Gunners' top-four spot under threat

Updated May 06, 2012 07:28:44

Arsenal's bid for a top-four finish suffered a major setback as Steve Morison's late goal earned Norwich a deserved point in a six-goal thriller.

Yossi Benayoun's opener in the second minute had seemed to put Arsene Wenger's side on course for an easy afternoon.

But with Norwich having gone ahead through Wes Hoolahan and Grant Holt, a double from Robin van Persie seemed to have won it for the hosts before substitute Morison stunned the home crowd with a smart finish five minutes from time.

Without a victory in their last three matches, Arsenal came flying out of the blocks and took the lead inside the opening 70 seconds.

Nothing seemed on when birthday boy Benayoun received the ball from Tomas Rosicky but he cut inside Kyle Naughton and curled a beauty beyond the reach of John Ruddy for his third Premier League goal of the season.

It was a dream start but Norwich have proved they are no pushovers this season and they immediately went in search of an equaliser.

Holt was unlucky to see his goalbound effort blocked by Kieran Gibbs in the sixth minute, with the visiting skipper then heading over from Simon Lappin's high cross.

Less than a minute later, however, Lambert's side did draw level as Naughton's low cross picked out Hoolahan and his firm side-footed shot somehow squirmed past an embarrassed Szczesny.

Van Persie had a golden opportunity to restore Arsenal's lead at the other end but fired over, while Holt was unlucky to be flagged offside from Simeon Jackson's clever through ball.

Norwich looked content to try and hit their opponents on the break and that tactic paid dividends in the 27th minute.

A quick break saw Hoolahan play in Holt and his shot took a lucky deflection to loop over Szczesny and into the net for his 16th goal of a wonderful season.

Van Persie was inches away of an immediate equaliser from Sagna's weighted cross but Arsenal then struggled to break down Norwich's rearguard effort.

Benayoun was lucky not to be shown a red card after lashing out at Bradley Johnson off the ball, while the visitors had two great shouts for penalties that were waved away by referee Anthony Taylor.

After leaving the pitch to a chorus of boos, Wenger's side made a slow start to the second period and should have been punished when Jackson was through on goal but the Canadian fluffed his lines.

Hoolahan also went close to extending Norwich's lead with a volley before the introduction of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave Arsenal some much-needed extra impetus.

Van Persie had wasted two great opportunities to equalise but he made no mistake when Song's weighted ball into the box picked him out and he volleyed superbly into the corner of the net.

The Dutchman could have doubled his tally soon after, although there was a touch of fortune when he finally did in the 80th minute.

The ball deflected straight into the 28-year-old's path 12 yards out and he swept home past Ruddy to give Arsenal the lead.

Amazingly, though, Norwich weren't prepared to give up the ghost and a brilliant pass from Jonny Howson played in Morison to dispatch a perfect shot into the corner of the net.

Wenger's side were stunned but should have been awarded a penalty late on when Naughton appeared to nudge van Persie in the back, while the skipper and Song were both denied at the death by saves from Ruddy.

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, england

First posted May 06, 2012 07:19:07

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Gunners fire blanks in Bolton stalemate

Updated February 02, 2012 11:29:53

Newcastle United closed in on the top four with a 2-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers while Arsenal slipped to seventh after a goalless draw at Bolton Wanderers stretched its winless run in the Premier League to four matches.

Scott Dann's own goal and a late effort by substitute Gabriel Obertan lifted Newcastle into fifth place, three points behind Chelsea, as Rovers remained stuck fast in the relegation zone.

Arsenal drew 0-0 at Bolton and remain five points adrift of a top-four place that has been a virtual guarantee for the past decade under manager Arsene Wenger, whose Dutch striker Robin van Persie was twice denied by the woodwork.

The Gunners fired 16 shots in total, all but one coming from outside the box, but only managed to put four on target in a wasteful display.

"When you create six or seven clear-cut chances, it is difficult not to win and we do have regrets but the positives have to be that we didn't concede," said Wenger.

"The belief is there, the desire is there and the confidence is there. We have come through a difficult period and we have of course a fight in front of us but we are ready for it," Wenger added when quizzed on his side's prospects of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

"We have to hope that the fact we didn't lose gives us confidence."

