[size=6]Report: Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea[/size]

By Richard Clarke

Arsenal WILL fight for the Premier League title this season.

That was the resounding message Arsène Wenger’s team sent out with a heartening 3-1 win over Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Monday night.

The three points sends them second behind Manchester United – but this victory was worth much more than that.

Having lost at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, the critics suggested Arsenal’s campaign would be undermined by familiar weaknesses. One of which was failure to beat their main title rivals.

However, make no mistake, this evening they fully deserved to beat the reigning champions.

Alex Song bundled through to blast home the opener on the stroke of half time. Then, just after the restart, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott set up goals for one another inside three mad minutes.

Branislav Ivanovic nodded Chelsea back in touch just before the hour and then Carlo Ancelotti’s side kicked on in search of something more.

But this evening, the likes of Song, Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou put in performances of controlled muscularity. Lukasz Fabianski was barely tested in the final half-hour.

This result does not answer all the questions about Arsenal this season. But the trip to Wigan is the midway point of the Premier League season and, should Wenger’s men win there they will be, at the very least, within a victory of top spot.

No-one knows if Arsenal will win the title but they have put themselves in position to have a chance.

It had been a full fortnight since that disappointing 1-0 defeat at Manchester United and this game had been built up as another season-shaper.

Wenger made five changes, including a couple of surprises. Johan Djourou came in for his first Premier League start since the 2-1 win at Everton on November 14. Sebastien Squillaci dropped the bench. He was joined there by Maroaune Chamakh, who was replaced by Robin van Persie. The Dutchman was starting his first Premier League in four months.

Elsewhere, Lukasz Fabianski was back in goal after a hip injury. Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott were on from the beginning having been on the bench at Manchester United.

Perhaps it was the fact that the rest of the Premier League had played a day earlier, perhaps it was Manchester United’s upturn in form, but this game felt simply massive.

Both sides had something to prove. Arsenal needed to show they could beat a recent title-winner (and ended a run of five straight defeats against the Stamford Bridge side). Chelsea needed to show they were over a damaging dip in form.

It was night when the result was all-important. The performance was secondary.

But then the opening 15 minutes were too frenetic for decent football anyway.

Chelsea fashioned the best chance – when Koscielny gave the ball away in midfield and Drogba drove wide – but Arsenal were always looking to play on the front foot.

And, just before the Ivorian’s effort, Song chipped the ball to the far post and Van Persie miscued his volley from close range with Branislav Ivanovic in close attendance.

It was a speedy, spicy affair – everything you’d expect from two London rivals fighting for the title.

Van Persie had a strong shout for a penalty when Florent Malouda buffeted him off the ball on the edge of the area. A couple of minutes later, Nasri’s fierce free-kick was plucked out of the air by Petr Cech.

As the half went on, Arsenal started to exert some sustained pressure. Fabregas tried to dance through the middle, Van Persie blasted over from an acute angle, Walcott waltzed himself some space on the byline and Sagna’s rocket shot hit Drogba.

It was worthwhile football from Arsenal but Chelsea’s defence was at its rigid best. The only time Cech was extended was when he tipped over from Nasri’s delicious chip.

Still, Arsenal had done enough to deserve their lead when it came a minute before the half-time whistle.

Song exchanged passes with Wilshere on the edge of the area and darted into the area to get the return. He eventually received it and clipped the ball home. The slight delay came from Paulo Ferreira, who brought down Fabregas as he tried to intercept. Had the Cameroonian not scored surely Arsenal would have won a penalty.

Malouda’s late effort was cleared off the line as Chelsea tried to regain parity immediately. But it was too little too late from the visitors in the first half.

Arsenal had been the better side in the first period and, in the opening seven minutes of the second, they would seize control by scoring twice.

Walcott and Fabregas set up the strikes for the other but, in reality, Michael Essien was at fault each time.

In the 50th minute, the Ghanaian was worried into a loose back-pass by Van Persie. Walcott raced clear, drew Cech and tapped a square pass for Fabregas to slot home.

