2010-11-30 Arsenal - Wigan Athletic 2-0

Nicklas Bendtner and an own goal by Antolin Alcaraz was enough to secure Arsenal a safe passage through to the semi finals of the League Cup, as they beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the Emirates on Tuesday.

Guinners boss Arsene Wenger gave Robin Van Persie his first start since returning from injury and recalled striker Nicklas Bendtner to the frontline.

While  Latic's manager Roberto Martinez dropped winger Charles N’Zogbia to the bench and started with Victor Moses supporting Mauro Boselli in attack.

As expected, the home side settled quickest and could have been in front within two minutes but Bendtner could only direct the ball past the right hand post from a Van Persie free-kick.

However Wigan soon settled and although they strung together some nice passes, only Moses’ low shot that hit the side netting, was worth taking note of.

A bumper crowd had descended upon the Emirates despite the ‘big freeze’ and as the half progressed,  The Gunners didn’t give them much to cheer, often being surround by two or three players when on the attack, although defender Laurent Koscielny had a half chance to open the scoring but he headed over from a Theo Walcott corner.

However the crowd should have been lifted from their seats on 25 minutes when the Gunners should have netted the first goal of the game. Mexican striker Carlos Vela found himself clean through on goal and managed to chip the ball over the on rushing Al-Habsi, only to see the ball trickle just wide of the left post.

But despite Vela’s bad luck, and a penalty appeal that had been turned down by the referee, when the ball appeared to strike the hand of Maynor Figeuroa, Arsenal went in front five minutes before half time. Theo Walcott drifted a corner in from the left and although Bendtner rose highest, the ball hit Wigan defender Antolin Alcaraz and landed in the net.

However the Latics defender nearly almost immediately made up for his own goal, but his header from a Ben Watson corner was easily saved by Gunners keeper Wojciech Szczesny as the home side went into the break a goal ahead.

A Blizzard greeted the players as the second half began, but it was the home side who again seized control of the game, their passing and creativity causing problems for the Wigan defence.

However the Latics were not buried beneath the snow and still threatened going forward with substitute Charles N’Zogbia, who replaced the injured Moses in the first half, looking the most lively, but the final ball was not good enough to trouble the Gunners defence.

And Arsenal were to make them pay as they doubled the lead just after the hour mark. Vela found space on the left and his low cross was turned in by Bendtner who scored his third goal of the season, and all but seal a place in the semi-finals of the League Cup.

The shackles seemed to loosen thereafter for the Gunners as they continued to press and tried to put the result beyond doubt, with Vela and Walcott, three times, going close for the home side.

There was even time for Vela to add a third for the Gunners towards the end of the game but Alcaraz cleared the ball off the line for Wigan, but the game ended 2-0 as Arsenal reached the semi-finals and a step closer to Wembley.

Marouane's scratch marks and pain in his neck

Marouane Chamakh has revealed the start to his Arsenal career has been a bruising test and the Premier League has proved a physically demanding arena.

The striker moved to the Gunners during the summer from Bordeaux and has admitted the French league gave him no preparation for the trials the Premier League would give him.

Chamakh has adapted well to the English game, scoring 10 goals for Arsenal already — including in the recent 4-2 win over Aston Villa at the weekend. The goals, however, have come at a price with the striker suffering from neck and shoulder injuries.

Chamakh told reporters: "I was never in such a state at Bordeaux. Things take on a new dimension here. Against West Ham I was in incredible pain with my neck.

"It was impossible to turn my head. Every ball that's contested here I get ploughed into - and the referee doesn't blow for it."

The 26-year-old added the English game had different expectations when it came to tackling.

"When people pushed me in France, I fell down and got a free kick," he said.
"When there's a hard tackle here, I have to get up and play.

"After a Premier League match, I walk off with my body aching, with scratch marks, stiff muscles. Three days later, we go again."

Chamakh is likely to be rested for Arsenal’s League Cup tie on Tuesday.



Source:www.goal.com

Marouane Chamakh Man of the Match

Met 41% is Marouane Chamakh opnieuw man van de wedstrijd Aston Villa-Arsenal geworden. Goeie tweede is Andrey met 37%. http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3283573/first-team/aston-villa-v-arsenal?tab=motm

Zijn tiende doelpunt in voorbereiding

en het is pas november

marouane is een belangrijke speler geworden

en we gaan voor de volgende 10 goals

Aston Villa v Arsenal 2-4

Arsenal heeft zaterdagmiddag aan het uitduel tegen Aston Villa drie punten overgehouden. De Londenaren wonnen met 2-4 en gaan daardoor voorlopig aan kop van de Premier League. Bij Arsenal bleef Robin van Persie de hele wedstrijd op de bank.