Djibril Cisse needed less than 15 minutes to mark his return to the Premier League with a goal as he opened his account for Queen's Park Rangers in its 2-2 draw at Aston Villa.

The 30-year-old former Liverpool and Sunderland player, who signed on transfer deadline day from Lazio, celebrated with a somersault after smashing a shot past Villa keeper Shay Given.

QPR doubled its lead with a Stephen Warnock own goal but England striker Darren Bent halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time and Charles N'Zogbia volleyed a second-half equaliser, his first goal for the Midlands club.

"We're delighted that he has such an instant impact so early in his QPR career. You saw his quality tonight in tight areas, where he was able to use his pace and power and that will be effective for us in the course of the season," QPR manager Mark Hughes said of French striker Cisse.

Sunderland's form continued its upward curve since Martin O'Neill took over as manager with a 3-0 home victory over Norwich City that lifted it to eighth - Fraizer Campbell paving the way for the three points with a spectacular volleyed opener.

Former Fulham coach Roy Hodgson returned to Craven Cottage where his West Bromwich Albion side eked out a 1-1 draw thanks to a late equaliser by Somen Tchoyi.

Newcastle, the surprise package during the early months of the season, proved it is serious contenders for a European berth with a gritty win at Ewood Park.

After Ryan Taylor's shot deflected into the net off Dann after 12 minutes Newcastle was forced to defend for long periods as the hosts dominated.

Blackburn's David Dunn squandered the chance to equalise from the penalty spot and Rovers also struck the woodwork late on before Obertan's clincher.

"You have got to have resilience, a good keeper and a good captain and we have got that," Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said.

"Blackburn create chances all the time because everything comes in your box.

"We defended with passion and with our hearts, like we have done all season and that is why we have done so well."

Reuters

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted February 02, 2012 09:24:50

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Gunners pull off Cup comeback over Villa

Updated January 31, 2012 08:51:48

Arsenal scored three goals in a seven-minute burst after half-time against visitors Aston Villa, including two penalties from Robin van Persie, as it staged a dramatic comeback to win 3-2 and reach the FA Cup fifth round.

The Gunners trailed 2-0 at the break but Van Persie's spot kicks either side of a Theo Walcott equaliser spun the match on its head at The Emirates and sent Arsene Wenger's side through to a meeting away to either Sunderland or Middlesbrough.

Sunderland were earlier held 1-1 at home by Boro with half-time substitute Fraizer Campbell equalising for the Premier League side after Barry Robson had put the Championship (second division) outfit ahead early on at the Stadium of Light.

Arsenal were booed off at half-time as Villa struck twice with goals by Richard Dunne and Darren Bent.

They were given a lifeline shortly after the break when Dunne brought down midfielder Aaron Ramsey and Van Persie beat Villa goalkeeper Shay Given from the penalty spot.

Three minutes later Walcott made it 2-2 when the ball cannoned back into the net off the England winger from an attempted clearance by Alan Hutton after the Arsenal player's initial effort had been saved by Given.

The comeback was complete in the 61st minute when Bent's mistimed sliding tackle on Laurent Koscielny gave Van Persie the chance to display his penalty-taking prowess again.

In the early kick-off, Middlesbrough had threatened to shock their north-east rivals when Robson volleyed them ahead.

But Sunderland replied after the break when former Manchester United front man Campbell, playing his first match for 18 months after a serious knee injury, capitalised on a Robson error to earn his side a replay.

Reuters

Tags: soccer, sport, english-premier, united-kingdom

First posted January 30, 2012 07:23:58

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Spurs stay in touch, Gunners held

Updated December 28, 2011 19:39:50

Gareth Bale's superb double fired Tottenham Hotspur to a convincing 2-0 win at Norwich City on Wednesday morning (AEDT) and narrowed the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City and Manchester United to seven points.

The pacy Welsh international took his league tally this season to seven goals, lifting third-placed Spurs, who have a game in hand on the two Manchester clubs, up to 38 points from 17 matches.

Bale drilled home the opener on 55 minutes after fine trickery in the box by Emmanuel Adebayor who bamboozled three Norwich defenders with neat footwork before laying off for the winger to take a touch and pick his spot past keeper John Ruddy.

Bale's blistering run from halfway and neat chip over Ruddy doubled the lead 12 minutes later and sealed a sixth away league win of the season for the London side.

