skipper blasts the ball through the wall and past goalie Almunia! Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia has to come up with a brilliant clearance as Reina missed a looped ball by Arsenal. Two substitutes later Arsenal finally get what they deserved – Alex Hleb’s beauty pass finds Cesc Fabregas and the most talked about midfielder at the moment toe poked a goal past Reina. And that is the way the match ended, 1-1!
Robin Van Persie scored a brace and ensured that Arsenal would keep their winning ways and go to the top of the league. In a thrilling match, the Gunners saw off the spirited come back of Roy Keane’s Sunderland side 3-2. Keane’s brave side had fought back from two goals down and gave the Gunners more of a fright than any other side had managed to so far this season. Van Persie & Phillipe Senderos scored first half goals to put the Gunners ahead but Ross Wallace & Kenwyne Jones got the visitors back on level terms. Theo Walcott finally unlocked Sunderland’s brave resistance after 80 minutes, turning superbly in the box and then sliding a neat pass to van Persie, who steer his finish past Gordon with the outside of his left boot. Towards the end Sunderland defender Paul McShane was given a straight red card for a two-footed challenge on Hleb.
Arsenal extend their unbeaten run so far since the beginning of the season when they won their match last night. Robin van Persie extended Arsenal’s winning run to nine matches as the Dutch striker’s late goal clinched a 1-0 victory at Romanian side Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League on Tuesday. Arsene Wenger’s side are in a rich vein of form and were able to grind out their second Group H success despite struggling to produce the flowing football that has taken them to the top of the Premier League. They top their group with 6 points.
Although midfielder Alexander Hleb may be out for a few weeks after receiving a nasty leg injury, Arsenal are still on top of the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over London rivals West Ham United. The Belarussian international was stretchered off mid-way through the first half at Upton Park after being felled by a crude, shin-high lunge from Mark Noble. Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger was livid at the press conference as Nobel only received a yellow card for the tackle. Hleb left Upton Park on crutches and has been ruled out of Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Steaua Bucharest, although speculation last night that he had suffered a broken leg proved unfounded. Robin van Persie’s well-taken 13th-minute goal, the Dutchman nodding in at the far post after Hleb had crossed from the right, maintained Arsenal’s 11 match unbeaten run and ensured that they stay on top.
I kinda feel sorry for the fans of Derby County. They must have felt that without Theirry Henry there would a chance against Arsenal. But…Emmanuel Adebayor scored a hat-trick as Arsenal turned up the heat on their Premier League title rivals with a 5-0 thrashing of Derby at The Emirates stadium on Saturday. Cesc Fabregas and Abou Diaby as the Gunners made it six wins out of six in all competitons and extended their unbeaten start to the season to nine matches.
In a statement issued by the club yesterday, coach Jose Mourinho has left Chelsea on mutual consent. Mourinho is believed to have informed senior players of his decision to quit following training on Wednesday. His departure sent shock-waves through English & world football for the Portugese Jose has been the most successful coach in Chelsea’s long history. The outspoken manager has transformed the nation’s football landscape since taking over at Stamford Bridge in June 2004, winning two Premier League titles in his first two years in charge and the FA Cup last season. Of the 185 games he has been in charge, Chelsea have won 124, drawn 40 and lost 21, a record that includes a 60-match unbeaten run in Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge. Many players like Frank Lampard & Didier Drogba were very upset on hearing the news. However he was no doubt one of the most admired & most hated coaches in recent history, as he came across as being harsh & arrogant.
A first-half strike by top scorer Francesc Fabregas along with a goals from Robin van Persie and Eduardo gave the Gunners a 3-0 win and sent the London club to the top of Group H. The win gives Arsenal the edge to qualify on top of their group and advance to the next round. Although this is just the first of 6 games in the round robin round of 32, it’s a massive mental edge for the London club. However it was the Spanish club that started optimistically, in the sixth minute when winger Jesus Alves fired a spectacular effort narrowly over the crossbar with Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia floundering. But in the 27th minute Faregas converted the home side’s territorial advantage into a goal, with van Persie following in the 54th minute & Croatia international Eduardo put the icing on the cake for Wenger’s men deep into injury time.
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