Three minutes later, Walcott stole the ball off Essien’s toe and found Fabregas in midfield. The England winger went sprinting clear and fired into the far corner. It was his ninth goal of the season in only his eighth start.

Emirates was riotous. The home crowd felt a weight lifting off the shoulders as Arsenal’s title colours could be firmly nailed to the mast.

But, football is never so simple. Four minutes later, Fabregas fouled Essien on the left and Drogba’s free-kick was guided past Fabianski by the head of Ivanovic.

The goal changed the game in an instant.

Suddenly Chelsea were the aggressor. Arsenal had thrown away a two-goal lead against Tottenham just over a month before. Surely they could not go one better against the West London side?

Ancelotti’s men were going for it and they pressed back Arsenal. But that did mean Walcott’s pace was now a massive factor when the home side broke out.

Midway through the half, Song found the Englishman in space and his raking cross-field pass found Nasri on the left of the area. The Frenchman tried to nudge the ball past Cech but the keeper thrust out his hand.

Wenger brought on Abou Diaby and Chamakh for Van Persie and Walcott. There was a sense the manager was trying to ‘see out’ the game. But, in fact, Diaby might have won it.

Ten minutes from time, he found a glimpse of space in the area but dallied too long and his chance was lost.

Chelsea’s expected onslaught did not really arrive late on. Yes Salomon Kalou bundled the ball home but he was clearly offside but Tomas Rosicky hit the past with the final action of the game. He too had been flagged.

It did not matter. Arsenal had what they wanted - three points and the opportunity to call themselves title-contenders.

Their fate is now firmly in their own hands.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/172288/first-team/arsenal-v-chelsea?tab=report

Miyaichi rivals Walcott's 100m time
Arsenal new boy Ryo Miyaichi has been clocked running 100 metres in a time of 10.84 second, during training with Chukyo High School. The time is only fractionally slower than that of Theo Walcott, who has been recorded covering the distance in just 10.30 seconds.

Miyaichi lists pace and high speed dribbling as his best assets, and with a time of 10.84, he will be one of the quickest players in the country. That, combined with his quick feet and skills, make the 18-year-old a difficult man to mark.

The world record for 100 metres is claimed by Usain Bolt, with a time of 9.58. Walcott and Miyaichi have both been offered the opportunity to move away from football and go into professional sprinting, but turned it down at a young age. The two wingers also boast quicker times than the likes of Thierry Henry, who while there is no official confirmed 100 metre time, is thought to have been around the 11 second mark.

Miyaichi will link up with Arsenal in January.

http://younggunsblog.co.uk/2010/12/miyaichi-rivals-walcotts-100-metre-time/

[size=6]Report: Wigan 2-2 Arsenal[/size]

By Richard Clarke

Arsenal dropped two crucial points on Wednesday night by drawing 2-2 at 10-man Wigan.

Arsène Wenger’s side went behind from a hotly debatable 17th-minute penalty but still lead at the break. Andrey Arshavin scored the first and made the second for Nicklas Bendtner.

The visitors seemed to have control in the second half. And their cause was helped when Wigan’s best player on the night, Charles N’Zogbia, was sent off for apparently headbutting Jack Wilshere.

The game was digesting the dismissal when, ten minutes from time, Sebastien Squillaci headed into his own net as he attempted to stop Steven Caldwell scoring.

After beating Chelsea so wonderfully on Monday this was big blow to Arsenal’s title hopes.

But they reach the midway point of the season with 36 points from 19 games – two points off leaders Manchester United.

Wenger retained only three players from Monday’s starting line-up. They were Lukasz Fabianski, Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny.

The manager clearly had the next two games – Birmingham away and Manchester City at home – in mind. He was managing his resources.

The following players came in: Abou Diaby, Tomas Rosicky, Denilson, Squillaci, Arshavin, Emmanuel Eboue, Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner.

Robin van Persie and Alex Song were left out entirely. Cesc Fabregas was suspended. The rest of Monday’s side was on the bench.

