Arsenal's latest Champions League quest began with a flourish but ended amid controversial scenes.
Spared the inconvenience of a qualifier, Arsène Wenger's side got their campaign up and running in September. And frankly, they were irresistible.
Braga - the eventual Europa League finalists - were brushed aside 6-0 at the Emirates with Marouane Chamakh scoring the pick of the goals, courtesy of a cheeky backheeled assist from Jack Wilshere.
Shakhtar Donetsk were no mugs, as they would prove with a run to the Quarter-Finals, but they were no match for Arsenal in north London either. The Ukrainians arrived on the back of a seven-match winning streak but were thrashed 5-1.
Partizan Belgrade got similar treatment in their own backyard and, by mid-October, Arsenal looked home and hosed as far as top spot was concerned. Indeed, some were tipping Wenger's team to mark their 13th consecutive year at Europe's top table with a run to match - or even exceed - their Final appearance of 2006.
Then it all went wrong.
Theo Walcott's casual finish gave Arsenal the lead at the impressive Donbass Arena but defensive slip-ups handed Shakhtar a come-from-behind victory and, suddenly, Group H did not look quite so easy.
It got notably harder when Braga inflicted another defeat in Portugal and Arsenal ended up settling for second place despite a home win over Partizan Belgrade.
That was careless at best and Wenger's players paid the price when Barcelona followed them out of the hat at the draw for the last 16.
The arrival of the Catalan giants in north London gave the Emirates its most memorable occasion since it opened in the summer of 2006. Arsenal went toe-to-toe with Pep Guardiola's outstanding side and hit back to win 2-1 with goals from Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin.
All was well with the world that night but it was a different story three weeks later.
Wenger set out his stall with containment in mind at the Nou Camp and Arsenal were compact and combative for the first hour, despite shipping a goal after a rare mistake from Cesc Fabregas.
Sergio Busquets' own goal made amends and the visitors were on course for a famous victory when Van Persie was dismissed for a second yellow card after taking on a shot after the whistle had blown.
The Dutchman was crestfallen - he had not heard the whistle amid the Nou Camp cacophony - but he had to go. And from that moment on Barcelona turned the screw.
Even then, the 10 men carved out a late chance for Nicklas Bendtner but his first touch eluded him and a 3-1 defeat on the night condemned Arsenal to an early exit.
Barcelona's serene progress to the Final and their dismantling of Manchester United when they got there underlined what a formidable force they are.
But Arsenal ran them close. Very close.
Source: Chris Harris, Arsenal.com on 3 Jun 11
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Season Review 2010/11 - The FA Cup
Anyone who says that the FA Cup has lost its aura needs only to look back at Arsenal’s campaign to see that the oldest knockout competition in the world still has its shine.
Though, more often than not, we were the ones suffering from its romance.
After being drawn at home against lower league opposition in rounds three and four, Arsenal fans could have been forgiven for expecting a comfortable passage through to the latter stages. That was simply not the case.
Twice Arsène Wenger was forced to thrust Cesc Fabregas into action from the bench with both Leeds and Huddersfield threatening to cause giant killings and twice the captain was Arsenal’s salvation.
He would tuck away two last-gasp penalties to spare any potential blushes. Even so, Leeds earned a fully-deserved replay and, once the Championship side were seen off at Elland Road, Huddersfield could count themselves unfortunate not to repeat the feat of their Yorkshire neighbours.
Wenger insisted the visit of the Terriers was of equal importance to the impending clash with Barcelona. It would prove to be just as difficult.
The great Herbert Chapman’s ‘other club’ were roared on by 9,000 travelling fans packed into the Clock End and the League Two club defied the 40-odd places that separated the two teams in the football ladder.
Alan Lee cancelled out Nicklas Bendtner’s opener and with five minutes left on the clock it looked like Arsenal would be making another trip north. But Fabregas was on the spot after Theo Walcott had been felled and Arsenal were in the Fifth Round… just.
The draw paired them with another side from the third tier of English football and another side with a connection to the red half of north London. Leyton Orient boasted former Academy product Ben Chorley among their ranks but it was to be a current member of the youth system who turned heads with his impressive showing.
Spanish centre half Ignasi Miquel’s impeccable debut was a one of few positives as a below-par Arsenal were taken to another replay thanks to a 1-1 draw at the Matchroom Stadium. A Bendtner hat-trick ensured the job was completed at Emirates Stadium to book a tasty Quarter-Final trip to Manchester United.
Wenger’s side had the majority of possession and twice the number of shots than their opponents at Old Trafford but bowed out days after succumbing to Barcelona in the Champions League.
Source: Giuseppe Muro, Arsenal.com on 2 Jun 11
Though, more often than not, we were the ones suffering from its romance.
After being drawn at home against lower league opposition in rounds three and four, Arsenal fans could have been forgiven for expecting a comfortable passage through to the latter stages. That was simply not the case.
Twice Arsène Wenger was forced to thrust Cesc Fabregas into action from the bench with both Leeds and Huddersfield threatening to cause giant killings and twice the captain was Arsenal’s salvation.
He would tuck away two last-gasp penalties to spare any potential blushes. Even so, Leeds earned a fully-deserved replay and, once the Championship side were seen off at Elland Road, Huddersfield could count themselves unfortunate not to repeat the feat of their Yorkshire neighbours.
Wenger insisted the visit of the Terriers was of equal importance to the impending clash with Barcelona. It would prove to be just as difficult.
The great Herbert Chapman’s ‘other club’ were roared on by 9,000 travelling fans packed into the Clock End and the League Two club defied the 40-odd places that separated the two teams in the football ladder.