"Gareth's an amazing player isn't he?," Spurs manager Harry Redknapp told Sky Sports.

"I told him and Rafa (Rafael van der Vaart) to play where they wanted... I gave them a licence to play. When he (Bale) picks it up and runs at you he is unplayable."

Spurs dominated throughout against a hard-working but limited Norwich side at Carrow Road.

"It was a good performance," added Redknapp.

"When you are up there you have to keep picking up results."

Earlier, Arsenal missed the chance to go fourth after a fine performance from Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey helped secure a 1-1 draw at the Emirates where the visitors finished with 10 men.

"It is very frustrating. You won't play many draws like that in a season but sometimes it can happen," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters.

"We still lack a bit of maturity. The way I have seen the game today it will be one draw out of 50 but it was that one today."

Arsenal, which remained fifth on 33 points, looked set for a comfortable afternoon when Ivorian striker Gervinho ran on to a Yossi Benayoun pass to round Hennessey and break the deadlock after eight minutes.

Wolves, one place above the relegation zone, levelled against the run of play seven minutes before half-time, their leading scorer Steven Fletcher reacting quickly to head in Stephen Hunt's scuffed shot from the edge of the area for his seventh league goal of the season.

Arsenal piled on the pressure after the break but found Hennessey in outstanding form.

The Wales keeper made a string of fine saves, tipping over a Robin van Persie free kick midway through the second half before foiling defender Per Mertesacker from point-blank range.

The hosts failed to capitalise when Wolves went down to 10 men with 15 minutes left after Serbia midfielder Nenad Milijas's straight red card for a late challenge on Mikel Arteta.

Hennessey again came to the rescue for Mick McCarthy's side late on when Thomas Vermaelen got through on goal.

"Wayne Hennessey was fantastic. I think he is one of the best goalkeepers in the league and he proved that today," said McCarthy.

In Tuesday's other game, Swansea City drew 1-1 at home to Queens Park Rangers. Danny Graham fired Swansea into a 14th minute lead but Jamie Mackie equalised just before the hour.

Reuters

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted December 28, 2011 09:35:41

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City beats Gunners to stay clear of United

Updated December 19, 2011 07:25:48

Manchester City remains two points ahead of champion Manchester United at the top of the English Premier League after a 1-0 victory over Arsenal.

David Silva scored the only goal in the 53rd minute after Mario Balotelli cut in from the left and let fly with a powerful low shot that Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny could not hold.

Thomas Vermaelen prevented Sergio Aguero netting the rebound, but Silva then pounced to score from close range.

Pablo Zabaleta nearly made it 2-0 to the hosts when his shot beat Szczesny but bounced off the keeper's right post.

England goalkeeper Joe Hart then preserved City's lead in the 90th minute when he tipped over a shot from Vermaelen that came through a crowd of players. Defeat meant Arsenal, beaten for the first time in nine games, stays fifth in the table, 12 points behind City.

"It was very important after Chelsea - we didn't deserve to lose that game," City manager Roberto Mancini said.

"It was a big test for our character and I think we showed we are a strong team ... we know we shall fight with United and Tottenham and the other teams who are very strong."

His Arsenal counterpart, Arsene Wenger, added: "We were unlucky because we had chances."

United briefly returned to the summit a couple of hours earlier after a 2-0 win away to Queens Park Rangers.

Wayne Rooney opened the scoring within 60 seconds heading home Antonio Valencia's cross and Michael Carrick made the game safe in the 56th minute when, after intercepting a loose square ball from Rangers midfielder Joey Barton, he carried the ball 40 yards before netting from the edge of the box.

"It was a good team performance; we played some good football and will take a 2-0 win away from home," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said.

Meanwhile Tottenham moved up into third place, leapfrogging Chelsea to become London's top club, with a 1-0 win at home to strugglers Sunderland.

Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko scored the only goal of the game at White Hart Lane just after the hour mark.

A stray ball from Sunderland's Wes Brown found its way to Rafael van der Vaart, whose clever reverse pass allowed Pavlyuchenko to fire home the winner.

"Pav is a fantastic player, he's got great ability, he's a great finisher - top drawer as a player," Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said.

Liverpool went above Newcastle into sixth spot with a 2-0 win away to Aston Villa.

