How much longer can Arsène Wenger be offered the benefit of the doubt?

The Arsenal manager is providing the evidence that even the greatest can lose their way, inexplicably and irretrievably

Arsène Wenger's achievements are so monumental it is not an easy thing to find ourselves at the point when we have to acknowledge, however reluctantly, he is straying dangerously close to fully fledged fantasy if he seriously believes restoring true greatness to Arsenal is going to be anything but a dauntingly long-term project.

The evidence was overwhelming even before their ordeal at the Stadio Guiseppe Meazza and the latest directionless effort at Sunderland that, once again, takes them out of trophy contention and makes it felt even more absurd that Wenger had begun the week expressing his belief that they had realistic aspirations of outdoing Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid and all the rest to win the Champions League.

Nobody had taken it particularly seriously because, put bluntly, we assumed a man of this calibre was surely more in touch with reality and, if not, what happened at San Siro ("not a football match but a massacre," as La Repubblica put it) made the point with the force of a sledgehammer.

After that, if Wenger's judgment is skewed enough to believe it was simply one bad night, rather than the cumulative effects of a decline that has gone on longer than most Arsenal fans would care to remember, then maybe what we are looking at here is compelling evidence that even the greatest football men can lose their way, inexplicably and irretrievably.

This is not said lightly in an age when football's blame culture and unending demand for scapegoats can be incredibly wearing and Wenger has already revolutionised Arsenal to the point that, even now, it feels almost sacrilege to question his suitability for what needs to happen next. Yet how much longer can we offer the benefit of the doubt when it is so plainly obvious that much of the old magic is no longer there? The decline is year on year and when the man in charge appears to believe it needs only some fine-tuning it becomes increasingly difficult to sustain a legitimate defence.

Already this season we have seen open mutiny at the Emirates Stadium and the most voluble abuse Wenger has ever encountered from his own crowd. This frustration has been building since they won their last trophy seven years ago, and who can say it will get any better soon when they will surely lose their outstanding player, Robin van Persie, at the end of the season?

Wenger has already seen most of his better players picked off by predators. Inferior replacements have been brought in and you know things are bad when Sir Alex Ferguson starts referring to him with the kind of 19th-hole chumminess that could make you think they were Rotary Club buddies rather than embittered adversaries of old. Ferguson and Wenger could once have fallen out over a game of Pooh Sticks but, seriously, why would anyone at Manchester United be overly concerned now about the manager of such an ordinary team, 17 points off Manchester City at the top of the league?

The truth is Arsenal are in fourth position despite recording only one league victory of real substance all season. That was the 5-3 at Chelsea in October, when they came across a side enduring their own slump. Otherwise they have lost every single time against the other four other clubs with aspirations of challenging for the top positions. A good barometer of a team's competitive spirit can usually be found in their away form and Arsenal, on their travels, have conceded more goals than every other team bar two of the sides in the bottom four, Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic. In truth, fourth place flatters Arsenal.

What we have now is a team regarded as such a soft touch that, before a ball had even been kicked at San Siro, the former Milan coaches Carlo Ancelotti and Arrigo Sacchi, with four Europeans Cups between them, could casually dismiss Wenger's men in a click of the fingers, and nobody saw it as the slightest bit impudent. Dennis Bergkamp, Martin Keown and Patrick Vieira have all weighed in from the Invincibles era. These are serial winners, as perplexed as the rest of us. Roy Keane, an old foe now on television duty, was still shaking his head as he boarded his flight from Malpensa airport on Thursday. This team, he said, were going nowhere fast. "The worst Arsenal side in 10 years," Sacchi volunteered.

This is why nobody can really blame Van Persie if, at 28, he wants to join a team that represent more than the elegant frustration Arsenal have become. This could be the first season under Wenger that they fail to qualify for the Champions League and will almost certainly be the only time in his tenure they finish below Spurs, currently 10 points better off. The deterioration has been nothing short of staggering and you have to wonder whether Wenger, already planning for next season, is in danger of joining the list of football greats who stayed too long.

Source: Daniel Taylor, The Guardian on 18 Feb 12

Sunderland's Kieran Richardson puts seal on Arsenal's week of misery

It seemed somehow appropriate that Jimmy Montgomery's first day as Sunderland's special ambassador should end in a spot of FA Cup glory. It is 39 years since his double reflex save at Wembley ensured that Ian Porterfield's goal was sufficient to beat Leeds United and bring the trophy back to Wearside but, inspired by Martin O'Neill's dynamic management, Montgomery's old club have silverware in their sights once more.

Barring a Champions League miracle it looks as if Arsenal will not be winning anything again this season. Indeed it was perhaps not purely because of the plummeting February temperature that, at the end, Arsène Wenger partially covered his face with the protective, zipped-up collar of his managerial duvet coat.

As if listening to cheeky chants of "You're getting sacked in the morning" from jubilant Sunderland fans was not bad enough, Arsenal's manager had to endure the experience of seeing his disappointingly flat side deservedly lose to a team who, until O'Neill's transformative arrival, were dallying with relegation.

If O'Neill's central defensive partnership of John O'Shea and Michael Turner did an outstanding job of keeping Robin van Persie and company quiet, a counter-attacking Sunderland also impressed in possession.

Lee Cattermole proved arguably the evening's key figure in a holding central midfield role which took considerable pressure off his defence while James McClean's left-wing forays worried Arsenal.

A chill wind whipping off the river Wear proved so capricious that ball control assumed a whole new meaning. With the heavy pitch beginning to cut up the conditions were hardly ideal for a fast-tiring Arsenal side badly in need of restoring some morale-boosting fluency to their play following last Wedenesday's Champions League ignominy in Milan.

When Francis Coquelin, drafted in at left-back for the day, swiftly hobbled off with a hamstring injury it seemed that fortune was continuing to frown on Wenger's currently accident-prone defence.

With Sébastien Squillaci joining Johan Djourou in central defence, Thomas Vermaelen relocated to his less preferred left-back role where he frequently looked uneasy in the face of Sebastian Larsson, Sunderland's former Arsenal right-winger.

Across on the left, McClean regularly had the beating of Bacary Sagna and the young Irishman's runs and crosses at times provoked consternation among the visiting backline.

Although Stéphane Sessègnon was nominally deployed as Sunderland's lone striker Craig Gardner made frequent, defender-confounding late dashes into the penalty area from the heart of O'Neill's midfield quintet. With Cattermole, recovered from a hamstring strain, in such authoritative form Gardner was free to serve at times as a secondary counterattacking striker.

It was Djourou's foul on Gardner that precipitated the free-kick from which Sunderland took the lead. Larsson swung the ball in and Vermaelen's attempt at a headed clearance fell at the feet of Kieran Richardson.

O'Neill's left-back was unattended in acres of space but, even so, his handsome left-foot shot appeared poised to fly fractionally wide until it was deflected off Squillaci and into the bottom corner.

Wenger slumped deep into his padded seat in the away dugout. The row of stony-faced backroom staff lined up alongside a manager by now huddling into the protective folds of his coat as if it were a comfort blanket reflected an increasingly downbeat north London mood.

Visiting demeanours were hardly enhanced when Howard Webb refused Van Persie a penalty in the wake of a perceived foul from O'Shea after the Dutchman had collected Alex Song's clever reverse pass. Webb, though, adjudged that O'Shea had got the ball before bringing down Van Persie.

Earlier Gardner's challenge on Van Persie had earned a free-kick just outside the area, floated wide by Mikel Arteta, but Simon Mignolet's sole key save of the match involved him brilliantly tipping a shot from Gervinho, newly returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, to safety.

As the second half unravelled and the clock ticked remorselessly down, Wenger was forced into a double substitution. Squillaci, clutching a groin, and a limping Aaron Ramsey trudged off, heads bowed, and were replaced by Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott.

Some of Van Persie's off-the-ball attacking movement was superb but the service he received proved less so and during an odd pause in play the striker's body language suggested he was a little fed up.

It was time for some of the much-vaunted leadership hitherto conspicuous by its absence and Van Persie duly decided to try galvanising his colleagues. When Arteta indicated he would be taking a free-kick, Arsenal's captain overruled him taking the set play himself and, in a cameo emblematic of Wenger's woes, saw it deflected wide.

Luck similarly deserted Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when, attempting to help out defensively, he merely succeeded in inadvertently nudging the ball into his own net.

Sunderland's second goal began with Arteta's slip which permitted Sessèngon to race almost halfway down the pitch before slipping a pass to Larsson. Although the Swede's shot rebounded off a post, the back-tracking Oxlade-Chamberlain proved powerless to prevent the ball entering the net.

It proved the cue for the finally confident home supporters to break into one of their favourite ditties. "Are you watching," they sang. "Are you watching Newcastle?"

Source: Louise Taylor, The Guardian on 18 Feb 12

Wenger's reaction to the Sunderland 2-0 Arsenal match

on the team’s display…
We put in a committed performance and gave absolutely everything that was left in our legs. It was a very difficult game. We had a very unfortunate schedule because we played away in the Champions League then straight away [we played] away again on some very difficult pitches.