Alan Lee cancelled out Nicklas Bendtner’s opener and with five minutes left on the clock it looked like Arsenal would be making another trip north. But Fabregas was on the spot after Theo Walcott had been felled and Arsenal were in the Fifth Round… just.
The draw paired them with another side from the third tier of English football and another side with a connection to the red half of north London. Leyton Orient boasted former Academy product Ben Chorley among their ranks but it was to be a current member of the youth system who turned heads with his impressive showing.
Spanish centre half Ignasi Miquel’s impeccable debut was a one of few positives as a below-par Arsenal were taken to another replay thanks to a 1-1 draw at the Matchroom Stadium. A Bendtner hat-trick ensured the job was completed at Emirates Stadium to book a tasty Quarter-Final trip to Manchester United.
Wenger’s side had the majority of possession and twice the number of shots than their opponents at Old Trafford but bowed out days after succumbing to Barcelona in the Champions League.
Source: Giuseppe Muro, Arsenal.com on 2 Jun 11
Season Review 2010/11 - Carling Cup
How seriously did Arsenal take the Carling Cup last season?
A 4-1 victory against Tottenham in the Third Round, Arsenal’s biggest win at White Hart Lane for 32 years, answered that question resoundingly.
Arsène Wenger shifted from his policy of blooding younger players in the competition for the mouthwatering trip across north London and fielded a line-up packed with first-team experience.
Henri Lansbury opened the scoring and two Samir Nasri penalties plus an Andrey Arshavin strike secured an emphatic away win in extra time after Robbie Keane's equaliser.
Newcastle were brushed aside in the next round after Tim Krul’s bizarre own goal had given Arsenal the advantage on the stroke of half time. Theo Walcott doubled the lead not long after the break and Nicklas Bendtner’s stunning third settled matters.
Walcott added a fourth late on as the Gunners strolled into the Quarter-Finals for the eighth successive year.
An Antolin Alcaraz own goal and Bendtner’s sliding finish were enough to see off a resilient Wigan on a bitterly cold night at Emirates Stadium and book a Semi-Final spot on a relatively untroubled route to the last four.
Wenger’s boys were handed a two-legged tie against Championship side Ipswich, the kindest draw on paper, for a place at Wembley.
An easy passage to the Final then? Most definitely not.
Cesc Fabregas led a star-studded side at Portman Road but an out-of-sorts Arsenal suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat thanks to Tamas Priskin’s breakaway goal.
Indeed, in the dying minutes, Carlos Edwards might have doubled that advantage only for Wojciech Szczesny to come to his side’s rescue. An intervention that would prove vital.
Ipswich continued to frustrate in the first half at Emirates Stadium before a moment of brilliance from Bendtner sparked a storming comeback to send Arsenal to Wembley.
The Dane’s wonderful curling strike settled the nerves on the hour and then goals from Laurent Koscielny and Fabregas sparked jubilant scenes.
Birmingham were now the only obstacle between Arsenal and a first trophy since 2005.
Fabregas and Walcott picked up injuries against Stoke in the week leading up to the Final to rule them out of the showpiece. That set the tone for more misfortune at Wembley.
Robin van Persie had to be withdrawn after injuring himself in the act of scoring and a last-gasp defensive mix-up put paid to hopes of Carling Cup glory in heartbreaking fashion.
Source: Giuseppe Muro, Arsenal.com on 1 Jun 11
A 4-1 victory against Tottenham in the Third Round, Arsenal’s biggest win at White Hart Lane for 32 years, answered that question resoundingly.
Arsène Wenger shifted from his policy of blooding younger players in the competition for the mouthwatering trip across north London and fielded a line-up packed with first-team experience.
Henri Lansbury opened the scoring and two Samir Nasri penalties plus an Andrey Arshavin strike secured an emphatic away win in extra time after Robbie Keane's equaliser.
Newcastle were brushed aside in the next round after Tim Krul’s bizarre own goal had given Arsenal the advantage on the stroke of half time. Theo Walcott doubled the lead not long after the break and Nicklas Bendtner’s stunning third settled matters.
Walcott added a fourth late on as the Gunners strolled into the Quarter-Finals for the eighth successive year.
An Antolin Alcaraz own goal and Bendtner’s sliding finish were enough to see off a resilient Wigan on a bitterly cold night at Emirates Stadium and book a Semi-Final spot on a relatively untroubled route to the last four.
Wenger’s boys were handed a two-legged tie against Championship side Ipswich, the kindest draw on paper, for a place at Wembley.
An easy passage to the Final then? Most definitely not.
Cesc Fabregas led a star-studded side at Portman Road but an out-of-sorts Arsenal suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat thanks to Tamas Priskin’s breakaway goal.
Indeed, in the dying minutes, Carlos Edwards might have doubled that advantage only for Wojciech Szczesny to come to his side’s rescue. An intervention that would prove vital.
Ipswich continued to frustrate in the first half at Emirates Stadium before a moment of brilliance from Bendtner sparked a storming comeback to send Arsenal to Wembley.
The Dane’s wonderful curling strike settled the nerves on the hour and then goals from Laurent Koscielny and Fabregas sparked jubilant scenes.
Birmingham were now the only obstacle between Arsenal and a first trophy since 2005.
Fabregas and Walcott picked up injuries against Stoke in the week leading up to the Final to rule them out of the showpiece. That set the tone for more misfortune at Wembley.
Robin van Persie had to be withdrawn after injuring himself in the act of scoring and a last-gasp defensive mix-up put paid to hopes of Carling Cup glory in heartbreaking fashion.
Source: Giuseppe Muro, Arsenal.com on 1 Jun 11
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