Bij rust leidde Arsenal door treffers van Andrei Arshavin en Samir Nasri, maar na rust maakte Aston Villa het de bezoekers toch lastig. Ciaran Clark tekende voor de 1-2. Vier minuten later vergrootte Marouane Chamakh de voorsprong weer voor Arsenal (1-3). Het was opnieuw Clark die scoorde voor Aston (2-3) en het duel weer spanning gaf.

Pas in blessuretijd gaf Jack Wilshere Aston definitief de genadeklap: 2-4.

Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh

Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh does not reckon he is a top Premier League frontman yet.


The Morocco international has scored nine goals already this season after joining the Gunners on a free transfer in the summer. Chamakh's tally is superior to the likes of Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres who have all surpassed the 20-goal threshold in recent campaigns. But the former Bordeaux hot-shot believes he has some way to go before he can be held in the same esteem as the division's best finishers. He told : "Drogba, Torres, Rooney? I don't feel as good as those guys. "I would be so happy to reach such a level one day. I know I can reach it, at least I am working for it. "I can feel the coach has planned me that way. But I am still far away."

Baptism of fire

Chamakh admits his Premier League debut in the Anfield clash with Liverpool was like a baptism of fire.
He came through that match and played a key role in the Gunners' injury-time equaliser although the 26-year-old did not think he was going to last the duration of that game.
But Chamakh feels he has adapted to the rigours of the English game, adding: "My first match in the Premier League against Liverpool? My memory is my chest burning after 13 minutes.
"I am looking at the clock and I could not believe it. It went so quick, I was looking for fresh air. I did not believe I would be able to hold on for 90 minutes.
"It is so difficult here that you must force yourself to be a killer. I have been building myself into that state of mind for the last four months, and you can see the result with the statistics.
"It is not Chamakh just with his headers anymore. I can also show I am at ease in a quick-passing game. With boys like (Cesc) Fabregas and (Samir) Nasri, you have to."

(source Skysport)

Goals: Arshavin, Nasri, Chamakh, Wilshire, Arsenal nr 1



Samir and Marouane a big 8,0





0-1 Andrey Arshavin!





0-2 Samir Nasri



Nice scarf!

Aston Villa V Arsenal

No amount of carefully chosen words can hide the fact it’s been a disappointing few days for Arsenal. But thanks to strong performances in the early part of the season, the damage has been limited. The fact remains that if Arsenal beat Aston Villa they will take top spot in the Premier League for a minimum of a few hours, and beat the already eliminated Partizan Belgrade at home in the Champions League and European progress is assured. It’s the type of ‘crisis’ most clubs can only dream of.



The omens are good for Arsenal. The last time they lost at Villa Park it didn’t even involve Aston Villa. That was the 2003/04 FA Cup when Manchester United squeaked through to the final thanks to a single Paul Scholes goal. In fact we’ve to go back to the closing months of the last millennium to find the previous occasion when Villa got the better of the Gunners on home soil. Since then it’s been eleven games without defeat and a haul of 21 points out of a possible 33.

The quirks of the transfer market mean it’s a reunion with Gunners old boy Robert Pires and his presence sums up the problems facing Gerard Houllier at present. Injuries have mounted up in all departments but it’s the midfield in particular where the Villans are down to the bare bones. Rising stars Jonathan Hogg, Barry Bannan and Marc Albrighton have all shown enough to suggest bright futures lay ahead but the more immediate concern will be containing Arsenal’s finally tuned midfield.



The midfield battle is one area where the Gunners can exert some dominance. They’re no old-timers themselves but already they have amassed the experience to make life very difficult for Villa’s youngsters. Again, they should be capable of creating enough chances to fire Arsenal to victory.

With Marouane Chamakh already shaping up to claim ‘Signing of the Season’ honours you could do worse than backing him as first goalscorer at 11/2. His physicality will make him a real handful for Villa’s powerful centre backs while his clever movement will give them plenty of headaches on the ground.



With regards to more speculative bets, there is one that stands out. Although there’s a sizeable gap in terms of league position and points, Villa and Arsenal are more evenly matched if you take heed of results at half time. If games were ended after the first 45 minutes, Villa would be on the cusp of the Champions League places. Obviously the tradition of playing a further 45 minutes renders that stat virtually pointles but it does suggest Villa struggle at holding on to a lead. That makes the double result of Aston Villa at half time and Arsenal at full time at 22/1 a very interesting proposition.


(source www.arsenal.com)

Is he a real handful for Villa today?

2-0 loss against Braga

NO WORDS, JUST SAD

Before the match

Cesc Fabregas Inter?

