Tomas Rosicky scored one and made another as defending champions Arsenal progressed through to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 3-2 win at Brighton.
Rosicky's fine volley added to goals from Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil, who both scored their first goals following their returns from long-term injury, while Chris O'Grady and Sam Baldock responded for the Championship side to ensure a nervy finish.
Arsenal, who beat champions Manchester City in their last match, took just two minutes to get on the scoresheet as Walcott controlled Calum Chambers' cross before firing a shot into the far corner. Walcott, who returned from nearly 10 months out with a serious knee injury in November, netted his first goal since New Year's Day 2014. The England striker had looked rusty in his first few games following his return and getting back among the goals will have given him a huge boost in confidence. Hopefully this is the start of a positive run of goal-scoring form for Walcott and it was certainly the ideal start for the visitors.
The cup holders then doubled their advantage after 24 minutes when Ozil, who was making just his second appearance following his comeback from injury, latched onto a fine pass from Rosicky and calmly slotted the ball beyond David Stockdale in the Brighton goal. It is great to see Ozil back in the side and on the scoresheet but whether he can get back to the form he showed when he very first joined the club is another story. There is no denying he is a top class player when he hits top form but some sections of the Gunners' faithful and neutrals questioned his ability following a string of poor displays prior to his injury. Let's just hope he can really hit the ground running now, providing several assists and goals and becoming a key player for Wenger's side.
Gunners' boss Arsene Wenger must have been delighted to see his side in a commanding position but a goal from O'Grady within five minutes of the restart ensured a tenser second half, especially on a weekend that had already seen some huge cup upsets. Rosicky miscued his clearance and Baldock headed the ball into the feet of O'Grady for the 28-year-old to fire home beyond the returning Wojciech Szczesny.
The Polish goalkeeper had been dropped in recent games, reportedly for smoking in the showers after the 2-0 defeat at Southampton on New Year's Day, and his replacement David Ospina kept three consecutive clean sheets.
Some fans wanted Ospina to keep his place but, with rotation always likely in cup games, it was unsurprising to see Szczesny get his chance. Personally, I would restore Ospina for the next league game at home against Aston Villa, as not only was he keeping clean sheets but he also seemed a lot calmer between the sticks.
It is inevitable that Szczesny will return to the first-team fold for league games at some point but I see no reason for dropping Ospina at the moment and Wenger will have a big decision over team selection to make in the coming days.
With yet another possible fourth round cup shock on the cards, Arsenal burst back into life and restored their two-goal cushion through Rosicky just nine minutes later. The experienced midfielder, who continues to impress whenever given a starting role this season, played a neat one-two with Olivier Giroud, latching onto the Frenchman's chipped pass before unleashing an unstoppable volley beyond Stockdale. Although it wouldn't be too much of a shock if Rosicky was dropped to the bench in the next game, I would prefer him to start again. He seems to add another dimension to our midfield, I love watching him play and his performances warrant more first-team football.
Brighton pulled another goal back as Baldock clipped the ball beyond Szczesny with 15 minutes still remaining on the clock. Following the previous days upsets, including Chelsea throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 at home to Bradford, there were a few moments where I began to wonder if the same fate was going to strike my beloved Gunners.
Arsenal almost extended their advantage when substitute Alexis Sanchez hit the crossbar from a free-kick, while Brighton were adamant they should have been awarded a late penalty for an alleged handball from Chambers inside the box. In fairness, the Gunners also had a shout for a spot-kick turned down earlier in the match when Gordon Greer appeared to handle in the box. Neither penalty was given and the two incidents appeared to merely cancel each other out.
Wenger's men held on to book their passage in round five and his side will fancy their chances of defending their silverware following the notable exits of Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham.
With a place in round five secure, the London club will need to turn their attention back to the Premier League. Arsenal could potentially leap-frog Manchester United and move level on points with third-placed Southampton with a win, depending on other results. There is still a long way to go but recent results have been positive for the Gunners and, with the pending signing of defender Gabriel Paulista, perhaps fans can begin to smile a lot more now.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Sunday, 25 January 2015
Monday, 19 January 2015
Defensive Gunners stun City
Santi Cazorla scored one and created another as Arsenal stunned Premier League champions Manchester City with a 2-0 victory at Etihad Stadium.
The Gunners are often criticised for their ability to not be able to beat their top four rivals, especially away from home, but a Cazorla penalty and Olivier Giroud header ensured they claimed maximum points with a composed and disciplined performance.
Not only was this a victory to prove Arsene Wenger's men can defy their critics and compete with the best but it was also a defensive display to be proud of as they ended City's 12-game unbeaten league run. Last season the Gunners shipped in 17 goals in their league trips to the top three and serious questions were asked about Wenger and his squad. In stark contrast Arsenal have four points from trips to Liverpool and City so far this season so, although their league position is far from ideal, these results cannot be ignored. Arsenal are now up to fifth, one point behind Manchester United and just three points off third-placed Southampton.
A return of four points from two games against champions City, along with a 3-0 victory in the Community Shield, is magnificent but could the recent performance and result at Etihad Stadium prove to be a turning point for the London club?
Going into the game City were huge favourites and, after a shaky opening few minutes, many people were probably thinking it was going to be the hosts' day. Arsenal had other ideas and Wenger defied his critics and got it tactically spot on against Manuel Pellegrini's men, who are now five points behind leaders Chelsea. Rather than play his usual open attacking style of play, Wenger set up to defend and it worked. Despite not having too much of the ball over the 90 minutes and having to defend 16 corners, something that is often their weakness, the Gunners held firm and didn't crumble as some expected may happen, even after the second goal. The defence display was excellent and Wenger deserves a lot of credit for his side's performance.
Per Mertesacker, who has been criticised for his dip in form this season, had a solid game. Despite not making many tackles, his positioning and general play was better than normal and it made a big difference that he had his defensive team-mates protecting him more. Laurent Koscielny put in a strong performance but it was full-backs Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin who particularly impressed. Although it remains frustrating that Wenger hasn't made much movement in the transfer market, other than the pending arrival of young midfielder Krystian Bielik, he has to be given some credit for how he has plugged some of the gaps. With Mathieu Debuchy out for three months, Bellerin came in to deputise against City and was one of the stand-out performers. We need one or two more experienced players added to the squad but it is very reassuring to see youngsters like Bellerin fitting in so well.
