Andrey Arshavin grabbed the winner for Arsenal as they showed the steel needed to overcome a committed Blackburn. Theo Walcott gave the Gunners the lead at Ewood Park, powering an angled shot past Paul Robinson after a slick move. But Mame Biram Diouf tapped in from an El-Hadji Diouf pass as Rovers impressively equalised. Arshavin threaded in the winner after a Cesc Fabregas effort was deflected into his path and the north Londoners held on to complete a hard-fought win.
After weathering the Rovers onslaught and earning the right to play, Wenger will be encouraged by the character his team showed to come out on top and enhance their title credentials. Robin van Persie became Arsenal’s first casualty as he was forced off with an ankle injury. Bu tAlmunia played the ball out and, six passes later, Walcott ran on to Van Persie’s measured ball and took a touch before sending in a shot at the far post.
Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Sevilla center back Sebastien Squillaci, according to the Guardian. The Gunners have agreed a £5m fee with the Spanish side, and the France international has made his way to London for a medical.
It was reported last week that Arsenal had made a bid for the 30-year-old, but in confirming the bid, Sevilla sporting director Ramon Rodriguez said the offer wasn’t good enough. However, it appears that Arsenal have made up the necessary ground to persuade Sevilla to part with Squillaci, who joined the club from Lyon in a £6m deal in the summer of 2008.
Arsenal splashed out £8.5m on another French center back this summer with the purchase of Laurent Koscielny from Lorient, but there was still a need to make additional defensive reinforcements after the club said goodbye to William Gallas, Sol Campbell, Mikael Silvestre, and Philippe Senderos this summer.
And after adding an up-and-comer in Koscielny, Arsene Wenger is set to add an experienced stopper in Squillaci, who was part of the Monaco side that made a run to the Champions League final in 2004 and participated in the Champions League in both seasons he spent with Lyon and last season with Sevilla. He’s now set to take part in the tournament with his fourth different team, as due his refusal to play in the first leg of Sevilla’s Champions League playoff tie against Portuguese side Braga, Squillaci will be available to be part of Arsenal‘s Champions League squad.
Squillaci also has 20 caps for France, and along with new teammates Gael Clichy, Abou Diaby, and Bacary Sagna, was part of France’s 2010 World Cup squad. Squillaci was an unused sub in France’s matches against Uruguay and Mexico, but he started and played the full 90 in the 2-1 loss to South Africa that marked France’s early exit from the tournament.
Update: Sevilla have confirmed they have accepted a £6.5million offer from Arsenal for defender Sebastien Squillaci. The Frenchman is currently en route to England for a medical on Monday with a view to signing for the Gunners ahead of next Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
Theo Walcott registered the first hat-trick of his club career as Arsenal brought Blackpool back down to earth with a resounding win at the Emirates. Newly-promoted Blackpool, who won 4-0 at Wigan on the opening day, started well but Walcott slotted Arsenal ahead. Ian Evatt was sent off for a foul that appeared to be outside the area, Andrey Arshavin scoring the penalty, before Walcott drilled a third on 39 minutes. Abou Diaby clipped home, Walcott curled in and Marouane Chamakh headed a sixth.
Arsenal now their first victory of the season, after drawing their opener against Liverpool 1-1 and delighted manager Arsene Wenger. Blackpool did enjoy plenty of early possession and carved out the first meaningful attempt on goal when David Vaughan shot powerfully at Manuel Almunia. But Arsenal soon settled into a tidy rhythm and opened the scoring through Walcott’s side-footed finish on 12 minutes after a superb passing move between Arshavin, Chamakh and Tomas Rosicky. Arshavin, Chamakh and Walcott all went close before Rosicky put Chamakh through on goal and the Moroccan was brought down by last-man Evatt. Although the match began to resemble a training session late on, there was still time for Chamakh to nod in Van Persie’s corner for his first Arsenal goal and Blackpool substitute Brett Ormerod fire just over the bar.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger may have been out at the World Cup in South Africa working as a pundit for French television, but Wenger has not wasted any time in strengthening his squad. Long-term target Marouane Chamakh, the Morocco striker, was signed on a free transfer before the tournament, and confirmation of the arrival of promising French centre-back Laurent Koscielny came yesterday in what is understood to be a £10million deal. Wenger, though, fully intends to bring in more defensive cover as well as possibly a new goalkeeper, while the matter of the future of captain Cesc Fabregas, who will face team-mate Robin van Persie in Sunday’s World Cup final, remains to be sorted one way or another.
