Arsenal's fans are developing a loathing for Manchester City as strong as the two managers' distaste for Carling Cup scheduling
Arsenal fans have developed a particular enmity for Manchester City
The Manchester City "feeder club" tag was never going to make Gunners enthusiasts warm to the cash-soaked league leaders and with rumours that Robin van Persie could join the exodus north next summer, to play alongside Samir Nasri, Gaël Clichy and Kolo Touré, the bitterness is not about to cease.
The Emirates Stadium can be as quiet as the Highbury Library on occasion, but on Tuesday night it was rocking as the home congregation jeered and sang songs directed at Nasri and took any chance to mock their opposite numbers. The time-honoured "Who are you?" was sung back and forth: the answer Arsenal fans fear most is that City are the club who come calling each year to take yet another star. On this evening, the home fans were also forced to swallow being beaten.
Owen Hargreaves is on a long road back
The former Manchester United and England midfielder was making his third appearance for City, following a prolonged injury nightmare. He requires game time but on this showing it will not be easy for him. A misplaced header after 25 minutes was about all he mustered during the opening exchanges, as he sat in the holding midfield berth. As half-time approached the 30-year-old's radar was again askew as a slipped pass beyond the Arsenal defence found space but not a colleague.
Frustration spilled over when he was booked on 58 minutes, for dumping Emmanuel Frimpong to the floor, but after that there was the odd flicker of the operator who has shaped games for United, Bayern Munich and England: one quick look up before dinking a reverse ball into Edin Dzeko was about as good as he got. At least he survived 79 minutes before leaving the field, apparently unscathed.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may have the muscle Theo Walcott lacks
The No15 shone brightest for Arsenal. Early on, he caused the experienced Pablo Zabaleta problems, forcing a corner with a left-foot effort and fashioning a give-and-go with Marouane Chamakh that ended with a shot that Costel Pantilimon had to save sharply. Stefan Savic was the next opponent he terrorised when, after applying the after-burners down his right flank, he turned a nothing ball into a 50-50.
After the break, Oxlade-Chamberlain resumed. A ducking, weaving run finished with him unloading with his left again – Pantilimon punched away. A later attempt on goal was just a little too high. In this company the 18-year-old was at ease, and unlike Walcott when he joined the club – also from Southampton – Oxlade-Chamberlain has the muscles and build for the hurly-burly of the elite game. Whether Wenger gives him a prolonged chance at that level remains to be seen.
Costel Pantilimon could be an able deputy for Joe Hart
The 24-year-old Romanian suggested he may be able to handle the step up, if required. His first save was a stunning reflex effort from Park Chu-young at close range – the 6ft 8in keeper threw out a paw to parry. After 27 minutes a fine save tipped away a fierce 25-yard shot from Oxlade-Chamberlain. And although the Romanian international missed a chance of glory at the close, when failing to kick at Lukasz Fabianski's empty goal after the Arsenal goalkeeper had wandered up for a corner, this was an encouraging outing.
Arsenal and City should stop complaining about fixture congestion
At this time of the season a familiar cry can be heard, bewailing how the Carling Cup exhausts players and generally gets in the way of what really matters – the Premier League. Arsène Wenger and Roberto Mancini were both at it before this tie. City may have had only two days rest after their draw at Liverpool but Mancini could still field an XI worth north of £120m which featured Nigel de Jong (a World Cup finalist), Adam Johnson (an England winger) and Kolo Touré (an Arsenal Invincible).
Wenger's grumbles were backed up by his captain, Van Persie, who wrote in the programme: "I know it's hard to get fixtures right for every single team but I don't really understand the scheduling either for us or City." Arsenal had an extra day to recover.
Maybe they should all just stop moaning and get on with it.
Source: Jamie Jackson, The Guardian on 29 Nov 11
Showing posts with label Carling Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carling Cup. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Manchester City fielded Samir Nasri and turned the taunts on Arsenal
Samir Nasri's appearance at the Emirates prompted taunts about money but spending power told on the pitch
Not everyone finds it easy to sympathise with Roberto Mancini when he laments the madness of juggling his jewels, but the Manchester City manager had a point when he complained about having to pick teams to play in the Premier League at Anfield and the Carling Cup at the Emirates within a mere 52 hours. There was more than a hint of mischief in the air, therefore, when it transpired that the only player capable of starting both fixtures was a certain Samir Nasri. What an astonishing coincidence.
Although Arsène Wenger had requested "respect", Nasri, pictured, was the focus of the customary jeers and a none-too complimentary reworking of the song with which he was once hailed. One of the players, Emmanuel Frimpong, felt compelled to have an exchange of views – described by an Arsenal spokesman as "handbags" – in the tunnel.
"You only went for the money," suggested the home fans. Did he really? That is the uncomfortable question that lurks below the cheap shots. Few neutrals would argue which squad is better placed for the prizes this season, and Nasri got to travel home with the winning team. But there is also an awkward question for Nasri to ask himself. A mainstay for his old club, he has started only four league games in almost three months for his new club.
He performed as if unaffected by being cast as pantomime villain. If his selection was a test of character it was one he passed, even if his game was not at its most creative. Mancini was not massively enthusiastic. Asked whether the commotion had affected his man, the Italian replied: "Maybe. I think that Nasri can play better."
Arsenal were intent on showing that the club Nasri left behind have a future. There were four very bright sparks who looked not in the least intimidated.
Frimpong chopped and chased in midfield; his partner, Francis Coquelin, was a ball-winner who prompted with intelligence; Ignasi Miquel filled in with a composed display at left-back; and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was full of verve and imagination. The 18‑year‑old winger has seen his Carling Cup experiences increase in difficulty (from Shrewsbury via Bolton to Manchester City) and here he gave an experienced defence a real headache. Arsenal will be hoping the City bench was not paying too much attention.
Mancini's men found it hard to make inroads against a team who looked noticably fresher. Assisting the kids were mature displays from, notably, Yossi Benayoun, Laurent Koscielny and, most notably, Sébastien Squillaci.
It is unlikely that Arsenal can keep up with the City juggernaut, for the precise reason that made Wenger acknowledge that it is no good building a team of youngsters and hoping they will not be plundered by the wealthy.
The message in Mancunian accents around the Highbury hostelries 90 minutes before kick-off was loud and clear: "Robin van Persie, he's gonna be blue." Those words encapsulated what seems inescapable about the different roads that these clubs are taking.
At the going rate for City's No19, the entire Arsenal first XI cost the same as Nasri plus a couple of extra toes (approximately £27m, all in). Fortunately football has a rich history of being illogical. For 83 minutes City were thoroughly tested and Costel Pantilimon was by the far the busier goalkeeper.
Logic prevailed, though, when Edin Dzeko and Adam Johnson combined on the break to tee up Sergio Agüero, whose finish was unerring. And the name City's fans chose to herald after the goal went in? Samir Nasri, of course.
Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 29 Nov 11
Not everyone finds it easy to sympathise with Roberto Mancini when he laments the madness of juggling his jewels, but the Manchester City manager had a point when he complained about having to pick teams to play in the Premier League at Anfield and the Carling Cup at the Emirates within a mere 52 hours. There was more than a hint of mischief in the air, therefore, when it transpired that the only player capable of starting both fixtures was a certain Samir Nasri. What an astonishing coincidence.
Although Arsène Wenger had requested "respect", Nasri, pictured, was the focus of the customary jeers and a none-too complimentary reworking of the song with which he was once hailed. One of the players, Emmanuel Frimpong, felt compelled to have an exchange of views – described by an Arsenal spokesman as "handbags" – in the tunnel.
"You only went for the money," suggested the home fans. Did he really? That is the uncomfortable question that lurks below the cheap shots. Few neutrals would argue which squad is better placed for the prizes this season, and Nasri got to travel home with the winning team. But there is also an awkward question for Nasri to ask himself. A mainstay for his old club, he has started only four league games in almost three months for his new club.
He performed as if unaffected by being cast as pantomime villain. If his selection was a test of character it was one he passed, even if his game was not at its most creative. Mancini was not massively enthusiastic. Asked whether the commotion had affected his man, the Italian replied: "Maybe. I think that Nasri can play better."
Arsenal were intent on showing that the club Nasri left behind have a future. There were four very bright sparks who looked not in the least intimidated.
Frimpong chopped and chased in midfield; his partner, Francis Coquelin, was a ball-winner who prompted with intelligence; Ignasi Miquel filled in with a composed display at left-back; and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was full of verve and imagination. The 18‑year‑old winger has seen his Carling Cup experiences increase in difficulty (from Shrewsbury via Bolton to Manchester City) and here he gave an experienced defence a real headache. Arsenal will be hoping the City bench was not paying too much attention.
Mancini's men found it hard to make inroads against a team who looked noticably fresher. Assisting the kids were mature displays from, notably, Yossi Benayoun, Laurent Koscielny and, most notably, Sébastien Squillaci.
It is unlikely that Arsenal can keep up with the City juggernaut, for the precise reason that made Wenger acknowledge that it is no good building a team of youngsters and hoping they will not be plundered by the wealthy.
The message in Mancunian accents around the Highbury hostelries 90 minutes before kick-off was loud and clear: "Robin van Persie, he's gonna be blue." Those words encapsulated what seems inescapable about the different roads that these clubs are taking.
At the going rate for City's No19, the entire Arsenal first XI cost the same as Nasri plus a couple of extra toes (approximately £27m, all in). Fortunately football has a rich history of being illogical. For 83 minutes City were thoroughly tested and Costel Pantilimon was by the far the busier goalkeeper.
Logic prevailed, though, when Edin Dzeko and Adam Johnson combined on the break to tee up Sergio Agüero, whose finish was unerring. And the name City's fans chose to herald after the goal went in? Samir Nasri, of course.
Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 29 Nov 11
Sergio Agüero strikes late to seal Manchester City's success at Arsenal
The Carling Cup may not be the foremost prize in English football, but Arsenal and Manchester City could not have been more resolute. As the quarter-final proceeded a goal seemed ever more unlikely, but the visitors struck on the break six minutes from the end. Adam Johnson released Sergio Agüero and the Argentine shot low past Lukasz Fabianski to settle the tie.
In view of the depth and breadth of their squad, it would have been virtually impossible for City not to send out a potent line-up. If there was any mischief it lay in the inclusion of Samir Nasri, who had been on the opposition's books at the start of the season when £24m was still to change hands. Arsenal stuck to standard procedure for this match, including quite a few players who will be busy proving themselves for some time to come.
That policy was, in itself, a test for City since the expectations were higher than ever with such seeming callowness in the opposition's ranks. Roberto Mancini, the City manager, left no one in doubt over his priorities. Nasri was the one member of the starting line-up that drew a gruelling match at Anfield who was required to be on the Emirates pitch at kick-off.
Even so, the back-up selection had an air of potency. Arsenal, for their part, were very far from conceding the tie. Perhaps the renown of some City figures simply galvanised them. Following a lay-off by Marouane Chamakh, for instance, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hit a shot from distance that had to be tipped over the bar impressively by the goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon after 27 minutes.
The reaction that followed from City illustrated their expectations. Alexander Kolarov, operating in wide midfield, was withdrawn so that City could bring on Agüero to add to the attacking intent while Nasri was relocated towards the left. Arsenal were far from cowed. The supposed handicap in a shortfall of experience merely emphasised the freshness and hunger in the ranks. Regardless of the names in the line-up, there was confidence and desire.
The time must come when a club hankers after even a trophy with a low profile. Lacking silverware since 2005, Arsenal should be ready to fall for the once obscure charms of the Carling Cup. They were sufficiently in earnest to get to Wembley in this competition last season, where they succumbed to Birmingham City, a club for whom the afternoon was a picturesque diversion on the otherwise grim road to relegation.
Even that blow has not left Arsenal disenchanted with the tournament. Here they were striving to take a further step towards reaching the final for the third time in six seasons. City, by contrast, must be in a more turbulent state of mind. The excitement of leading the Premier League is equalled only by the anxiety that they may soon be eliminated from the Champions League.
At least the liveliness of the contest here ensured that minds did not wander to any other topic at all. City would have realised the intensity of the challenge from at least the 11th minute. A slick move saw Francis Coquelin cross from the right and it took an outstanding save from Pantilimon to tip the shot by Park Chu-young over the bar. There was apparent expertise in City's ranks, but the Arsenal players relished opponents who added to the significance of the occasion.
If the visitors had the greater know-how, the challenge appeared to invigorate Arsenal. In that regard there was intrigue as well as incident, despite the match's lack of a goal. It was Arsène Wenger's men who had the intensity that promised a breakthrough. Indeed, Emmanuel Frimpong's run was only checked by a foul that brought a yellow card for Owen Hargreaves.