I cannot talk about Arsenal's younger players without giving huge praise to Francis Coquelin. The Gunners have been crying out for an experienced defensive midfielder and Wenger has come in for big criticism for not buying one (as of yet). When Coquelin was recalled from his loan spell at Charlton some of the Gunners' faithful were not too impressed at this being the solution. A few games on and some are actually now debating whether the Frenchman could in fact be the solution. The 23-year-old is very composed on the ball and plays a very clever game, always thinking about where the ball is and what needs to be done. He doesn't do what some Gunners' players do with lots of fancy foot work but that is actually just what we need. He does the most important thing - he keeps it simple!
As his fellow midfielder Aaron Ramsey said of his team-mate on the club's official website "He has done a very good job defensively for the team.
“He wins it back, keeps it simple and just keeps things ticking over." Coquelin is still getting used to regular first-team football but early signs are very encouraging. If he keeps on playing the way he has been doing I see no reason why he can't be the permanent solution to our defensive midfielder problem. Although he is performing admirably we probably still need someone more experienced in that position, especially to cover for any injury and to give Coquelin a break as he continues to adapt to the game. Mathieu Flamini can fill the void but he doesn't fill me with as much confidence as he used to. Coquelin really is doing superbly well though and long may it continue.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey were quieter than normal but still played their part in one of the most composed and disciplined displays we have put in all season. But it was Cazorla who really ran the show in midfield with a man of the match display to continue his superb run of form. The Spain international was vital to everything Arsenal did against City, getting them out of pressure situations and being generally clever in the middle of the park. He clearly loves his football even more at the moment and his influence is helping us turn a corner in our season.
Alexis Sanchez was quiet by his standards and I even saw comments from some fans saying he had a poor game. Yes, he might not have been his usually lively self but he still worked tirelessly and played a big role in ensuring we got the victory. I think sometimes people think if he doesn't score it means he hasn't played as well, but his influence cannot be underestimated. Even just being on the pitch his presence has a massive impact on the team and I still think he had a decent game against City even though he wasn't one of the stand-out performers.
Giroud admittedly didn't do too in terms of his overall performance but he scored the key second goal and is vital to the team. He has had his fair share of criticism but he has returned from injury and shown glimpses of quality. The French striker has now scored against City (twice), Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton and proven he can cut it against the big sides. He didn't score against Chelsea but to be fair none of our players really had a good game that day.
Tomas Rosicky looked lively when he came on while Kieran Gibbs and Flamini didn't really have long enough to make a big impact but did help ensure we held on for the victory and a clean sheet. To keep a clean sheet away at the champions makes the performance even more impressive, so credit must go to goalkeeper David Ospina.
Wojciech Szczesny is the Gunners' regular number one but was recently dropped. Whether he is being rested or being made to realise his place in the side isn't guaranteed or, if it is due to the incident of smoking in the dressing room following the defeat by Southampton, is another story. Whatever the reason Ospina got his chance and, although he hasn't had too much to do in recent matches, he has kept three clean sheets in three games and that cannot be ignored. It is often said that the sign of a good goalkeeper is that even in games when there is little to do he can still stay composed when called upon. The clean sheets indicate that he can. I wouldn't be surprised if Szczesny gets his place back soon as on his day he can be a quality goalkeeper, although his erratic nature and errors this season were very frustrating. If it was down to me I would keep Ospina in. As the saying goes, if it's not broke don't fix it!
Back to the match, and in a first half of few chances Arsenal took the lead when they were awarded a penalty following Vincent Kompany's clumsy foul on Monreal after 24 minutes. Cazorla made no mistake with the resulting spot-kick despite City goalkeeper Joe Hart diving the right way.
City started the second half with a lot more purpose and came close to levelling the scores within five minutes of the restart. An angled shot from Jesus Navas was well kept out by Ospina before Fernandinho's effort was deflected over soon after.
The hosts were being stifled by the Gunners' defence and were unable to find a goal and Wenger's men took advantage by doubling their lead after 67 minutes. Cazorla cleverly lifted his free-kick into the box for Giroud, who also scored against City in the Community Shield victory, to head home his sixth league goal of the season.
City tried to get back into the match but substitute Stevan Jovetic and Kompany both wasted chances, while Edin Dzeko saw his effort saved by Ospina as Arsenal held on for victory.
After such an impressive display Arsenal will need to make sure they don't let any complacency sneak into their game as they look to finish the month on a high in the FA Cup fourth-round clash at Brighton.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
The Gunners are often criticised for their ability to not be able to beat their top four rivals, especially away from home, but a Cazorla penalty and Olivier Giroud header ensured they claimed maximum points with a composed and disciplined performance.
Not only was this a victory to prove Arsene Wenger's men can defy their critics and compete with the best but it was also a defensive display to be proud of as they ended City's 12-game unbeaten league run. Last season the Gunners shipped in 17 goals in their league trips to the top three and serious questions were asked about Wenger and his squad. In stark contrast Arsenal have four points from trips to Liverpool and City so far this season so, although their league position is far from ideal, these results cannot be ignored. Arsenal are now up to fifth, one point behind Manchester United and just three points off third-placed Southampton.
A return of four points from two games against champions City, along with a 3-0 victory in the Community Shield, is magnificent but could the recent performance and result at Etihad Stadium prove to be a turning point for the London club?
Going into the game City were huge favourites and, after a shaky opening few minutes, many people were probably thinking it was going to be the hosts' day. Arsenal had other ideas and Wenger defied his critics and got it tactically spot on against Manuel Pellegrini's men, who are now five points behind leaders Chelsea. Rather than play his usual open attacking style of play, Wenger set up to defend and it worked. Despite not having too much of the ball over the 90 minutes and having to defend 16 corners, something that is often their weakness, the Gunners held firm and didn't crumble as some expected may happen, even after the second goal. The defence display was excellent and Wenger deserves a lot of credit for his side's performance.