We fought hard today. I felt we were a bit unlucky because there was a 100 per cent penalty for us that Mr Webb missed and then the first shot [for Sunderland] was a goal.

Then we had to chase the game and take every gamble and we were caught on the counter for the second goal. We had a lot of possession but didn’t create a lot, which was down to fantastic defending from Sunderland.

on dealing with criticism…
We have to take the critics on board, stay together and face them. There is only one response in our job; stay united, fight and focus on the next game.

on ending the season without silverware…
It is too early to say where it leaves us and what we will do. Let’s focus on the next game in the championship and fight, even if there is a small possibility [of progressing], in the Champions League. We have a big game next Saturday, we lost three players today and we are starting to get very short.

on the next steps…
At the moment it is best to let people talk, criticise, analyse and destroy and on our side it is important to show internal strength and resilience and come out with a strong performance in our next game.

on injuries…
Squillaci was injured. Coquelin is injured. Ramsey is injured.

Source: Arsenal.com on 18 Feb 12

18 February 2012: Sunderland 2-0 Arsenal, Stadium of Light

Arsenal are out of the FA Cup.

Arsène Wenger's side went down 2-0 at Sunderland thanks to Kieran Richardson's cross-shot just before the break and an own goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 13 minutes from full-time.

There were elements ill-fortune over both. The first found the corner thanks to deflection and the second was stumbled over the line by the backtracking Arsenal midfielder. But few could deny that Sunderland were still worthy winners on the day.

The visitors played a full part in a full-bloodied cup tie but they could not summon a victory to banish the memory of that midweek defeat in Milan.

Barring an incredible fightback in the second leg on March 6, Arsenal's season is now all about the Premier League.

Wenger had promised to freshen up his side after the defeat in Italy. In the end, he made five changes - some enforced, some not.

Lukasz Fabianski, Francis Coquelin, Johan Djourou, Gervinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain all came in Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny, Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky.

It has been an arduous week already and the Arsenal manager clearly thought his side needed an injection of energy.

Sunderland's crowd was significantly down on the previous week's Premier League game but the visiting contingent was virtually the same. The Arsenal supporters had taken advantage of £5 coach trips laid on by the Club.

As they have all season, Wenger's team travelled with a healthly vocal backing.

And their team gave them something to shout about it in opening stages.

Until Coquelin hobbled off, the visitors were vibrant. However the nearest they came to goal was when Arteta whipped a free-kick just wide.

But in the seventh minute, Arsenal lost a defender for the third successive game. Coquelin pulled up close to the same spot on which Per Mertesacker had crumpled into a heap a week earlier. The Frenchman's game was over and Sebastien Squillaci came on for his first game since Fulham on January 2.

The change sucked the early impetus out of Arsenal and Sunderland started to pressurise. Stephane Sessignon went through and curled an effort just wide of the far post then Fabianski did well to hold on to James McClean's driven cross.

The home crowd began to sense a goal as the game went end-to-end. But although Sunderland were on top, Arsenal would have their moments.

Just before the half-hour, Robin van Persie released Gervinho. The Ivorian, who was the visitors' brightest attacking outlet so far, jinked himself so space and rifled in a shot that Simon Mignolet did well to push over the bar.

In the 32^nd minute, Arsenal thought they might have had a penalty when Song's perceptive pass released Van Persie in the area momentarily. Replays suggested John O'Shea had got his toe to the ball before he brought down the Dutch striker.

It seemed that Arsenal had forced their way back to parity in a cup tie that was starting to simmer. However they would end the half badly.

Five minutes before half-time, Djourou hauled down Craig Gardner and, though Vermaelen cleared Larsson's free-kick, Richardson returned the ball with interest.

Typical of Arsenal's fortune right now, the full-back's effort would have drifted wide but for a deflection off Vermaelen's arm. In fact, it found the far corner.

Arsenal were rattled and Sunderland sensed a second. They nearly got it when Larsson's deep cross was nodded back at far post by Jack Colback and McClean prodded the ball into the sidenetting.

Sunderland started the second half in similar fashion. Sagna took out McClean just outside the area and Larsson planted his free-kick on to the top of the net.

Ramsey had stayed out during the break, presumably to test out a knock. Clearly the result was negative as the Welshman limped off within 10 minutes of the restart. Rosicky came on.

Squillaci was wincing when Walcott replaced him at the same time. Song dropped into central defence while the Englishman went up front with Van Persie tucked in behind.

This was cup football and Wenger had set up his side to go for it. The changes would help their cause.

Arsenal suddenly looked to have a better balance and pushed forward. Van Persie whipped a low free-kick just wide as the visitors started to pen back the home side as they had done a week ago. However they were having trouble prising open a stubborn Sunderland defence.

Vermaelen's cross was inches too high for Van Persie then the Belgian's header was plucked out of the air by Mignolet.

Arsenal's increasing ambition left them open to the counter and Sunderland profited 13 minutes from time.

Sessignon shrugged off Arteta to force the breakaway. The Frenchman prodded a pass to Larsson on the right. His shot bounced off the inside of the post, ran across the goalline and the backtracking Oxlade-Chamberlain inadvertently scuffed the ball over the line.

As with the first goal, there was an element of bad luck. But it seems that is just Arsenal's lot at the moment.

Rosicky drove forward to set up Van Persie but the Dutchman hoisted his shot too high. In the final minute, Arteta cracked an effort just over the bar.

But Sunderland had more than done enough on the day.

Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 18 Feb 12

Robin van Persie scores two penalties to take Arsenal past Aston Villa

So now we know. If you wish to substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, you do it with two minutes to go, with your team in the lead, and you bring on Thierry Henry. Signal joyous whoops all round. As it happened, the idea of any kind of happy ending was difficult to imagine at half‑time, as Arsenal trailed 2-0 and appeared to be on their way to yet another crushing blow after three straight Premier League defeats.

All reason pointed towards gloom. Few inside the stadium would have backed Arsenal to rebound from another punishing spell on the ropes. As Arsène Wenger admitted: "When you don't win, belief goes."

But against all expectation, the players rallied during the interval in the bowels of the Emirates Stadium, found reserves of courage to disprove the doubters, and scored three goals in a frenetic seven‑minute burst to tip this compelling Cup tie on its head.

Theo Walcott, one of those who comes most under scrutiny at times like this, was quick to suggest that there can be more to this team than meets the eye. "It just shows we have got characters in the dressing room even though no one thinks we do," he said pointedly.

The Arsenal manager had suggested that his team required a performance to get their crowd back onside but, with nerves frayed by recent events, just what they needed was to go a goal behind. And just to make them feel even better about themselves it was assisted by typically passive defending.

Villa had already come close to a gift in the 21st minute as Lukasz Fabianski pelted off his line to meet a 50‑50 ball against Darren Bent. The Arsenal goalkeeper missed, and the Villa striker was centimetres away from a clean connection in front of an unguarded net.

It was not long before the visitors profited from Arsenal's aerial hesitancy. Just after the half‑hour they eased in front when Robbie Keane found space to angle in a cross which invited Richard Dunne to leap highest, and with most conviction, to thump in a header. The two old Irish team-mates, who knew each other's game inside out, were thrilled.

In an instant the home tension‑ometer ratcheted up a few notches. Then on the stroke of half‑time the mood worsened. Arsenal again found little resistance as Villa launched an electric counterattack. When Stephen Ireland helped the move on to Bent, the England forward lashed in an angled shot.

Although Fabianski parried, Bent steered the rebound in from an even tighter spot. Villa's noisy contingent, who benefited from the chairman, Randy Lerner, laying on 70 coaches for this expedition, erupted. "The first half was blinding, brilliant, international class," said Alex McLeish. "But it's never over, is it. I said to the boys at half‑time there's 45 minutes to go."

Arsenal were reeling. They had enjoyed a decent amount of possession, even testing Shay Given a couple of times. Thomas Vermaelen whacked in a shot from 30 yards and Oxlade-Chamberlain took aim from long range. Effort was not really the problem for Arsenal. Quality was. They emerged after half‑time accompanied by an anthem by the aptly named House of Pain.

Could they muster the fortitude, and the finesse, to recover? Recent form would suggest absolutely not. Yet in an dazzling turnaround Arsenal transformed 0-2 into 3-2.

Per Mertesacker and Aaron Ramsey both glimpsed chances before Robin van Persie was able take control by getting into shooting territory.

Arsenal were awarded a penalty when Alex Song carved Villa open with a threaded pass to Ramsey, who was felled by Dunne. The defender, who had already been cautioned, was fortunate not to receive double punishment as a clear scoring opportunity was denied. Van Persie stepped up to slot his kick low and true past Given.

Arsenal were level when Walcott cruised past Stephen Warnock and saw his dinked shot repelled by Given on the line. Alan Hutton attempted to clear, but only shunted the ball against the winger and in.