Inter Milan plan £40million summer bid voor Cesc Fabregas

Moratti will go ahead with the move even if manager Rafa Benitez, under pressure at the San Siro after a poor run of results, is no longer in charge of first-team affairs.
Barcelona are also said to still be interested in the Spain World Cup winner but will have to sell players first.
Fabregas appeared to be on the verge of joining the Spanish giants in the summer before Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger convinced him to stay in north London.
The 23-year-old has suffered a series of injury setbacks this season and was once again substituted during Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Braga in the Champions League last night.
The Spaniard could now be out of action for up to three weeks after Wenger confirmed his captain had suffered a hamstring injury.

The Arsenal manager admitted he had taken a gamble of Fabregas’s fitness before the match and it had backfired.


Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/848210-inter-milan-plan-40million-summer-bid-for-arsenals-cesc-fabregas#ixzz16BtnwRyn

Chamakh tells Arsenal to forget Spurs loss

Monday, 22 November 2010 09:09

Marouane Chamakh has urged Arsenal to quickly forget the bitter disappointment of defeat against arch-rivals Tottenham by beating Braga tomorrow night to secure a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The Gunners threw away a 2-0 half-time lead during Saturday's north London derby at Emirates Stadium, where victory would have sent them top of the Barclays Premier League.
Manager Arsene Wenger lamented the inability of his young side to deliver a big performance when it mattered most as they suffered a second successive home defeat.

Chamakh - who took his tally to nine goals with a close-range effort - feels having a match so quickly is the perfect opportunity to put that disappointment behind them.
'It will help us to forget the Tottenham game and we must focus on Braga and get a victory,' the Moroccan said.
Arsenal remain top of Group H, despite losing their last European fixture away to Shakhtar Donetsk - another match in which they were well in control.
Braga were thrashed 6-0 at Emirates Stadium on Matchday 1 during September, but could put themselves right back in contention for qualification to the last 16 with victory over the Gunners.
Chamakh knows there can be no complacency against the Champions League newboys.
'The group is tight,' he said. 'There are three teams going for top spot so we know we need to get a win over there.'
Wenger had lambasted his side for being complacent when leading against Shakhtar through Theo Walcott's early breakaway goal, and it was a trait which appeared to have resurfaced against Spurs.
The Arsenal manager will leave his squad fully aware of the need to maintain 100% focus in Portugal.
'It is very important that we do not repeat the performance in Donetsk,' he said.
'We need to produce a performance that allows us to get the points to qualify, but I also want to win the game as that gives us the possibility to finish the group stages very strongly, that is our target - we are ambitious to win the group.'
Midfielder Jack Wilshere should be involved having been left on the bench against Spurs following the back problem which kept him out of England duty.
Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner was again conspicuous by his absence from the match-day squad, having publicly questioned Wenger's selection policy, but is likely to be in the group which heads off from Luton later this afternoon.
Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Almunia may also be ready for a recall, having been sidelined since the end of September with an elbow injury.

Marouane Chamakh benadrukt een positieve blik vooruit

Als het aan Marouane Chamakh ligt, vergeet Arsenal de teleurstelling van het verlies tegen Tottenham Hotspur snel.

De Marokkaan wil zich snel focussen op de Champions League-confrontatie met Sporting Braga dinsdagavond. Bij winst plaatst Arsenal zich voor de knockout-fase van het tournooi. Volgens Chamakh wordt het resultaat tegen de aartsrivaal dan snel vergeten.

De Londenaren stonden op een comfortabele 2-0 voorspong, maar mede vanwege Raf van der Fart won Tottenham met 2-3. Chamakh ziet het als een voordeel dat de wedstrijd in de Champions League zo snel op de teleurstelling volgt.

Arsenal gaat aan kop in groep H, ondanks het verlies tegen Shaktar Donetsk. De heenwedstrijd tegen Braga geeft The Gunners iets positiefs om aan vast te houden: deze won het team van Arsène Wenger met 6-0. Chamakh pleit ervoor geen medelijden te hebben voor de debutanten op het hoogste Europese podium.

Forget yesterday: never forget to be a gooner: let's go to Braga

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SorPhiHgSOI&feature=player_embedded#!

Arsenal vs Spurs 2-3

We already knew......... they are men

Arsene Wenger knows too http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-my-players-have-now-become-men

Have fun with the North London Derby Arsenal vs Spurs this afternoon

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal

Central defender Laurent Koscielny is back in contention having completed his two-match suspension, imposed after collecting his second red card of the season towards the end of Arsenal’s last home game, the 1-0 defeat by Newcastle United.

Young midfielder Jack Wilshere, who missed England’s midweek friendly thanks to a back injury sustained during the win at Everton last Sunday, faces a fitness test but is hopeful of making the north London derby.

Also facing fitness tests after the midweek internationals are Andrey Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky.