Obduracy is not anticipated in the Carling Cup, a tournament without replays that has no interest in deadlock. The sides at the Emirates were not conservative in the least, yet the edge was often blunt in attack. The goalkeepers had been kept busy but the great majority of their work was routine. When team selections are shuffled, it may be that attacking efficiency declines.
Even so, the struggle was hard-fought and it retained the interest of the crowd. City had redoubled their effort to assume command of the action. They achieved that territorially, but Arsenal did not seem harassed or overpowered. Indeed, Wenger's mind was on enhancing the attack and Gervinho was brought on for Park, who had not provoked much alarm in City.
Any tension lay in the stalemate itself. The player looked as if they, too, had started to think that one slip would settle the quarter-final. The Carling Cup is often regarded as a diversion of sorts, but these clubs could not have been more in earnest. Indeed, this had turned into a game that had to search long and hard for its decisive moment.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 29 Nov 11
In view of the depth and breadth of their squad, it would have been virtually impossible for City not to send out a potent line-up. If there was any mischief it lay in the inclusion of Samir Nasri, who had been on the opposition's books at the start of the season when £24m was still to change hands. Arsenal stuck to standard procedure for this match, including quite a few players who will be busy proving themselves for some time to come.
That policy was, in itself, a test for City since the expectations were higher than ever with such seeming callowness in the opposition's ranks. Roberto Mancini, the City manager, left no one in doubt over his priorities. Nasri was the one member of the starting line-up that drew a gruelling match at Anfield who was required to be on the Emirates pitch at kick-off.
Even so, the back-up selection had an air of potency. Arsenal, for their part, were very far from conceding the tie. Perhaps the renown of some City figures simply galvanised them. Following a lay-off by Marouane Chamakh, for instance, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hit a shot from distance that had to be tipped over the bar impressively by the goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon after 27 minutes.
The reaction that followed from City illustrated their expectations. Alexander Kolarov, operating in wide midfield, was withdrawn so that City could bring on Agüero to add to the attacking intent while Nasri was relocated towards the left. Arsenal were far from cowed. The supposed handicap in a shortfall of experience merely emphasised the freshness and hunger in the ranks. Regardless of the names in the line-up, there was confidence and desire.
The time must come when a club hankers after even a trophy with a low profile. Lacking silverware since 2005, Arsenal should be ready to fall for the once obscure charms of the Carling Cup. They were sufficiently in earnest to get to Wembley in this competition last season, where they succumbed to Birmingham City, a club for whom the afternoon was a picturesque diversion on the otherwise grim road to relegation.
Even that blow has not left Arsenal disenchanted with the tournament. Here they were striving to take a further step towards reaching the final for the third time in six seasons. City, by contrast, must be in a more turbulent state of mind. The excitement of leading the Premier League is equalled only by the anxiety that they may soon be eliminated from the Champions League.
At least the liveliness of the contest here ensured that minds did not wander to any other topic at all. City would have realised the intensity of the challenge from at least the 11th minute. A slick move saw Francis Coquelin cross from the right and it took an outstanding save from Pantilimon to tip the shot by Park Chu-young over the bar. There was apparent expertise in City's ranks, but the Arsenal players relished opponents who added to the significance of the occasion.
If the visitors had the greater know-how, the challenge appeared to invigorate Arsenal. In that regard there was intrigue as well as incident, despite the match's lack of a goal. It was Arsène Wenger's men who had the intensity that promised a breakthrough. Indeed, Emmanuel Frimpong's run was only checked by a foul that brought a yellow card for Owen Hargreaves.
Obduracy is not anticipated in the Carling Cup, a tournament without replays that has no interest in deadlock. The sides at the Emirates were not conservative in the least, yet the edge was often blunt in attack. The goalkeepers had been kept busy but the great majority of their work was routine. When team selections are shuffled, it may be that attacking efficiency declines.
Even so, the struggle was hard-fought and it retained the interest of the crowd. City had redoubled their effort to assume command of the action. They achieved that territorially, but Arsenal did not seem harassed or overpowered. Indeed, Wenger's mind was on enhancing the attack and Gervinho was brought on for Park, who had not provoked much alarm in City.
Any tension lay in the stalemate itself. The player looked as if they, too, had started to think that one slip would settle the quarter-final. The Carling Cup is often regarded as a diversion of sorts, but these clubs could not have been more in earnest. Indeed, this had turned into a game that had to search long and hard for its decisive moment.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 29 Nov 11
Lack of ammunition costs Gunners
In Robin Van Persie, Arsenal possess the only Premier League striker who could make Man City's attack stronger, now that Wayne Rooney is presumably a no-go. He would be costly, and there has been little evidence that he would actually move to the Etihad Campus, but in Arsenal's exit from the League Cup, further proof was supplied of his worth to his current club. Manchester City's progress came via a pincer movement involving two extremely highly-priced strikers, while Van Persie, exiled by one of his injury 'red zones', could only look on in a fetching leather jacket.
Tight games are won by proven players holding their nerve. Edin Dzeko's ball to Adam Johnson was flicked into the direction of Sergio Aguero, a move made by almost £80 million of talent. The Argentine scored unerringly, his coolness in total contrast to the previous efforts of Marouane Chamakh and Park Chu-Yung, two budget signings who looked what they were paid for. City's first effort on target had won the match, to serve as proof that money changes everything in football.
The League Cup, in its various guises, has often provided hurt for Arsene Wenger down the years but no occasion was more painful than last season's final defeat to Birmingham City. The stealing in of Obafemi Martins on to a catastrophic mix-up between Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny precipitated a loss of form and focus that ended Arsenal's hopes on four fronts in a matter of weeks. It had been Arsenal's best chance of a trophy for some time.
Defeat was less painful this time, despite it coming from a similarly late goal. "You may say we lost the easiest competition to win, but if you look at this season and the teams still in it, it doesn't look so easy," said Wenger. "I want to take the positives. How far can we go this season? If we keep this attitude then we have hope." In a move that had appeared designed to prevent further hurt, at a time when a feel-good factor has been restored to the Emirates, Wenger reintroduced his policy of playing the callow and promising rather than the experienced and trusted. In midfield he was rewarded by energetic displays from Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong, and in defence from Miguel. In attack, the burgeoning talent of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain flourished.
Yet Park and Chamakh would form an unfamiliar and unlikely partnership. The latter has been linked with a €10 million move to PSG, a price scoffed at by many, and looking borderline extortionate as yet another lethargic and blunt performance was turned in. He is so devoid of confidence that change can only be a good thing where he once looked so full of promise. A trip over his own heels, a shot that was blazed well wide and an eyes-closed miss of a golden headed chance in the last minute were chilling evidence of a player who has completely lost his way.
Park's previous start, against Marseille, had seen an early miss cause his head to go down, and when he was denied by City keeper Costel Pantilimon's admirable change of direction in the 11th minute, his mettle was again tested. He would never again be granted such a great chance, but his hard work and touch far exceeded the contribution of his partner for the evening.
Special attention from both sets of fans came for Samir Nasri. Booed by his former admirers, and regaled in a song once sung by Arsenal fans but now by his Mancunian followers, the Frenchman had much to prove in the light of relative anonymity compared to the wonders of David Silva. This was to be no figurative sticking up of fingers at those who have lambasted for supposed greed. Mancini may have moved him across his midfield throughout the match, but Nasri never supplied the influence he once provided when a home player at the Emirates.
"Nasri can play better," defended Roberto Mancini. "Maybe this night is the first night he came back to Arsenal. It not easy to come back. He can play better because he is a top player and can play well."
Nasri was overshadowed by those who were once his understudies, as Frimpong and Coquelin worked exceedingly hard, while Oxlade-Chamberlain, a replacement of sorts and briefly a colleague, thrilled in the first half in particular. Unlike Jack Wilshere a year ago, he has been wrapped in cotton wool, but Theo Walcott needs to retain the form of his life to keep him out for long on this evidence.
"Chamberlain has improved a lot. I have been very patient with him up until now. It was important to hold him back," said Wenger on the subject of his latest gem. "I was impressed by the consistency of his game. Two months ago you pushed him off the ball easily but now his resistance is there."
City had toiled in the first half, leading Mancini and David Platt to reach for their tactics sheets and change the formation as Aguero came on for a rather unhappy looking Aleksandar Kolarov. Owen Hargreaves, making his first appearance for six weeks, and only his second in laser blue, did most of his work in deep tandem with Nigel De Jong, and, in the time-honoured fashion of an ageing player whose legs may have gone, did much pointing and exhorting in the absence of too much running around. He lasted 80 minutes but could not repeat the goal-scoring fairy story of his first City appearance.
The goal arrived when class told, and youthful naivety had erred. Arsenal were undermanned after their own corner at the other end, and Aguero did the rest, the type of clinical job their own attack had failed to provide. This time, exit from the competition did not feel quite so hurtful. At least Arsene Wenger knew where it had gone wrong. "We missed experience in the final third," he said.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Honourable mentions to Miguel, Frimpong and Coquelin in red and Pantilimon in blue, but Oxlade-Chamberlain looked the most real deal of all. Arsenal have another youngster of limitless promise, it seems, and a good left foot too, judging by his thunderous drive on the City goal in the first half.
ARSENAL VERDICT
A defence made up of four central defenders looked like somewhat Pulis-ian in approach yet Johan Djourou and Miguel both showed they are defenders of versatility. Here were more positives on an evening where defeat was rather undeserved for Arsenal yet arrived via an inability to put the ball in the net.
MANCHESTER CITY VERDICT
That dominance over most other English teams never happened here, and midfield was a particular area of danger in the first half hour. That the Manchester set of journalists were singing the praise of Romanian keeper Pantilimon says much, but this is a squad made up of imported winners. Aguero did what he is paid for and why he was paid for.
TUNNEL OF LOVE?
A Twitter row between Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Frimpong of a few months ago resumed with some harsh words exchanged at the final whistle, but no more than that, said an Arsenal press officer who leapt to Wenger's defence when repeated questions were asked about thrown punches. "Words exchanged and that was it. Just noise," was the description offered.
Source: Jon Brewin, ESPN Soccernet on 29 Nov 11
Tight games are won by proven players holding their nerve. Edin Dzeko's ball to Adam Johnson was flicked into the direction of Sergio Aguero, a move made by almost £80 million of talent. The Argentine scored unerringly, his coolness in total contrast to the previous efforts of Marouane Chamakh and Park Chu-Yung, two budget signings who looked what they were paid for. City's first effort on target had won the match, to serve as proof that money changes everything in football.
The League Cup, in its various guises, has often provided hurt for Arsene Wenger down the years but no occasion was more painful than last season's final defeat to Birmingham City. The stealing in of Obafemi Martins on to a catastrophic mix-up between Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny precipitated a loss of form and focus that ended Arsenal's hopes on four fronts in a matter of weeks. It had been Arsenal's best chance of a trophy for some time.
Defeat was less painful this time, despite it coming from a similarly late goal. "You may say we lost the easiest competition to win, but if you look at this season and the teams still in it, it doesn't look so easy," said Wenger. "I want to take the positives. How far can we go this season? If we keep this attitude then we have hope." In a move that had appeared designed to prevent further hurt, at a time when a feel-good factor has been restored to the Emirates, Wenger reintroduced his policy of playing the callow and promising rather than the experienced and trusted. In midfield he was rewarded by energetic displays from Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong, and in defence from Miguel. In attack, the burgeoning talent of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain flourished.
Yet Park and Chamakh would form an unfamiliar and unlikely partnership. The latter has been linked with a €10 million move to PSG, a price scoffed at by many, and looking borderline extortionate as yet another lethargic and blunt performance was turned in. He is so devoid of confidence that change can only be a good thing where he once looked so full of promise. A trip over his own heels, a shot that was blazed well wide and an eyes-closed miss of a golden headed chance in the last minute were chilling evidence of a player who has completely lost his way.
Park's previous start, against Marseille, had seen an early miss cause his head to go down, and when he was denied by City keeper Costel Pantilimon's admirable change of direction in the 11th minute, his mettle was again tested. He would never again be granted such a great chance, but his hard work and touch far exceeded the contribution of his partner for the evening.
Special attention from both sets of fans came for Samir Nasri. Booed by his former admirers, and regaled in a song once sung by Arsenal fans but now by his Mancunian followers, the Frenchman had much to prove in the light of relative anonymity compared to the wonders of David Silva. This was to be no figurative sticking up of fingers at those who have lambasted for supposed greed. Mancini may have moved him across his midfield throughout the match, but Nasri never supplied the influence he once provided when a home player at the Emirates.
"Nasri can play better," defended Roberto Mancini. "Maybe this night is the first night he came back to Arsenal. It not easy to come back. He can play better because he is a top player and can play well."
