ASTON VILLA & ARSENAL SETTLE FOR A DRAW

WHAT a waste of time..Can't watch Aston Villa played Arsenal..Stuck with Manchester United vs Manchester City..

STOKE CITY SHOWN ARSENAL FA CUP EXIT

STOKE City dumped Arsenal out of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win in the fourth round tie at the Britannia  Stadium to send the Potters into the fifth round. Two goals by by Jamaican's Robert Fuller and David Whitehead was enough for Tony Pulis'men  to advance through and they will meet Roberto Mancini's side  Manchester City in the next round when the draw was made last night.

For Arsenal after three days taking over the top spot  of the Premier League, The Gunners suffered a double blows, first they were ousted to second place by Manchester United, when the Red Devils  trashed  Hull City 4-0 and later they  were knocked out by Stoke City in the FA Cup.
 
Arsenal rested 9 of their regulars for the match with only captain Cesc Fabregas and Denilson in their line-up. Both  did well to live the expectations for  the Arsenal's travelling fans when they came back to drew level 1-1 after Stoke took an early lead in the very first minute  through Fuller header.

But after Arsene Wenger made three straight subsitutions Andrey Arshavin, Aaron Ramsey and Eduardo in the second-half for Theo Wallcott, Cocquelain and Emanual Jay Thomas. Before the trio could settle down, Tony Pulis's men took a shock 2-1 lead through another Fuller header. The home side then seal off the match five minutes remaining through David Whitehead.

Former Arsenal defender, Sol Campbell  35, made his first appearance to the side but fails in  his first attempt to help Arsene Wenger's side from the defeat and crashed out to join Manchester United and Liverpool leaving one of the big four, Chelsea in the cup.

Arsene Wenger put the blame on himself on his side FA Cup exit. He said he was responsible for the loss. He added the it was quite a tough and a physical game which prove too much for his young players in the likes of Jay Emanuel Thomas and Cocquelain.


 


 

ASTONISHING COMEBACK BY ARSENAL

ARSENAL brave the storm to go top of the English Premier League for the first time this season to pip title rival Chelsea on goal difference with a  remarkable 4-2 win against Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates.

For Manchester United faithful, Arsenal stay at the top would last only for three days should they win against Hull City this Saturday. But for a truly Gunners, short or long spell at the top its worth a wait  and it was a great  moment after trailing 11 points by league leaders Chelsea back in November last year. And the way Arsenal quietly crawled back up at the top is just amazing. It did give us I mean the Gunners fan hope that this season we could achieve something.

Back to the match, for the last few seasons playing against Bolton home or away had never been easy. Under their new manager Owen Coyle, they did give Arsene Wenger men some hard times at the Emirates and which they did when they took a 2-0 lead after just 27 minutes through Gary Cahill and Matthew Taylor penalty.

But Republic Czech international, Tomas Rosicky did bring some life just before the break to reduce the deficit 2-1 with a ruthless strike.

In the 52nd minutes, Arsenal are back on level terms 2-2 through captain Cesc Fabregas who squeeze in between two Bolton defenders and calmly slot in between Jasskalainen legs. The manner the goal was allowed brought some hard protest from the visitor bench but referee Alan Wiley stood firm.

Then the Arsene Wenger's buy of the season Thomas Vermalaen rifle the ball in to put the home side 3-2 infront before Russian's Andre Arshavin made it 4-2 to seal the match five minutes before time.

ARSENAL VS BOLTON

CESC-ANTIONAL ARSENAL

SENSATIONAL Cesc Fabregas broke Owen Coyle heart for a dream start after taking charge of Bolton Wanderers from Burnley with a home 0-2 defeat  to Arsenal at the Reebok Stadium, last night. The 22 year-old Spaniard shows why he is currently being hot pursued, a tussle between two Catalan Giants, Real Madrid and Barcelona with a kind performance that any manager dream to have, creating and scoring goal. 

Bolton currently lying second from the bottom did gave an impressive display throughout  the whole 90 minutes in front of their home fans but find the visitor this time around prove they are much wiser and more stability in defence unlike in the previous season.

With Fabregas holding his ground in the Arsenal midfield engine room after coming back from his hamstring injury, Arsene Wenger's side begin to look like the team they were used to be, playing quick short passes at ease.

Andre Arshavin, Eduardo, Abou Diaby and another young stalwart Eastmond looks lively with their captain around and Arsenal just waiting the moment for their first goal to arrive and who else... it is Cesc Fabregas. A quick one-two in the crowded area at the edge of the box with Eduardo, he calmly place his shot at the bottom right hand corner of Jusskalainen to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute for his 10th goals in the league.

And it should have been two, with the Arsenal captain late to guide his shot into the gaping goalmouth from Arshavin cross.