Wenger also revealed his doubts over first choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. The French manager revealed a decision on who was to be his number one next season would be made shortly. He has stated that a decision on the goalie position would be made once the World Cup was over. Juventus are open to offers for Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo, who has long been on Wenger’s radar, while Arsenal could also yet move for Joe Cole, the England midfielder now a free agent having left rivals Chelsea. However, with veterans William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre set to leave after the end of their contracts, and Sol Campbell considering his options, Arsenal are in more pressing need of at least one more body at the back. The Gunners have been linked with Bolton’s Gary Cahill as well as German international Serdar Tasci.
Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Feyenoord’s Dutch under-17s midfielder Kyle Ebecilio, 16, when he becomes available on July 1. Ebecilio was also wanted by Chelsea but Arsenal beat their London rivals and will only have to pay compensation for his training costs of around £500,000.
Feyenoord technical director Leo Beenhakker said: “We did what we could do by offering the kid a contract on time. But he wanted to wait, again this is his right. That he now goes to Arsenal, means that we only get a training allowance.” The 16-year-old midfielder is free to leave the Dutch club on July 1stand has been courted by a number of top Premier League clubs in recent months. However, despite interest from the current English champions, the Netherlands under-17 international has chosen Arsenal because of Arsene Wenger’s proven track record in bringing young players through into the first team.
Things go from bad to worse to downright shitty for the Gunners. Chris Samba scored the winner as Blackburn came from behind to defeat Arsenal, who must wait to secure third place in the Premier League.
Robin van Persie put Arsenal ahead with a header from six yards but Blackburn equalised when David Dunn tapped home after a corner was not cleared. Lukasz Fabianski saved from Morten Gamst Pedersen and Junior Hoilett. But Rovers bombarded the Arsenal keeper with high balls, and it was from a corner that Samba headed the winner.
The home team are assured of a mid-table finish after moving from 13th to 10th in the table. But Arsenal’s aim of finishing third – and therefore avoiding having to qualify for the group stage of next season’s Champions League – could go down to the final day. The Gunners have one game left to play, but Manchester City and Tottenham, who play each other on Wednesday, lead the chasing pack and could still potentially catch Arsenal.
With a 2-1 win, local rivals Tottenham Hotspurs all but ended Arsenal’s slim chances of winning the English league title. Spurs’ Premier League debutant Danny Rose crashed a sublime 30-yard volley past Manuel Almunia after 10 minutes. Gareth Bale tapped in Spurs’ second from six yards after Jermain Defoe’s pass, only a minute after half-time. Heurelho Gomes made three stunning saves to keep out Arsenal before Nicklas Bendtner pulled a goal back.
But it was not enough to prevent Tottenham recording their first league win over their arch rivals since November 1999 – a run of 20 games. Both Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp admitted prior to the match that anything other than victory would end their hopes of achieving their respective targets this season. After 34 games played and just 4 remaining out of the schedule, Arsenal are in 3rd place with 71 points. Chelsea are top with 77 and in second comes Man Utd with 73 points. Spurs are in 4th place with 61 points, just a point behind Man City.
The Champions League has left us behind. Despite a good 2-2 draw in the first leg against the defending champs, Barcelona were too good on their home ground and won 4-1 and 6-3 on aggregate. And now, like manager Arsene Wenger has stated, Arsenel needs to focus their complete attention to the English league.
The Gunners are 3 points away from Chelsea FC and the top of the table and will face local rivals Tottenham Hotspurs on Wednesday. Wenger believes his third-placed side must bounce back with a win at White Hart Lane on 14 April if they are to keep alive their hopes of avoiding a fifth successive season with any silverware. Manchester United has a point advantage over Arsenal and sit in second place.
Their visit to White Hart Lane is one of two remaining matches against teams in the top half of the table for Arsenal this season, with Manchester City coming to the Emirates on 24 April. Their fixture list is completed by away trips to Blackburn and Fulham and a final-day clash with Fulham at the Emirates.