Per Mertesacker, who has been criticised for his dip in form this season, had a solid game. Despite not making many tackles, his positioning and general play was better than normal and it made a big difference that he had his defensive team-mates protecting him more. Laurent Koscielny put in a strong performance but it was full-backs Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin who particularly impressed. Although it remains frustrating that Wenger hasn't made much movement in the transfer market, other than the pending arrival of young midfielder Krystian Bielik, he has to be given some credit for how he has plugged some of the gaps. With Mathieu Debuchy out for three months, Bellerin came in to deputise against City and was one of the stand-out performers. We need one or two more experienced players added to the squad but it is very reassuring to see youngsters like Bellerin fitting in so well.
I cannot talk about Arsenal's younger players without giving huge praise to Francis Coquelin. The Gunners have been crying out for an experienced defensive midfielder and Wenger has come in for big criticism for not buying one (as of yet). When Coquelin was recalled from his loan spell at Charlton some of the Gunners' faithful were not too impressed at this being the solution. A few games on and some are actually now debating whether the Frenchman could in fact be the solution. The 23-year-old is very composed on the ball and plays a very clever game, always thinking about where the ball is and what needs to be done. He doesn't do what some Gunners' players do with lots of fancy foot work but that is actually just what we need. He does the most important thing - he keeps it simple!
As his fellow midfielder Aaron Ramsey said of his team-mate on the club's official website "He has done a very good job defensively for the team.
“He wins it back, keeps it simple and just keeps things ticking over." Coquelin is still getting used to regular first-team football but early signs are very encouraging. If he keeps on playing the way he has been doing I see no reason why he can't be the permanent solution to our defensive midfielder problem. Although he is performing admirably we probably still need someone more experienced in that position, especially to cover for any injury and to give Coquelin a break as he continues to adapt to the game. Mathieu Flamini can fill the void but he doesn't fill me with as much confidence as he used to. Coquelin really is doing superbly well though and long may it continue.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey were quieter than normal but still played their part in one of the most composed and disciplined displays we have put in all season. But it was Cazorla who really ran the show in midfield with a man of the match display to continue his superb run of form. The Spain international was vital to everything Arsenal did against City, getting them out of pressure situations and being generally clever in the middle of the park. He clearly loves his football even more at the moment and his influence is helping us turn a corner in our season.
Alexis Sanchez was quiet by his standards and I even saw comments from some fans saying he had a poor game. Yes, he might not have been his usually lively self but he still worked tirelessly and played a big role in ensuring we got the victory. I think sometimes people think if he doesn't score it means he hasn't played as well, but his influence cannot be underestimated. Even just being on the pitch his presence has a massive impact on the team and I still think he had a decent game against City even though he wasn't one of the stand-out performers.
Giroud admittedly didn't do too in terms of his overall performance but he scored the key second goal and is vital to the team. He has had his fair share of criticism but he has returned from injury and shown glimpses of quality. The French striker has now scored against City (twice), Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton and proven he can cut it against the big sides. He didn't score against Chelsea but to be fair none of our players really had a good game that day.
Tomas Rosicky looked lively when he came on while Kieran Gibbs and Flamini didn't really have long enough to make a big impact but did help ensure we held on for the victory and a clean sheet. To keep a clean sheet away at the champions makes the performance even more impressive, so credit must go to goalkeeper David Ospina.
Wojciech Szczesny is the Gunners' regular number one but was recently dropped. Whether he is being rested or being made to realise his place in the side isn't guaranteed or, if it is due to the incident of smoking in the dressing room following the defeat by Southampton, is another story. Whatever the reason Ospina got his chance and, although he hasn't had too much to do in recent matches, he has kept three clean sheets in three games and that cannot be ignored. It is often said that the sign of a good goalkeeper is that even in games when there is little to do he can still stay composed when called upon. The clean sheets indicate that he can. I wouldn't be surprised if Szczesny gets his place back soon as on his day he can be a quality goalkeeper, although his erratic nature and errors this season were very frustrating. If it was down to me I would keep Ospina in. As the saying goes, if it's not broke don't fix it!
Back to the match, and in a first half of few chances Arsenal took the lead when they were awarded a penalty following Vincent Kompany's clumsy foul on Monreal after 24 minutes. Cazorla made no mistake with the resulting spot-kick despite City goalkeeper Joe Hart diving the right way.
City started the second half with a lot more purpose and came close to levelling the scores within five minutes of the restart. An angled shot from Jesus Navas was well kept out by Ospina before Fernandinho's effort was deflected over soon after.
The hosts were being stifled by the Gunners' defence and were unable to find a goal and Wenger's men took advantage by doubling their lead after 67 minutes. Cazorla cleverly lifted his free-kick into the box for Giroud, who also scored against City in the Community Shield victory, to head home his sixth league goal of the season.
City tried to get back into the match but substitute Stevan Jovetic and Kompany both wasted chances, while Edin Dzeko saw his effort saved by Ospina as Arsenal held on for victory.
After such an impressive display Arsenal will need to make sure they don't let any complacency sneak into their game as they look to finish the month on a high in the FA Cup fourth-round clash at Brighton.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Sunday, 11 January 2015
Super Sanchez Smashes Potters
Alexis Sanchez once again proved his top class ability as his two goals helped dominant Arsenal brush aside Stoke with a 3-0 win at the Emirates.
The Gunners avenged last month's 3-2 defeat at the Britannia Stadium by producing one of their best performances of the season, as a Laurent Koscielny header and a moment of individual brilliance from Sanchez gave them a commanding half-time lead. The score could've been even bigger for Arsenal, who now leapfrog bitter rivals Tottenham in the table, in their first home league game of 2015 had it not been for the heroics of Asmir Begovic in the Stoke goal.
Sanchez added his second with a deflected free-kick as his side continued to control the game, while David Ospina had a comfortable Premier League debut in the Arsenal goal. Personally, I was delighted to see Ospina given more game time as he is a decent goalkeeper and it will also keep Wojciech Szczesny on his toes. The Pole can be a quality goalkeeper but at times is too erratic and hopefully this will teach him that his place in the side isn't guaranteed and he needs to up his game.
Arsenal, who had beaten Hull 2-0 in the FA Cup last time out, have now lost just one of their last 28 Premier League games at the Emirates since the opening day of the 2013-14 season and fans will be hoping this kick-starts a positive run of league form. If we can keep playing like this then we have every chance of doing just that.