Astonishingly, moments later Arsenal were in front. Laurent Koscielny galloped upfield and left the chasing Bent in his wake, which takes some doing. Bent was lured into a clumsy challenge and the referee awarded his second penalty. The ever confident Van Persie crashed his second effort high into the net. He ran into the arms of the substitute Henry.

Wenger, who has felt aggrieved about the non-award of some clear penalty appeals for his team in recent games, was pleasantly surprised to see Michael Jones deliver two. "That was one of the positives of the day," he said wryly.

Villa staggered around for a while, unable to take in quite what had happened, and then refocused. Stilian Petrov was a picture of frustration when his move was intercepted by Mertesacker. Ciaran Clark nodded in a header which Fabianski smothered. Van Persie retreated to help and blocked off Keane. McLeish was incandescent about an offside decision that went against his team. "To say I am disappointed we did not see it out is an understatement."

Arsenal reclaimed control and a gutsy mission was accomplished.

Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 29 Jan 12

Gunners get out of jail

Arsene Wenger may have delivered nearly 900 half-time team talks as Arsenal manager, yet few have been more significant than the oration he offered during the interval in this FA Cup fourth round tie.

With the jeers of his own supporters ringing in his ears after a lamentable first half performance from his lacklustre team saw them reach the halfway point 2-0 behind, Wenger knew his well-worn script of excuses would not drown out the growing frustration of supporters whose previously unshakable devotion to their manager is being tested like never before.

If a month that has included defeats against Fulham, Swansea and Manchester United had concluded with a harrowing FA Cup exit against Aston Villa in front of a disgruntled Emirates Stadium audience, the final, substantial clutch of devotees to the Wenger cause may have struggled to contain the bubble of anger that has been simmering under the surface.

As he assembled his shell-shocked troops for this interval dressing down, the need for him to deliver the right message had never been more acute. Blunt in attack and lacklustre in defence, the first scenes of this drama offered up an all-too familiar tale for an Arsenal side playing before a larger than average array of unoccupied red seats.

Those unwanted pews, despite an official attendance of 60,019, provided some confirmation that a growing number of Arsenal fans are losing faith in a team who have guaranteed little more than false promise in recent years, with the looming disaster offered by this FA Cup tie threatening to plunge Arsenal's season into a full blown crisis.

Goals from Richard Dunne and Darren Bent were all too predictable as, in truth, Arsenal looked vulnerable every time Villa broke into their attacking third in the opening 45 minutes. The persistently uncomfortable presence of reserve keeper Lukas Fabianski and the consistently unconvincing Per Mertesacker were fuelling the suspicion that Wenger had fluffed his lines with his latest starting line-up, with Arsenal's supporters hardly in forgiving mood on a day when victory was demanded.

It is at moments such as this that the game's great managers tend to rise to the occasion and such was the plotline here, with a stony-faced Wenger delivering what he later described as a 'calm' team-talk that inspired an instant response in the opening 15 minutes of what could be a season-defining second half.

Two Robin van Persie penalties sandwiched a fortunate Theo Walcott goal to transform this captivating tie in thrilling fashion, giving the always immaculately presented Wenger an opportunity to insist those who may have been preparing obituaries for his team should steer clear of such pessimism.

"Our desire to stay in the FA Cup was enough to get us back into the game, but I always believed in this team's spirit and ability to perform as they did after the break," stated a curiously sombre Wenger. "I felt the 2-0 half-time score line was very harsh on us and so long as we scored the next goal, we would always have a chance.

"Villa were catching us on counter attacks and that is something we needed to address, but the key for me was that we needed to stay focused and calm. The second half performance confirmed that we can produce under pressure and this is what we need to build on. We are through to the next round of the cup and it doesn't matter so much now how we got there.

"I look at the performance in the second half against Manchester United last week and the display in the second half here was another example of what we can do when we play with a good tempo and with a clear mind."

Villa's red-faced and fiery Scottish boss Alex McLeish was never likely to be as laid back as he assessed the wreckage of his FA Cup dream, with what he described as a 'terrible eight minute spell' costing his side what could have been a famous victory at Emirates Stadium.

"We have to take this result on the chin, even though that seems hard to do at this moment," stated McLeish. "The first Arsenal goal gave them the lift they needed and we spoke about trying to avoid that at half-time. Their second goal came far too quickly for us as well and amid it all, we had the chances to snatch a draw.

"I felt the second of their penalties was a little harsh, but we gave them a chance to come back into the game and they have the pace to hurt you on the flanks. Still we have to get over this and look to our next league game, which is vitally important to us."

On a day when so many of Arsenal's enduring failings were given another public airing, it seems a little over optimistic to suggest this victory is a turning point that offers the potential to direct their troubled season on a more glorious course.

However, that has to be the mantra Arsene Wenger promotes after this ominous brush with disaster.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Robin van Persie
Two coolly taken penalties were required by the captain to ease Arsenal into the fifth round of the FA Cup. When they needed their leader to deliver, he held his nerve superbly.

WENGER PROGRAMME NOTES
The Arsenal manager conceded his side need to improve their focus over the course of an entire 90 minutes if they are to achieve their targets for this season, yet the first half of this game was another example of their inability to do just that.

DUNNE ESCAPE
Referee Mike Jones was bizarrely generous as he refused to hand Villa's Richard Dunne a second yellow card for hacking down Aaron Ramsey in the box to hand Arsenal their first penalty. The challenge could even have resulted in a straight red card, and the already cautioned Irishman was hugely fortunate to stay on the field.

SAGNA RETURN
Wenger was delighted to see Bacary Sagna make his long-awaited return from injury in this game, but he could offer no suggestion of a possible comeback date for midfielder Jack Wilshere after his latest injury setback.

VILLA VERDICT
Tactically superb and oozing with energy in the first half, the visitors executed their game plan with clinical precision in the first half. Stephen Ireland, in particular, shone in their early burst, yet their second half capitulation was a major disappointment for boss Alex McLeish.

ARSENAL VERDICT
Having dodged this potentially devastating FA Cup bullet, Wenger now has the Champions League tie against AC Milan, an FA Cup fifth round date against Middlesbrough or Sunderland and league games against Spurs and Liverpool on the horizon. January has hardly been a triumph for Arsenal, but February seems certain to make or break their season.

Source: Kevin Palmer, ESPN Soccernet on 29 Jan 12

Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa match

on the match overall...
It was a good test to show that we had the mental qualities to come back. On the other hand it was important that we didn't panic [at half time]. To concede a goal just on half time for 2-0 was a difficult blow, but we responded very well against Manchester United here [last week] and we did it again today. Overall it was a classic FA Cup tie, 2-0 down and we came back. We had to fight to score three goals and we did it well. I felt it was harsh to be 2-0 down at half time, but Aston Villa are a good counter-attacking team and unfortunately we couldn't score in the first half. In the second half it was all us.

on Arsenal's spirit in the second half…
I was very impressed because I felt that when you come out of a bad period like we are, and you are 2-0 down, you can feel sorry for yourself or you can show you have the mental qualities to play for this club. I was very proud that the team came out and showed they are not ready to lie down.

On what was said at half time…
We always keep what is said in the dressing room [to ourselves]. The players were all very positive at half time and we showed that in the second half. It was important to put massive pressure on them in their half and not let them come out [with the ball]. We closed them down very hard in their own half.

on what the comeback might mean…
I hope [it means] that we can bounce back in the Premier League as well. I hope it convinces the team we have the required qualities and we can transfer that to the Premier League.

on Jack Wilshere's fitness…
I spoke to Jack today. We have no real news yet. The first news we have had is better than expected. He is not in a boot, but I don't know more. His morale looks quite good and I hope it will only be a short setback.There will be more tests this week.

on the players having something to prove…
Last year was a learning process. We went for four trophies and in February we were still in all four. When we had to play the Carling Cup final we were a bit nervous because we hadn't delivered, but they have learnt from that. Hopefully we can show it this year.

on Abou Diaby's comeback…
He is coming back on Tuesday. He has been in a rehab centre and has worked very hard. We feel that when he comes back he will need three more weeks of training, so the earliest he will play will be the end of February.

on Ryo's future…
I will have a chat with him tomorrow and I have a little plan. Oxlade-Chamberlain plays on the flanks now too, so if I can find an opportunity for him to play somewhere I will decide whether to do that tomorrow. It will have to be in England because he will lose the homegrown [status] if he leaves the country.

on winning two penalties…
I must say that was one of the positives today!

on Lukasz Fabianski…
He lacks a bit of match practice. Overall he did well. On the second goal he parried [Bent's shot] well, and it was unlucky because the ball came back to Bent, who is a great finisher.

on whether the players' belief has waned…
When you don't win, the belief goes and we lost three games in the Premier League. The belief is not stable no matter what your history is. It depends on the recent history of the team.

on whether he will sign anyone…
Certainly not. But you never know!

Source: Arsenal.com on 29 Jan 12

29 January 2012: Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa, The Emirates

Arsenal struck three goals in seven superb second-half minutes to storm into the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday.

After 45 minutes this afternoon at Emirates Stadium, Arsène Wenger’s side were staring at an early exit.