Nasri was overshadowed by those who were once his understudies, as Frimpong and Coquelin worked exceedingly hard, while Oxlade-Chamberlain, a replacement of sorts and briefly a colleague, thrilled in the first half in particular. Unlike Jack Wilshere a year ago, he has been wrapped in cotton wool, but Theo Walcott needs to retain the form of his life to keep him out for long on this evidence.
"Chamberlain has improved a lot. I have been very patient with him up until now. It was important to hold him back," said Wenger on the subject of his latest gem. "I was impressed by the consistency of his game. Two months ago you pushed him off the ball easily but now his resistance is there."
City had toiled in the first half, leading Mancini and David Platt to reach for their tactics sheets and change the formation as Aguero came on for a rather unhappy looking Aleksandar Kolarov. Owen Hargreaves, making his first appearance for six weeks, and only his second in laser blue, did most of his work in deep tandem with Nigel De Jong, and, in the time-honoured fashion of an ageing player whose legs may have gone, did much pointing and exhorting in the absence of too much running around. He lasted 80 minutes but could not repeat the goal-scoring fairy story of his first City appearance.
The goal arrived when class told, and youthful naivety had erred. Arsenal were undermanned after their own corner at the other end, and Aguero did the rest, the type of clinical job their own attack had failed to provide. This time, exit from the competition did not feel quite so hurtful. At least Arsene Wenger knew where it had gone wrong. "We missed experience in the final third," he said.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Honourable mentions to Miguel, Frimpong and Coquelin in red and Pantilimon in blue, but Oxlade-Chamberlain looked the most real deal of all. Arsenal have another youngster of limitless promise, it seems, and a good left foot too, judging by his thunderous drive on the City goal in the first half.
ARSENAL VERDICT
A defence made up of four central defenders looked like somewhat Pulis-ian in approach yet Johan Djourou and Miguel both showed they are defenders of versatility. Here were more positives on an evening where defeat was rather undeserved for Arsenal yet arrived via an inability to put the ball in the net.
MANCHESTER CITY VERDICT
That dominance over most other English teams never happened here, and midfield was a particular area of danger in the first half hour. That the Manchester set of journalists were singing the praise of Romanian keeper Pantilimon says much, but this is a squad made up of imported winners. Aguero did what he is paid for and why he was paid for.
TUNNEL OF LOVE?
A Twitter row between Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Frimpong of a few months ago resumed with some harsh words exchanged at the final whistle, but no more than that, said an Arsenal press officer who leapt to Wenger's defence when repeated questions were asked about thrown punches. "Words exchanged and that was it. Just noise," was the description offered.
Source: Jon Brewin, ESPN Soccernet on 29 Nov 11
Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City match
on the winning goal...
It was an unfair result but I felt we were a bit naive because it was a corner for us and a goal for them. I knew that we were in trouble and I feel we didn't take enough time to take the corner because Djourou was just going up front and he had to stay at the back on the corner. We didn't leave him enough time to come back and that's where we were caught.
I felt as well that we didn't take the corners very well but overall what is frustrating that we lost a game at the moment that we looked the winner. It is frustrating because we put a lot of effort in and we were not rewarded. On the other hand I feel that considering the youth of our midfield we have battled really well and have shown some fantastic quality.
on the performance of Oxlade-Chamberlain...
We lacked a little bit of experience to be more decisive in the final third but Chamberlain looked the whole night like he could deliver something special. He has shown already tonight that he has moved forward, considering where he was in the last two months. He has improved a lot already.
The experience tonight shows that it's good sometimes to be positive and as well patient. I was very patient with him until now and I feel that it is important sometimes that you hold them back a little bit and keep them on the training ground. He has shown that he has improved a lot.
He has surprised me by the consistency of this game. You pushed him off the ball easily two months ago but tonight you could see that his resistance in the challenges, his strength in the duels, is there. That is of course very important at the top level.
on reports of an altercation at the final whistle...
I don't know anything about that, no.
on the midfield battle...
I feel in midfield Frimpong did well, Coquelin did well, we battled very hard in there. We were mobile, strong in the fight, we did very well I must say. Sometimes we lacked a little bit of creativity in the final third, especially in the last 20 minutes when I felt there was plenty of room to give them big problems and we missed sometimes the experience in the final ball. But I cannot fault the team, they have shown heart, quality and desire. At the end of the day it is frustrating for the players that they are not rewarded.
on whether Man City were fortunate...
I felt we made it easy for them. They had a clear-cut chance and you couldn’t see them missing. They played very well but I felt we were a bit naïve because we could stop that at the start of that move. You cannot let them get on a run like that. Overall, I felt that we were naïve and you can call that bad luck. But I don’t believe in luck. I believe we had to stop the counter-attack and you know when you are on a corner, that is your job when you are a defender. You have to stop that.
on Chamakh's late chance…
He wasn’t far away from the ball. I did not react at Chamakh, it was more frustration that we did not score and come back. I felt as well that Squillaci was behind him - if someone else goes in behind him it was a tap-in at the far post.
on the difference between the squads…
Number-wise, there is a difference. If you look at the players they have out on loan like Bellamy, Adebayor, Santa Cruz - I don’t know where he is. Number-wise there is a big difference because all their players are somewhere else. But quality-wise, we have shown we can fight with them.
on missing out on a trophy...
I look at it badly but on the other hand, I feel I want to take the positives out of tonight’s game and of our run. We have a fantastic attitude and spirit and we have quality. How far can we go this season? I feel if we keep this attitude, we can have hope. You can argue that we lost the easiest trophy to win but as well if you look at the teams who are still in it, it does not look as easy to win as usual.
on whether the FA Cup is the best trophy chance...
I consider the championship the most important. More than anything else, it is important to finish in the top four.
Source: Arsenal.com on 29 Nov 11
It was an unfair result but I felt we were a bit naive because it was a corner for us and a goal for them. I knew that we were in trouble and I feel we didn't take enough time to take the corner because Djourou was just going up front and he had to stay at the back on the corner. We didn't leave him enough time to come back and that's where we were caught.
I felt as well that we didn't take the corners very well but overall what is frustrating that we lost a game at the moment that we looked the winner. It is frustrating because we put a lot of effort in and we were not rewarded. On the other hand I feel that considering the youth of our midfield we have battled really well and have shown some fantastic quality.
on the performance of Oxlade-Chamberlain...
We lacked a little bit of experience to be more decisive in the final third but Chamberlain looked the whole night like he could deliver something special. He has shown already tonight that he has moved forward, considering where he was in the last two months. He has improved a lot already.
The experience tonight shows that it's good sometimes to be positive and as well patient. I was very patient with him until now and I feel that it is important sometimes that you hold them back a little bit and keep them on the training ground. He has shown that he has improved a lot.
He has surprised me by the consistency of this game. You pushed him off the ball easily two months ago but tonight you could see that his resistance in the challenges, his strength in the duels, is there. That is of course very important at the top level.
on reports of an altercation at the final whistle...
I don't know anything about that, no.
on the midfield battle...
I feel in midfield Frimpong did well, Coquelin did well, we battled very hard in there. We were mobile, strong in the fight, we did very well I must say. Sometimes we lacked a little bit of creativity in the final third, especially in the last 20 minutes when I felt there was plenty of room to give them big problems and we missed sometimes the experience in the final ball. But I cannot fault the team, they have shown heart, quality and desire. At the end of the day it is frustrating for the players that they are not rewarded.
on whether Man City were fortunate...
I felt we made it easy for them. They had a clear-cut chance and you couldn’t see them missing. They played very well but I felt we were a bit naïve because we could stop that at the start of that move. You cannot let them get on a run like that. Overall, I felt that we were naïve and you can call that bad luck. But I don’t believe in luck. I believe we had to stop the counter-attack and you know when you are on a corner, that is your job when you are a defender. You have to stop that.
on Chamakh's late chance…
He wasn’t far away from the ball. I did not react at Chamakh, it was more frustration that we did not score and come back. I felt as well that Squillaci was behind him - if someone else goes in behind him it was a tap-in at the far post.
on the difference between the squads…
Number-wise, there is a difference. If you look at the players they have out on loan like Bellamy, Adebayor, Santa Cruz - I don’t know where he is. Number-wise there is a big difference because all their players are somewhere else. But quality-wise, we have shown we can fight with them.
on missing out on a trophy...
I look at it badly but on the other hand, I feel I want to take the positives out of tonight’s game and of our run. We have a fantastic attitude and spirit and we have quality. How far can we go this season? I feel if we keep this attitude, we can have hope. You can argue that we lost the easiest trophy to win but as well if you look at the teams who are still in it, it does not look as easy to win as usual.
on whether the FA Cup is the best trophy chance...
I consider the championship the most important. More than anything else, it is important to finish in the top four.
Source: Arsenal.com on 29 Nov 11
29 November 2011: Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City, The Emirates
Sergio Aguero struck seven minutes from time to dash Arsenal’s Carling Cup hopes on Tuesday night.
The Argentine finished fine breakaway work from Eden Dzeko and Adam Johnson just as extra time beckoned in this pulsating Quarter-Final.
The nature of the goal was telling. It was Arsenal who were superior this evening and it was Arsenal who were pushing for a goal in the final stages.
Youngsters like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Emmanuel Frimpong, Ignasi Miquel and Francis Coquelin more than matched the Premier League’s stellar side. Arsenal had the better of the chances throughout. Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ju-Young Park certainly forced the most eye-catching saves of the night out of Manchester City keeper Costel Pantilimon.
Perhaps it was a touch of youthful impetuousness that allowed the visitors a glimmer of a chance at the death. Certainly they converted it with clinical precision.
Arsenal had their fair share of old heads on show tonight, this was no nursery side. However, it was their quartet of youngsters that stood out.
Sometimes you lose and you can only be angry, sometimes you lose and you can only be disheartened.
This evening Arsenal lost and yet you could only be proud.
Before kick-off, Wenger had told Arsenal Player that this would be no ‘second-string’ game. Certainly both teams were star-studded even if only one player per side had started in their respective Premier League games at the weekend.
For a change, Arsenal went 4-4-2. Park and Marouane Chamakh were the front pair. Yossi Benayoun captained the side.
Wenger had to mix-and-match in defence, choosing four centre-backs with Johan Djourou and Miquel filling in the flank duties.
Manchester City were full of familiar faces – Dzeko, Johnson, Pablo Zabaleta, Owen Hargreaves, Nigel De Jong, Aleksander Kolarov and, of course, Samir Nasri. Kolo Toure was captain.
The name of Gary Speed rang around Emirates Stadium just before kick-off as the home crowd paid its respects to the late Wales manager.
This had been billed as a significant test for both sides – the resurgent Arsenal and slightly faltering Manchester City. Although this was one of those nights when defeat could shrugged away, it would still hurt.
The early pace was that of a Third Round FA Cup tie. In the opening forays, Johnson cut inside Miquel and skimmed the net from distance.
However in the 10th minute, Arsenal carved Manchester City open. Chamakh worked the ball wide to Coquelin, whose low bending cross was met by Park at the back post. With Toure in close attendance, the Korean’s contact was scruffy but he still got enough on the ball to beat Pantilimon. However, the Romanian thrust out a sharp left hand to stop Arsenal going in front.
Just before the half-hour, Pantilimon was called into action again, palming away a left-foot drive from Oxlade-Chamberlain that was destined for the top corner.
Inbetween those efforts, Manchester City had shown menace but little penetration. Both sides were causing trouble down their respective right flanks. Johnson and Oxlade-Chamberlain were the agitators.
Just maybe the increasing influence of the Arsenal youngster pushed Mancini into a change on the left. Certainly Kolarov did not seem to be injured when he went off after 32 minutes and switching Nasri to the left would force back the home side down that flank. The first half suggested this was a game when, to quote the old adage, attack was the best form of defence.
Certainly, as half time approached, neither side were taking a backward step. When the whistle went, Arsenal were surely the happier with their work.
The second half started at the same pace; Dzeko firing wide for the visitors, Oxlade-Chamberlain forcing Pantilimon to punch away a drive. The Bosnian frontman was on the end of Manchester City’s best opportunities and flicked a shot wide from Zabaleta’s cross in the 57th minute.
It heralded arguably the most concerted spell of visiting pressure since the opening minutes. But again Fabianski was only employed for caretaking duties.
Midway through the half, Wenger introduced Gervinho for Park. The Ivorian went to the left allowing Benayoun to move central.
The change swung the pendulum toward Arsenal. The tireless Chamakh fired wide and then the snapping challenges of Frimpong set up a sweeping move that ended with Toure closing out Gervinho on the left of the area.
Ten minutes from time, after Dzeko had headed wide, Wenger replaced Miquel with Vermaelen at left back. The Arsenal manager clearly wanted to win this.