Both its goals came from corners, with Craig Bellamy forcing the ball home from close range in the 11th minute and four minutes later Martin Skrtel doubled the advantage heading past American keeper Brad Guzan.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez could have extended the visitors' lead but was twice denied by the woodwork.

"We passed the ball and moved it and hit the bar twice, I think it was well deserved three points for us," Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish said.

AFP

Tags: sport, english-premier, soccer, england, united-kingdom

First posted December 19, 2011 07:15:13

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Chelsea finishes Euro job, Gunners reserves spiked

Updated December 07, 2011 15:09:58

Chelsea has booked its passage to the Champions League knockout phase with a 3-0 win over Valencia at Stamford Bridge, while an already-qualified Arsenal went down to defeat at Olympiakos.

Valencia enjoyed some impressive periods on the ball, but the Spaniards - who went into the final-day duel level on points with their rivals - never recovered from a third-minute opening goal from Didier Drogba, who played a starring role in a match which saw the Blues win Group E at Bayer Leverkusen's expense.

Daniel Sturridge hit a laser-guided pass to Juan Mata and the former Valencia star fed Drogba, the Ivory Coast striker firing home an unerring left-footed finish.

Jordi Alba responded by striking the post for Valencia but Chelsea, knowing it had to go for the three points to ensure further progress, turned the screw again on 22 minutes as a defensive mix-up, coupled with a mazy Drogba run, saw Ramires nip in ahead of Victor Ruiz to score.

A neat Drogba finish with 14 minutes remaining wrapped up an ultimately comprehensive victory, with Chelsea emphatically crushing any talk of crisis at the club three days after winning by a similar scoreline at Newcastle.

Chelsea, who had made life hard for itself after squandering leads in its three away matches, won the group by a point with 11 points from its six games after Leverkusen could only draw 1-1 at Belgian makeweights Genk.

Drogba said the side had been focused on the job and determined to win.

"There was a lot of pressure (but) our attitude was positive," the Ivoirian said.

"I think the pressure sometimes can be positive."

Coach Andre Villas-Boas praised his men.

"They worked very hard for this win - and guess what? We finished top of the group against all odds," he smiled after consigning Valencia to the Europa League.

Arsenal meanwhile was able to ring the changes - nine in all compared with its weekend romp at Wigan - having already won Group F.

But Arsene Wenger's 200th European match in charge ended in a 3-1 loss to Olympiakos after Algerian forward Rafik Djebbour netted the hosts' opener before substitute 'keeper Vito Mannone - who came on for the injured Lukasz Fabianski - completely flunked an attempted clearance as David Fuster made it 2-0.

Yossi Benayoun pulled one back on the hour but the Gunners almost conceded again when Mannone missed coming for a loose ball and Francois Modesto headed wide of an open goal before finally making amends with the late third.

The result looked to have secured Olympiakos's progress to the last 16, but a late turn-around in the group's other clash between Dortmund and Marseilles broke Greek hearts.

A stunning late goal from Mathieu Valbuena capped off a brilliant Marseilles comeback from two goals down to beat Dortmund 3-2, meaning the French outfit pipped Olympiakos to qualify in second place.

"I have some regrets," Wenger admitted afterwards, noting his team lacked experience at this level.

Like Arsenal, Barcelona - the reigning champions and the team which denied Wenger in the 2006 final - also sent out a second-string side but it showed its strength in depth in brushing aside BATE Borisov 4-0 at Camp Nou.

First, 19-year-old Sergi Roberto produced a classy finish for Pep Guardiola's side 10 minutes before half-time and then Martin Montoya and a brace, one a penalty, from Pedro Rodriguez, emphasised the huge gulf in class.

Barca won Group H at a canter with 16 points while seven-times winner AC Milan, held 2-2 at Czech outfit Plzen, also went through on nine points.

But Porto, which won the trophy in 2004 under Jose Mourinho, is out after Zenit St Petersburg held it to a goalless draw in Portugal to go through from Group G.

Zenit knew a point would be enough and defended stoutly to progress behind already-qualified APOEL Nicosia, the Cypriot club winning Group G by virtue of a better head-to-head record despite losing its final game at home to Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0.

AFP

Tags: champions-league, soccer, sport, england, spain

First posted December 07, 2011 09:30:48

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United, Gunners win as City marches on

Updated November 20, 2011 15:07:22

Manchester City ended Newcastle's unbeaten start to the season with a 3-1 victory to maintain its five-point lead at the top of the English Premier League.