The players of both teams wore black armbands and fans at the Emirates held up banners as everyone paid tribute to the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.
On the pitch, Wenger and the several other Frenchman in the Gunners' ranks would have been happy with the performance and result. Every single player's work-rate was excellent and each time we lost the ball we were running back to battle and get it back. The determination and hunger on show was one to be admired and I just hope we can use this as a springboard for upcoming games, especially with a trip to champions Manchester City on the horizon.
The Gunners started positively and almost went ahead inside two minutes, but Sanchez's effort was superbly saved by the outstretched hand of Begovic. Begovic was at it again soon after as the Bosnian got down low to deny Tomas Rosicky, but from the resulting corner the hosts grabbed a deserved opener. The initial corner was cleared before Sanchez expertly crossed the ball back in for the unmarked Koscielny to head home his second goal of the season.
The only blip in what was a great first half for the Gunners came when Mathieu Debuchy sustained a shoulder injury after 10 minutes. The French full-back tangled with Marko Arnautovic, who appeared to shove him and he then collided with the advertising board. Debuchy, who has already missed around three months of the season with an ankle problem, was stretchered off shortly after and was having an x-ray at the club during the extent of the half to assess the extent of the damage. Hector Bellerin, who looks a great prospect for the future, came on the replace him.
Arsenal continued to press for a second in the first half but Begovic continued to prove his class to keep his side in the match. Sanchez pulled the ball back to Olivier Giroud who powered a shot towards goal, but the 27-year-old dived to his right to push the shot away. Moments later Giroud had another chance to add to Arsenal's advantage, only to send his effort off target.
Stoke offered little in reply and wasted the few chances that came their way. Bojan Krkic swept a free-kick back to Glenn Whelan and the midfielder raced to the edge of the box and fired his shot over the bar.
That miss proved costly for the Potters as the hosts doubled their advantage after 33 minutes. Sanchez pounced on a loose pass from Steven N'Zonzi before playing a one-two with Rosicky. The Chilean ran onto the pass and burst into the box and, instead of trying to beat Ryan Shawcross, he cleverly clipped a shot into the net at the near post for his 17th goal in all competitions.
There was a break in play after Nacho Monreal and Peter Crouch jumped for the ball and the latter caught his man with his arm. Five minutes of injury time were added on at the end of the first half and, in that time, Crouch had the chance to pull a goal back but shot straight at David Ospina.
The Gunners started the second half as they had the first - with an early goal - to put the game beyond doubt. Sanchez hit his free-kick through the Stoke wall and a slight deflection helped take it further away from Begovic. The Stoke shot-stopper got a hand to it but only managed to help it onto the post and in within four minutes of the restart.
Arnautovic tried to get the visitor's back in the game but he sent his free-kick well wide before Crouch shot just wide from close range. But it was the hosts who continued to show their dominance by controlling proceedings as they went looking for a fourth goal. A fine attacking move saw Oxlade-Chamberlain set-up Santi Cazorla, but the Spanish international's angled shot landed on the roof of the net.
The day continued to get more positive for the Gunners as Theo Walcott came on for Oxlade-Chamberlain after 68 minutes as he continued his recovery from injury. Mesut Ozil came off the bench five minutes later to make his comeback after more than three months out with a knee injury. The World Cup winner replaced Giroud with 17 minutes remaining and Gunners' fans will be hoping he discovers more positive form this time around.
Stoke fans thought their side had grabbed a consolation when Geoff Cameron volley home, only for his effort to be disallowed for offside. It almost got worse for the Potters when Walcott burst clear, but he scuffed his effort wide as he continues to look rusty following his return from injury.
The visitors wasted another chance to get on the scoresheet in the closing stages as substitute Stephen Ireland saw his effort well saved by Ospina. The save ensured a clean sheet for the Colombian in what was a great day for the Gunners.
It was a great all-round performance and there were plenty of positives, with Debuchy's injury the only real negative of the day. Fans will be hoping Arsene Wenger's men can produce more the same at Manchester City next week.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
The Gunners avenged last month's 3-2 defeat at the Britannia Stadium by producing one of their best performances of the season, as a Laurent Koscielny header and a moment of individual brilliance from Sanchez gave them a commanding half-time lead. The score could've been even bigger for Arsenal, who now leapfrog bitter rivals Tottenham in the table, in their first home league game of 2015 had it not been for the heroics of Asmir Begovic in the Stoke goal.
Sanchez added his second with a deflected free-kick as his side continued to control the game, while David Ospina had a comfortable Premier League debut in the Arsenal goal. Personally, I was delighted to see Ospina given more game time as he is a decent goalkeeper and it will also keep Wojciech Szczesny on his toes. The Pole can be a quality goalkeeper but at times is too erratic and hopefully this will teach him that his place in the side isn't guaranteed and he needs to up his game.
Arsenal, who had beaten Hull 2-0 in the FA Cup last time out, have now lost just one of their last 28 Premier League games at the Emirates since the opening day of the 2013-14 season and fans will be hoping this kick-starts a positive run of league form. If we can keep playing like this then we have every chance of doing just that.
The players of both teams wore black armbands and fans at the Emirates held up banners as everyone paid tribute to the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.
On the pitch, Wenger and the several other Frenchman in the Gunners' ranks would have been happy with the performance and result. Every single player's work-rate was excellent and each time we lost the ball we were running back to battle and get it back. The determination and hunger on show was one to be admired and I just hope we can use this as a springboard for upcoming games, especially with a trip to champions Manchester City on the horizon.
The Gunners started positively and almost went ahead inside two minutes, but Sanchez's effort was superbly saved by the outstretched hand of Begovic. Begovic was at it again soon after as the Bosnian got down low to deny Tomas Rosicky, but from the resulting corner the hosts grabbed a deserved opener. The initial corner was cleared before Sanchez expertly crossed the ball back in for the unmarked Koscielny to head home his second goal of the season.
The only blip in what was a great first half for the Gunners came when Mathieu Debuchy sustained a shoulder injury after 10 minutes. The French full-back tangled with Marko Arnautovic, who appeared to shove him and he then collided with the advertising board. Debuchy, who has already missed around three months of the season with an ankle problem, was stretchered off shortly after and was having an x-ray at the club during the extent of the half to assess the extent of the damage. Hector Bellerin, who looks a great prospect for the future, came on the replace him.