Djourou stormed forward but his cross was too short for Benayoun at the near post. From the corner, Manchester City thundered forward and grabbed the winner. A callous strike.
It was met with a vocal volley of encouragement from the home fans. They knew their side had been worth so much more tonight.
As they had all evening, Arsenal were positive in their response. However, their only real chance came when Gervinho’s cross narrowly eluded the head of Chamakh.
Arsenal were out – but not down.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 29 Nov 11
The Argentine finished fine breakaway work from Eden Dzeko and Adam Johnson just as extra time beckoned in this pulsating Quarter-Final.
The nature of the goal was telling. It was Arsenal who were superior this evening and it was Arsenal who were pushing for a goal in the final stages.
Youngsters like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Emmanuel Frimpong, Ignasi Miquel and Francis Coquelin more than matched the Premier League’s stellar side. Arsenal had the better of the chances throughout. Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ju-Young Park certainly forced the most eye-catching saves of the night out of Manchester City keeper Costel Pantilimon.
Perhaps it was a touch of youthful impetuousness that allowed the visitors a glimmer of a chance at the death. Certainly they converted it with clinical precision.
Arsenal had their fair share of old heads on show tonight, this was no nursery side. However, it was their quartet of youngsters that stood out.
Sometimes you lose and you can only be angry, sometimes you lose and you can only be disheartened.
This evening Arsenal lost and yet you could only be proud.
Before kick-off, Wenger had told Arsenal Player that this would be no ‘second-string’ game. Certainly both teams were star-studded even if only one player per side had started in their respective Premier League games at the weekend.
For a change, Arsenal went 4-4-2. Park and Marouane Chamakh were the front pair. Yossi Benayoun captained the side.
Wenger had to mix-and-match in defence, choosing four centre-backs with Johan Djourou and Miquel filling in the flank duties.
Manchester City were full of familiar faces – Dzeko, Johnson, Pablo Zabaleta, Owen Hargreaves, Nigel De Jong, Aleksander Kolarov and, of course, Samir Nasri. Kolo Toure was captain.
The name of Gary Speed rang around Emirates Stadium just before kick-off as the home crowd paid its respects to the late Wales manager.
This had been billed as a significant test for both sides – the resurgent Arsenal and slightly faltering Manchester City. Although this was one of those nights when defeat could shrugged away, it would still hurt.
The early pace was that of a Third Round FA Cup tie. In the opening forays, Johnson cut inside Miquel and skimmed the net from distance.
However in the 10th minute, Arsenal carved Manchester City open. Chamakh worked the ball wide to Coquelin, whose low bending cross was met by Park at the back post. With Toure in close attendance, the Korean’s contact was scruffy but he still got enough on the ball to beat Pantilimon. However, the Romanian thrust out a sharp left hand to stop Arsenal going in front.
Just before the half-hour, Pantilimon was called into action again, palming away a left-foot drive from Oxlade-Chamberlain that was destined for the top corner.
Inbetween those efforts, Manchester City had shown menace but little penetration. Both sides were causing trouble down their respective right flanks. Johnson and Oxlade-Chamberlain were the agitators.
Just maybe the increasing influence of the Arsenal youngster pushed Mancini into a change on the left. Certainly Kolarov did not seem to be injured when he went off after 32 minutes and switching Nasri to the left would force back the home side down that flank. The first half suggested this was a game when, to quote the old adage, attack was the best form of defence.
Certainly, as half time approached, neither side were taking a backward step. When the whistle went, Arsenal were surely the happier with their work.
The second half started at the same pace; Dzeko firing wide for the visitors, Oxlade-Chamberlain forcing Pantilimon to punch away a drive. The Bosnian frontman was on the end of Manchester City’s best opportunities and flicked a shot wide from Zabaleta’s cross in the 57th minute.
It heralded arguably the most concerted spell of visiting pressure since the opening minutes. But again Fabianski was only employed for caretaking duties.
Midway through the half, Wenger introduced Gervinho for Park. The Ivorian went to the left allowing Benayoun to move central.
The change swung the pendulum toward Arsenal. The tireless Chamakh fired wide and then the snapping challenges of Frimpong set up a sweeping move that ended with Toure closing out Gervinho on the left of the area.
Ten minutes from time, after Dzeko had headed wide, Wenger replaced Miquel with Vermaelen at left back. The Arsenal manager clearly wanted to win this.
Djourou stormed forward but his cross was too short for Benayoun at the near post. From the corner, Manchester City thundered forward and grabbed the winner. A callous strike.
It was met with a vocal volley of encouragement from the home fans. They knew their side had been worth so much more tonight.
As they had all evening, Arsenal were positive in their response. However, their only real chance came when Gervinho’s cross narrowly eluded the head of Chamakh.
Arsenal were out – but not down.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 29 Nov 11
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Andrey Arshavin and Park Chu-young rouse Arsenal against Bolton
Those were the plus points on a night when some of Arsenal's vaunted young players showed they still have ample room for improvement and Thomas Vermaelen, returning to action for the first time since August, limped off late on with a minor calf injury that will rule him out of Saturday's match against Chelsea.
Arsenal began with purpose but little precision. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was eager to build on his promising outings against Shrewsbury Town and Olympiakos, and amplify calls for him to start regularly ahead of Theo Walcott. Despite his enthusiasm, those calls will abate following a display that exposed his inexperience.
His speed enabled him to find freedom down the right wing but he betrayed the shortcomings of which Walcott is often accused, and misdirected crosses. Worse, midway through the first half he was left chastened by Darren Pratley, who shunted him off the ball in midfield and dispatched the first notable shot of the game, which Lukasz Fabianski beat away. Four minutes later Tuncay Sanli dispossessed him in similar fashion, and it became apparent why Wenger wants to integrate Chamberlain into the team slowly rather than swiftly as some fans demand.
"What the boys who are learning the game are finding is that you need to have 100% concentration and fight at every minute at this level," said Wenger, with reference, you suspect, to Oxlade-Chamberlain and Emmanuel Frimpong, who was also caught dawdling at crucial times.
Given Arsenal's injury problems at right-back, the 18-year-old debutant Nico Yennaris was under particular scrutiny, though not from Bolton Wanderers, who largely neglected to test the novice. Vermaelen enjoyed a relatively comfortable first period as Wanderers, who like Arsenal omitted many regular starters, began with the conservatism ofa team who simply wanted to avoid an eighth defeat from nine games. Vermaelen came to the fore in the 36th minute when he received a short free-kick from Arshavin. Adam Bogdan had to display strong hands to repel the Belgian's ferocious 25-yard drive.
Bogdan had been equally defiant five minutes previously when beating away a long-distance drive from Park Chu-young. The South Korean went close again just before the interval after nimble interplay with Arshavin, Bogdan tipping his 20-yard drive wide. Yossi Benayoun had succeeded in beating the keeper moments before but his fine effort after a tricky run down the left flew inches wide.
The start of the second half brought a stern lesson for Frimpong, who was robbed by Fabrice Muamba deep in his own half. This time Bolton applied maximum punishment, as Muamba swapped a smart pass with Pratley before ramming the ball into the net from eight yards.
Bolton went close to adding a second two minutes later but Ivan Klasnic, having beaten Sébastien Squillaci to a Gaël Kakuta cross, lifted the ball over from close range.
In such demanding times Wenger needs his experienced players to seize back the initiative. Frequently they have failed. Here, Arshavin inspired a comeback. In the absence of Mikel Arteta he revelled in the central role in which he excels for Russia. In the 53rd minute he showed single-mindedness and skill when claiming the equaliser, shooting low into the net from the corner of the box when, in less determined mood, he might have passed.
Three minutes later he helped put Arsenal in front, waiting intelligently for the right moment to slip the ball through to Park, who scored his first goal since his summer move from Monaco with a curled finish from 10 yards.
Bolton responded well and familiar Arsenal worries resurfaced as Fabianski fumbled a Kakuta free-kick. The rebound fell kindly for him. He also flapped at a Chris Eagles shot and was lucky to see it go over the bar. Frimpong was lucky not to concede a penalty after an impetuous challenge on Gary Cahill.
Fabianski showed his good side in the 77th minute to deny Klasnic from close range after the striker had brushed past Squillaci. Klasnic perpetrated his worst miss of the night two minutes from time, scooping the ball high over the bar when free seven yards out.
"We had to hang on in the last 20 minutes because we had a lot of players who have not played at this intensity," Wenger said. "We were tested and the more experienced players took charge of the game, especially Arshavin, Park and [Yossi] Benayoun. They made the difference."
Source: Paul Doyle, The Guardian on 25 Oct 11
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Gunners saved by quickfire double
The pair scored within three minutes of one another after the break to continue the Gunners' unbeaten League Cup run at the Emirates Stadium after receiving a scare at the start of the second half.
Neither side managed to dominate the first period but the Trotters started well after the break, taking the lead through Fabrice Muamba after he dispossessed Emmanuel Frimpong.
The Gunners responded well to falling behind and, after seeing Ivan Klasnic come close to doubling the visitors' advantage, levelled through Arshavin as he fired across the face of goal.
Goalscorer turned provider three minutes later as the Russia international played in Park, who curled home a superb effort to ensure Arsenal would make the quarter-finals for the ninth successive year.
The north Londoners had to withstand a barrage of Bolton pressure to hold out for victory but the majority of the 56,628 crowd could celebrate fourth round success, as well as the return of Thomas Vermaelen from a two-month injury lay-off.
Both sides made a plethora of changes for the game but the Trotters side contained more experience than their north London counterparts.
The teams struggled to find any rhythm during the opening exchanges but Bolton regular Darren Pratley managed to eke out the first chance of note, breaking free through the middle and forcing Lukasz Fabianski to palm over from 20 yards.
Park tried a similar attempt at the other end, before the Trotters returned the attack and on-loan Gael Kakuta tested Fabianski with a low drive.
After a brief pause for Ivan Klasnic to receive treatment on his right shoulder, Yossi Benayoun got the home fans on their feet by turning Gretar Steinsson before curling a shot across the face of the goal.
The on-loan Chelsea midfielder's shot ended some distance wide and the home side's best chance of the period came from an unlikely source as Arshavin's free-kick teed up Vermaelen, who hit a fizzing strike that Adam Bogdan did well to save.
The Bolton goalkeeper was forced into action once again shortly afterwards as a low effort from Park threatened to sneak in the bottom right-hand corner.
The visitors looked rejuvenated after the break and took less than two minutes to break the deadlock.
Muamba won the ball off the dallying Frimpong and pressed forward, playing a neat one-two with Martin Petrov before rifling into the roof of the net.
Buoyed by the former Arsenal midfielder's goal, Bolton pressed forward and would have doubled their tally immediately afterwards if Klasnic had not applied so much pressure on Kakuta's right-wing cross.
But rather than collapse under the visitors' pressure, Arsenal pushed forward and levelled six minutes after falling behind.
Arshavin - one of the evening's shining lights - ran at the Bolton defence and, as Zat Knight and Mark Davies backed off, unleashed a low shot across the face of goal.
The Russia international was again involved moments later when another dangerous run down the middle freed Park, who opened his body and curled a right-footed shot akin to that of Thierry Henry in his prime.
The home side's attacking impetus soon slowed after the former Monaco man's 56th minute goal as the Gunners were forced to defend, with Vermaelen's last-ditch challenge stopping Klasnic getting a close-range shot away.
Kakuta was the next to test the home side's rearguard with a free-kick, before Fabianski almost fumbled a speculative effort from substitute Chris Eagles.
The Arsenal goalkeeper soon redeemed himself as the Trotters continued to press, producing superb saves to stop Klasnic and then Cahill.
In between the two efforts Frimpong limped off and was replaced by Oguzhan Ozyakup, who was forced to help defend as Klasnic again took fire.
Fortunately for Arsenal the Croatian's shot flew over and the home side managed to hold out for victory, despite efforts from Cahill and Steinsson in stoppage time.
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 25 Oct 11
Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 2-1 Bolton Wanderers match
on the victory…
In the first half I believe we had the chances. In the second half we were caught straight away losing the ball in our own half and they scored. From then on of course they tested us. The more experienced players then took charge of the game, especially Arshavin, Park and Benayoun - they made the difference.
I have to congratulate the team because we had two young full-backs who are usually central players. In midfield we were very young and we have shown good spirit against a good Bolton side.
on tiredness...
In the last 20 minutes our legs had gone a little bit and we were hanging on with a bit of luck. Many players have not played at that level and that intensity so it was vital for us tonight not to go into extra time.
on Vermaelen's return…
He did very well. He had to come off for a minor calf problem but I hope it's not too bad. He will be a bit short for Saturday, I don't know yet what I will do. We have to test him tomorrow, but it doesn't look too bad.
