Gunners cruise into last 16

November 25, 2009

Arsenal regained the swagger that has characterised their best performances this season as they eased into the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Standard Liege on Tuesday.

First-half goals from Samir Nasri and Denilson were enough to ensure the Gunners progressed to the knockout stages as winners of group H with a game to spare.

The Belgian champions were arguably unfortunate to see a Diedonne Mbokani shot strike the woodwork when the match was still goalless as well as being denied what appeared to be a clear penalty shortly after Nasri had given Arsenal the lead.

In truth, though, Arsenal could have won by a significantly larger margin and manager Arsene Wenger will have been delighted with a performance that, in the opening 45 minutes, could scarcely have been further removed from the lacklustre display that resulted in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland at the weekend.

That performance had provoked Wenger into a rare public display of frustration with his own players, and it was quickly apparent here that the manager’s point had been absorbed.

With Andrey Arshavin and Nasri supporting Carlos Vela in attack, Arsenal looked significantly sharper from the outset and the Belgian champions’ goal lived a charmed life early on.

A Cesc Fabregas corner after quarter of an hour generated a string of chances with Sinan Bolat saving Arshavin’s header before Vela hit the rebound against the post.

Bolat then denied William Gallas twice in quick succession before a goal-bound shot from Thomas Vermaelen bounced to safety off the head of the unwitting Arshavin.

There was another let-off for the visitors when Emanuel Eboue went down in the box following a challenge by Eliaquim Mangala.

Standard were living dangerously yet they went close to taking the lead when Mbokani unleashed a shot from the edge of the area that beat Manuel Almunia and struck the angle of post and bar.

A clash of heads between Gallas and Arshavin as they both went for a Fabregas cross left the Frenchman nursing a sore head that was to result in him making way for Mikael Silvestre at the break, by which time Arsenal were deservedly two goals in front.

Arshavin was still receiving treatment for his wounded head when Vermaelen launched a long diagonal ball for Nasri to chase through the inside right channel.

Landry Mulemo should have intercepted but his slip allowed Nasri to get clear and the midfielder took his chance with style, steering a controlled half-volley past Bolat’s right hand.

Arshavin appeared to have suffered no ill effects from the clash with Gallas as he connected with a Nasri pass to shave the outside of the post.

At the other end, Reginal Goreux had a good penalty shout turned down after being bundled over by Gallas but Arsenal were undeniably good value for the two-goal lead they established thanks to Denilson’s long-range effort in first-half stoppage time.

Picking the ball up 30 yards out, the Brazilian was not put under any kind of pressure and Standard paid the price of their relaxed approach when Bolat was unable to keep out a shot that swerved significantly but was directed at the centre of the goal.

With Chelsea due at the Emirates on Sunday, it was perhaps inevitable that Arsenal’s tempo dropped off after the interval.

That might have given Standard a way back into the contest but after Axel Witsel fluffed his strike from close range after being picked out by Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez’s clever free-kick, they did little to seriously unsettle Arsenal’s back four.

Standard finished the evening with ten men after Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez received a straight red card after an attempted head-butt on Fabregas with four minutes left.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: arsenal, bolat, Carlos Vela, champions league, clash, emanuel eboue, gunners, knockout stages, mangala, Manuel Almunia, match, nasri, outset, rebound, sinan, standard liege, swagger, taking the lead, woodwork

Chelsea have look of champions as Wolves crushed

November 22, 2009

Chelsea tightened their grip at the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 thrashing of beleaguered Wolves on Saturday.

The west Londoners produced a display of consummate authority at a soggy Stamford Bridge, capped by goals from Florent Malouda, two from Michael Essien and a welcome fourth from Joe Cole, his first since October 2008.

Statistics can never be the sole measure of a side’s calibre, but Chelsea’s numbers make for impressive reading.

This victory was their 12th in succession on home soil, a club record, and also ensured it is now a calendar year since they tasted defeat at Stamford Bridge in any competition.