Arsenal’s title chances were kept alive by a late injury time goal by striker Nicklas Bendtner as the Gunners snatched a victory over 10 men Wolverhampton. The London side seemed set to drop decisive points until substitute Bendtner rose to head home Bacary Sagna’s cross. The hosts dominated the game but were frustrated by their own inability in front of goal and Wolves’ commitment.
Even after Karl Henry’s dismissal for a lunge on Tomas Rosicky, Wolves battled hard but have nothing to show for it. Once again Arsenal were thankful to the late contribution of Bendtner, who scored a last-minute winner at Hull last month and who came off the bench here to score a goal that keeps the Gunners three points behind leaders Chelsea, who won 2-1 at Manchester United in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Captain Cesc Fabregas, who had been a doubt for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona after suffering severe bruising to his knee and leg at Birmingham, sustained the small fracture when fouled by Carles Puyol for the crucial late penalty which earned Arsenal a 2-2 draw. He will be out for at least six weeks with a cracked bone in his right fibula.
It means the Arsenal skipper will miss the rest of the Premier League season and is a serious doubt for the World Cup finals. The midfielder will still be injured when Spain have to announce their provisional squad on May 12.
While the loss of Fabregas may not be quite so damaging for Spain, with the 22-year-old starting only three of his country’s World Cup qualifiers, Arsenal will surely find it difficult to challenge for honours at home and in Europe without their talismanic captain. Although he was able to get up and fire home from the spot he was immediately in discomfort during his celebration. Fabregas left Emirates Stadium on crutches and had admitted he feared the worst.
Arsenal trail Premier League leaders Manchester United by four points, and while they may have favourable fixtures the loss of Fabregas, as well as William Gallas, for the rest of the campaign will make their task difficult. Andrei Arshavin also went off injured against Barcelona and will be out for most of April.
A stoppage time equalizer scored by Kevin Phillips blasted a big dent in Arsenal’s title hopes as they failed to secure a victory over Birmingham City. The match ended 1-1 and left the Gunners 4 points below Manchester United and 3 below Chelsea.
The Gunners took the lead in the 81st minute when Samir Nasri fired into the far corner from the edge of the area. But deep into added-time, a Bacary Sagna clearance struck Phillips and flew through Manuel Almunia’s hands. Phillips raced away in delight after the 250th goal of his impressive career, but he knew little about the strike which hit his head and was parried by Almunia before looping in.
United had a resounding 4-0 win over Bolton while Chelsea hammed Aston Villa 7-1.
With William Gallas, Mikaël Silvestre and Sol Campbell are all out of contract at the end of the season, coach Arsene Wenger is making defense his priority. Talks with Gallas, who would like the security of a two-year contract extension, remain ongoing, although the France defender’s negotiating position is hardly being helped by what Wenger described as an “endless calf strain”. Gallas will be 33 in August, but has not played since the 1-0 win against Liverpool more than a month ago and is a major doubt for the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final, on March 30 or 31.
Silvestre is also due to hold contract talks this month, while Campbell, who has been generally deputising for Gallas in the most difficult matches, is likely to wait until the end of the season before finalising his future. With Johan Djourou still recovering from a long-term knee injury and Philippe Sender’s on loan at Everton, it leaves Thomas Vermaelen as the only fit and available centre-back whose long-term future is settled.
Wenger has been monitoring Fulham’s Brede Hangeland and, with Arsenal having recently recorded pre-tax profits of £35.2 million, he could certainly afford one major signing.Wenger has shown interest in bringing both Hangeland and Neven Subotic to the Emirates and this summer he would do well to invest a large chunk of any transfer warchest in strengthening and rejuvenating an ageing and stuttering back line. However Fulham’s towering Norwegian could well be a good signing and the type of player Wenger could get the most out of. Borussia Dortmund centre back Subotic is one for the future and the 21 year old Serbian may be a youthful prospect but he has already shown himself to have quality during his stint in the Bundesliga.
Arsenal welcomed fellow London club West Ham United to the Emirates Stadium and after 5 minutes & some smart interplay between Denilson and Bendtner resulted in the little Brazilian scoring a neatly taken goal, slotting the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Arsenal were off to a good start. And then….
