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Thursday, November 30, 2006

Fulham 2-1 Arsenal

Fulham claimed their first win over Arsenal in 40 years as the visitors never recovered from a nightmare start.

Brian McBride's header and a tap-in by Tomasz Radzinski put Fulham ahead, with Robin van Persie's free-kick being Arsenal's only first-half plus point.

In a thrilling second half, Philippe Senderos was sent off and Luis Boa Morte and Theo Walcott hit the woodwork at either end.

Jens Lehmann ended the match in attack but Fulham held on for a famous win.

After an assured start by Arsenal, McBride gave Fulham a shock lead when he headed in Claus Jensen's corner.

Mathieu Flamini could have headed the ball off the line but Lehmann's touch pushed the ball from him.

Ex-Gunner Boa Morte then increased his old team's agony as Fulham, who had lost their last two games, opened up a shock two-goal lead.

He showed deft footwork on the left before firing across an open goal to Radzinski, who tapped in his first goal of the season at the far post.

Lehmann did well to stand up to Boa Morte and deny Fulham a third as the Arsenal defence was cut to ribbons by Michael Brown's optimistic ball forward.

Van Persie's stunning free-kick after Liam Rosenior's foul on Alexander Hleb kept Arsenal in the game.

But Jensen and McBride both came close to restoring Fulham's advantage before half-time.

Arsenal showed more intent after the restart, with Thierry Henry finding the net only to be denied by an off-side flag.

Senderos' way of dealing with the ever-dangerous Boa Morte was to bring him down and earn a second yellow card.

Lehmann was left counting his blessings after seeing the resulting free-kick rattle the underside of the bar, only for Arsenal's Theo Walcott to go up the other end and hit the foot of the post.

It was then Boa Morte's turn to be denied by an off-side flag as the sides kept the pace up in a highly entertaining game.

In a frantic finale, Henry failed to connect with Justin Hoyte's cross and Lehmann went forward for a corner, but to no avail, as Arsenal suffered their third away defeat in a row.

Fulham manager Chris Coleman:"At half time we said we can't sit back, we have to ask more questions andd take the game to them. Over the 90 minutes we deserved it.

"Arsenal are at their best when the opposition attack so we said when we do make sure we're tight at the back.

"You need a bit of luck against Arsenal and if we've had it then we earned it."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:"The game was played at a high pace, I can't fault the team but it's difficult when you're 2-0 down early on.

"We're playing many games at the moment but the team showed great spirit and reactions, we fought until the end but it just doesn't seem to be going for us at the moment.

"Of course we are down and disappointed, but it's part of your job to cope with that - if you want to play at the top level, sometimes it doesn't got your way.

"We have character and we will respond, don't worry."

Fulham: Niemi, Volz, Christanval, Knight, Rosenior, Brown, Boa Morte, Radzinski (Routledge 46), Diop, Claus Jensen, McBride (Helguson 76). Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, John, Zakuani.
Booked: Brown, Rosenior, Boa Morte, Helguson.

Goals: McBride 6, Radzinski 19.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Senderos, Flamini, Rosicky (Walcott 61), Song Billong (Fabregas 46), Silva, Hleb (Djourou 65), Henry, Van Persie. Subs Not Used: Almunia, Adebayor.

Sent Off: Senderos (66).

Booked: Song Billong, Senderos, Rosicky, Van Persie, Flamini.

Goals: Van Persie 36.

Att: 24,510

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).

From : BBC Sports

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Bolton 3 - 1 Arsenal

Arsenal's poor record at Bolton continued as a brace from Nicolas Anelka helped consign them to defeat.

Abdoulaye Faye headed Bolton ahead before team-mate Kevin Davies escaped a red card for pushing Emmanuel Eboue.

Anelka powered in a 25-yard screamer against his ex-club, who then pulled one back with a Gilberto Silva header.

Arsenal hit the woodwork three times in the course of the second half but their hopes were ended when Anelka raced clear and clinically angled in a shot.

Arsenal had promised to be more of a match for Bolton's physical approach ahead of the game following their recent struggles to combat the power of the Reebok Stadium side.

The visitors made a promising start as they seemed ready to back up their claims.

Theo Walcott's pace on the right-wing unsettled the Bolton backline and Cesc Fabregas crossed for Emmanuel Adebayor, who could only shoot straight at keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen after failing to make proper contact from six yards out.

But Faye was allowed to make a run to the near post and head the home side into the lead from El-Hadji Diouf's corner as Bolton quickly asserted a stranglehold on the game.