It is reaching the point when Carlo Ancelotti can almost take maximum points for granted in this corner of the English capital, a rare luxury in the self-styled most competitive league in the world, and the fact that this latest triumph was achieved without a stack of star names only reaffirms the theory that the Italian has the Premier League’s strongest squad.

Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Deco should all be available for next weekend’s trip to Arsenal, but they were never likely to be needed on Saturday.

Like all newly-promoted sides, Wolves travelled here in hope more than expectation and that was exposed as forlorn as Chelsea scored twice in the first 15 minutes.

Both owed as much to limp defending as razor-sharp attacking. The visitors’ failure to close down Malouda’s run in the fifth minute was little short of negligent, the French international taking full advantage of Stamford Bridge’s wide open spaces to swagger forward and plant a rising drive into the top corner from just outside the penalty area.

Ten minutes later, they compounded that error. First, Wayne Hennessey needlessly tipped behind Salomon Kalou’s shot, which was arrowing well wide; then, from the resultant corner, Essien was unmarked as he headed in at the near post.

McCarthy duly tinkered with his formation, switching from a 3-5-2 to a more conventional 4-4-2, but it did nothing to stem the blue tide and it was three in the 23rd minute.

Joe Cole and Kalou had all the time they could desire to tee up Essien, whose scuffed shot somehow bobbled through Hennessey’s grasp.

Wolves would doubtless have preferred to pack up and retreat to the West Midlands rather than re-emerge for the second half but Chelsea were in an unforgiving mood.

The hosts continued to pile forward in search of goals and, in the 56th minute, they were given their reward.

After Nicolas Anelka had streaked down the left and centred for Kalou, the Ivorian directed a neat lay-off into the path of Joe Cole, whose 20-yard drive zipped through the hapless Hennessey to provide the cue for some exuberant celebrations.

With the game long since won, Ancelotti was able to ease off the accelerator as the seconds ticked away. Anelka was replaced so Gael Kakuta, the French teenager whose signing from Lens provoked Chelsea’s hotly-disputed 12-month transfer ban from FIFA, could make his first senior appearance.

The 18-year-old showed some neat touches in his cameo, and might have scored when he broke through on the right only to slam his shot into the side-netting.

Essien came agonisingly close to notching a hat-trick when his long-range shot was parried onto the top of the crossbar by Hennessey, but it hardly mattered. This was Chelsea’s day and, on this evidence, it could well be their season.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: calibre, carlo ancelotti, Drogba, florent malouda, french international, hennessey, home soil, Joe Cole, londoners, maximum points, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, rare luxury, reaching the point, Salomon Kalou, sole measure, stamford bridge, star names, swagger, wide open spaces

Gunners fire treble past Pompey

May 2, 2009

PORTSMOUTH, England (AFP) – Danish international Nicklas Bendtner scored twice as Arsenal prepared for next week’s Champions League semi-final with champions Manchester United by beating Portsmouth 3-0 at Fratton Park here on Saturday.

Victory extended Arsenal’s unbeaten league run to 21 games and they bolstered their confidence ahead of Tuesday’s second leg clash at the Emirates, where they must overturn a 1-0 deficit if they are to reach the final.

Bendtner made the most of a huge error by Portsmouth goalkeeper David James to open the scoring and added another from the penalty spot four minutes before the break after Andrei Arshavin had been fouled.

As Portsmouth searched for a way back into the game Carlos Vela found space to claim a debut league goal early in the second-half and secure a comfortable victory which also guaranteed the Gunners Champions League football next term.

Clearly mindful of Tuesday’s clash at the Emirates, Arsene Wenger made nine changes from the side that lost at Old Trafford in the first leg with Lukas Fabianski in goal, Vela up front and Aaron Ramsey in midfield.

The Gunners found their swagger after an uncertain start but were denied a penalty when Sol Campbell clumsily brought down Vela only for referee Lee Mason to give a corner instead.

However they did not have long to wait for a goal.

Minutes later an Arshavin corner was only half-cleared by Portsmouth and he was able to volley a cross toward Bendtner, whose weak header somehow slipped through the fingers of an embarrassed James, nicknamed ‘Calamity’ by some fans after a career blighted by high-profile gaffes.