Richard Dunne and Darren Bent had given the visitors a 2-0 lead. It seemed that they would be travelling to Sunderland or Middlesbrough in the last 16.

However, sometimes you only realise your own strength when it is truly tested.

Robin van Persie started the comeback from the penalty spot in the 54th minute after Dunne had clattered Aaron Ramsey. Shortly afterwards, Alan Hutton’s clearance cannoned off Theo Walcott and flew into the net.

Then, in the 61st minute, Bent fouled Laurent Koscielny and Van Persie put Arsenal in front for the first time.

By way of celebration the Dutchman jumped into the arms of substitute Thierry Henry, who was warming up on the sidelines.

The expected Villa reply did not really materialise. But then Arsenal had not deserved to be trailing at the break. Sheer guts had hauled them back into a game in which everything had gone against them.

That will surely have a galvanising effect on the squad for the challenges ahead this season.

Underestimate Arsenal at your peril.

Wenger had spent the weekend waiting on fitness tests and mulling over his side. The manager was aware that he would face Bolton and Blackburn in two key Premier League fixtures over the next six days.

In the end, all the injury news was positive and the manager went for a strong line-up. Francis Coquelin returned at right back for the first time since January 2. Lukasz Fabianski had last played at Olympiacos a month earlier. This afternoon he came in as Wojciech Szczesny was rested.

Van Persie had missed the 1-0 win over Leeds in the last round but he started today. Henry and Mikel Arteta were both declared fit but began on the bench.

And, for the first time since October 2, Bacary Sagna was named in a first-team squad. The right back had recovered ahead of schedule from the broken ankle he had suffered at White Hart Lane.

Most of the crowd at Emirates Stadium had already taken their seats when the fifth-round draw was made.

However, focus could not be taken from the matter in hand. Villa had lost only once since they had been narrowly beaten by Arsenal in Birmingham four days before Christmas. And during that spell they had won at Chelsea.

But then, if anything, Villa are an ‘away’ side - they have only lost twice on the road in the Premier League this season.

They would demonstrate that form during this game but it was the home side who took control early on.

After five minutes, Van Persie rolled a free-kick to Thomas Vermaelen who thundered 30-yard effort towards goal at a venomous pace. Shay Given did well to fist the ball over the bar.

Then Tomas Rosicky freed Walcott on the right. He struggled for balance after being clipped and fired his shot wide.

In the 19th minute, Van Persie just failed to connect with Walcott’s low cross and, midway through the half, the captain fired a free-kick into the wall.

To this point, Villa had not registered an effort on goal. But they had threatened. The pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor stretched Arsenal on their right flank while the visitors had a willing worker in Robbie Keane.

And the Irishman played a pivotal role when Villa took the lead just past the half hour. Keane worked a short corner with Stiliyan Petrov before clipping a cross to the far post. Dunne rose highest to plunder a header from close range.

Arsenal’s response was immediate. Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was catching the eye once again, reached the byline but his cutback was cleared. Then Rosicky’s snap shot was momentarily spilt by Given.

As half time approached, the home side had built a head of steam. Coquelin’s angled drive through a crowded area was hurriedly hacked clear by Stephen Warnock. Then Aaron Ramsey tricked his way to the byline but Given managed to block as the Welshman tried to squeeze in a shot at the near post.

On the whistle, Van Persie rolled a free-kick to Oxlade-Chamberlain who, like Vermaelen, cracked a rocket-fuelled effort at Given. Again the keeper could not hang on.

Arsenal were piling on the pressure in search of an equaliser. However, they would concede again in injury time.

Villa broke clear and Stephen Ireland fed Bent on the right of the area. Fabianski saved superbly from his first effort but the Englishman pounced on the rebound and squeezed home his shot from the narrowest of angles.

The half-time statistics suggested Arsenal were unfortunate to be trailing at all. However, they had to score twice, at least, in order to stay in the FA Cup.

They might have grabbed one in the opening three minutes. Van Persie’s right-wing was met by the head of Mertesacker. Ireland booted the ball off the line at the far post.

Walcott nearly dribbled his way through and another intricate move saw Ramsey prod a shot at Given.

You sensed Arsenal needed to get some reward in this period if they were to come back.

Fortunately, it arrived just at that moment.

In the 54th minute, Alex Song’s perceptive through ball sent Ramsey clear. He was clean through but Dunne cleaned him out. Van Persie scored from the spot. No 24 of the season.

Three minutes later, Arsenal were level. Walcott darted in from the right, reached the byline and poked a cross into the heart of the area. Hutton swung at his clearance which hit the Arsenal striker and bounced into the unguarded net.

You can call that lucky if you like but Liverpool had scored a similar goal into the same net at the Emirates in the opening home game of the Premier League season.

A small illustration that footballing fortune can even itself out.

Often you find teams that draw level in such rapid fashion and draw breath soon afterwards. However, Arsenal did not take their foot off the pedal this afternoon and, in the 61st minute, grabbed the lead.

Koscielny went marauding down the left and was clumsily brought down by Bent just inside the area.

Van Persie scored No 25 from the spot.

Emirates Stadium had been a cauldron while those three goals were going in. Now it became just a little becalmed. Walcott nearly gave Arsenal a cushion, but Given beat away his drive.

Villa had been caught in a maelstrom. However, time was ticking away and they had to gamble.

Petrov popped up on the byline but Mertesacker blocked his cross with Bent lurking behind him.

Then Ireland’s cross was steered into Fabianski’s arms by the head of Ciaran Clark from point-blank range.

But it was Arsenal pressing forward in the dying minutes. Henry had a glimpse of a chance and Sagna even grabbed a few minutes at the end.

The striker had performed a fairytale comeback in the last round. This time the team had done the job.

Either way, Arsenal are conjuring up special moments in the FA Cup this season.

Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 29 Jan 12

Fans go wild for Thierry Henry, the genius who writes his own scripts

Returning striker had asked not to be considered a hero but try telling that to the ecstatic Arsenal hordes

There was a sense of inevitability about the 227th goal when it came. Thierry Henry had been feeling his way into his second coming at Arsenal, finding rhythm on the periphery, when he glided silently away from Zac Thompson, collected Alex Song's pass and skimmed his shot beyond Andy Lonergan and into the far corner. A hero had returned home but, in witnessing the delirious chest-thumping celebrations that followed, it felt as if the Frenchman had never been away.

As eye-catching returns go, this took the breath away. As player and manager later acknowledged, it was simply the stuff of dreams. When Ian Botham returned from a drug ban to the England team at The Oval back in 1986 and enticed a mesmerised Bruce Edgar to nick the all-rounder's first delivery to Graham Gooch at slip, drawing him level with Dennis Lillee's then record Test haul of 355 wickets in the process, the catcher had meandered up to the celebratory huddle to ask: "Who writes your script?" Wenger might have been muttering the same in his compatriot's ear once he had extricated himself from the bear hug on the touchline. Henry still has the timing of a genius.

Even he was incredulous both to have registered with only his fifth touch and also to have claimed the sponsors' man of the match for a 21-minute cameo. He had actually topped that poll, voted for by television viewers, while still prowling the touchline as an unused substitute. "A joke," he said with a sigh and doubting shake of the head, even if the smile plastered across his face said more. The player could never have envisaged an occasion such as this when he returned from a holiday in Mexico a fortnight ago. He had stood arms aloft at the final whistle staring to the heavens as if wondering whether any of this was actually real. Scoring the winning goal had apparently cost the bookies over £1m.

It is almost five years since he had limped away from this stage, hamstrung as his team-mates exited the Champions League to PSV Eindhoven, as an Arsenal player. His game had already been adapting towards the end of his glittering first stint in north London, the spearhead of a team who had been Invincibles for a campaign. The process of adjustment had continued at Barcelona before New York Red Bulls lured him for a swansong in Major League Soccer. He had returned with a nod of acknowledgment to the passing of time and an insistence that he should not be considered "a hero". That hope has already been jettisoned.

The home fans revelled in his restoration to the ranks. This had been a largely drab occasion, Leeds' admirable industry and endeavour threatening to earn them a replay as they had in this competition a year ago. It needed the drama of Henry's involvement to illuminate proceedings. The home support's bellowing of his name had confirmed as much, their reaction ecstatic when the veteran, with a pat on the head from the departing Marouane Chamakh, entered the fray. His first involvement was to wander offside but he was soon dragging opponents out of position. He may not be blessed with the jet-propelled pace of old but his reputation remains. The goal which followed nine minutes after his introduction ignited the night.

Henry will offer plenty in what is likely to become an eight-week sojourn in familiar surroundings. He retains a poise and presence on the pitch that will have opposing defenders shrinking. The strut was in evidence aplenty even last night, when there were only flashes of his truest touches. But his attitude alone should have a positive effect on this young squad. Only Song of those who started had previously played alongside Henry in the Arsenal first team. Others will learn from his mere presence. "I can definitely have some input out there, to talk to the guys and let them know what it means to win," he had said. "I am a competitor and that will never leave my body."