In a familiar scenario between these two sides, Arsenal were being denied space and time while Bolton's main threat came from set-pieces.

The match developed into a fractious affair and Davies was fortunate to escape being sent off.

He followed up a rash challenge on Eboue with a push when the Arsenal right-back squared up to him to complain about the tackle.

Jaaskelainen twice beat Adebayor to the ball as Arsenal attempted to level but Bolton had rattled their opponents and carried the greater threat as they matched their hard-working

game with a quality that is sometimes overlooked.

Diouf was Arsenal's chief tormentor and, after Quinton Fortune limped off injured for the hosts, Bolton extended their lead in an action-packed end to the first-half.

Anelka picked up the ball with his back to goal just outside the corner of the area before turning and powering in a stunning strike past stranded keeper Jens Lehmann.

Almost immediately, Silva headed in a corner at the other end to give Arsenal hope of a comeback.

The Gunners started the second half with a strong sense of determination as their stylish football began to have an effect.

Fabregas had a 20-yard shot scrambled away by Jaaskelainen before Walcott burst clear on the right and found Ljungberg with his cross.

The Swede stooped to head home only to see his effort crash off the crossbar to safety.

Bolton were still a danger on the counter-attack and Anelka had an effort scrambled to safety off the post by Lehmann before adding his second.

The French striker ran on to a slide rule Ivan Campo pass and finished with aplomb, despite a suspicion of offside about the goal, to all-but secure Bolton's fourth home win in five games against the Gunners.

Adebayor and Fabregas struck the woodwork as Arsenal continued to battle on but their efforts proved to be in vain.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce:"We knew this was a must-win match after throwing points away recently.

"Doing that against a team of Arsenal's quality was always going to be a big task but we have done it again.

"It was a really great victory at a difficult time and gives us so much confidence."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:"I'm sad for my team as they gave a lot and they played well.

"We should have won this game and I don't know what impact it will have but it is a big blow to lose.

"In every game it is the same - we have fantastic potential but we do not get what we should.

That is down to experience and a learning process."

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt (Giannakopoulos 46), Ben Haim, Meite, Fortune (Campo 43), Nolan, Faye, Speed, Davies, Anelka, Diouf (Vaz Te 83).Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Tal.

Booked: Davies, Fortune, Campo.

Goals: Faye 9, Anelka 45, 76.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas, Silva, Flamini (Julio Baptista 59), Ljungberg (Hleb 73), Adebayor.Subs Not Used: Almunia, Djourou, Hoyte.

Booked: Ljungberg, Lehmann, Senderos, Toure.

Goals: Silva 45.

Att: 24,409

Ref: M Dean (Wirral).


From : BBC Sports

Wenger admits to improper conduct

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted a Football Association charge of improper conduct after an incident with West Ham manager Alan Pardew.

The West Ham boss has denied a similar charge after a confrontation between the pair during the Hammers' 1-0 win at Upton Park on 5 November.

Wenger refused to shake Pardew's hand at the end of the game and left without speaking to the press.

Both managers have requested personal hearings at an as-yet unconfirmed date.

Wenger said he "felt provoked in a disrespectful way in my area" by Pardew's enthusiastic celebration of Marlon Harewood's late winning goal, for which he later apologised.

"It was a small incident when two managers had a disagreement on a heated incident," said Wenger a week after the game.

"I will not demand a hearing because for me the incident is over.

"I said I regret having reacted so all the rest now can only be boring and a waste of time. "

From : BBC Sports


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Monday, November 20, 2006

Arsenal 1 - 1 Newcastle

Kieron Dyer returned from a seven-month absence to score the goal which eases pressure on boss Glenn Roeder and seriously dents Arsenal's title hopes.

The midfielder put Newcastle ahead when he collected Obefami Martins' flick-on and curled a shot into the corner.

Newcastle repelled waves of attacks before substitute Thierry Henry curled in a superb free-kick past Shay Given.

Henry was inches away from scoring a winner when his effort was deflected on to the post by Scott Parker.

Interview: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Interview: Newcastle's Kieron Dyer
Interview: Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given

The Frenchman was also denied by some excellent goalkeeping from Given.

The Newcastle stopper was back in the line-up after two months out and was in inspired from, making tremendous stops throughout.

He was at his very best in the second half to deny Henry twice and Cesc Fabregas as Newcastle came under intense pressure.

Roeder's side were desperately defending a lead which had been given to them totally against the run of play on the half hour.