Against the run of play Pompey carved Arsenal open in a rare moment of attacking endeavour as a one-two between Nadir Belhadj and Peter Crouch put the England striker clear but in trying to lift his finish over Fabianski his shot flew well wide.

Arshavin had the home defence rocking when he weaved between two players and hit the turf under pressure from Sylvain Distin only for referee Mason to once again turn down the penalty appeals.

In the 41st minute the Gunners finally had a spot-kick at the third time of asking as Arshavin feigned to shoot to draw Sean Davis into a lunge, in which the Portsmouth midfielder clearly won the ball.

But Mason pointed to the spot and Bendtner beat James.

Arsenal were cruising, forcing Portsmouth manager Paul Hart to make a double substitution at half-time, with the Nigerian duo of Kanu and John Utaka bolstering Pompey’s attacking options.

The changes had an immediate impact as first Utaka burst down the right and delivered a cross for Crouch whose off-balance header flew over the crossbar although the striker clearly felt he had been fouled.

Kanu was denied by Fabianski but the home side’s best chance arrived a minute later with Utaka’s pace taking him around the Polish goalkeeper. However, he lost balance and was unable to finish.

Inevitably, Arsenal punished Portsmouth for the lack of a killer instinct as Arshavin’s quick-fire pass into Vela saw the talented 20-year-old place a fine strike across James and into the far corner.

Portsmouth, still not yet assured of safety, saw their day get even worse when Noe Pamarot was sent-off for a crude challenge on Arshavin.

Tags: Aaron Ramsey, arsene wenger, Carlos Vela, champions league football, David James, distin, emirates, England, English Premier League, Fabianski, Fratton Park, gunners, home defence, James, John Utaka, league goal, lee mason, Lukas Fabianski, manchester united, nadir belhadj, Nicklas Bendtner, Noe Pamarot, old trafford, paul hart, peter crouch, pompey, Portsmouth, portsmouth england, rare moment, Sean Davis, sol campbell, swagger

Inter click into gear ahead of United trip

March 8, 2009

TURIN, Italy (AFP) – Inter Milan clicked ominously into gear ahead of their Champions League trip to Manchester United on Tuesday with an impressive 2-0 victory at Genoa on Saturday.

Goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Mario Blotelli sent Jose Mourinho’s team 10 points clear at the top of Serie A but perhaps more impressive was the manner of this victory.

Inter played like a Mourinho team, full of power, commitment, organisation and a little swagger too.

They got off to a wonderful start with Dejan Stankovic playing in Ibrahimovic in the second minute and the big Sweden forward holding off two challenges before chipping Genoa goalkeeper Rubinho.

Genoa had a real go at Inter in the first 45 minutes and Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar twice had to save the champions with excellent saves from Thiago Motta and Giuseppe Biava.

Any chance the hosts had of getting back into this game ended just past the hour mark as teenage forward Balotelli added the second, although there was a doubt as to whether or not the ball actually crossed the line.

The only negative for Mourinho was injuries to two centre-backs as both Marco Materazzi and Nicolas Burdisso left the game during the first period.

That and United’s even more impressive showing in beating Fulham in the FA Cup will be Mourinho’d two main worries ahead of Wednesday.

Earlier in the day 10-man AS Roma missed the chance to move into the top four as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Udinese.

They are now level on 45 points with Genoa but crucially one point behind fourth-placed Fiorentina, who host Palermo on Sunday.

In many ways Roma were lucky to escape with a point after Udinese were denied a blatant first half penalty while the hosts had to survive the last quarter of the game with a numerical disadvantage following the dismissal of Daniele De Rossi.

Brazilian Felipe had given Udinese the lead nine minutes into the second period but substitute Mirko Vucinic rescued a point for Roma just past the hour mark.

The capital-based team possibly had one eye on next week’s Champions League second leg clash against Arsenal — in which they trail 1-0 from the first leg in London — because they failed play with any spark throughout a largely dull match.