Chip in with goals of this quality while Gervinho and Chamakh – neither of whom has proved prolific – are at the Africa Cup of Nations and some of the pressure placed on Robin van Persie will be alleviated. "I am not 25 any more," Henry had said. "I am not going to take the ball from the middle of the park and dribble past five or six players." But the comparisons are inevitable and, even after this taster, they still feel appropriate.

Tougher opponents than Leeds await and he should still be around when Arsenal play Manchester United and even Tottenham Hotspur. But this is a player who continues to hog the limelight. He writes his own script.

Source: Dominic Fifield, The Guardian on 10 Jan 12

Arsenal 1-0 Leeds

Thierry Henry made the perfect return to Arsenal when he emerged as a substitute to score a late winner in the FA Cup third-round tie against Leeds United

Henry, back in Arsenal colours for the first time since he left for Barcelona in 2007, scored his 227th goal for the club with 12 minutes remaining amid emotional scenes at Emirates Stadium.

The 34-year-old - back at the club where he was recently honoured with a statue - is on a two-month loan from New York Red Bulls. He had been on for only 10 minutes when the magical moment arrived.

Henry took a pass from Alex Song in his stride in the area before steering a composed, angled, right-footed finished tantalisingly out of the reach of Leeds United keeper Andy Lonergan.

It finally broke the stubborn resistance of Leeds and was the signal for an outpouring of emotion as Henry pumped his chest in celebration after racing to hug his mentor Arsene Wenger on the touchline.

Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny raced the length of the field to join the celebrations while Henry later indulged in a spot of impromptu cheerleading as he urged the supporters who worship him to even greater backing for Arsenal in the closing stages.

It was the perfectly scripted finale to a contest that needed Henry's Midas touch against a Leeds side who battled in a manner that did manager Simon Grayson and their magnificent travelling support great credit.

At the final whistle, with the first task of his temporary return to the club completed, Henry raised his arms to the heavens before falling into the arms of his Arsenal colleagues and taking the acclaim of an elated crowd.

Henry's presence, even on the bench, enlivened the stadium when he came out to warm up and later when his name was announced to rapturous applause.

And the 45 minutes that followed only increased the appetite and anticipation for his return as Arsenal dominated but failed to breach a resilient and well-organised Leeds defence.

With leading scorer and captain Robin van Persie rested, attacking duties fell to Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh, the pair combining in the opening moments only for the Russian to fire wildly over the top.

Sebastien Squillaci then headed narrowly wide and Aaron Ramsey was unable to navigate a way around Lonergan after he was played into the area by Arshavin.

Leeds United's big chance, in a half they spent mainly on the retreat, came when Luciano Becchio found space in the box but shot wastefully off target.

Arsenal's defensive resources have thinned out in the face of mounting injuries - and they were depleted further before the interval when Francis Coquelin pulled up with a hamstring problem and was replaced by Nico Yennaris.

The momentum remained with Arsenal after the break as Lonergan saved well low to his left from Mikel Arteta after the Spaniard was set up by Chamakh, and Arshavin fired across the face of goal after picking up Zac Thompson's misplaced pass.

Henry's increasingly energetic sprinting along the touchline drew a loud reaction from Arsenal's fans and he was finally introduced with 22 minutes left, replacing Chamakh. Theo Walcott also came on for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Henry was given a hero's welcome as he set about the business of attempting to break down a Leeds side proving as stubborn as they had been here at the same stage of the FA Cup last season.

And the moment Arsenal had been waiting for came with 12 minutes left as Henry gathered Song's pass in his stride before sparking scenes of ecstasy on and off the pitch with a perfect finish to set up a fourth-round tie at home against Aston Villa.

Leeds refused to be distracted by the euphoria and almost snatched a replay in the closing stages as Szczesny saved well from substitute Mikael Forssell.

This, however, was Henry's night and Henry's story. Now Arsenal fans will hope he can write fresh chapters before returning to the United States.

Source: Phil McNulty, BBC Sport on 9 Jan 12

Thierry Henry revels in 'dream' return to Arsenal against Leeds United

Arsène Wenger described Thierry Henry's match-winning return to Arsenal as the stuff of dreams after the French forward, on his first appearance for the club in almost five years, scored with his fifth touch to propel his side into the FA Cup's fourth round.

Henry, who has re‑signed on loan from New York Red Bulls for what is likely to prove an eight-week stint, was introduced into the fray 22 minutes from time with this game goalless and edging towards a replay. Nine minutes later, supplied by Alex Song, the 34-year-old duly registered his 227th goal for Arsenal and extended his club‑record tally to leave his manager pinching himself in victory.

"It was a dream, a story you'd tell a young kid," said Wenger. "Unfortunately it's not often like that in our game but sometimes it happens. He's done it all. You could see straight away that he had a presence on the pitch and, if we could find him, he'd be dangerous.

"He's sharp, physically. I'd seen that in training and I wouldn't have used him if he wasn't ready. But he was already a legend here. Now he's added just a bit more to the whole story.

"He feels some pressure still. He's a proud guy and doesn't want to disappoint people. That's what champions are all about. He knows he'll be compared to what he did before and he wants to be seen as someone who always does well. It's a kind of combat and you want that to be a success as a player. But he remains a special player."

Henry departed with the sponsors' man‑of‑the‑match award, which he was baffled to accept, having carried the vote even while he remained an unused substitute. The Leeds manager, Simon Grayson, had claimed the striker's impact had been "written in the stars".

"It's all kind of weird," Henry said. "When I came back from holiday in Mexico, 15 days ago, I never thought I'd play for Arsenal again, let alone score the winner. I don't know what to say, to be honest. The feeling I had when I scored was amazing.

"I am enjoying the club as a fan where I wasn't before: now I know how people feel when they score for the club they support. But it wasn't the plan [to end up as the hero]. I will always remember tonight. I don't know why but, when it comes to Arsenal, something happens with me. Sometimes in a bad way but most of the way in history in a good way."

The winner here was his 12th goal in as many games against Leeds and his first for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium since a header helped defeat Manchester United in January 2007. The impact made, with Robin van Persie rested and Marouane Chamakh about to join Gervinho in departing for the Africa Cup of Nations, prompted immediate questions over whether the loan agreement with the Red Bulls could be extended until the end of the domestic campaign. "He has six and a half weeks with us and we have not envisaged more," Wenger said. "We can go to eight weeks but not longer."

The stay already includes a match against Manchester United here and an extension would culminate in the north London derby with Tottenham Hotspur at the end of February, which seems an apt occasion on which to bow out for a second time. "I was happy to get him back," Wenger said. "He's a guy who's very focused, intelligent and planned with his career.

"In his head it was always Barcelona [after Arsenal], then the States. That's what he did. What is good for the club, and for the young players, is this is a guy who has done it all but still prepares 100%, is focused and motivated and comes on with an immense desire to do well.

"When he was in this position to score, I thought: 'Oh, that's your angle but it's a bit too close.' That's where he surprised me. He didn't force the shot and still made it look easy. I thought he was a bit too far to the left to pull it off but he always had that special finishing. That was Thierry Henry finishing."

Asked whether there was any coincidence that Henry and Paul Scholes at Manchester United are making eye-catching returns this month, Wenger said: "It looks like the best transfer market is to get your old players back. He can play together with Robin [van Persie, who will return against Swansea City on Sunday]. They did play together before, after all."

Source: Dominic Fifield, The Guardian on 10 Jan 12

Thierry Henry makes dramatic winning return for Arsenal against Leeds

The match had impeccable manners. This FA Cup tie did little to distract a crowd from its thoughts of Thierry Henry while he was still on the bench. The long stalemate was just scene-setting. The forward decided this FA Cup tie after a five-year absence from Arsenal and sent the side on to a meeting with Aston Villa in the fourth round.

It was a goal perfectly reminiscent of his great days with the club. Alex Song slipped the ball through in the 78th minute and Henry, on loan from New York Red Bulls, came in from the left to slant a right-footed shot across the Leeds United goalkeeper, Andy Lonergan. The movement and finish were so typical of the scorer that the episode would have been a cliché had it not felt so exhilarating.

There are plenty of cautionary words to be uttered since Leeds are only eighth in the Championship but no one else in Arsenal's ranks had come up with the technique and poise to settle the outcome. The impact of a 34-year-old Henry cannot be taken for granted in, say, the Premier League but adrenaline flooded through this club after Arsène Wenger released him from the bench in the 68th minute.

Henry, too, will be elated after notching a 227th goal for Arsenal. Circumstances will not always be as suitable as they were here, with an admirable Leeds starting to toil after being so composed and efficient for much of the occasion. This evening, however, was a fillip for a club currently outside the top four in the Premier League and keen to ready themselves for the resumption of the Champions League.

It could be that Henry's influence will be short-lived but his presence galvanised Arsenal here. Stern judges could think it an indictment of Wenger that he had to dip into the club's past but the immediate benefit was well worth having, no matter how the forward fares in the weeks to come. The spectators had more to discuss than, for instance, their usual disappointment with, say, Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh.