Dyer showed little rustiness when he expertly finished his side's only chance of the half.

Arsenal had had numerous opportunities to break the deadlock before that but Emmanuel Adebayor, Alexander Hleb could neither hit the target nor beat Given.

Robin van Persie looked the likeliest to drag Arsenal back on level terms and was inches away with a curling shot after a superb turn in the area.

But the Dutchman suffered an ankle injury late on the first half and was unable to continue.

That meant Henry was forced into action at the start of the second half - and how Arsenal were desperate for inspiration.

Until that point, the Gunners searched in vain for a goal and had been guilty of over-playing.
The initially nervous-looking Titus Bramble began to play with a degree of calm in defence, while Nicky Butt snapped in the midfield.

Arsenal, for all their personnel in that area of the pitch, were failing to exert their authority.

And Julio Baptista, making his first start in the absence of Gilberto Silva, looked exactly like the bit-part player he has been since his arrival at Arsenal.

Newcastle continued to battle, and with the help of the outstanding Given, managed to withstand an Arsenal onslaught as the hosts finally found their rhythm.

But then Henry produced a moment of exquisite skill when he crashed in a curling free-kick off the underside of the bar.

It was always going to take something special to beat Given in this mood.

And despite some intense efforts thereafter, Arsenal failed to do it again - which leaves their title ambitions virtually in tatters.

Roeder, though, may have been given a reprieve.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:

"Newcastle played and defended well but We did not score in the first 20 minutes and gave a soft goal away.

"Then we created lots of opportunities and gave a great performance but we cannot give goals away the way we did.

"This side has great potential but we are still a bit young in some areas of our game and you could see that today."

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder:

"The returning players, Kieron Dyer and Shay Given, were excellent. They played their part in what was a terrific team performance.

"We knew there would be long spells when we had out backs to the wall but we had belief that we come cone ghere and achieve a good result.

"We showed skill, belief and I thought the defence did very well today."

Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Julio Baptista (Walcott 64), Flamini, Van Persie (Henry 46), Adebayor. Subs Not Used: Almunia, Senderos, Song Billong.

Booked: Fabregas, Gallas.

Goals: Henry 70.

Newcastle: Given, Taylor, Bramble, Moore (Sibierski 89), Ramage, Solano (Milner 74), Butt, Parker, Duff (N'Zogbia 86), Dyer, Martins. Subs Not Used: Harper, Rossi. Booked: Duff, Taylor, Bramble, Given, N'Zogbia.

Goals: Dyer 30.

Att: 60,058

Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Everton 0-1 Arsenal

Emmanuel Adebayor's 85th-minute header put Arsenal in the last eight of the Carling Cup after Everton played most of the game with 10 men.

Referee Graham Poll, who has been criticised for his handling of Sunday's game between Chelsea and Spurs, sent off James McFadden after 19 minutes.

McFadden was dismissed for dissent after saying something to Poll when he waved away an Everton penalty appeal.

Adebayor met a corner in space to send a second-string Gunners side through.

Everton fans howled "cheat" at Poll as he walked off the pitch.

Poll has now handed out two red cards in the space of four days, after he controversially sent off
Chelsea defender John Terry during Spurs 2-1 win over the champions on Sunday.

The referee issued three yellow cards to Arsenal players and ignored a number of penalty appeals from Everton, notably involving Andrew Johnson.

Poll sent off McFadden after Johnson fell in the box under pressure from three defenders.

After Poll waved away Everton's penalty appeals McFadden clearly said far too much for the liking of Poll, who dismissed the Scottish winger.

Arsenal sent on goalkeeper Mart Poom at the break for Manuel Almunia, the Spaniard still suffering from the kick he received early in the game as Armand Traore cleared under pressure from McFadden.

Poom was quickly into action, saving well from Johnson's hooked volley.

That was a rare Everton chance as the home side piled forward with Mathieu Flamini and the
excellent Denilson prominent in the Arsenal midfield.

Arsenal finally got the ball into the net with five minutes to go, Adebayor hurling himself into the box to head home a Flamini corner.

Everton threw on striker Victor Anichebe for Lee Carsley in injury time, but they were unable to send the game into extra time.

Everton manager David Moyes:"I couldn't have asked for anything more from them and the gut-wrenching thing is to lose to such a soft goal with five minutes to go.

"That was the only disappointing thing - the boys did tremendously well."

Arsenal goalkeeper Mart Poom on his debut for the club:"I think it was a great performance with a young team and we knew that it would be a hard game.