Arsenal continued to press for a second in the first half but Begovic continued to prove his class to keep his side in the match. Sanchez pulled the ball back to Olivier Giroud who powered a shot towards goal, but the 27-year-old dived to his right to push the shot away. Moments later Giroud had another chance to add to Arsenal's advantage, only to send his effort off target.
Stoke offered little in reply and wasted the few chances that came their way. Bojan Krkic swept a free-kick back to Glenn Whelan and the midfielder raced to the edge of the box and fired his shot over the bar.
That miss proved costly for the Potters as the hosts doubled their advantage after 33 minutes. Sanchez pounced on a loose pass from Steven N'Zonzi before playing a one-two with Rosicky. The Chilean ran onto the pass and burst into the box and, instead of trying to beat Ryan Shawcross, he cleverly clipped a shot into the net at the near post for his 17th goal in all competitions.
There was a break in play after Nacho Monreal and Peter Crouch jumped for the ball and the latter caught his man with his arm. Five minutes of injury time were added on at the end of the first half and, in that time, Crouch had the chance to pull a goal back but shot straight at David Ospina.
The Gunners started the second half as they had the first - with an early goal - to put the game beyond doubt. Sanchez hit his free-kick through the Stoke wall and a slight deflection helped take it further away from Begovic. The Stoke shot-stopper got a hand to it but only managed to help it onto the post and in within four minutes of the restart.
Arnautovic tried to get the visitor's back in the game but he sent his free-kick well wide before Crouch shot just wide from close range. But it was the hosts who continued to show their dominance by controlling proceedings as they went looking for a fourth goal. A fine attacking move saw Oxlade-Chamberlain set-up Santi Cazorla, but the Spanish international's angled shot landed on the roof of the net.
The day continued to get more positive for the Gunners as Theo Walcott came on for Oxlade-Chamberlain after 68 minutes as he continued his recovery from injury. Mesut Ozil came off the bench five minutes later to make his comeback after more than three months out with a knee injury. The World Cup winner replaced Giroud with 17 minutes remaining and Gunners' fans will be hoping he discovers more positive form this time around.
Stoke fans thought their side had grabbed a consolation when Geoff Cameron volley home, only for his effort to be disallowed for offside. It almost got worse for the Potters when Walcott burst clear, but he scuffed his effort wide as he continues to look rusty following his return from injury.
The visitors wasted another chance to get on the scoresheet in the closing stages as substitute Stephen Ireland saw his effort well saved by Ospina. The save ensured a clean sheet for the Colombian in what was a great day for the Gunners.
It was a great all-round performance and there were plenty of positives, with Debuchy's injury the only real negative of the day. Fans will be hoping Arsene Wenger's men can produce more the same at Manchester City next week.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Sunday, 4 January 2015
Greatest day of my footballing life
The atmosphere, great mates, amazing stewards, the magic of the FA Cup, seeing my team start the defence of their title and a top result. My trip to the Emirates couldn't have been much better as I watched my beloved Arsenal beat Hull 2-0.
The excitement had been building ever since I received an Arsenal membership and match ticket for the FA Cup tie as a very special birthday/Christmas present from my girlfriend.
I love Arsenal Football Club and have seen almost every single one of their games this season one way or another, although I don't get to see them live very often. Previously I had seen my beloved Gunners live twice - a 1-0 defeat at Leeds and a 1-1 draw at home to Middlesbrough - so this was only my second visit to the Emirates. It doesn't make me any less of a fan that I don't get to go too often, I am still Arsenal to the core and watch virtually all the games and I live and breathe Arsenal!
When we got to the stadium my friend and I watched a bit of the Yeovil vs Manchester United FA Cup clash before making our way to our seats. I knew we were in the top tier but I somewhat underestimated just how high up our seats were. I don't have a fear of heights as such but when it comes to stadiums and arenas it always makes me feel a bit faint being too high up. One of the stewards happened to realise this and the next thing I knew we were being found new seats very near to the pitch. I would like to thank the stewards for such excellent customer service. Although I would've had to force myself to manage in the original seats, the move made for a more relaxed and enjoyable experience and this shows another dimension to this great football club.
Before the game got underway I caught sight of former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour, who was sat only a few rows away, and it just added to the already special feeling of the day. The atmosphere was great and I was feeling on top of the world and with one of my best friends. I found myself thinking the only thing that can affect whether this day gets better or worse now is the result.
Memories of the 2014 FA Cup Final were undoubtedly at the forefront of many of the Gunners fans' minds as the game kicked-off. Arsene Wenger's men looked set to continue their trophy drought when Hull took a 2-0 lead in last season's Wembley showpiece but then goals from Santi Cazorla and Laurent Koscielny turned the game on its head before Aaron Ramsey's extra-time winner. I was sat wondering, could I be witnessing the first step on the road to defending our title in 2015. Wenger had never lost an FA Cup third round tie before so the odds were stacked in our favour, although we knew all too well that the visitors couldn't be taken lightly.
Arsenal were in control for much of the first-half but only led by a solitary goal at the break thanks to Per Mertesacker. The German defender rose highest and escaped his opposite number Curtis Davis to nod in the opener after 20 minutes.
The Gunners almost doubled their advantage before the break when Tomas Rosicky played in Alexis Sanchez but Paul McShane superbly cleared the Chilean's effort off the line.
Sanchez, who yet again impressed for the hosts, had better luck in the second half when he sealed the victory and his side's passage into the next round eight minutes from time. Cazorla set up Sanchez on the edge of the box and the winger controlled it excellently before spinning and firing a shot into the bottom corner.
It was a fully deserved win for the Gunners against a Hull side who never really got going. Some may say the hosts only won due to weak opposition but you can only beat what is put in front of you and personally I found plenty of positives from the match.