This match also had a ring to it even before Henry took the field. While the true aspirations of Leeds are for an eventual re-emergence in the Premier League, the FA Cup came as a break from all that earnestness. Here was an occasion that would excite a team that also understood there was scant risk of recriminations or disgrace.

Arsenal had trouble making a breakthrough, since the visitors were obdurate in their 4-1-4-1 system. Wenger's players attacked but early in the night there was little precision in front of goal. Chamakh was in action prior to joining Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations but did not make his presence felt when collecting Aaron Ramsey's pass and sending his finish soaring over the bar in the second minute.

Though the Arsenal centre-half Sébastien Squillaci had been wasteful when heading off target from a Mikel Arteta free-kick in the second minute, Simon Grayson's team were generally composed. Their opponents had to cope with exasperation and an injured Francis Coquelin had to make way for Nico Yennaris after half an hour.

It would still have been a distortion to pretend that frustration had seeped into the Emirates, though there may have been a little wistfulness about one absentee. Robin van Persie was excused the game so that he could enjoy a family holiday in Dubai, even though the club often appears dependent on the Dutchman for goals. His name would have begun to be more prominent still in the thoughts of the Arsenal fans when there was a protracted deadlock.

There ought also to have been regard for the opposition among those in a sportsmanlike mood. Leeds were composed and there was also a wish to go on the attack, despite the fact that they had not inconvenienced the Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny at that juncture. A bid for promotion can be a treacherous task but Leeds, by the interval, would often have had the impression that, if Arsenal were any guide, the Premier League might not be so intimidating after all.

It was not for sentimental reasons that chants for Henry broke out in the opening moments of the second half. The Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain did show urgency when cutting in from the right before shooting off-target in the 47th minute. Even so, it would have been unjust to write off this fixture as a non-event.

Whatever else happens, this scene, before a crowd of 59,615, should motivate Leeds all the more to persevere in the quest for Premier League status. The focus here was largely on containing the hosts.

That was being done only with difficulty as the second half developed. When Chamakh laid the ball off to Arteta in the 54th minute, the drive was saved by Lonergan. With the win achieved, there is a danger that Arsenal will forget just how they toiled. The night belonged to Henry but, if his team is to prosper, others will have to strive for the standards he has set.

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 10 Jan 12

Written in the stars

The romance of the FA Cup may be fading yet this year's third round has been reigniting old flames. Paul Scholes' return to Manchester United had happened in characteristically downbeat fashion on Sunday. In contrast, Arsenal fans have had time to greet the return of their king in the ostentatious style he was once accustomed to; he repaid their ardour with what they will consider the sweetest of gestures.

From his presence on the substitutes' bench being announced amid the type of primal roar that greets a winner against Spurs, the stage was set for Thierry Henry. Bench-bound for a drab first half, he soon lifted spirits with a lithe shuttle run to begin a warm-up. With 22 minutes to play, the Arsenal fans knew their wish was coming true as he stood stripped and ready. Then, the roof was raised in a fashion as loud as when Barcelona were beaten at the Emirates a year ago, as their hero finally took the stage. The noise levels were to be raised yet higher.

The homecoming king took a little time to take a meaningful touch, waiting seven minutes to hold off Andros Townsend and play a pass out to the left wing. The days of putting on the afterburners and blazing away from defenders looked gone, yet a minute later the old Henry reappeared. Arriving into space from the left of the penalty area, he seized on a weighted pass from Alex Song, opened his body up in familiar style and placed the ball unerringly past Leeds United 'keeper Andy Lonergan. That right foot still knew what to do. Henry had proven that he can still write the scripts for Arsenal.

"I thought, 'Oh, that's your angle'," a smiling Arsene Wenger said of the winning goal. "But it's a little too close and that's where he surprised me. He made it just look easy.

"He's seen it all, done it all. He was already a legend here, and tonight he's added a little bit more. He's a proud guy. He knows he will be compared to what he's done before. It's a kind of comeback and you want that to be a success."

Since a statue was unveiled to the club's all-time leading scorer last month, it was obvious that Henry could provide a lift to the dark winter months of a highly confusing season for Arsenal. He follows Jens Lehmann and Sol Campbell in providing a familiar stopgap to a problem position. Arsene Wenger has never much liked the January transfer market, choosing instead to work with the tried, trusted, then trusted once more. "It looks like in the January transfer window you look to old players," he joked.

An early miss from Andrei Arshavin, himself a January arrival three years ago, revealed something of Wenger's logic. The crowd's anger at a poor finish from the Russian illustrated why Henry has been recalled. Too many of the current generation have question marks placed against them. With Marouane Chamakh looking as poor a stand-in for Robin van Persie as Francis Jeffers and Jeremie Aliadiere once did for Henry in his Highbury prime, it serves as little wonder that Wenger looked back to the future.

Chamakh now looks a player unwilling to enter the opposition box in fear of missing a chance, and may well be done some good by playing at the forthcoming African Nations Cup. He exited the field for Henry, already a forgotten man in the light of his replacement's exploits.

Such is the reliance on Van Persie, holidaying with Diego Maradona in Dubai, that any Arsenal team without him looks understrength. However, this was not a truly weakened team since resources are spread so thinly that there are few reserves left to call on. A hamstring injury to a young blood like Francis Coquelin was a bad blow in the face of a full-back crisis, and though Nigel Winterburn and Lee Dixon were in the building, Wenger must ignore temptation and look to play more players out of position.

Leeds United, under the fiery control of chairman Ken Bates, are a club looking even further down Memory Lane for comfort. A fixture against Arsenal will always conjure memories of the 1972 Centenary Final, where Allan 'Sniffer' Clarke won the cup for the only time in the club's history. There have been too many lean years since then - it will be two decades this summer since their last league championship - and this was a team reduced even from just a year ago, when they took the Gunners to a replay at the same stage of this competition.

Of the Leeds team that ran Arsenal so close last year, Max Gradel has been sold and Robert Snodgrass and Jonny Howson were injured; boss Simon Grayson, a man with his head on the chopping block at the Bates Motel, if rumours are to be believed, could only hope for containment and an unlikely breakaway. A late Mikael Forssell chance was Leeds' best moment to spoil the party but "1-0 to the Arsenal", via a Thierry Henry winner, was all but preordained.

"It was written in the stars that what happened would happen," Grayson said. "How many times has Thierry Henry been in that left-hand channel and bent one in?"

And how many more times will Henry do it for Arsenal? "He has six and a half weeks," Wenger said, before admitting he might be able to lengthen the deal to eight weeks. So it will have to be a holiday romance, but Arsenal and Thierry Henry's love for each other has been reaffirmed in storybook style.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Thierry Henry
Rarely does a sub gain such a garlanded honour, but this was a game all about one man even before he took the field. Henry perhaps took six touches at maximum in his cameo, but he supplied a sole note of class, and with it a thousand headlines.

ARSENAL VERDICT
Clearly superior yet lacking in cutting edge until a certain someone arrived, they had the blunt look of rather too many Arsenal performances this season before being supplied the single goal they required. Arshavin, after his early miss, looked a little livelier than normal while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain perhaps tried to force things too much.

LEEDS VERDICT
If Arsenal were blunt then Leeds were positively edgeless until the very death when the impressive Andros Townsend set up Forssell. Goalkeeper Lonergan was their best player, behind a hard-worked defence who let their guard drop one too many times. Luciano Becchio was not the force he was a year ago but ran many a channel in thankless effort. A replay was denied them. "The chairman would have been happy for a bit more revenue," a wry Grayson said.

Source: John Brewin, ESPN Soccernet on 9 Jan 12

Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 1-0 Leeds match

on what he said to Henry before he went on...
I just told him where he plays, because he can play on the flanks or through the middle. I told him to play through the middle. He did not know who was coming off. For the rest, you don't need to tell him too much. He has seen it all and done it all. You could see when he came on he had a presence on the pitch and if we could find him, he would be dangerous. He was sharp physically. He was already a legend here and now has added a bit more to the story.

on whether he was surprised by Henry...
No, because already in training I have seen that he was sharp and ready to play. I would not put him on the pitch with what he has done here if he was not ready because that would be unfair. He is a special player. What is good for the young players at the club is that a guy who has done it all comes and prepares 100 per cent, warms up, is focused and motivated, and comes on with an immense desire to do well.

on how he rose to the occasion...
Still you feel he has some pressure. Thierry is a proud guy, he does not want to disappoint people. He knows he will be compared to what he has done before. That is what champions are about. They always say 'I have no pressure', but they want to be seen as people who do well. It is a kind of a comeback and you know you want that to be a success as a player.

on a happy dressing room…
It was very happy, the players were very happy when he decided to come back. He gives you other options offensively as well.

on Scholes and Henry returning...
It looks like the best transfer market is to get your best old players back.

on letting Henry leave in 2007...
You can accuse me of many things, but not that I kicked Thierry Henry out, because he wanted to go. I explained that many times. I was always happy to get him back. Thierry is a guy who is very focussed, intelligent and very planned. In his head, it was always Barcelona, then the States. That is what he did.