Robin van Persie played a pre-agreed 45 minutes for the Netherlands against Turkey, and came through unscathed and with his return to full fitness enhanced.

But Manuel Almunia (elbow), Abou Diaby (ankle), Emmanuel Frimpong (knee), Aaron Ramsey (broken leg/fitness) and Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) are all still sidelined.

Possible starting XI: Fabianski; Sanga, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy; Nasri, Song, Denilson; Walcott, Fabregas, Chamakh.

Marouane's goal

17-11-2010 Northern Ireland-Morocco 1-1

A late penalty from Rory Patterson spared Northern Ireland goalkeeper Alan Blayney's blushes in a low-key friendly against Morocco. Substitute Blayney handed the visitors the lead on a wet and windy night at Windsor Park when he miscontrolled a backpass and his clearance rebounded into the net off Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh.

 Lucky break: Morocco's Marouane Chamakh celebrates after scoring against Northern Ireland Blayney then partially redeemed himself by tipping a fierce Adil Hermach drive onto the bar and Patterson stepped up to force a draw after Josh McQuoid was fouled five minutes from time. The equaliser will give manager Nigel Worthington reason for optimism after what seemed like being a dismal night. The value of the exercise had been brought into question after 12 players withdrew from the initial squad named last week for a variety of reasons. Worthington was forced to make eight changes from the side which laboured to a draw in the Faroe Islands last month. In-form West Brom winger Chris Brunt, playing in an advanced role, had the best of the early opportunities but failed to test the goalkeeper before being withdrawn at half-time. Green machine: Northern Ireland's Chris Brunt (right) skips past Morocco's Adil Hermach Preston midfielder Adam Barton, who is also eligible for England, was handed a debut from the start by Worthington in the hope he could be persuaded to pledge his allegiance full-time.

Inverness' Jonny Tuffey was the initial pick in goal in the absence of veteran Maik Taylor and his status as second choice was only enhanced by what followed just 10 minutes after he left the action. After torrential rain throughout the day, the pitch was heavy but Brunt attempted to make a bright start as he won possession from the kick-off. Brunt broke forward and fed John Gorman out wide but the Wolves man's cross was easily claimed by Nadir Lamyaghri. Brunt, recently linked with Liverpool after a fine start to the season, was intent on impressing but shot well over when a chance opened up from distance. Morocco attacked down the flanks and Chakib Benzoukane cut inside from the left to force Tuffey to concede a corner. Aaron Hughes headed away from the set-piece but Kharja Houssine fired a shot back in which flew over the bar. Brunt tried his luck from a 40-yard free-kick but again missed the target and Morocco began to show some neat attacking touches. No holding back: Northern Ireland's Ryan McGivern (right) tackles Morocco's Younes Belhanda Houssine had a shot blocked after being fed by Chamakh and Chadli put a good chance over on the rebound. Northern Ireland survived a scare midway through the first half as Younes Belhanda slipped Youssef Hadji into the box but the Nancy midfielder shot straight at Tuffey. Brunt showed more good touches as the hosts built a patient attack but was again off-target with his shot. Morocco came forward again with Chadli showing good skill on the left but captain Hughes headed behind. Northern Ireland made four changes for the start of the second half, with Worthington bringing off Premier League pair Hughes and Brunt as expected. Pat McCourt, one of the more influential players, was also forced off with a dead leg and Linfield's Blayney was also introduced. Michael O'Connor, McQuoid and Rory McArdle were the other players to come on. O'Connor quickly got in the action as he flashed a free-kick wide but two of the others may have wished they stayed on the bench. McArdle played Blayney into trouble with a back pass which the Linfield keeper failed to control. He hastily tried to kick away as Chamakh advanced but the Arsenal striker was too quick and his clearance rebounded off the Moroccan and into the net. Morocco went close to a second moments later as Hermach unleashed a ferocious 40-yard drive but Blayney made some amends for his gaffe his he tipped onto the bar. The visitors came forward again and Youssef Hadji shot wide from the edge of the area. The game appeared to be winding down when Bournemouth forward McQuoid won a penalty from a corner after being pulled down by Rachid Soulaimani. Plymouth's Patterson held his nerve to score from the penalty spot. Morocco had a late chance to snatch victory but Youssef El-Arabi shot over after a weaving run.  They're more than just Chamakh! Northern Ireland defender Aaron Hughes warns team-mates over Morocco threat.

Marouane scoort tegen Noord-Ierland!

Marouane heeft via een giga fout van de keeper van Noord-Ierland net na de rust het eerste doelpunt voor Marokko gemaakt. Naast Marouane staat ook Nacer Chadli in de basis terwijl El Hamdoaui niet meedoet wegens een blessure.

Chadli