He has been out for a long time, he had only one training session yesterday with the team. I didn't really expect a game of that intensity, it was a tough one for a centre-back. They put us under pressure in the second half and the intensity of the game was very high.
We don't think it is a calf strain, it is just tight calves. He has not played a proper game for two months. He wanted to come off. In fairness I did not want to take him off because I thought it was too stupid now with four minutes to go to concede a goal. He was adamant he couldn't go on so I hope it's not too bad.
on a run of form…
We want to just keep going and I think it is down to us to change the mind of people. We have a good spirit, a good attitude and there is still some room for improvement of course. We are getting better and better.
on Arshavin's performance…
Andrey is a player who of course takes a bit gamble on nearly every ball he plays. Sometimes he loses balls he shouldn't lose but when you look at the end of the game he has always had a big impact. Tonight he scored and made an assist. He had a good performance tonight.
on his 'no 10' credentials...
You cannot play with two wingers and two offensive players like that, you are too short in midfield. He is normally a wide player but he wants to grow in a role behind the striker. Of course, he can do that. He plays where you want him to play but if you ask him honestly he will always tell you that he likes to play in there.
on Park's display…
For me I am very pleased with his performance. He had a very, very good game. He has shown intelligence in his link play with others. The quality of his movement was exceptional and his finishing is absolutely fantastic. He has shown tonight that he is a very, very good player. He is ready to play in league games, yes.
Compared to the player who played in the first match [against Shrewsbury] where he was a bit inhibited, tonight I felt he played with freedom and has showed what a good player he is.
on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain…
He needs what I told you: the urgency that is used to dominate the games. Now he is at a level where every single ball needs 100 per cent concentration and fight, and that is what he will learn in these games.
on Chelsea…
We had 11 changes from Sunday's game so of course we will have many changes for Saturday. It's a top-level game, that means we need to turn up with a top-level performance. I am confident we can get something out of the game. You can fly but you land quickly in our sport. We of course want to keep improving. Don't worry, we will go there with spirit and give them a fight.
on Fabianski…
Lukasz is a world-class goalkeeper. I have always said that and I am convinced that we are very lucky here to have fantastic goalkeepers - Mannone as well is very good. The problem is when you are a goalkeeper only one can play.
on Ryo's performance…
Ryo is a guy with heart. I don't think he played long enough and we were in a position where we had to defend more than we could attack. But you could see straight away that his heart, his determination and his pace in the game are big assets.
He is like Oxlade-Chamberlain - they have to get used to the intensity of these games. When will he be ready? He just had one day training yesterday with the group because he was injured. He worked a lot with the fitness coach. I believe he will be ready at Christmas.
Source: Arsenal.com on 25 Oct 11
In the first half I believe we had the chances. In the second half we were caught straight away losing the ball in our own half and they scored. From then on of course they tested us. The more experienced players then took charge of the game, especially Arshavin, Park and Benayoun - they made the difference.
I have to congratulate the team because we had two young full-backs who are usually central players. In midfield we were very young and we have shown good spirit against a good Bolton side.
on tiredness...
In the last 20 minutes our legs had gone a little bit and we were hanging on with a bit of luck. Many players have not played at that level and that intensity so it was vital for us tonight not to go into extra time.
on Vermaelen's return…
He did very well. He had to come off for a minor calf problem but I hope it's not too bad. He will be a bit short for Saturday, I don't know yet what I will do. We have to test him tomorrow, but it doesn't look too bad.
He has been out for a long time, he had only one training session yesterday with the team. I didn't really expect a game of that intensity, it was a tough one for a centre-back. They put us under pressure in the second half and the intensity of the game was very high.
We don't think it is a calf strain, it is just tight calves. He has not played a proper game for two months. He wanted to come off. In fairness I did not want to take him off because I thought it was too stupid now with four minutes to go to concede a goal. He was adamant he couldn't go on so I hope it's not too bad.
on a run of form…
We want to just keep going and I think it is down to us to change the mind of people. We have a good spirit, a good attitude and there is still some room for improvement of course. We are getting better and better.
on Arshavin's performance…
Andrey is a player who of course takes a bit gamble on nearly every ball he plays. Sometimes he loses balls he shouldn't lose but when you look at the end of the game he has always had a big impact. Tonight he scored and made an assist. He had a good performance tonight.
on his 'no 10' credentials...
You cannot play with two wingers and two offensive players like that, you are too short in midfield. He is normally a wide player but he wants to grow in a role behind the striker. Of course, he can do that. He plays where you want him to play but if you ask him honestly he will always tell you that he likes to play in there.
on Park's display…
For me I am very pleased with his performance. He had a very, very good game. He has shown intelligence in his link play with others. The quality of his movement was exceptional and his finishing is absolutely fantastic. He has shown tonight that he is a very, very good player. He is ready to play in league games, yes.
Compared to the player who played in the first match [against Shrewsbury] where he was a bit inhibited, tonight I felt he played with freedom and has showed what a good player he is.
on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain…
He needs what I told you: the urgency that is used to dominate the games. Now he is at a level where every single ball needs 100 per cent concentration and fight, and that is what he will learn in these games.
on Chelsea…
We had 11 changes from Sunday's game so of course we will have many changes for Saturday. It's a top-level game, that means we need to turn up with a top-level performance. I am confident we can get something out of the game. You can fly but you land quickly in our sport. We of course want to keep improving. Don't worry, we will go there with spirit and give them a fight.
on Fabianski…
Lukasz is a world-class goalkeeper. I have always said that and I am convinced that we are very lucky here to have fantastic goalkeepers - Mannone as well is very good. The problem is when you are a goalkeeper only one can play.
on Ryo's performance…
Ryo is a guy with heart. I don't think he played long enough and we were in a position where we had to defend more than we could attack. But you could see straight away that his heart, his determination and his pace in the game are big assets.
He is like Oxlade-Chamberlain - they have to get used to the intensity of these games. When will he be ready? He just had one day training yesterday with the group because he was injured. He worked a lot with the fitness coach. I believe he will be ready at Christmas.
Source: Arsenal.com on 25 Oct 11
25 October 2011: Arsenal 2-1 Bolton Wanderers, The Emirates
The young Gunners were heading for a Fourth-Round exit when a former young Gunner, Fabrice Muamba, fired the visitors ahead two minutes into the second half.
But Andrey Arshavin – one of Arsène Wenger’s elder statesman – slammed in an equaliser and Ju Young Park completed a 10-minute turnaround with a fabulous finish from Arshavin’s pass.
It was enough to preserve Arsenal’s unbeaten League Cup record at Emirates Stadium and take them into the Quarter-Finals for a ninth consecutive year.
There are some big names left in this competition. But Wenger’s class of 2011 are in the mood to make amends for their Wembley heartbreak last February.
What's more, this was Arsenal's seventh win in eight games. Confidence should not be in short supply when they arrive at Stamford Bridge for their next big test in the Premier League.
Much of the pre-match talk had centred on the return of Thomas Vermaelen, back from injury and back in the starting line-up for the first time in two months. The other stand-out name on the teamsheet was Nico Yennaris – the versatile 18-year-old was handed his first-team debut at right-back.
Their inclusion was typical of Wenger’s Carling Cup policy as youth rubbed shoulders with experience. Bolton also rested a number of established stars but, in contrast to Wenger, visiting manager Owen Coyle parked his big names on the bench.
Arsenal’s creative pricing policy for Carling Cup matches tempted 56,628 fans – a record for this season’s competition – into Emirates Stadium and they saw the home side dominate the opening exchanges.
Arshavin, stationed behind the main striker as he is for Russia, almost capitalised on a hesitation by Gary Cahill in the third minute. Then an expansive pass from Francis Coquelin freed Park, only for the Korean to lose his footing.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, hero of the Third-Round win over Shrewsbury last month, was next to squander a presentable opening. Ignasi Miquel’s floated cross sat up nicely for the 18-year-old but his miscued volley took two ricochets and bounced behind for a corner.
The same man had a much better chance three minutes later. This time Emmanuel Frimpong’s raking diagonal pass found Oxlade-Chamberlain racing through the right channel. He neglected an early shot and tried beat Zat Knight but a heavy touch took him wide of goal and he could only manage a cross that floated meekly out of play.
Bolton had offered very little at this point - indeed, they looked every bit the confidence-drained Premier League strugglers – but Darren Pratley awoke them from their slumber with a driving run through midfield and a fierce shot that required a strong arm from Lukasz Fabianski.
That prompted a spell of Bolton pressure and a chance for Tuncay, Ivan Klasnic and the lively Gael Kakuta to link up. The latter tested Fabianski again with a low left-footed effort.
This was now a much more even encounter but, as driving rain began to fall, Arsenal gradually drove Bolton back.
Yossi Benayoun twisted and turned past Gretar Steinsson before whipping a shot just past the angle and Vermaelen almost secured a dream return with a venomous free-kick that had Bogdan at full stretch. Then Park, growing into the game in his second start for the Club, showed his eye for goal with a clever placed effort towards the bottom corner. Once again Bogdan got across to make the save.
Arsenal welcomed the half-time whistle on Sunday – it gave them a chance to regroup against Stoke – but tonight’s interval broke their momentum and Bolton caught the hosts cold two minutes after the restart.
Coquelin found Frimpong deep inside Arsenal territory but Muamba was on the Ghanaian in a split-second and nicked the ball away. He found Klasnic, the Croatia striker returned the favour and Muamba crashed a shot into the roof of the net.
The Bolton midfielder is, of course, a graduate of Arsenal’s academy. The irony would not have been lost on Wenger.
Fortunately the Frenchman’s latest crop of youngsters turned the tie on its head within 10 minutes – although it was a veritable veteran who did most of the damage.
Arshavin, revelling in his roving role behind the striker, drifted to the right to collect a pass from Benayoun and, as Knight backed off, he drilled an unerring shot beyond Bogdan and into the bottom corner.
Five minutes later the Russian turned provider. This time he picked up the ball in a central position and drove forward, eschewing a pass to Park because the Korean had strayed offside. Arshavin waited and then found his team-mate inside the box and very much onside. Park did the rest with a flourish, curling the ball past Bogdan.
Wenger insisted before the game that his lesser-known late-summer signing would soon endear himself to the home fans. He has been proved right.
Bolton weren’t finished. Vermaelen made a brave block to deny Klasnic a clear sight of goal and Fabianski had to get down quickly to keep out a well-placed free-kick from Kakuta.
With 20 minutes left Coyle brought on Chris Eagles to give the hosts another problem and he almost embarrassed Fabianski with a vicious, swerving shot.
Wenger also used his bench, throwing Ryo and Oguzhan Ozyakup into the fray. But by now Arsenal were playing on the break as Bolton pushed for an equaliser.
Cahill got above Squillaci to force another save from Fabianski with a downward header but that was as close as the visitors came in the closing stages.
So Wenger will take his team into the Quarter-Finals for a ninth consecutive season. Not bad for a man once accused of not taking the Carling Cup seriously.
Source: Chris Harris, Arsenal.com on 25 Oct 11
Friday, September 23, 2011
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain comes to Arsenal's rescue against Shrewsbury
"Sacked in the morning! You're getting sacked in the morning" had been the delirious chant from the visiting support to Wenger after he watched his side go behind during an often shambolic first‑half performance.
Losing his job might not have happened if League Two Town had pulled off arguably the greatest embarrassment of Wenger's tenure. But the inquisition into what precisely his strategy is at the club might have gone off the scale before Bolton Wanderers' visit here on Saturday.
Instead, class eventually showed, a valiant Shrewsbury went down as expected, and Wenger could say of the result: "It was a bit nervy because we played against a good side. They were direct but had good technique. They had a few dangerous positions even after they scored. But we took over in the second half."
If this sounds like a rather generous assessment of Town's qualities it is because Wenger is a man eyeing the visit of Bolton from a position of fourth‑bottom. His team have a goal difference of minus eight, having shipped a barely credible 14 goals in their five league outings. Building morale while denying obvious confidence‑sapping truths is his main game, despite how difficult those numbers make the task.
After the sides had emerged for the second half all-square, a 25-yard shot from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after 58 minutes that slipped under Ben Smith, and a cool late finish from Yossi Benayoun, sent the Arsenal fans home relieved.
They finished as they had started, in the ascendancy. The tie's opening flurry featured Marouane Chamakh, who twice threatened to score. But from this apparently comfortable juncture, Arsenal proceeded to crumble during a hardly credible middle section of the opening half: their inability to deal with the high ball, which has plagued their season, was again the big weakness.
Under an aerial free-kick, Johan Djourou and Chamakh each jumped but somehow missed the ball and it bounced dangerously in the area, though Lukasz Fabianski could gather.