on a 'dreamlike' goal...
Yes, it was a little bit of a dream, because it was a story about football you would tell some young children. Unfortunately it is not often like that in our game, but sometimes it happens.

on whether he's seen a more 'magical' goal…
When he got in that position I thought 'oh, that's your angle' but it was a bit too close. That's where he surprised me. He still didn't force the shot, he still made it look easy, where I would have expected him to take a very strong inside shot. He made it just look easy. At the start I thought he was too much on the left but he had that special finishing that he has shown tonight. That was the Thierry Henry finishing.

on playing Henry with Van Persie…
I haven't decided yet. Robin will be back against Swansea. Will Thierry start or not? I don't know yet. He can play behind or in front of Robin or on the flank, Robin can play on the flank too, but I don't know yet what I will do. They can play together, of course, and they did play together.

on the rest of Henry's performance…
He did well. Straight away through his runs he made them [Leeds] drop a little bit deeper. Once he was caught offside, once the centre back intercepted the ball, but he has a kind of presence. His movement gives defenders a problem. After 10 minutes on the pitch he knows where to go.

on how long Henry will stay…
He has six and a half weeks, and we have not envisaged more. We can go to eight weeks but not longer.

on Francis Coquelin…
He has a hamstring injury and he is out for a few weeks.

on whether he will bring in another defender…
I hope I can get Djourou back for Sunday and if we find a solution we will take it. No, at the moment we are not close [to a deal].

Source: Arsenal.com on 9 Jan 12

9 January 2012: Arsenal 1-0 Leeds, The Emirates

Arsenal may need to order some bronze in the coming weeks.

After acquiring Thierry Henry on loan last Friday, Arsène Wenger had assured the media that the legacy of the legendary striker was safe.

“They can only build a bigger statue,” the manager quipped.

Against Leeds on Monday, it took Henry just ten minutes to write another chapter in a book which we had thought had closed in 2007.

He replaced Marouane Chamakh to delirium in the 68th minute and, soon after, showed the intelligence instilled during his 226-goal career in North London to pull away from his marker, control Alex Song’s incisive pass and slide a shot into the far corner.
Henry beat his chest by way of celebration and ran to embrace Wenger. At the full-time whistle, his raised his hands to the heavens and may have shed a tear as he had before Christmas when his likeness was unveiled outside the stadium.

Then he drank in the adulation of the crowd.

This victory hands Arsenal a Fourth Round tie against Aston Villa in late January. But perhaps more importantly, Henry’s contribution also gave Wenger’s men a timely boost when they seemed to be wobbling just a little.

At 34, Henry is not going to provide this sort of drama every week for the next two months.

But class is permanent and Arsenal are all the better for the King’s return.

Henry’s name nearly took the roof off Emirates Stadium when it was announced before kick-off. A full and bushy beard seemingly hid half his face but, even in the warm-up, that the old swagger was obvious. We did not know how much the passing years had taken from him, but his shirt number had gone down by two. TH14 was now TH12.

Otherwise Wenger’s team was the promised mix of first team and future team. Only Wojciech Szczesny, Laurent Koscielny, Alex Song, Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey could claim to be regulars. Marouane Chamakh and Andrey Arshavin had been bench-bound for much of the Premier League campaign.

For Ignasi Miquel and Francis Coquelin, at left and right back respectively, tonight was all about proving your potential. Ditto Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the flank.

Leeds arrived at Emirates Stadium just outside the play-off places in the Championship. However, their form had been patchy and, this evening, their defence was patched-up. Still they had around 9,000 fans in north London this evening and most of them would have remembered how close they came to a shock last season. Perhaps it was that memory which inspired Arsenal’s bright, pacy start.

The home side bossed the first 15 minutes with Ramsey orchestrating the attacks from midfield.

Arshavin blasted wide in the opening stages and then, in the fifth minute, Chamakh sent the Russian scuttling through the middle. He fired over the bar when he should have done better.

Ramsey wonderfully weaved his way down the right but, although his cross found Oxlade-Chamberlain, the winger did not manage to get off a shot.

The home side were working up a head of steam now. Squillaci nodded narrowly wide from Mikel Arteta’s far-flung free-kick before Ramsey rifled a shot wide.

In the 24th minute, the Welshman’s shot was deflected over after Arsenal had ping-ponged passes across the Leeds area. Seconds after that, Arteta’s drive shaved the post.

As the half-hour approached Arsenal had the game in the palm of their hand. However, in the next five minutes, matters would turn against them.

Firstly, Leeds conjured up their first chance when Mika Vayrynen nipped in amid confusion in the penalty area and Luciano Becchio hammered the loose ball over the bar. A massive opportunity.

Then Coquelin pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and hobbled off. Nico Yennaris came on for his second appearance in an Arsenal shirt.

After that, Arsenal were not quite the same for the rest of the half. Arshavin, who had a lively game, saw an effort blocked and Ramsey’s drive deflected wide. Koscielny headed over from Arteta’s corner with the final touch of the first period.

The home side re-discovered their energy after the restart. Perhaps the sight of Henry warming up acted as an inspiration.

Oxlade-Chamberlain drove into the sidenetting within seconds of opening whistle. Inside the next 10 minutes, Arshavin shanked a volley wide and fired straight across goal. Inbetween, Arteta’s sidefoot shot forced a fine low save from David Lonergan.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s drive was blocked, via a Leeds arm according to the player himself. Then Ramsey’s excellent footwork set-up the former Southampton winger and Aiden White had to head the ball over his cross over the bar with Chamakh lurking.

Just after the hour, Oxlade-Chamberlain forced Lonergan to block and then fired wide.

It was all Arsenal once more. The home side were dominating with pace and invention.

At this moment, Wenger introduced Henry.

The manager withdrew Chamakh and Oxlade-Chamberlain for Walcott and the iconic Frenchman.

Henry had suggested he was happy to be an impact player if required – and that was exactly his role tonight.

As we entered the final 15 minutes, the statistics told the story. Arsenal mustered 28 goalscoring chances, Leeds one. They doubled that tally when Szczesny’s errant clearance fell to Ramon Nunez. But the keeper recovered by the time the Honduran got his shot away.

Then came the moment. Vision from Song. Two touches from Henry. The perfect ending.

Leeds now had to gamble and might have grabbed an unlikely equaliser when an unmarked Ross McCormack headed straight at Szczesny from eight yards out.

Arshavin fired into the sidenetting at the other end and Leeds’ late flurry blew itself out.

Henry had rolled back the years in fairytale fashion.

Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 9 Jan 12

Season Review 2010/11 - The FA Cup

Anyone who says that the FA Cup has lost its aura needs only to look back at Arsenal’s campaign to see that the oldest knockout competition in the world still has its shine.

Though, more often than not, we were the ones suffering from its romance.

After being drawn at home against lower league opposition in rounds three and four, Arsenal fans could have been forgiven for expecting a comfortable passage through to the latter stages. That was simply not the case.

Twice Arsène Wenger was forced to thrust Cesc Fabregas into action from the bench with both Leeds and Huddersfield threatening to cause giant killings and twice the captain was Arsenal’s salvation.

He would tuck away two last-gasp penalties to spare any potential blushes. Even so, Leeds earned a fully-deserved replay and, once the Championship side were seen off at Elland Road, Huddersfield could count themselves unfortunate not to repeat the feat of their Yorkshire neighbours.

Wenger insisted the visit of the Terriers was of equal importance to the impending clash with Barcelona. It would prove to be just as difficult.

The great Herbert Chapman’s ‘other club’ were roared on by 9,000 travelling fans packed into the Clock End and the League Two club defied the 40-odd places that separated the two teams in the football ladder.

Alan Lee cancelled out Nicklas Bendtner’s opener and with five minutes left on the clock it looked like Arsenal would be making another trip north. But Fabregas was on the spot after Theo Walcott had been felled and Arsenal were in the Fifth Round… just.

The draw paired them with another side from the third tier of English football and another side with a connection to the red half of north London. Leyton Orient boasted former Academy product Ben Chorley among their ranks but it was to be a current member of the youth system who turned heads with his impressive showing.

Spanish centre half Ignasi Miquel’s impeccable debut was a one of few positives as a below-par Arsenal were taken to another replay thanks to a 1-1 draw at the Matchroom Stadium. A Bendtner hat-trick ensured the job was completed at Emirates Stadium to book a tasty Quarter-Final trip to Manchester United.

Wenger’s side had the majority of possession and twice the number of shots than their opponents at Old Trafford but bowed out days after succumbing to Barcelona in the Champions League.
 
Source: Giuseppe Muro, Arsenal.com on 2 Jun 11

Arsenal running out of targets to miss after Manchester United defeat

If Arsenal had a defence as impassable as their mental block they would never lose another match. They continue to be the supreme obstacle to themselves. There were several chances for the visitors in this FA Cup quarter-final and Edwin van der Sar was outstanding in response but the finishing was never accurate enough to leave the goalkeeper helpless. Targets of one sort or another are also being missed entirely.

