ARSENAL STILL GOT THE BLUES

ARSENAL blew a great opportunity to remain in contention for the Premier League Title with their rivals Manchester United and Chelsea when they give away an injury time equaliser for Birmingham to snatch a 1-1 draw at St. Andrew last night.

The Gunners still remain in third with 68 points while title rivals Manchester United (72) lead the table move further up with 4-0 win over Bolton while Chelsea (71) dump Aston Villa 7-1.

Arsenal look certain to collect the three points with the 90 minutes already played but with three minutes added on goalkeeper Manuel Almunia fail stop subsitute Kevin Philips harmless looking shot from going into the net.

Earlier, Samir Nasri who came in for Tomas Rosicky give Arsenal a 1-0 lead when he jinx past Birmingham defenders before he hits a devastating shot into the far right-hand-corner past Hart in the 78th minutes.

There is nothing much to shout about the match only when Arsene Wenger made a double subsitution of Andre Arshavin and Samir Nasri for Walcott and Rosicky, Arsenal start to step into gear and began to look more dangerous in the last quarter of the game.

ARSENAL GUNDOWN WEST HAM TO GO TOP PREMIER LEAGUE

RESILENCE Arsenal despite playing with 10 men continued to battle their way to the top of the English Premier League with a hard-earned 2-0 victory against West Ham United at Emirates Stadium last night. 

Arsenal currently lead the table with 67 points for a moment over rivals Manchester United (66) and Chelsea (64) with both teams will be playing on Sunday (today) in a match with the yellow cards (5) falling like rain.


With the defeat the Hammers goes deeper into the relegation zone for not taking the advantage to make ground in the full 45 minutes of the second-half against 10 men Arsenal.

The home side knowing any less than a win against Gianfranco Zola's side will be good enough to keep the pressure on their rivals and which they did exactly five minutes into the match. Brazilian's Denilson was on target when he recieved a neat pass from Bendtner in the six yard box to hit first time past beyond Robert Green stretching arms.

With Arsenal fans thought they could be on huge goals celebrations onwards was put on hold with the visitors maintain their ground holding back their defence firmly leaving no rooms for their opponents to have any real threat.

The move did paid off when they were awarded a penalty kick late in the first half when referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot after Thomas Vermalaen brought down striker Guillermo Branco in the box.  To make it worse for Arsenal, they were reduce to 10 men when Atkinson also flashed out a straight red card to Vermalaen for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Vermalaen red is Arsenal first red card of the season.

Despite the odd, Manuel Almunia made a superb saves when he plunged perfectly on the left to deny Allesandro Damianti spot-kick for Arsenal to stay infront. ( Pix. courtesy from Arsenal FC )

In the entire second-half, Arsenal's ten leading 1-0 against West Ham's eleven, the Hammers began  to  dominate the play and putting the home side under tremendous pressure. Without Vermalaen at the back, Zola introduced striker Carlton Cole and followed by Benny McCarthy to add more bite in attack upfront.

The home side living dangerously when the former Chelsea men (Cole) nearly put his name on the scoresheet which saw his stunning low drive struck the outside of the right-hand-post with Almunia already beaten.

Arsene Wenger's made a tactical change by replacing striker Nicklas Bendtner for Abou Diaby who did made a positive impact in establishing control in midfield and helping out the defence. 

But captain's Cesc Fabregas has the last say on the night when he mark his returned to the team after recovering  from his hamstring injury. Former Arsenal and England defender Matthew Upson handled the ball in the box and the Spaniard calmly converted the spot-kick in 80th minute to put the result beyond doubt for Arsenal six staight wins.   

WHO IS ARSENAL POSSIBLE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Q-FINALS OPPONENT

COME Friday the 19th, D-Day for Arsenal to find out who is their opponent in the UEFA 2010 Champions League quarter-finals and their route to Madrid, Bernabeu Stadium when the draw will be made at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

For the record there will be no such restriction if two clubs (Arsenal and Manchester United) who are from the same country will be separated. So just wait and keep your finger cross.

BENDTNER GAVE ARSENAL THE LIFELINE

ARSENAL produced another nail-bitting results with a precious 2-1 victory against Hull City at KC Stadium last night for their five straight wins in a row to stay on course for the Premier League Title.

Nicklas Bendtner goal came to the rescue to give Arsene Wenger's side a lifeline when the Big Dane scored the winner in injury time. Earlier, Russian's Andre Arshavin had put Arsenal infront early as in the 17th minute. But Hull City drew level at 1-1 through Jimmy Bullard spot-kick.

With the win, Arsenal moved up in second-spot, level on points (64) with Chelsea who have a game in hand when the Blues defeated West Ham United 4-1 at Stamford Bridge in the match played earlier. While reigning champions Manchester United drop to third with 63 points and they could go back on top if they win against Fulham tomorrow.