Emboldened, Shrewsbury pressed forward again. This time, Marvin Morgan's pass released Mark Wright. His shot trickled past Fabianksi and hit the post before the keeper recovered to save the follow‑up. From the corner Jenkinson allowed Wright a free header at the far post, which he could not direct.
Arsenal's disarray was about to reach a low point. From a throw in on the right Morgan swung in a diagonal that Djourou merely watched, and to which James Collins rose unchallenged, the striker easily slotting the headed finish past Fabianski.
After 16 minutes Wenger's band had lost the plot. A further catalogue of near-disasters followed. Collins was inches from finishing beyond Fabianski again, and Arsenal's rearguard (a loose term) gazed at another corner, which left the keeper stranded and Reuben Hazell a free header he should have converted.
Kieran Gibbs may have equalised with a 33rd‑minute header from a Jenkinson cross, and Emmanuel Frimpong's later free-kick might have drawn a neat save from Smith, but as the sides walked off for the break the impression was of the Wenger project continuing to list. And list badly.
Earlier in the day Ivan Gazidis, the chief executive, scoffed at any assertion that Wenger was out of touch. Yet the evidence of the opening half suggested that he had been protesting too much with the Frenchman making one unfathomable decision in not selecting a strong bench in case of a scare.
After warning before kick-off that "our season depends on how well we respond to the disappointment", Wenger then gambled with his players' drained spirit by naming Ryo Miyaichi, Chuks Aneke, Daniel Boateng, Oguzhan Ozyakup, Sanchez Watt, Nico Yennaris and Damian Martinez as the go-to options for a starting XI from which one or more of Gibbs, Benayoun, Djourou, Chamakh, and Frimpong might have been held back as insurance.
In Djourou, the captain for the night, Wenger was let down badly, unable to rely on one of his established men to set the correct path for his more junior team-mates. In what should have been the easiest outing of his campaign so far the Swiss floundered to cause Wenger one more concern in a tally that continues to rise.
Source: Jamie Jackson, The Guardian on 20 Sep 11
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 3-1 Shrewsbury match
It was a bit nervy because we played against a good side. I said before the game that the lower divisions have improved in the last five years and you could see that. They were direct but not without technique. They had a direct game but they played it with intelligence and efficiency. They had a few dangerous situations in the first half, even after they scored. So 1-1 was not too bad for us at half time and in the second half we took over, they dropped physically and we played in one half after that.
on whether he was calm at half time…
Yes, I was very calm at half time because panic doesn’t help. I felt that if we maintained the pace in the game we had a good chance to win the game.
on whether Shrewsbury ‘dominated’ the first half…
I’m not sure they dominated the first half, if you look at the numbers again you will see they didn’t dominate the game. They created dangerous situations. It’s always difficult to beat a football team, no matter what division they play in. They knocked Swansea and Derby out and you can see why. They are top of their league.
on whether some of his players are playing with fear…
We played a young team with a mixture of young players and experienced players. We took a gamble and it worked because you could see some players, who we haven’t seen so much of like Oxlade-Chamberlain and Coquelin, have done extremely well and that is positive for the future.
on how to get belief back in the squad…
In the last four games, we have had three good results and the one game we didn’t was Blackburn and that, for me, was a miracle. Look at the numbers; we had 62 per cent of the possession and had 16 shots on goal and we lost 4-3.
on Oxlade-Chamberlain and Coquelin’s performances…
Oxlade-Chamberlain grew through the game and became stronger and stronger. In the first half he was a bit timid and suddenly he grew in stature in the second half. It was unbelievable. What came out, you didn’t expect it after the first half. He became stronger and stronger.
on whether he has staked a claim for a place in the first team…
You could see that he will be a first-team player here, that is for sure. He still has things to work on but, very quickly, he will be knocking on the door.
on Djourou’s performance…
He was very good in the second half. In the first half, he was surprised on the goal. In the second half, he had a good performance.
on whether he will bring in a defensive coach…
I just completed 32 years of coaching. I do not want to answer these types of questions.
On Ryo’s performance…
He did well when he came on. My regret tonight is that he didn’t play long enough to show what he is capable of doing. He will get more opportunities.
on speculation regarding his future…
Whether I work here for the next 10 years or the next day here, I will give my maximum for the Club. I will let other people assess the situation. I focus on doing well for this club, that is all. I am not bothered at all by all this speculation.
I am completely focused on doing well. I can understand that people are unhappy and criticise but people are very quick to go overboard. I accept critics and I don’t say it doesn’t matter. I prefer it if people say I am good but I cannot complain when we lose a game and you are criticised. When we do well, we take all the plaudits so we have to take the blame when it doesn’t go well. But we have, on both sides, to take a little bit of distance.
Source: Arsenal.com on 20 Sep 11
20 September 2011: Arsenal 3-1 Shrewsbury, Emirates Stadium
Arsenal secured a safe passage to the Fourth Round of the Carling Cup with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Shrewsbury Town at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
A shock seemed possible for a period in the first half when James Collins nodded the visitors in front after only 17 minutes. However, Arsenal were level just after the half-hour when Kieran Gibbs headed home the first goal of his career and they took control after the break.
The outstanding Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crashed home the first goal of his Arsenal career from long range just before the hour and Yossi Benayoun completed the scoring 12 minutes from time.
Shrewsbury did themselves proud but Arsène Wenger’s side cruised home in the end.
They are in the hat for Saturday’s draw.
As ever, Wenger ran the changes for the Carling Cup. He handed full debuts to Ju Young Park and Oxlade-Chamberlain. The likes of Francis Coquelin, Ignasi Miquel, Lukasz Fabianski and Marouane Chamakh also got a run-out. Ryo was left on the bench along with a host of talented youngsters.
All that was expected; perhaps the bigger surprise was the formation. Park and Chamakh seemed to be dual front men with Oxlade-Chamberlain, Emmanuel Frimpong, Coquelin and Benayoun stretched across midfield. This was 4-4-2 once more.
Emirates Stadium was not full this evening – a rarity in itself. But, as usual, this fixture was not included in the season tickets and the Club had priced seats modestly. Of course, the Shrewsbury end was packed. The Shropshire side were riding high in League Two and had nothing to lose. And the visitors would give them something to shout about during the first half.
That said, they could have been 2-0 down inside five minutes – and both chances fell to Chamakh.
First Gibbs sent over a high, hanging cross from the left and the striker’s towering header was expertly tipped over by keeper Ben Smith.
The corner eventually found Coquelin on the far side. He burst to the byline and his cut-back found the Moroccan once again. This time Chamakh chose placement but his sidefoot shot was saved by Smith once again.
It was a confident start but Shrewsbury would respond and then go ahead.
In the 13th minute, Mark Wright darted through and rolled a shot past Fabianski but against the post. The sliding Collins put the rebound into the sidenetting.
Two minutes later they would steal the lead. Marvin Morgan fired over a cross from the right and the unmarked Collins plundered a simple header.
Suddenly the confidence drained from Arsenal while Shrewsbury began to break with speed and intelligence. One such move saw Wright’s cross-shot deflect off Johan Djourou and fly past the diving Fabianski then the far post. Just past the half-hour only an excellent interception from Carl Jenkinson prevented Morgan profiting at the far post.
Coquelin did test Smith from distance but, when the equaliser arrived, Shrewsbury looked as lively as they had all evening.
In the 34th minute, there seemed little on as Jenkinson sent a fizzing, flat cross in to the area and touched on to Gibbs. His header was instant and powerful enough to see Smith fumble the ball into the net at the near post. It was the Englishman’s first goal for Arsenal in his 57th game for the Club.
The goal lifted Arsenal, of course, but it did not dent Shrewsbury too much. Lionel Ainsworth flashed a low pass across the face of goal and the sliding Collins could only deflect the ball just wide.
But a tough half ended with Arsenal on top. Park controlled Coquelin’s 50–yard pass and crashed a shot beyond the far post then Frimpong stung the hands of Smith with a free-kick.
However, the home side went into the break with work to do.
In fairness, their reply was emphatic. In the opening stages of the second half, Frimpong tested Smith once more and Oxlade-Chamberlain’s clipped cross just failed to find Chamakh.
The former Southampton midfielder, just 18, was fast-becoming the stand-out star of the evening. Just before the hour, he pretty much sealed the award.
With little on 25 yards out, Oxlade-Chamberlain let fly with a low shot. Smith allowed it to squirm underneath him and find the net. Like Gibbs, it was his first goal for the Club.
Ten minutes later, Oxlade-Chamberlain tried his luck from an angle. The shot was so powerful it simply bounced off Smith at the near post.
Arsenal had now assumed control though Shrewsbury were still looking for an equaliser on the break.
Wenger replaced Park with Ryo for the final quarter of the game. The Japanese youngster took up his regular role on the left wing and Benayoun moved into a central role.
However, it would be another substitute, Oguzhan Ozyakup, who set up the third for Benayoun. The Isreali stabbed home from the Dutchman’s cut-back.
That finally put paid it Shrewsbury’s challenge. They had performed admirably this evening but Arsenal’s youngsters showed their class in the end.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 20 Sep 11
A shock seemed possible for a period in the first half when James Collins nodded the visitors in front after only 17 minutes. However, Arsenal were level just after the half-hour when Kieran Gibbs headed home the first goal of his career and they took control after the break.
The outstanding Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crashed home the first goal of his Arsenal career from long range just before the hour and Yossi Benayoun completed the scoring 12 minutes from time.
Shrewsbury did themselves proud but Arsène Wenger’s side cruised home in the end.
They are in the hat for Saturday’s draw.
As ever, Wenger ran the changes for the Carling Cup. He handed full debuts to Ju Young Park and Oxlade-Chamberlain. The likes of Francis Coquelin, Ignasi Miquel, Lukasz Fabianski and Marouane Chamakh also got a run-out. Ryo was left on the bench along with a host of talented youngsters.
All that was expected; perhaps the bigger surprise was the formation. Park and Chamakh seemed to be dual front men with Oxlade-Chamberlain, Emmanuel Frimpong, Coquelin and Benayoun stretched across midfield. This was 4-4-2 once more.
Emirates Stadium was not full this evening – a rarity in itself. But, as usual, this fixture was not included in the season tickets and the Club had priced seats modestly. Of course, the Shrewsbury end was packed. The Shropshire side were riding high in League Two and had nothing to lose. And the visitors would give them something to shout about during the first half.
That said, they could have been 2-0 down inside five minutes – and both chances fell to Chamakh.
First Gibbs sent over a high, hanging cross from the left and the striker’s towering header was expertly tipped over by keeper Ben Smith.
The corner eventually found Coquelin on the far side. He burst to the byline and his cut-back found the Moroccan once again. This time Chamakh chose placement but his sidefoot shot was saved by Smith once again.
It was a confident start but Shrewsbury would respond and then go ahead.
In the 13th minute, Mark Wright darted through and rolled a shot past Fabianski but against the post. The sliding Collins put the rebound into the sidenetting.
Two minutes later they would steal the lead. Marvin Morgan fired over a cross from the right and the unmarked Collins plundered a simple header.
Suddenly the confidence drained from Arsenal while Shrewsbury began to break with speed and intelligence. One such move saw Wright’s cross-shot deflect off Johan Djourou and fly past the diving Fabianski then the far post. Just past the half-hour only an excellent interception from Carl Jenkinson prevented Morgan profiting at the far post.
Coquelin did test Smith from distance but, when the equaliser arrived, Shrewsbury looked as lively as they had all evening.
In the 34th minute, there seemed little on as Jenkinson sent a fizzing, flat cross in to the area and touched on to Gibbs. His header was instant and powerful enough to see Smith fumble the ball into the net at the near post. It was the Englishman’s first goal for Arsenal in his 57th game for the Club.
The goal lifted Arsenal, of course, but it did not dent Shrewsbury too much. Lionel Ainsworth flashed a low pass across the face of goal and the sliding Collins could only deflect the ball just wide.
But a tough half ended with Arsenal on top. Park controlled Coquelin’s 50–yard pass and crashed a shot beyond the far post then Frimpong stung the hands of Smith with a free-kick.
However, the home side went into the break with work to do.
In fairness, their reply was emphatic. In the opening stages of the second half, Frimpong tested Smith once more and Oxlade-Chamberlain’s clipped cross just failed to find Chamakh.
The former Southampton midfielder, just 18, was fast-becoming the stand-out star of the evening. Just before the hour, he pretty much sealed the award.
With little on 25 yards out, Oxlade-Chamberlain let fly with a low shot. Smith allowed it to squirm underneath him and find the net. Like Gibbs, it was his first goal for the Club.
Ten minutes later, Oxlade-Chamberlain tried his luck from an angle. The shot was so powerful it simply bounced off Smith at the near post.