While winning the Carling Cup might have been just a small piece of encouragement to Arsenal, defeat in the final has done harm. A malfunction in defence helped Birmingham City to make off with a trophy they deserved, if only because they rose to the occasion while Arsenal had the equivocal look of men with far grander matters on their mind. Those distractions are now being ripped from them.

The club is left with stark circumstances. In the space of a fortnight the chase for four trophies has shrunk to the pursuit of the Premier League alone. Arsène Wenger will surely present that as an opportunity to land a fine prize while others are distracted by further honours. Arsenal are in this situation, though, because they cannot help but bring trouble upon themselves.

They were, for instance, the sole English club not to win their Champions League group. The worst possible penalty was imposed when they were then pitted against Barcelona, who eliminated them last Tuesday, but a trying contest of some sort had been inevitable for the runners-up in a group where they were beaten at Shakhtar Donetsk and Braga.

Wenger understood fully that the FA Cup tie mattered, if only for the potential fillip enjoyed by anyone who beats Manchester United, but too little was done to test the composure of opponents who had just fallen to Chelsea and Liverpool. Unlike Sir Alex Ferguson, Wenger picked the most potent line-up available. The hosts, all the same, were smart in the shaping of a selection that saved several people for the return leg of the Champions League tie with Marseille on Tuesday while still presenting problems to Arsenal.

In the Da Silva twins, for instance, United had men with a lot of energy to apply against visitors drained by their defeat at Camp Nou. The Brazilians are full-backs and John O'Shea is also regarded as such nowadays, yet all of them were accommodated in an implausibly effective midfield. Eminent substitutes were barely needed and when Paul Scholes did enter the match he deserved to be sent off, rather than only booked by Chris Foy, for uncontrolled tackling that showed an indifference to the safety of opponents.

Nonetheless, Arsenal have to be angry with themselves primarily. Apart from the amble to a 5-0 win over the League One club Leyton Orient in their FA Cup fifth-round replay, the team has not scored more than a single goal in any game since 16 February. Wenger has to reverse the trend and do so when issues that he cannot affect are taking a toll. A recalcitrant achilles problem means that the most recent outing in the Arsenal defence for the influential Thomas Vermaelen took place on 28 August.

His unavailability helped bring Johan Djourou to the fore but the Switzerland international dislocated his shoulder in the closing stages at Old Trafford when his team-mate Bacary Sagna collided with him and will not play again this season. In the specific context of this FA Cup tie Arsenal had, in theory, a better-balanced side than United but Abou Diaby, in a key role behind Robin van Persie, barely made a contribution.

For that matter Van Persie himself dwindled after United had taken the lead. With 27 minutes gone, Wayne Rooney crossed and, although Manuel Almunia parried away the header from Javier Hernández, the loose ball was turned in by Fábio da Silva. The outcome was settled four minutes into the second half when Djourou put himself in the path of a Hernández shot, only for Rooney to head home the loose ball.

Arsenal, for their part, never seemed like a team that would come up with the sort of pass or shot that would lead to a certain goal. The match was allowed to turn into a therapeutic exercise for United, who might have had a niggling fear that this sort of tie had the potential to leave them with another loss. The game was even soothing enough for Antonio Valencia to be brought on for his first appearance since breaking his ankle on 14 September.

It would have been galling for Arsenal to find themselves part of the winger's rehab programme. Many aspects could have been happier for Wenger, who had scant cover in front of his defence even though Jack Wilshere started moves with much style from that area. The manager resorted to exaggeration when portraying the present situation as an achievement in its own right: "If I listened to everybody, it is a miracle that we are playing for the title with 10 games to go. Nobody in England believed we could even fight for the top four. The position we are in deserves a lot of credit."

Wenger could not entirely conceal despondency about his casualties: "We would like Alex Song back, we would like Cesc Fàbregas back and now we have to cope without Djourou, who is an outstanding player." Above all it will, however, be Arsenal's capacity to recover from a bad result like this that determines their fate in the Premier League.

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 14 Mar 11

Defence the best form of attack

The magnificent sevens are a custom at Old Trafford. There was George Best, then Bryan Robson, followed by Eric Cantona. More recently, glossing over Michael Owen, Cristiano Ronaldo succeeded David Beckham. This, however, was Sir Alex Ferguson's twist on a tradition: the miserly seven. By fielding seven(!) defenders, the Manchester United manager named one of his stranger sides. It was one way to keep a clean sheet, though that owed more to Edwin van der Sar's brilliance, and the surfeit of supposed stoppers was more a product of necessity than negativity.

Yet somewhere Ferguson's old friend and Arsene Wenger's antithesis George Graham was surely looking on in envy. He rarely managed to cram more than five defenders into a team, though he did combine it with an unnatural fondness for a defensive midfielder or three. And when the post-mortem commences on Arsenal's exit from another competition - three in a fortnight - the composition of the United midfield should be a prime factor.

Besides the back four, three-quarters of the men employed in the middle were, by trade, defenders. John O'Shea revisited his past as the anchor man, Fabio and Rafael da Silva evolved from attacking full-backs to roving wingers. Their accomplice was Darron Gibson, while Wayne Rooney dropped deeper to offer industrious assistance. It was not so much United's second-string midfield as the third choice, in other words. A glimpse at the teamsheet alone should have encouraged Arsenal.

Yet the FA Cup semi-finals will include United, not the side with a rather more pressing need for trophies. It is an enviable ability to turn a supposed weakness into a strength, and one that United have displayed regularly. In this instance, the da Silvas' ability to emerge untracked in and around the Arsenal area had a decisiveness; Fabio scored the opening goal, Rafael made the second, with both moves started by Van der Sar. Defence truly was the best form of attack.

For the opener, Rooney's angled cross was met by Javier Hernandez, plunging forwards to connect with a diving header. Manuel Almunia saved well but Fabio tucked in the rebound. The irrepressible strike duo, lending a dynamism the benched Dimitar Berbatov fails to supply, were both involved in the second and, indeed, in much of what United did. Rafael skipped past Kieran Gibbs with unfortunate ease, before centring. As Johan Djourou challenged Hernandez, the ball looped up. Rooney met it with a deft header to defeat Manuel Almunia.

It was an occasion when both goalkeepers excelled. Almunia is enjoying a rehabilitative week and saved a series of efforts from Hernandez, whose verve enabled United to counter-attack at pace. At the other end, Van der Sar's one-man resistance appeared an eloquent rebuttal of Wenger's fondness for youth. Robin van Persie's low shot, Laurent Koscielny's smart effort on the rebound, Marouane Chamakh's header, Tomas Rosicky's drive: all met with the same outcome. "Four or five fantastic saves," added Ferguson. "I wish he was 21 instead of coming up for 41 but nature catches you eventually in life." Wenger lamented the enduring ability of the Dutchman to fly across his goal. "The goalkeeper against us is man of the match week in, week out," he said, presumably with Birmingham's Ben Foster, rather than Barcelona's Victor Valdes, in mind. "We were not outplayed but lost to a team who were more clinical. We lost three big challenges in a strange way. Subconsciously the disappointment of Tuesday night has played a part, confidence wise."

That may have been the difference. Back-to-back league defeats did not seem to sap United's morale. Absentees were a test of resourcefulness, but offered an injection of eagerness. "The two da Silvas are such enthusiastic boys," Ferguson added. "I had to come up with a plan where I could utilise their energy. Considering we have made major changes, we can be well pleased with the result. I couldn't risk [Paul] Scholes and [Ryan] Giggs because of Tuesday's game against Marseille."

When Scholes did emerge, his 10-minute cameo could have culminated in a red card. Faced between the fury of Ferguson and the wrath of Wenger, two managers who have been angered by officials of late, Chris Foy opted for the latter and gave the veteran a reprieve. "I feel the pitch was good, the referee was good and the tackles of Paul Scholes were bad," argued the Frenchman.
But Arsenal's fate was determined before Scholes entered the fray. The quest for the quadruple had become the solitary pursuit of the Premier League. Fail in that, and they will end a season without silverware. Again.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Edwin van der Sar
Terrific once again. Of all his saves, the most important came from Koscielny, as it came at the start of a manic minute that ended with Rooney doubling their lead.

MANCHESTER UNITED VERDICT
One of Rooney's most complete performances of the season and confirmation of Hernandez's capacity to get in dangerous positions were reasons to be optimistic. Others came on the flanks, with Antonio Valencia arriving in the second half for his first appearance since breaking his ankle in September. Another conclusion, from both the team selection and the game, is the da Silva brothers are far better wingers than Bebe and Gabriel Obertan. Ferguson claimed that only Jonny Evans of his injured legion could be fit for Marseille.

ARSENAL VERDICT
Another damaging afternoon was made worse when Johan Djourou dislocated a shoulder. He will be out for the remainder of the season, leaving Arsenal looking short-staffed in a defence that has long been criticised. Of all their sidelined players, however, the ones who may have been missed most on this occasion were Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song, either of whom might have dominated a midfield populated by stand-ins.

Source: Richard Jolly, ESPN Soccernet on 12 Mar 11