The home side playing infront of full capacity crowd suffered a rude shock when they went down  0-1 early in the 17th minute. Andre Arshavin wriggled in between two Hull City defenders in the box and calmly slot home past the onrushing Myhill. 

But the Tigers stormed back to drew level at 1-1 through Bullard spot-kick when Sol Campbell was alleged by referee for bringing down striker Hesslelink in the box. They were reduced by 10 men late in the first half when captain's Boateng recieved his second yellow of the night for his clumsy tackle on Sagna.

In the second half, Arsenal dominate the play but couldn't find their way through the Hull defence. When they manage to find the breakthrough the visitor were let down by poor finishing. This time around it was Arshavin's turn wasting numerous chances.

With six minutes added on, midfielder Denilson drive in a ferocious long range shot with Myhill had to palm the ball but went straight into Bendtner path who took the rebound first time past bewildered goalkeeper for the Arsenal winning goal.    

ARSENAL WARY OF HULL CITY THREAT

ARSENAL refused to underestimate the possible threat Hull City could provide in tonight Premier League clash at KC Stadium. Arsene Wenger warned his side that they could find themselves in trouble if they take their opponent lightly and could end their dreams for the League title. 

The Frenchman added his side need to put their 5-0 win against Porto aside and taking the match seriously and performed consistently to avoid any hiccup in their Premier League title challenge in front of full capacity crowd. 

With striker Nicklas Bendtner in tremendous form together with Samir Nasri and Andre Arshavin Arsenal could depend on the trio to provide the goals and collected the three points. Captain's Cesc Fabregas is still doubtful and likely to miss the match. With Song is still on automatic suspension, Republic Czech's Tomas Rosicky is likely to take his place.

Defender Sol Campbell might just recovered from cramps he suffered in the Porto match once again will partnered Vermalaen at the back.   

ARSENAL BLOWN PORTO APART

ARSENAL responded well to the task to erase off their humilating 1st leg 2-1 defeat to FC Porto with a mesmerizing display of beautiful football to send the former 2004 Champions League winners out of the competition with a 5-0 demolition  in the 2nd leg at the Emirates Stadium this morning.

Striker Nicklas Bendtner, poor showing in Arsenal 3-1 win against Burnley in the Premier  League match for missing a hatful of chances. The striker was heavily criticised then put on a stunning performance on the night to notch a remarkable hattrick to silence his critics guiding Arsene Wenger's side into the quarter-final stage on 6-2 aggregate.

Earlier, the homeside suffered a setback, news of  their talismanic captain, Cesc Fabregas not  available for the match since the Spaniard still not fully recovered from his hamstring injury. But his team mates proved otherwise when they ran out Jesualdo Ferreira's side right straight from the start.

The big Dane started the rout when he cooly slotted in the rebound off  in a three man-collision between Andre Arshavin, Porto defender (Fucile) and goalkeeper (Helton) in the six yard box. The early goal did provide some comfort and brought huge relief for the home side and their fans.

Just when the visitor started to get back into the game, Russian's Andre Arshavin then demonstrated a top class act with pace and skills dancing past four Porto defenders  before  supplying a teasing cross from the left for the lurking Bendtner with the simple task to slot home for his second of the night.

In the second half, the visitor press hard with the so-called-Hulk and Falcao looks menacing but Arsenal refused to back down. If earlier, the home fans witness Andre Arshavin fine skills creating  for the Dane second goal. But this time, French international Samir Nasri  turn  to produce another  much better display for the best goal of the night, evading tackles and with fine footwork to outwit four defenders before he rammed in from an acute angle into the left hand corner of the post.

With three-goals-down, thousands of travelling Porto fans must be pondering the damage Arsenal have done to their side. But it did not stop Arsenal as they continues to add more misery with subsititute Emaneule Eboue got his name on the score-sheet for the fourth before Bendtner completed his hattrick with a well taken penalty deep into injury time.     

 

   

 

ARSENAL STILL HANGING ON

ARSENAL remain third in the Premier League standings despite winning 3-1 against Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Arsenal now level on points (61) with Chelsea but better goal difference saw the Blues in second spot behind Manchester United who moves up at the top with 63 points when they edge Wolves 1-0. 

The Gunners need to score four goals to pip Chelsea for the second spot wasted a hatful of chances with Nicklas Bendtner as the main culprit missing at least three sure goals in the six yard box.

The homeside nearly paid heavy price for the misses but thanks to Theo Walcott and a late goal by Russian's  Andre Arshavin to pull them through. 


Earlier Arsenal's captain Cesc Fabregas put the homeside into the lead when the Spaniard ran from the blind side to met Samir Nasri's beautiful chip in the 34th minute. But the midfielder was taken out shortly and was replaced by Abou Diaby.