Arsenal had now assumed control though Shrewsbury were still looking for an equaliser on the break.
Wenger replaced Park with Ryo for the final quarter of the game. The Japanese youngster took up his regular role on the left wing and Benayoun moved into a central role.
However, it would be another substitute, Oguzhan Ozyakup, who set up the third for Benayoun. The Isreali stabbed home from the Dutchman’s cut-back.
That finally put paid it Shrewsbury’s challenge. They had performed admirably this evening but Arsenal’s youngsters showed their class in the end.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 20 Sep 11
Saturday, June 4, 2011
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
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Accidents Happen
You would be forgiven for thinking that some pundits (and some Arsenal supporters) assumed that it would just be a case of the Gunners simply showing up at Wembley, coasting through 90 minutes and it would be more or less a foregone conclusion that Birmingham would roll over and we would pick up a cup at the end of the afternoon.
That was never going to be how it was. This was one of the biggest days in the Blues’ history and it was inevitable that they would be up for the game and be a far tougher prospect than they may be on a week-by-week basis. Credit and congratulations to them, they played well and with a lot of heart. However, the game was lost by Arsenal because of an accident and not because they were overwhelmed by their opponents.
Admittedly, the Gunners’ overall performance was frustratingly below par and certain players did not rise to the occasion. However, in the last twenty minutes, as Arsene Wenger’s men laid siege to the Birmingham goal, it seemed that there would only be one winner if the match went to extra time. It was no coincidence that Ben Foster, the Brummie’s goalkeeper, was named as man of the match. Football can be a cruel game though and it was the freak mix-up between Koscielny and Szczesny that settled the tie. It was a dreadful mistake and, sadly, it happened so late in the game that there was no time for a reply.
This incident and, indeed, the defeat gave ammunition to certain sections of the media and the Arsenal fanbase to start hysterically moaning, criticising and complaining that Wenger should have bought in the window, that we need a new defender and that we need a new goalkeeper. Players have always only ever been “as good as their last game” but, these days, because of the saturation coverage that football gets in the press and on the internet, reaction is so much more extreme. One week you are a god, the following week you are an amoeba and the next match coming up is always the biggest and most season-defining game of the year.
Two weeks ago, Laurent Koscielny’s performance against Barcelona was rightly praised. That night, he was lauded the answer to Arsenal’s central defensive conundrums in the absence of Thomas Vermaelen. Following the Birmingham match though, we apparently need a new central defender again. He was culpable for the mix-up that gifted Obafemi Martins with the winner but he doesn’t become a bad player just because he makes one error. It was a gutting way to lose but let’s not lose sight of the fact that it was down to a freak mistake.
The Carling Cup Final actually reminded me a lot of the 1995 Cup Winners Cup Final when Arsenal faced Real Zaragoza in Paris. That evening, Arsenal were warm favourites to retain the trophy they had won the year before. However, they were out of sorts on the night and fell behind. John Hartson equalised reasonably quickly and, like Sunday, it was a case of “next goal wins it”. 1-1 at full-time, the match went into half-an-hour’s extra time. As the minutes ticked away a penalty shoot-out looked increasingly likely - and if it came to that, we had David Seaman who had won the penalty-shootout for Arsenal against Sampdoria in the semi-final.
But it didn’t come to that. Seaman, the man we had all assumed would be the hero of the hour, got caught off his line in the last minute of extra-time by a speculative 40-yard effort from Nayim. Again, it was a freak mishap. Again, there was no time to reply. Again, it was a gutting way to lose. However, as a fan, you just have to swallow it and move on. No one thought Arsenal needed a new goalkeeper just because Seaman had made one mistake. He got us to the final that year - just as Koscielny helped get us to the Carling Cup Final this year with his headed goal against Ipswich in the semi-final.
Arsenal were largely on a hiding to nothing on Sunday. Had they won, they would only have been doing what was expected and, after all, “it’s only the Carling Cup”. However, them losing is suddenly a big story. Whatever. It was an upsetting way to lose but players and fans alike have just got to take it on the chin, move on and focus on the other things that can still be achieved this season.
And there is plenty to still achieve this season. Last night saw the Gunners ruthlessly dispense with Orient in the FA Cup replay which now sets up a quarter-final tie with Manchester United. The victory came courtesy fine hat-trick from Nicklas Bendtner and further goals from Marouane Chamakh and Gael Clichy. In the post-Carling Cup fallout, it was positive that Bendtner and Chamakh both found the net as their confidence in front of goal will need to be on the up whilst they deputise for the injured Robin Van Persie in the coming weeks.
Saturday sees the visit of Sunderland to Ashburton Grove and, with United dropping points at Stamford Bridge in the week, this will be an opportunity for the Gunners to close the gap at the top of the table. Injuries to Van Persie, Walcott and Fabregas won’t make matters easier but it’s a squad game and it’s time for some of the second-string players to step up to the plate and show their worth.
Source: David Young, ESPN Soccernet on 3 Mar 11
Monday, February 28, 2011
Arsenal laid low by Birmingham City's astute use of Nikola Zigic
Birmingham's strategy made a virtue of the much criticised Nikola Zigic's aerial strength and their midfield five worked tirelessly to cover his immobility by denying Arsenal space in their half by a clever deployment of pressing whenever the Gunners broke into their half.
An entertaining first period finished all square after Birmingham's great graft had given them an early ascendancy. Their midfield's hustling and sensible use of Zigic, telling him to do what he does best and flick the ball on with his head from direct diagonal balls played from both wings, gave Arsenal plenty to ponder at half-time.
Birmingham did not get the penalty they deserved when Wojciech Szczesny upended Lee Bowyer but they were not dispirited and kept plugging deep balls into Zigic and Bowyer anticipated his flicks with early movement and well-timed runs. Craig Gardner also moved intelligently and Sebastien Larsson and Keith Fahey timed their supporting runs perfectly to feed on Zigic's knockdowns.
As Arsenal's passing improved Birmingham retreated in their 4-5-1 formation and left the Serb upfield as a spectator, not wanting him to expend any energy fruitlessly but rather telling him to focus on maximising his heading strength.
Alex McLeish had drilled his forces thoughtfully and they knew exactly when to trigger the group pressing which restricted Arsenal's goal attempts in the first period. The five midfielders dropped to halfway as a group and then hunted Arsenal's ball carriers down as a pack with terrific team spirit.
With Arsenal forced to shoot from distance, Ben Foster excelled, superbly parrying efforts. Birmingham battled bravely under pressure as Roger Johnson and Martin Jiranek kept their positional discipline and Bowyer and Barry Ferguson suffered heavy challenges. When the end of the road was in sight Zigic was substituted as Arsenal began to look the fresher of the teams and were threatening to take the game.
The pace of the substitutes Obafemi Martins and Cameron Jerome became important as Birmingham narrowed the gap between the forwards and midfielders to maintain concerted attacking phases.
It was sad that an awful mix-up decided the game. All the pundits will talk of Arsenal's failure to purchase a goalkeeper and centre-back but fate was cruel on them. They conceded the first goal with too many defenders obscuring Szczesny and Johan Djourou's lack of concentration allowed Zigic to score. Robin van Persie's equaliser was a piece of magical timing and technique.
The winner came from a mistake but Birmingham earned their victory through terrific teamwork and astute deployment of Zigic's strengths.
Source: David Pleat, The Guardian on 27 Feb 11
Arsenal v Birmingham City: five things we learned
The pre-match pressure was too much for Arsenal
The anxiety etched on Arsène Wenger's face in a pre-match interview was symptomatic of the nerves his players showed on the pitch. It was as if all the talk about waiting six years for a trophy, allied to their billing as favourites, was too much for Wenger's team. Arsenal had a spell in the second half when they were well on top and only Ben Foster's brilliance denied them the lead but generally they played in fits and starts. It was alarming to see Birmingham pinning them back and pressing for the goal that would have given them a 2-0 lead in the first half. Cesc Fábregas and Theo Walcott were missing but their absence was no excuse for this disappointing display that highlighted their mental frailties.
Cameron Jerome was right about Arsenal's defence
"If Arsenal have a weak point, it's the back four and the goalkeeper," Cameron Jerome said in the lead-up to the match. It felt like a dangerous comment to make and one that would give Arsenal additional motivation but instead the Birmingham striker proved to be spot-on. Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny endured a nightmare afternoon at the centre of the Arsenal backline and Wojciech Szczesny will also want to erase the game from his memory. Djourou was guilty of a schoolboy error on the first goal, when he was caught ball-watching, while Koscielny and Szczesny got in a terrible mix-up to give Birmingham their winner. It summed up their afternoon.
Arsenal failed to heed set-piece warning
All the warning signs were there beforehand for Arsenal. From the sight of a 6ft 8in striker leading the line to the statistics that highlighted just how dangerous Birmingham are on set pieces (six of their eight Premier League goals against Wenger's team have come from that source), Wenger's players had no excuses for not being alive to the threat Alex McLeish's side pose on dead balls. Yet from Sebastian Larsson's corner, Roger Johnson won the first header and Zigic the next to give Birmingham the lead. Djourou was marking Zigic but he started to follow the ball when it was arrowed towards Johnson, leaving the Serbian, who is often accused of not making the most of his height, to nod in.
Alex McLeish is a top manager
How else can we view Alex McLeish? In his last three seasons the Birmingham manager has won promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt, delivered the club's highest top-flight league position in more than 50 years and now won the club their first major piece of silverware since 1963. His is a remarkable record, especially given the resources at his disposal. He got his tactics spot-on for this occasion, setting Birmingham up in a 4-5-1 formation that stifled Arsenal but also encouraged his own players, especially Lee Bowyer, to break and support Zigic. It was a plan that worked to perfection. Birmingham are in Europe and no one deserves the plaudits that will follow more than McLeish.
Small clubs get a raw deal at Wembley
The 2010 League Cup final was only four minutes old when Nemanja Vidic hauled down Gabriel Abgonlahor in the penalty area and somehow escaped a red card. It was a poor decision, although at least Aston Villa had the consolation of a penalty kick. There was not a single crumb of comfort for Birmingham here, however, after Bowyer, played on by Gaël Clichy, burst on to Zigic's pass and was brought down by Szczesny as he attempted to round him. It should have been a spot kick and a straight red card. Instead, the assistant referee, Ron Ganfield, wrongly raised his flag for offside and Birmingham were denied playing against a 10-man Arsenal side for 88 minutes.
Source: Stuart James, The Guardian on 27 Feb 11
Obafemi Martins grabs glory as Birmingham beat Arsenal
Arsenal's defects warrant prolonged examination, but the real priority is to salute Birmingham. They are inferior in almost every respect to Arsène Wenger's team, as the 3-0 loss to them at St Andrew's in January emphasised, yet their powers of endurance were remarkable and not only for the saves that Ben Foster produced when Arsenal seemed bound for the winner.
There was a boldness to Birmingham, who understood that a cup final is not to be wasted by cowering in the hope that luck comes your way. Nikola Zigic may have been the man who most caused disquiet to the opposition. The Serb had scored only seven goals before this occasion, but he exposed the unsatisfactory defending of Arsenal and, in particular, of the centre‑half Laurent Koscielny.
The Frenchman made a ruinous nuisance of himself with a minute remaining. Koscielny moved as if to kick a long ball from Foster and distracted his goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. He then let possession spill to the Nigerian Martins, who came to Birmingham last month on loan from the Russian club Rubin Kazan. No matter how brief his stay in the Midlands turns out to be, he has a permanent place in the memory of every Birmingham supporter.
Arsenal, for their part, were co-conspirators in this result. After six years without a trophy, it is impossible to believe they were complacent. It is more likely that we were witnessing nervousness as they rolled the ball around to very limited effect in the first half. There were intimations even then of vulnerability in the ranks.
Zigic regularly highlighted that. He not only scored the opener but should have added to it. After 28 minutes, Sebastian Larsson put a corner towards the fringes of the penalty area and Roger Johnson got the better of Koscielny to nod the ball into the goalmouth, where the Serb diverted the ball into the net with his head.
Arsenal's apprehension was marked well before that. Although they were behind then, the situation might have been far worse. Szczensy would have been sent off in the second minute for bringing down Lee Bowyer, following a pass from Zigic, had it not been for the mistake by the assistant referee Ron Garfield in raising the flag for offside. McLeish's side showed a desire to seize the opportunity, while Arsenal lost track of where they were and why.
This may have been the least of the four prizes that Wenger's side were pursuing, but there will be further misery if they continue to be so brittle. Arsenal might as well have been out to illustrate every defect that is suspected in them. So it was that tension prevented them from showing fluency. Birmingham were close to recording their second goal much earlier in the second half, when a Keith Fahey shot came back off the crossbar.