The most controversial moment of the game came right at the end of the first half as Switzerland midfielder Gokhan Inler burst into the Roma box only for France defender Philippe Mexes to clearly handle the ball.

It was an offence seen by everyone except somehow not the referee.

Justice seemed to be served on 54 minutes when Antonio Di Natale crossed for the unmarked Felipe to score easily with a header at the back post after a period of Udinese domination.

But Roma coach Luciano Spalletti threw Vucinic into the fray and he ran unchallenged across the Udinese box before shooting home right-footed to restore parity.

De Rossi then got his marching orders somewhat harshly after arguing with the referee.

Written by: AFP

Tags: Antonio Di Natale, daniele de rossi, FA Cup, Felipe, fiorentina, first period, France, fulham, genoa, Giuseppe Biava, inter milan, Italy, jose mourinho, julio cesar, last quarter, london, luciano spalletti, Manchester, manchester united, marco materazzi, Mario Blotelli, Milan, Mirko, Mirko Vucinic, nicolas burdisso, Palermo, philippe mexes, Roma, second period, Serie A, swagger, Sweden, Switzerland, Thiago Motta, turin, turin italy, zlatan ibrahimovic

Revitalised Arsenal face Everton test

January 28, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Game by game and piece by piece, Arsenal are beginning to stitch their tattered season back together.

The north Londoners’ recent performances may have lacked some of their renowned swagger, but for the moment manager Arsene Wenger is not complaining.

An eight-game unbeaten run is the club’s best of the season and such consistency is welcome given the way they scaled euphoric highs and plunged to desperate lows earlier in the campaign.

There is still work to be done – the Gunners may be undefeated since December 10 but they have been held to four draws since then – and a trip to Everton on Wednesday will test the side’s new-found resolve, but at least foundations have been laid for a late-season charge.

Arsenal, currently fifth in the table to Everton’s sixth, can ill afford any slip-ups.

With Aston Villa showing no sign of losing momentum in their own quest to break into the English Premier League’s top four, any dropped points could be decisive in the final reckoning.

Indeed, for all the talk of Villa gatecrashing the established elite, it has been rather overlooked that Everton themselves could draw to within two points of Arsenal with a win at Goodison Park.

Nevertheless, Arsenal manager Wenger can afford to feel bullish. The club’s crippling injury list is starting to ease, albeit gradually: William Gallas should be ready to return to the heart of the defence on Merseyside, while Eduardo da Silva’s rehabilitation from a badly broken leg continues apace, with the club hopeful he could be fit for a first team comeback next month.

A similar date has been set for Theo Walcott, who is progressing well from his dislocated shoulder.

Even Tomas Rosicky, the Czech midfielder who has spent so long on the sidelines many Arsenal fans must have forgotten he is even on their books, has started light training again, although there is still no immediate hope of a competitive return.

Wenger has every right to feel proud of his side’s durability in the absence of so many key creative players and even last weekend’s goalless FA Cup draw with Championship side Cardiff assumed a positive hue in the light of his injured stars.

"We have more and more players who are only 20 or 21 who have already beaten Manchester United and Chelsea and handled Premier League games," Wenger said.

"Don’t forget that you become really mature at 23 at that level so they will be ahead of that," the Frenchman added.

"That’s why I believe that we have to show now that we have the mental quality to win trophies and the mental quality required is consistency."

Arsenal’s revival will be subjected to a rigorous examination at Goodison, where they will meet an Everton side brimful with belief.

David Moyes’s men upset the odds twice against their city neighbours Liverpool last week, holding the title contenders to league and FA Cup draws at Anfield, and are also unbeaten in eight games.

They are also set to be bolstered by the return of a trio of attacking players from suspension and injury.

"We’ve never doubted ourselves in the big games and we’ve proven this week that we can cope," Everton defender Joleon Lescott said.

"We’ve obviously got some massive games coming up but again we are confident we can hold out at the back and we know we’ve got goalscorers like Tim Cahill, Victor Anichebe and Marouane Fellaini to come back in as well.

"We’re very positive."

Written by: AFP