Firstly, seeing Sanchez live in the flesh made my already high opinion of the player even higher. From watching him this season it is already clear just how good a summer signing he is and how phenomenal his work-rate continues to be. I had already noticed how much he hates losing the ball and how often he tracks back to regain possession but it was so much more impressive seeing it first hand. He really does cover an amazing amount of ground and his passion and desire to succeed was even more evident against Hull. Time after time he would sprint back to help out the midfield and defence. It is not often you hear people saying that about wingers but his work-rate really is immense. The other thing that stood out is how much he tries to control the game. It has already been previously clear just how influential he is but I began to notice just how often he is shouting helpful orders to his team-mates and making sure his side stays one step ahead. It doesn't always work but his work rate certainly shone through against the Tigers.
The back four was also a huge positive. Regulars Koscielny and Mathieu Debuchy were absent from the starting line-up and some may have expected the usual errors to creep in but instead the back four stayed solid and it was a very composed performance. Although Koscielny and Debuchy need to come back in soon, part of me was left thinking maybe Wenger should name an unchanged starting XI next time out. The back four were calm and collected which is not something we have been able to say many times this season. Youngster Hector Bellerin continues to look impressive when given a chance and he is certainly an exciting prospect for the future.
Francis Coquelin was another stand-out player for me. Going from being on loan at Charlton to playing like he belongs in the first team is testament to his hard work and he thoroughly deserves his place at the moment. Once the more regular starts regain fitness he is likely to lose his place but he has certainly given Wenger food for thought. He looked very composed on the ball and pulled the strings in midfield and when the ball needed to be won back he seemed to appear in the right place at the right time - a very positive performance. Without wanting to dampen the praise too much there were two slight negatives. One was a poor challenge that saw him booked, although some say it should've been a red card, but that was the only mark against him in what was an impressive display. The only other frustrating aspect is, although I am starting to rate Coquelin more and more, he could end up becoming the reason Wenger doesn't sign a defensive midfielder in January as he feels the 23-year-old can do the job. Although he is developing into a great player, I would rather see us buy an experienced defensive midfielder, to fill a position that is much needed in our line-up, and let Coquelin develop as an under-study with a view to being a regular starter within a few seasons.
Although he wasted some chances against the Tigers, it was great to see Theo Walcott make his first start for a year as he continues his recovery from injury and the more game time he gets over the next few weeks the more likely he is to get back to top form.
The performance overall wasn't perfect and we should've been a lot more clinical in attack but the clean sheet was a huge boost for the defence and will hopefully give us a positive platform to build on.
As for the FA Cup, we go into the hat for the next round and still have a great chance of defending our title, although it won't be easy. I'd rather avoid Chelsea and Manchester City in the next round but believe so long as we can get a home tie we should be okay. Whatever happens I love the FA Cup, I loved my day at the Emirates and I love Arsenal.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
The excitement had been building ever since I received an Arsenal membership and match ticket for the FA Cup tie as a very special birthday/Christmas present from my girlfriend.
I love Arsenal Football Club and have seen almost every single one of their games this season one way or another, although I don't get to see them live very often. Previously I had seen my beloved Gunners live twice - a 1-0 defeat at Leeds and a 1-1 draw at home to Middlesbrough - so this was only my second visit to the Emirates. It doesn't make me any less of a fan that I don't get to go too often, I am still Arsenal to the core and watch virtually all the games and I live and breathe Arsenal!
When we got to the stadium my friend and I watched a bit of the Yeovil vs Manchester United FA Cup clash before making our way to our seats. I knew we were in the top tier but I somewhat underestimated just how high up our seats were. I don't have a fear of heights as such but when it comes to stadiums and arenas it always makes me feel a bit faint being too high up. One of the stewards happened to realise this and the next thing I knew we were being found new seats very near to the pitch. I would like to thank the stewards for such excellent customer service. Although I would've had to force myself to manage in the original seats, the move made for a more relaxed and enjoyable experience and this shows another dimension to this great football club.
Before the game got underway I caught sight of former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour, who was sat only a few rows away, and it just added to the already special feeling of the day. The atmosphere was great and I was feeling on top of the world and with one of my best friends. I found myself thinking the only thing that can affect whether this day gets better or worse now is the result.
Memories of the 2014 FA Cup Final were undoubtedly at the forefront of many of the Gunners fans' minds as the game kicked-off. Arsene Wenger's men looked set to continue their trophy drought when Hull took a 2-0 lead in last season's Wembley showpiece but then goals from Santi Cazorla and Laurent Koscielny turned the game on its head before Aaron Ramsey's extra-time winner. I was sat wondering, could I be witnessing the first step on the road to defending our title in 2015. Wenger had never lost an FA Cup third round tie before so the odds were stacked in our favour, although we knew all too well that the visitors couldn't be taken lightly.
Arsenal were in control for much of the first-half but only led by a solitary goal at the break thanks to Per Mertesacker. The German defender rose highest and escaped his opposite number Curtis Davis to nod in the opener after 20 minutes.
The Gunners almost doubled their advantage before the break when Tomas Rosicky played in Alexis Sanchez but Paul McShane superbly cleared the Chilean's effort off the line.
Sanchez, who yet again impressed for the hosts, had better luck in the second half when he sealed the victory and his side's passage into the next round eight minutes from time. Cazorla set up Sanchez on the edge of the box and the winger controlled it excellently before spinning and firing a shot into the bottom corner.
It was a fully deserved win for the Gunners against a Hull side who never really got going. Some may say the hosts only won due to weak opposition but you can only beat what is put in front of you and personally I found plenty of positives from the match.
Firstly, seeing Sanchez live in the flesh made my already high opinion of the player even higher. From watching him this season it is already clear just how good a summer signing he is and how phenomenal his work-rate continues to be. I had already noticed how much he hates losing the ball and how often he tracks back to regain possession but it was so much more impressive seeing it first hand. He really does cover an amazing amount of ground and his passion and desire to succeed was even more evident against Hull. Time after time he would sprint back to help out the midfield and defence. It is not often you hear people saying that about wingers but his work-rate really is immense. The other thing that stood out is how much he tries to control the game. It has already been previously clear just how influential he is but I began to notice just how often he is shouting helpful orders to his team-mates and making sure his side stays one step ahead. It doesn't always work but his work rate certainly shone through against the Tigers.