It was to be expected that McLeish's men would raise their game. There was nothing to fear when almost everyone had taken it for granted that they would fall to inevitable defeat. The side's great feat was to believe in themselves for so long. There was nothing that resembled an Arsenal onslaught until well into the second half.
When Arsenal at last achieved impetus, there was a string of saves from Foster, particularly when Samir Nasri and then the substitute Nicklas Bendtner forced him into action. At that stage in the second half, Arsenal might well have achieved total command.
Instead they drifted away from a target that seemed well within reach. That should be at least as disquieting to Wenger as the fact that a prize has eluded him. The side's focus and standard of play were both prone to being blurred. It would have been better for Wenger if Cesc Fábregas and Theo Walcott had not been absent through injury, and many could have anticipated there would also be a craving for the presence of the defender Thomas Vermaelen, who has been absent for almost all of this season. Birmingham behaved from the outset as if every player had been convinced by McLeish that there was glory to be had if they attacked the Arsenal central defence with confidence.
There might have been a second goal for Zigic, who displayed zest and mobility that had been well disguised on other occasions. Birmingham could have extended the lead 11 minutes from the interval. Jack Wilshere's challenge on Craig Gardner merely knocked the ball to the Serb, but he did not connect properly and Szczesny blocked without difficulty.
Arsenal may attempt to trick themselves into thinking that nothing of real worth has escaped. There are greater honours to be sought, but this was an outcome to plant new doubts in men who were starting to develop faith in themselves. The immediate priority is to inch back to normality by beating Leyton Orient on Wednesday. The requirement for a replay in that FA Cup came with an 89th‑minute leveller for the League One team.
We should appreciate then that this continues to be an Arsenal team in the shadow of their prolonged fallibility. The weeks to come do, of course, include the return with Barcelona in the Champions League. There is much that could go wrong and Arsenal have heightened the apprehension by falling to admirable Birmingham.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 27 Feb 11
Arsenal may find it difficult to recover from this disastrous day
At the final whistle Arsenal's players stood, sat or knelt on the lush emerald turf like figures in a tableau of despair. Motionless, traumatised, suddenly drained of the last vestiges of belief and hope and even pride, they looked dismayingly like Bayern Munich after Manchester United had finished with the German side at the Camp Nou in 1999.
Jack Wilshere hit the crossbar here and Robin van Persie was the author of one of the most beautiful goals ever scored in a Wembley final – surely, at least, the best ever scored by a player on the losing side – but Tomas Rosicky's bungled attempt to backheel a clear chance into the net with 10 minutes left somehow epitomised Arsenal's display on an evening when they failed in the attempt to win their first trophy since 2005.
So stunning was the defeat that they will find it difficult to recover their morale, although the press of events in the Premier League and the European Cup over the coming weeks may serve to take their minds off a disastrous day. Pointing to the enforced absence of Cesc Fábregas, Thomas Vermaelen and Theo Walcott will not help. A club with Arsenal's ambitions and resources – they have 19 players out on loan – should have acquired the capacity to ride such misfortunes.
On paper, this was a mismatch: thoroughbreds versus mongrels. Of such contrasts are cup classics made, and in the eyes of more than one neutral the two sides produced arguably the best football match yet seen at the new Wembley. To make it so, the occasion required not just Birmingham City's honest effort, dogged persistence and resilient structure but Arsenal's insecurity and anxiety, a neurosis born of the weight of the expectation, conscious or otherwise, that they would ease their way to victory by virtue of their superior class.
It would not be too harsh to suggest that Arsenal got exactly what they and their manager deserved for a performance that began with the most blatant piece of undeserved good fortune, contained enough individual mistakes to fill an entire season and ended with the sort of defending that a team produces when not enough attention is paid to constructing a side equally strong and self-confident in all areas.
Of course they had their moments. At half-time, with the score at one apiece, it was tempting to feel that had Lee Bowyer been wearing the Arsenal No7 shirt, rather than the ineffectual Rosicky, the north London side would be two or three goals up and on the way to ending that wait for another trophy.
Yet they should have been a goal, and a man, down after two minutes, when a fine pass from Keith Fahey found Nikola Zigic. The angular 6ft 7in Serb, whose control with his feet is customarily wayward enough to make Peter Crouch look like Alfredo di Stefano, played what may have been the best pass of his entire career, a delightfully perceptive and carefully weighted ball for Bowyer, who ran smoothly on to it with only the goalkeeper to beat and was promptly upended by Wojciech Szczesny, only to be given offside, quite wrongly. A correct decision would inevitably have led to the goalkeeper's expulsion.
The West Midlanders did not dwell on the injustice but profited from the knowledge of their opponents' vulnerability. Arsenal's defenders were never comfortable with the threat of Zigic, who scored Birmingham's goal in the visitors' 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium in October. Szczesny, who lacks only two inches of the Serb's height, could not get close to him when Roger Johnson headed a corner back towards the six-yard box, and Birminghan took the lead.
Arsenal had started to put their attacking game together but they discovered Ben Foster in a mood to show what Manchester United and England missed. Of the goalkeeper's nine saves, the last two were truly exceptional. When Nicklas Bendtner's shot was deflected in the 76th minute, Foster was already diving but reacted by throwing up a hand to turn the ball aside. Four minutes later he flew to his left to tip away Samir Nasri's goalbound drive.
In the absence of Fábregas, Nasri had been expected to provide the goalscoring threat from Arsenal's midfield. But rather than attempting the sort of incisive dribbles that often reached their climax with a goal in the first half of the season, he tended to loiter on the fringe of the Birmingham penalty area before transferring the ball and the responsibility to a team‑mate.
Andrey Arshavin, whose dribble ended with the cross that Van Persie volleyed home before the interval, was more incisive, and it came as a surprise when the Russian was withdrawn, rather than the pallid Rosicky, to make way for Marouane Chamakh in the closing stages.
"We have to take a lot of pride and encouragement for the challenges ahead," Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said, having witnessed a collapse less protracted but potentially more damaging than the tossing away of a 4-0 lead at St James' Park three weeks ago. Wilshere was one of the few Arsenal players to emerge with credit, going about his work neatly and unobtrusively alongside the dreadfully inaccurate Alex Song. It was his uncharacteristic error, however, that led to the opening from which Fahey hit the post early in the second half.
Birmingham City will not waste too much time on sympathy for Arsenal and their six-year search for something new to put in the trophy cabinet. For the winners, ignoring the Leyland Daf Cup and the Auto Windscreens Shield, the result ended a drought going all the way back to 1963 – between Lady Chatterley and the Beatles' first LP, as a certain West Midlands poet might have put it.
Source: Richard Williams, The Guardian on 27 Feb 11
Drought continues as Gunners freeze
Catastrophe had struck them when Wojcech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny's shared error gifted the League Cup to England's Second City, with Birmingham winning 2-1. With Manchester United reopening the gap at the top of the Premier League, this has been an unhappy weekend for Arsenal. Now Barcelona lie in wait, not to mention Leyton Orient. This day was Birmingham's, and deservedly so despite the lucky break that granted Obafemi Martins his winner. The memories of ten years ago, and that image of Trevor Francis consoling a stricken Andy Johnson, have been augmented with the club's second winning of this trophy after a gap of 48 years. Now it is Wilshere who is a poster boy for Wembley woe.
A year ago, Manchester United found that winning this trophy came at the cost of injury to both Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, as Wembley's clagging pitch sucked reserves of energy. They at least could take solace in having something to show for their season. Arsenal now walk a tightrope and their manager admitted that the manner of this loss could have a worrying effect on his team. "I am bitterly disappointed like all the team," said a desolate Arsene Wenger. "We had problems to start with. It took us a while to get into the pace of the game, and in the second half we were on top but the goal gave us no time to respond."
The Gunners' attempts to win four trophies meant this was a lesser light for them, a fact confirmed by a lack of cup final tailoring - their pre-match pitch attire was tracksuits while Birmingham's players were suited and booted. Birmingham's first major final at Wembley since 1956 clearly meant a great deal to both their staff and fans, Alex McLeish's pitchside manner manic in contrast to Wenger's studied cool until all went wrong. In the end, the spoils went to the team who wanted it most.
That six-year trophy drought on which Wenger is clearly bored of answering questions continues. This was an occasion in which damage limitation and protection of leading players was hugely important but it was another target that was missed. In scoring his goal, Robin Van Persie clearly injured himself and was forced to leave the game early with a knee problem. For too long, Arsenal played as if other things were on their mind. Cesc Fabregas was clearly missed, and so too Theo Walcott. Arsene Wenger made mention of them post-match and pointed to the difficulty he faces in performing a balancing act with his squad. Birmingham, on the other hand, could concentrate on this fixture, a point of view which erred in forgetting Blues' fight for Premier League survival.
The Londoners entered the break lucky to be level, though Van Persie's goal was wonderfully taken. It had arrived at a time when Birmingham had been well in the ascendancy, though was inspired by a Wilshere drive against the bar which temporarily lifted his team-mates' tempo.
Blues had begun with a belief they maintained throughout and were denied what surely would have been a penalty when Lee Bowyer was wrongly ruled offside when surging through on goal only to be upended by Szczesny. A sending off may well have resulted too to further echo last season's final when Nemanja Vidic should have been dismissed for an early foul against Aston Villa. It was a moment always likely to be heavily mentioned post-match if Birmingham did not triumph but will now be forgotten though McLeish told of how at half-time he "gathered our team, saying that we must retain our composure". Meanwhile, the young goalkeeper may even wish he had been so punished. He was culpable for both Blues goals and has probably begun more talk about Arsenal lacking a trustworthy goalkeeper.
It was aerial power that was always likely to be Birmingham's most potent weapon and Nikola Zigic's 28th-minute header was a victory for McLeish's training-ground drills, and a first moment to rue for Szczesny, whose late commitment to Roger Johnson's flick left him in limbo as the Serb nodded past him. Sadly for him, his afternoon was to get far worse.
Arsenal's second-period showing had to be better and yet it was not good enough. Wenger perhaps needed to resort to hurling Wembley's finest bone china to lift his charges' desire; they seemed for long periods to be lacking it.
The Gunners could have fallen behind again when Keith Fahey crashed the ball off the base of the post in the 57th minute. At this point, Birmingham were still the team raising their game to match the occasion. Only Wilshere of Arsenal's players matched their determination, with both Alex Song and Tomas Rosicky particularly lacking in drive and Gael Clichy struggling as Zigic towered on his shoulder. It seemed as if McLeish had targeted Arsenal's shortest defender on set-pieces. A gameplan had been struck, and stuck to and was a great success or "executed brilliantly" in the words of McLeish, who stopped short of slapping his own back and moved the credit to his players.
On a day when much went right for the Scot, even he could not have predicted the manner of victory. "You do need luck," admitted McLeish in the time-honoured magnamity of the victor.
As Wenger pointed out, a lack of "communication and determination" caused it to be scored. "The ball was in no-man's land," said Wenger, who described Szczesny and the equally guilty Laurent Kosciely as "destroyed" in the dressing room. "Someone had to take responsibility. Nobody from Birmingham was going for the ball." A costly error then, and one which may have far-reaching effects on the esprit de corps of Arsenal.
Now they are chasing for three trophies that all look far harder to win than this should have been. "The Carling Cup is playing just four or five games," said Wenger. "We will not throw 38 games away because of one game but we don't deny it's a massive disappointment."
MAN OF THE MATCH - Ben Foster
He will likely not be denied the champagne reception he complained wasn't forthcoming when he won this trophy with Manchester United, and can be highly pleased with a display that matched the quality of his previous showing on this stage. Two saves made with his legs, first from Arshavin and then from Bendtner were low on artistic impression but high on importance.
ARSENAL VERDICT
They will feel cursed, unlucky and bruised but when they were expected to blow away Blues with free-flowing verve, they singularly failed to do so. Wilshere was outstanding in that he was often the only player who looked up for it. That late goal was cruel considering they had begun to dominate, but their first-half performance was poor enough to deserve their fate.
BIRMINGHAM CITY VERDICT
Alex McLeish may have won plenty of trophies north of the border but this must register as his greatest triumph and he admitted as much. His players worked manfully all game and indeed were no less creative than their storied opponents. They had luck, of course, but they rode it well, and their fans can look forward to European adventures that McLeish forgot he had qualified for in winning this trophy.
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
Wembley's PA system made its usual incursion into the eardrums of the spectators, with a volume and music policy that surely acts against Brent Council's noise pollution policy. Welcome relief was provided by the playing of ELO's "Mr Blue Sky" and it had Blues fans pogoing in the aisles.
Source: John Brewin, ESPN Soccernet on 27 Feb 11
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