"Everton are strong at home but I'm very proud to finally make my first appearance for Arsenal.

"And I am happy that I managed to keep a clean sheet."

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Osman, Cahill, Carsley (Anichebe 90), Arteta, Johnson, McFadden.Subs Not Used: Turner, Weir, Davies, Stubbs.

Sent Off: McFadden (19).

Arsenal: Almunia (Poom 46), Eboue, Senderos, Djourou, Flamini, Walcott, Song Billong, Denilson (Randall 70), Adebayor, Traore, Aliadiere.Subs Not Used: Connolly, Ryan Garry, Perez.

Booked: Song Billong, Aliadiere, Adebayor.

Goals: Adebayor 85.

Att: 31,045.

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

From : BBC Sports

Monday, November 06, 2006

Pardew apologises for Wenger row


Arsene Wenger and Alan Pardew (right)
Pardew (right) and Wenger were involved in a touchline tussle
Alan Pardew has apologised to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger over the dramatic touchline row that followed West Ham's late winner at Upton Park.

Wenger appeared to take offence at Hammers boss Pardew's celebrations as Marlon Harewood clinched a 1-0 victory.

Wenger also refused to shake hands with Pardew at the end of the game.

Pardew said: "I apologise if I offended Arsene. If I was over-zealous in my celebrations, which I'm sure I was, I apologise fully to Arsene and Arsenal."

He added: "We've had a tough old season here and maybe it came out.

"Arsene was annoyed with that, maybe quite rightly so, but I hope that I can iron that out and we will be big enough to look each other in the eye.

I want to sort things out with Arsene. It's not right for the image of the game
Alan Pardew

"It was nothing personal, I was celebrating the goal. I've got great respect for him and that won't change.

"Nothing was said. Maybe he was angry at a couple of decisions and it was a physical game. We wanted to upset Arsenal, we wanted to win.

"He is a top guy and I really respect him. I thought I was entitled to celebrate the goal after a pulsating game."

Pardew said he hoped to get the chance to make up with Wenger. "I want to sort things out," said Pardew. "It's not right for the image of the game.

"Emotions were high but there was nothing dangerous or horrible. That is what happens with last-minute goals."

Former Arsenal manager Terry Neill has revealed that Pardew tried to find Wenger after the game to invite the Frenchman to his office for a conciliatory glass of wine.

Neill was at the match and told BBC Five Live Sport: "I did spend a little bit of time after the game with Alan Pardew.

"He said he had gone to the Arsenal dressing room and tried to make contact with Arsene and invite him down for a glass of wine to his office.

"So I had to have Arsene Wenger's glass of wine instead.

"I've got to say I'm disappointed with Arsene. I would have thought he would have been bigger than the reaction he showed."

From : BBC Sports

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Government to back World Cup bid


Artist's impression of the new Wembley stadium
The new Wembley stadium would be a focal point of England's bid
The government is willing to back an English bid for the 2018 World Cup, says Sports Minister Richard Caborn.

Caborn revealed Chancellor Gordon Brown, who met Uefa president Lennart Johansson on Wednesday, was "very, very keen" on the idea.

Asked whether the government would support a bid, Caborn told BBC Radio 4: "Absolutely. I have no doubt."

The Football Association is still weighing up its options but chairman Brian Barwick said: "We would like it."

The 2010 World Cup is being held in South Africa, with the 2014 tournament set to go to a South American country.

From 2010, every third World Cup is expected to be awarded to a European country.

Barwick added: "If that is the year when it comes back to Europe, we're going to go for it.

"We don't have to decide now how we go about it, we have to learn the lessons of when we didn't get these things and learn the lessons of when we did - like the Olympics.

"I think (bid leader) Lord Coe was very clever, a brilliant guy and a really huge contributory factor, as was the playing of the major officials at the right time."

Coe has already indicated he would be willing to assist the FA in its bid.

If the FA does decide to bid, it could face competion from Australia.


From : BBC Sports

Wenger proud of display


Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Wenger felt there were many positives for his team
Arsene Wenger said Arsenal's performance against CSKA Moscow might have been their best in the Champions League in his time as manager.

Arsenal missed a multitude of chances as the match finished goalless.

But afterwards Wenger said: "The team played exceptionally well - maybe the best Champions League game since I have been here.

"The team played very well but we did not take our chances early on and then there is big pressure on the next one."