With Bolton threw their men forward in search for the equaliser, Arsenal quick to capitalise on quick counter-break through Fabregas, with a slide rule pass for Eduardo to cross find subsitute Fran Merida to strike home for the visitor's second goal to bag home the three points.

Both team will cross-sword again in a re-arranged postponed match at the Emirates on Wednesday and if Arsenal win, for the first time they will be the new Premier League leader taking over Chelsea on goal difference. Wow..believe it or not..long live beautiful football the Arsene Wenger way.

CAPTAIN CESC FABREGAS IS BACK

ARSENAL will get the services of captain Cesc Fabregas back from an ankle injury to lead Arsenal once again  when they travel to face Bolton in an away match at the Reebok Stadium tomorrow night. 

The Spaniard whom last played in their 2-0 win against Aston Villa his presence was sorely miss in their 2-2 draw against Everton will definitely boost the Gunners to close the gap on league leaders Chelsea.

Fabregas returns is crucial to run the midfield engine room with Aaron Ramsey, Denilson, Jack Wilshere all are on the injury list. The Gunners are also without Alexander Song and Emanuel Eboue who is currently with their respective countries taking part in African Nations Cup in Angola.

To add more woes to Arsene Wenger side striker Nicklas Bendtner who is currently reported will be available this week after recovering from his injury, recieved another blow when the Dane will have to go for a hamstring  surgery. It is likely Bendtner will only return in February.

Bolton with the newly appointed manager Owen Coyle succeeding Gary Megson whom earlier was sack is determined to prove the Bolton fans that he is the man for the job. Playing his first match since taking over at the Reebok stadium tonight against Arsenal. Followed by a visit back to the Emirates a few days later might put the former Burnley manager under tremendous pressure. 

Certainly Coyle need a good start to lift the pressure off his back. Defeat in both matches might put his job back on the line. With Arsenal looking for a win to stay in the hunt for the Premier League title. The Gunners cannot afford to drop any more point and with Fabregas back in their side it would certainly be an uphill task for Coyle and his men.  

SOL CAMPBELL RETURNS

NEWS of former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell 38,back to Arsenal was quite a story and for a truly Gunners fans the return of Sol Campbell is just mere for cover with most of our defenders are in the injury list. 

Starting with Johan Djorue, Gael Clichly and Kirean Gibbs and William Gallas looks struggling with his back injury so we are short of a central defenders with out of favour Philippe Senderos looks certain to leave the Emirates leaving Thomas Vermalaen at the back. Anyway good luck for Campbell. The former Arsenal Invincible side will likely to make his debut against Stoke City in the FA Cup 4th Round. His first appearance was in the Reserve League 4-1 win against West Ham United.

ROSICKY SAVES ARSENAL THE BLUSHES

ARSENAL must thank subsitute Tomas Rosicky deep into injury time from brink of defeat when the midfielder shot was first block by Lucas Neil but took a cruel deflection flew past over Tim Howard into the empty net to snatch an important 2-2 draw against Everton at the Emirates Stadium.

The visitor twice shock the Gunners by taken the lead through Russel Osman header and Steven Piennar cleverly chip and look certain to give David Moyes's side a famous win at the Emirates but Arsenal refuse to surrender and replied back through Denilson dan Tomas Rosicky.

But Arsene Wenger men should thanks their lucky stars when both of their goals took a wicked deflection which the results seems look to harsh for the David Moyes to swallow when they should have walked away with an important victory.

The visitor look a much better side since they were thrashed 6-2 at home by Arsenal early in the Premier League campaign compared to the home side who seems to struggle in the early part of the match to get their act together.  

Everton then stunned the home side when they took a 1-0 lead through Russel Osman header. direct from a corner kick. But Arsenal stormed back and level the score through Denilson in the first half.

In the second half, Tim Cahill through pass beat the offside trap found Piennar who ran through half length of the field to scoop over the onrushing Almunia  rolling into the empty net for a 2-1 lead. The second goal looks to have seal the match for Everton with the home fans started to empty their seats but Arsenal made one of their best move in the match to deny David Moyes a famous victory through Rosicky outside foot strike. 

 

ARSENAL ON HIGH NOTE

ARSENAL trio of Aaron Ramsey, Denilson and Abou Diaby will be the key factor in tonight game in hand match against managerless Bolton at the Emirates tonight. A win will put Arsene Wenger side in second place with one point behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Welsh international Ramsey who is currently in great form in the Arsenal midfield engine room slot  in well with the departure of Alexander Song in African Nation's Cup and injury suffered by their captain's Cesc Fabregas.

They are certain to shoulder the responsibilty together with Denilson and Abou Diaby after their 4-1 win against Portsmouth in the Premier League and FA 3rd round match with a come back 2-1 win against West Ham.

CARLTON COLE NEXT GUNNERS