The back four was also a huge positive. Regulars Koscielny and Mathieu Debuchy were absent from the starting line-up and some may have expected the usual errors to creep in but instead the back four stayed solid and it was a very composed performance. Although Koscielny and Debuchy need to come back in soon, part of me was left thinking maybe Wenger should name an unchanged starting XI next time out. The back four were calm and collected which is not something we have been able to say many times this season. Youngster Hector Bellerin continues to look impressive when given a chance and he is certainly an exciting prospect for the future.
Francis Coquelin was another stand-out player for me. Going from being on loan at Charlton to playing like he belongs in the first team is testament to his hard work and he thoroughly deserves his place at the moment. Once the more regular starts regain fitness he is likely to lose his place but he has certainly given Wenger food for thought. He looked very composed on the ball and pulled the strings in midfield and when the ball needed to be won back he seemed to appear in the right place at the right time - a very positive performance. Without wanting to dampen the praise too much there were two slight negatives. One was a poor challenge that saw him booked, although some say it should've been a red card, but that was the only mark against him in what was an impressive display. The only other frustrating aspect is, although I am starting to rate Coquelin more and more, he could end up becoming the reason Wenger doesn't sign a defensive midfielder in January as he feels the 23-year-old can do the job. Although he is developing into a great player, I would rather see us buy an experienced defensive midfielder, to fill a position that is much needed in our line-up, and let Coquelin develop as an under-study with a view to being a regular starter within a few seasons.
Although he wasted some chances against the Tigers, it was great to see Theo Walcott make his first start for a year as he continues his recovery from injury and the more game time he gets over the next few weeks the more likely he is to get back to top form.
The performance overall wasn't perfect and we should've been a lot more clinical in attack but the clean sheet was a huge boost for the defence and will hopefully give us a positive platform to build on.
As for the FA Cup, we go into the hat for the next round and still have a great chance of defending our title, although it won't be easy. I'd rather avoid Chelsea and Manchester City in the next round but believe so long as we can get a home tie we should be okay. Whatever happens I love the FA Cup, I loved my day at the Emirates and I love Arsenal.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Thursday, 1 January 2015
Szczesny Saints Shocker
Errors from Wojciech Szczesny and the Arsenal defence ensured Southampton started the new year in style with a 2-0 win at St Mary's.
Szczesny can be a top class shot-stopper on his day but sometimes his erratic nature is all too evident and the Polish international will have been disappointed with himself in his part in the goals from Sadio Mane and Dusan Tadic. He was all over the place and not the confident goalkeeper we have seen previously, so maybe it is time for David Ospina to be given his chance or for Damian Martinez to have another go between the sticks.
The Gunners went into the game looking for their third win on the spin over the festive period and knowing that victory would see them leapfrog their opponents into fourth place, just a point behind Manchester United. Arsene Wenger's men actually started the game positively but once the first goal went in after 34 minutes the visitors didn't look like making that possible.
The result is in stark contrast to this time a year ago when Arsenal beat Cardiff to top the table on New Year's Day in 2014. Signs for much of the game against Southampton are worrying and the Gunners will be hoping they can get back to winning ways when they begin the defence of their FA Cup title against Hull at the weekend.
The defence really was all over the place against Southampton although that didn't become as clear until the first goal went in. Graziano Pelle sent a free header wide before Alexis Sanchez forced a fine save from Fraser Forster in an end-to-end start as both sides started brightly.
Arsenal, who had been unbeaten in their last four league games, were showing early signs that they could win the game as they continued to push forward. Sanchez played it through to Tomas Rosicky and his low ball found Cazorla, whose close-range effort was excellently kept out by Forster. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sanchez also wasted opportunities as the Gunners continued to push forward. But as so often with Arsenal, where there is brilliance, there can also be moments of madness.
The visitors' positive start was undone shortly after the hour mark when Szczesny raced out to meet the ball but was beaten to it by Mane wide out on the right. With the goalkeeper in no man's land Mane curled his effort over Szczesny's head and towards goal from a narrow angle. There was still a chance for Per Mertesacker to clear the ball of the line but the German defender could only watch it drop into the net with a slight touch off his toe. Mane somehow picked up an injury during the goal and was withdraw minutes later.
It was very poor defending and poor goalkeeping. Mertesacker has looked a shadow of his former self this season and Wenger really needs to add some defensive reinforcements during the January transfer window. Kieran Gibbs is having a decent season and Mathieu Debuchy has impressed in many games, just not this one. Calum Chambers has made a positive impact but there remain question marks over the centre-back pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Mertesacker. Although Koscielny wasn't at his best against Southampton but normally I rate him very highly. As for Mertesacker, he is really starting to worry me this season and is too slow to react at the back. He is a very useful back-up to have but I think it is time for Koscielny to have a new regular centre-back partner.
The defensive frailties were again highlighted before the break when Pelle set up James Ward-Prowse with ease, but the latter's low shot was well saved by the legs of Szczesny.
Arsenal needed a big performance after the break in order to get anything from the game, but there appeared to be little fight from the visitor in what was a shoddy second-half display.
The Gunners did have a great chance to level the scores within nine minutes of the restart. Sanchez controlled the ball and shifted it onto his right foot before firing in a shot, only for Forster to superbly get his left hand to it to keep it out.
That miss proved costly for the visitors as Southampton doubled their lead just two minutes later. Steven Davis superbly controlled a loose ball and drilled it across the area where Mathieu Debuchy attempted to cut it out, only to slice his clearance against Szczesny. The goalkeeper then attempted to stab the ball away with his feet to clear the danger but gifted it straight to Tadic for an easy finish from close range.
What had started as quite a promising game for Arsenal was turning into a defensive horror show and, in truth, the score could've been worse. Pelle had a chance with an open goal but his effort was superbly headed off the line by Debuchy.
Southampton should arguably have been reduced to 10 men after 67 minutes when Florin Gardoș fouled Sanchez as the Chilean raced in on goal. As the last man denying Sanchez a clear goal-scoring opportunity it should've been a red card but instead the Romanian defender received only yellow.