Just before half-time, Arsenal conceded a penalty and Vermaelen was sent off. But fortunately, like the Champions League semi-final against Villarreal, our goalkeeper saved the resulting penalty and we went into the break 1-0 up. After that Song dropped into the back line, and as a team we defended excellently. Cesc clipped the ball up onto Upson’s arm in the 82nd minute, and scored the resulting penalty, 2-0.
It took an injury time goal by Nicklas Bendtner to give Arsenal the whole 3 points and bring the club level with Chelsea on 64 points at the top of the league table. The 2-1 win was looking very improbable right until the end and Twitter updates had almost all Arsenal fans groaning that this was the kind of match that usually spell doom for the Gunners. We are so glad to be wrong.
Arsenal struck first with a typically incisive move that ended with Andrey Arshavin firing in from close range. Sol Campbell’s foul on what looked an offside Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink allowed Jimmy Bullard to fire Hull level from the penalty spot. Hull battled well after George Boateng was sent off but Bendtner fired home in injury time to give Arsenal victory.
It was a vintage performance from Arsenal and it wasn’t pretty. Doesn’t matter, we need to win the odd ugly match here and there.
That’s the way we gotta do it boys. Arsenal came back from losing the first leg of their round of 16 of the Champions League against Porto to pummel their opponents 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium. Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner – heavily criticised after a succession of misses in Saturday’s win against Burnley – scored twice in the first half & once in the second to wipe out the 2-1 lead Porto were protecting from the first game in Portugal.
Andrey Arshavin was instrumental in both first half goals as Bendtner added the final flourishes to Arsenal’s flowing attacking moves that enabled them to take control almost instantly. Samir Nasri, taking on Cesc Fabregas’ midfield mantle in the absence of Arsenal’s inspirational captain through injury, embarked on a weaving, angled solo run that took him past a succession of Porto defenders to score.
Substitute Emmanuel Eboue quickly added the fourth as Arsenal launched a sweeping counter-attack from a Porto corner, Arshavin again making life easy for his team-mate to go around Porto goalie Helton and score.
Arsenal defeated Burnely 3-1 last night to level on points with second-placed Chelsea. Cesc Fabregas opened the scoring when he slotted in from close range but soon afterwards he was forced off injured. Burnley equalised when David Nugent latched on to Leon Cort’s header and looped the ball over Manuel Almunia.
Theo Walcott curled in a sublime shot to ease the embarrassment of Nicklas Bendtner’s awful finishing before Andrey Arshavin rifled in a third. The result takes Arsenal to within two points of leaders Manchester United, who won at Wolves 1-0 later on Saturday. The Gunners are level on points with Chelsea but have an inferior goal difference and have played one game more than both their title rivals.
Arsenal defeated Stoke City away but the match was marred by the horrific injury to young Welsh talent Aaron Ramsey. The Gunners midfielder’s ankle buckled under a challenge by Ryan Shawcross, who was sent off and departed in tears. Shawcross took a heavy touch and caught Ramsey just above the ankle as he stretched for the ball. The Welshman collapsed on contact and he was left writhing on the floor, with his right foot appearing to hang at an unnatural angle. Shawcross, who was later called up to the England squad, was shown a straight red card and while Ramsey received lengthy treatment, several Arsenal players looked visibly shaken.
Stoke had taken the lead when Danny Pugh headed in from Rory Delap’s long throw-in but Nicklas Bendtner levelled with a fine header back across goal. Cesc Fabregas scored a penalty before Thomas Vermaelen tapped in, as Arsenal moved to only three points off Chelsea, who lost 2-4 to Manchester City and have 61 points. Manchester United have 60 points.
Despite struggling at times against Sunderland, Arsenal came out 2-0 winners and prepare to put the Champions League loss to Porto behind them. The Gunners wasted a series of chances before Nicklas Bendtner met Emmanuel Eboue’s cross to break the deadlock.
Arsenal sealed their win in injury time when Cesc Fabregas scored from the spot after he was fouled in the area. The winning margin should have been far greater, but the result means the Gunners’ title hopes are still very much alive despite losing to both the teams above them in recent weeks. Manchester United’s surprise defeat by Everton earlier in the day meant the third-placed Gunners are now only two points behind the Old Trafford side, with leaders Chelsea a further four points clear.