Arsenal now have a home game at the end of November against bottom-of-the-table Hamburg, who are without a point after losing 3-1 at home to Porto, Arsenal's final opponents in Group G.

The Gunners had 24 shots on goal and Tomas Rosicky was guilty of the most glaring miss - failing to put the ball into an empty net from three yards.

But numerous team-mates also spurned good chances as Arsenal missed the opportunity to move to the top of Group G.

"We should have won by five, six or even seven," said Wenger.

Normally, you win this sort of game 7-0
Arsene Wenger

"People will feel frustrated by the result but for me it is the best in the Champions League we have played since I've been here.

"Normally, you win this sort of game 7-0 - or maybe 7-1 because CSKA had a chance as well but I still feel there is a lot of positives for the team.

"We were not guilty of trying to score the perfect goal this time.

"We dominated this Moscow team by miles and created clear-cut chances. There was a division of difference between the two teams but we have to take the result.

"Yet, I still feel that this team has great potential and it is how we mature in the coming months that will decide whether we win a trophy."

"It will be difficult but there are still so many positives for us to take from this performance. I am convinced one day we will play far less well than that and score four, five, six goals.

"We need to keep the belief. It is nothing to do with the new pitch. It is much more simple than that. We need to put the ball in the net.

"But our crowd were great tonight. It was a great crowd, a great performance and a bad result."

Arsenal 0 - 0 CSKA

Arsenal squandered numerous chances - and with it the chance to go top of Champions League Group G - as they were held at home by CSKA Moscow.

Cesc Fabregas shot wide after rounding the keeper, Thierry Henry missed from 12 yards and an unmarked Robin van Persie headed the wrong side of goal.

It was a frustrating night for Henry and his Arsenal team

The worst came from Tomas Rosicky, who picked out the keeper from three yards with the goal at his mercy.

CSKA might have snatched victory but Jens Lehmann saved from Vagner Love.

The Gunners went into the game looking for revenge after their 1-0 defeat in Moscow, which included a strike from Henry that was controversially ruled out for offside.

And their approach play merited a comprehensive victory - but as chance after gilt-edged chance went begging it turned into a maddeningly frustrating night for the London club.

William Gallas partnered Kolo Toure in the centre of defence but for the majority of the night they were mere spectators as Arsenal played some sumptuous football.

Time and again raking passes from midfield released Arsenal's wide players, with Alexander Hleb on the right flank the recipient of several breathtaking passes.


Van Persie, cutting in from the left side, shot over after six minutes and drilled a shot wide from distance shortly afterwards.

Henry sidefooted the ball wide from the near post, CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev diverted a dangerous Van Persie cross with his legs and later saved from Hleb.

There was no excuse for the first-half misses from Fabregas and Henry.

Fabregas received a deft return pass from Rosicky and rounded keeper Akinfeev but missed the target while Henry was played through by a beautifully weighted pass but flicked the ball wide.

But if their misses were bad Rosicky's failure to score on the stroke of half-time was a contender for miss of the season - the Czech Republic player failing to tuck the ball home from three yards with the goal totally at his mercy.

Rosicky instead diverted the ball into the stranded keeper's arms when it seemed considerably easier to score.

And Arsenal's profligacy was almost punished after the break when Vagner Love latched on to a long pass from midfield, beat Gallas and forced a good low save from Lehmann, who collected the ball at the second attempt.

The Russian team defended in numbers in the second half, forcing Arsenal into ever more ambitious through balls, while looking to hit the home team on the break.

Still, though, Arsenal created openings and Van Persie was inches away from converting a low Henry cross that rolled across the face of goal.

Van Persie then broke free but headed wide from eight yards as Arsenal looked for the goal their performance deserved.

Akinfeev saved from Gilberto late on while Henry almost diverted a CSKA corner into his own net in what would have been a cruel twist for the home team.


Arsenal: Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Van Persie (Aliadiere 82), Fabregas (Flamini 88), Silva, Hleb (Walcott 71), Rosicky, Henry.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Senderos, Song Billong, Djourou.

Booked: Henry, Hleb.

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev, Ignashevich, Rahimic, Semberas, Krasic (Aldonin 40), Alexei Berezutsky, Vasili Berezutsky, Daniel Carvalho (Taranov 90), Dudu, Zhirkov, Vagner Love (Olic 85).
Subs Not Used: Gabulov, Odiah, Salougin, Grigoriev.

Booked: Vasili Berezutsky, Semberas.

Att: 60,003

Ref: Lubos Michel (Slovakia).