Although it was a big call and could've potentially made a big impact on the final outcome, Southampton were more than worthy of their victory in what is continuing to be a fine season for the South Coast club. When Ronald Koeman took charge at Southampton many expected him to be in for a tough ride, especially following the exodus of a string of key players. Instead, the Dutchman has propelled the Saints into the top four and his side have only failed to win after scoring first once, and that was against leaders Chelsea. Koeman deserves huge credit for the job he has done and is already a very strong candidate for manager of the season.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are again proving inconsistent. After some impressive wins they have crashed back down to earth and remain in fifth place following this latest setback. Although I still believe we will finish in the top four, this season hasn't been good enough and we need to add two or three new faces to the side this month.
Francis Coquelin was fairly impressive but most of the rest of the side disappointed against Southampton and it has left me continuing to wonder where on earth our season is going. We can get back on track and finish fourth yet again but if we achieved that it still wouldn't be good enough as we should be aiming higher.
For now we must forget about the league and focus on the FA Cup. We are the holders and when we play Hull in a replay of last year's final this weekend we will need to ensure we start our defence in style and not with another sloppy performance.
We need to make our positive spells count and turn them into goals. On another day we could've been one or two up against Southampton but we wasted our chances and never recovered after the opening goal. We need to be a lot more organised, especially at the back, against the Tigers and I really hope I am able to celebrate when I am at the Emirates at the weekend.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Szczesny can be a top class shot-stopper on his day but sometimes his erratic nature is all too evident and the Polish international will have been disappointed with himself in his part in the goals from Sadio Mane and Dusan Tadic. He was all over the place and not the confident goalkeeper we have seen previously, so maybe it is time for David Ospina to be given his chance or for Damian Martinez to have another go between the sticks.
The Gunners went into the game looking for their third win on the spin over the festive period and knowing that victory would see them leapfrog their opponents into fourth place, just a point behind Manchester United. Arsene Wenger's men actually started the game positively but once the first goal went in after 34 minutes the visitors didn't look like making that possible.
The result is in stark contrast to this time a year ago when Arsenal beat Cardiff to top the table on New Year's Day in 2014. Signs for much of the game against Southampton are worrying and the Gunners will be hoping they can get back to winning ways when they begin the defence of their FA Cup title against Hull at the weekend.
The defence really was all over the place against Southampton although that didn't become as clear until the first goal went in. Graziano Pelle sent a free header wide before Alexis Sanchez forced a fine save from Fraser Forster in an end-to-end start as both sides started brightly.
Arsenal, who had been unbeaten in their last four league games, were showing early signs that they could win the game as they continued to push forward. Sanchez played it through to Tomas Rosicky and his low ball found Cazorla, whose close-range effort was excellently kept out by Forster. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sanchez also wasted opportunities as the Gunners continued to push forward. But as so often with Arsenal, where there is brilliance, there can also be moments of madness.
The visitors' positive start was undone shortly after the hour mark when Szczesny raced out to meet the ball but was beaten to it by Mane wide out on the right. With the goalkeeper in no man's land Mane curled his effort over Szczesny's head and towards goal from a narrow angle. There was still a chance for Per Mertesacker to clear the ball of the line but the German defender could only watch it drop into the net with a slight touch off his toe. Mane somehow picked up an injury during the goal and was withdraw minutes later.
It was very poor defending and poor goalkeeping. Mertesacker has looked a shadow of his former self this season and Wenger really needs to add some defensive reinforcements during the January transfer window. Kieran Gibbs is having a decent season and Mathieu Debuchy has impressed in many games, just not this one. Calum Chambers has made a positive impact but there remain question marks over the centre-back pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Mertesacker. Although Koscielny wasn't at his best against Southampton but normally I rate him very highly. As for Mertesacker, he is really starting to worry me this season and is too slow to react at the back. He is a very useful back-up to have but I think it is time for Koscielny to have a new regular centre-back partner.
The defensive frailties were again highlighted before the break when Pelle set up James Ward-Prowse with ease, but the latter's low shot was well saved by the legs of Szczesny.
Arsenal needed a big performance after the break in order to get anything from the game, but there appeared to be little fight from the visitor in what was a shoddy second-half display.
The Gunners did have a great chance to level the scores within nine minutes of the restart. Sanchez controlled the ball and shifted it onto his right foot before firing in a shot, only for Forster to superbly get his left hand to it to keep it out.
That miss proved costly for the visitors as Southampton doubled their lead just two minutes later. Steven Davis superbly controlled a loose ball and drilled it across the area where Mathieu Debuchy attempted to cut it out, only to slice his clearance against Szczesny. The goalkeeper then attempted to stab the ball away with his feet to clear the danger but gifted it straight to Tadic for an easy finish from close range.
What had started as quite a promising game for Arsenal was turning into a defensive horror show and, in truth, the score could've been worse. Pelle had a chance with an open goal but his effort was superbly headed off the line by Debuchy.
Southampton should arguably have been reduced to 10 men after 67 minutes when Florin Gardoș fouled Sanchez as the Chilean raced in on goal. As the last man denying Sanchez a clear goal-scoring opportunity it should've been a red card but instead the Romanian defender received only yellow.
Although it was a big call and could've potentially made a big impact on the final outcome, Southampton were more than worthy of their victory in what is continuing to be a fine season for the South Coast club. When Ronald Koeman took charge at Southampton many expected him to be in for a tough ride, especially following the exodus of a string of key players. Instead, the Dutchman has propelled the Saints into the top four and his side have only failed to win after scoring first once, and that was against leaders Chelsea. Koeman deserves huge credit for the job he has done and is already a very strong candidate for manager of the season.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are again proving inconsistent. After some impressive wins they have crashed back down to earth and remain in fifth place following this latest setback. Although I still believe we will finish in the top four, this season hasn't been good enough and we need to add two or three new faces to the side this month.
Francis Coquelin was fairly impressive but most of the rest of the side disappointed against Southampton and it has left me continuing to wonder where on earth our season is going. We can get back on track and finish fourth yet again but if we achieved that it still wouldn't be good enough as we should be aiming higher.
For now we must forget about the league and focus on the FA Cup. We are the holders and when we play Hull in a replay of last year's final this weekend we will need to ensure we start our defence in style and not with another sloppy performance.
We need to make our positive spells count and turn them into goals. On another day we could've been one or two up against Southampton but we wasted our chances and never recovered after the opening goal. We need to be a lot more organised, especially at the back, against the Tigers and I really hope I am able to celebrate when I am at the Emirates at the weekend.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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