Goals from Mario Balotelli, Micah Richards and Sergio Aguero secured all three points for City, which has now won 11 and drawn one of its 12 games this season - the best start to a Premier League campaign in history.

Balotelli opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 41 minutes before Richards struck just before half-time to leave Newcastle in trouble.

Argentinian striker Aguero made it 3-0 on 72 minutes with another penalty before Dan Gosling netted a consolation strike for Newcastle on 89 minutes.

"As players, as a team, we are very strong now but the season is long and there will be difficult moments ahead," satisfied City manager Roberto Mancini said.

"For this reason, it's important we know we can score goals and win games in a row."

Manchester United kept the pressure on its cross-town rival in the late kick-off with a Javier Hernandez goal giving the Red Devils a 1-0 win at Swansea.

Mexican international Hernandez struck on 11 minutes to settle a drab encounter at the Liberty Stadium as Sir Alex Ferguson's team recorded its fifth consecutive clean sheet since its 6-1 thrashing against City last month.

In other matches, inspirational skipper Robin van Persie scored twice as Arsenal came from behind to defeat Norwich 2-1 at Carrow Road to move up one spot to sixth.

Van Persie took his goal tally for 2011 to a remarkable 31 in 29 games as Arsenal recorded its fifth consecutive league victory.

Norwich took the lead when Steve Morison pounced on a blunder by Per Mertesacker on 16 minutes before Dutch striker van Persie equalised in the 26th minute, netting the winner on the hour mark.

"It was a very positive win and the team is growing from game to game," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said before praising van Persie's contribution.

"He is exceptional, but we all know within the club that he's an exceptional player.

"Sometimes, what was in the way was the fact he was injured.

"Since he plays, Robin shows just how good he is."

A pulsating game at the Britannia Stadium saw QPR down Stoke 3-2.

Jon Walters put Stoke 1-0 up after eight minutes, latching on to Peter Crouch's through-ball before rifling past Paddy Kenny in the QPR goal.

But QPR levelled through Heidar Helguson on 22 minutes before goals from Luke Young and Helguson's second gave the visitors a 3-1 lead.

Stoke pulled a goal back through Ryan Shawcross midway through the second half but Rangers held on.

A stormy match at Goodison Park saw Everton come from behind to down Wolves 2-1.

Wolves took the lead in controversial circumstances when Marouane Fellaini was adjudged to have brought down midfielder David Edwards inside the area to concede a penalty.

Everton protested to no avail before Stephen Hunt stepped up to blast his spot-kick down the middle.

But the Toffees levelled on 44 minutes when defender Phil Jagielka headed in England team-mate Leighton Baines' cross.

Baines then struck the winner from the penalty spot seven minutes from time.

In the battle of the bottom two, Blackburn's Yakubu struck a dramatic injury time penalty - won by Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson - to give his side a 3-3 draw against Wigan.

But the game was overshadowed by controversy surrounding Blackburn's second goal, scored by David Hoilett, when Morten Gamst Pedersen appeared to dribble straight from a corner before crossing for the goal.

Referee Andre Marriner had failed to spot that Yakubu had not touched the ball before Pedersen took the corner.

"It was a scandalous decision," Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said.

"For me, Yakubu didn't touch the ball and it's a very easy decision to make.

"It's ridiculous."

At the Hawthorns, Irish international Shane Long made a match-winning return from injury as West Brom downed struggling Bolton 2-1.

The Baggies went ahead on 16 minutes when Jerome Thomas sprang Bolton's offside trap and rounded the keeper to score.

But Thomas was the villain five minutes later when he conceded a penalty duly converted by Ivan Klasnic.

Long eventually wrapped up the win for Roy Hodgson's side, striking his fourth goal of the season on 59 minutes.

Sunderland and Fulham battled to a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light with Socceroos custodian Mark Schwarzer pulling off an outstanding save to keep the Cottagers in the game.

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted November 20, 2011 08:10:36

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Gunners the victim of friendly fire

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker (L) and forward Theo Walcott react at the final whistle after being beaten 4-3 by Blackburn during the English Premier League football match between Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal at Ewood Park on September 17, 2011

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england, united-kingdom

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