It was a bit of gamble given Arsenal had gained so much momentum from the win over Chelsea. But this is arguably the most intense time of the season so Wenger rolled the dice.

For a time, it appeared he had lost.

The first ten minutes were fast, frenetic and dominated by Wigan. N’Zogbia skipped past Eboue on the left hand side to reach the byline. However, his cross was misdirected. Then Hugo Rodallega drifted off Koscielny at the far post but failed to connect with his header.

The Frenchman got some sort of revenge when he stopped the striker in his tracks after Squillaci had been beaten.

Arshavin prodded an effort over the bar but N’Zogbia tested Fabianski from distance. The visitors were under pressure.

However, as time wore on, Arsenal gained control. Bendtner’s free-kick hit Squillaci and Eboue’s cross found Arshavin at the far post but the Russian’s volley was blocked.

So, the opener, when it arrived in the 17th minute was slightly against the run of play – and very controversial.

N’Zogbia danced inside Diaby in the right-hand channel and though Koscielny flicked out a foot he had withdrawn it by the time the midfielder went past him. Replays cast doubt there was any contact but referee Lee Probert pointed to the spot.

Ben Watson converted the penalty.

In fact, Wigan would have stronger claims for a spot-kick shortly afterwards when Fabianski took out Rodallega. Arsenal were saved because Koscielny, the covering defender, had prodded the ball well clear.

Midway through the half, Ali Al Habsi spilled Rosicky’s piledriver and only a perfectly timed challenge from Caldwell stopped Koscielny stabbed home from close range.

Shortly after that Diaby limped off and Wilshere replaced him. Though the change was not planned it added an urgency and energy to Arsenal’s game.

By half time, they were in the lead.

Seven minutes from the whistle, Chamakh flicked Bendtner into space on the right. The Dane’s drive was shoveled out to Arshavin by Al Habsi. It was a difficult height for the diminutive Russian but he waited for the ball to fall and hooked his shot into the corner.

Arshavin had been quiet until that moment but suddenly he was at the hub of the Arsenal attack. Two minutes before the whistle he fashioned their second by driving at the Wigan defence and prodding a ball through to Bendtner.

The striker bundled home his fourth goal of the season.

The brace gave Arsenal a cushion they would enjoy at the start of the second half. The visitors were happy to keep the ball and invite Wigan on. For the first time in the game, the hosts had to bring the game to Arsenal.

It meant that the chances dried up. Wilshere burst into the area and Sagna’s right-wing cross was headed into his own sidenetting by Antolin Alcaraz.

Just before the hour, Cleverley latched on to the full back’s clearance and fired over. But Wigan seemed to be running out of ideas.

And, in the 70th minute, Arsenal might have killed the game. Arshavin timed his run perfectly to collect Wilshere’s clip into the area. However the Russian could not lift his shot over Al Habsi.

But as the visitors started to look further forward, so Wigan had space to create – and they nearly profited.

In the 75th minute, substitute James McArthur sent N’Zogbia clear and his drive was batted away by Fabianski from point-blank range.

It would be the last meaningful act of the midfielder’s game. Two minutes later he appeared the headbutt Wilshere and was sent off.

Sometimes late dismissal kills off the chasing team, this one did not.

In the 80th minute, Watson’s deep corner was headed back into the area by Rodallega and Squillaci, in trying the prevent Gary Caldwell from scoring, nodded the ball into his own net.

Wenger threw on Walcott and Nasri immediately.

Four minutes from time, the Frenchman’s free-kick hit a flailing Wigan arm in the wall but referee Probert waved play on.

Arsenal pressed and pressed in the dying minutes but the winner would not come.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3329067/first-team/wigan-athletic-v-arsenal?tab=report

Ramsey to return to Gunners

Arsene Wenger will not allow Aaron Ramsey's loan at Nottingham Forest to be extended, but could send out Carlos Vela.

The Arsenal boss agreed to let Ramsey join the Reds at the end of November in an effort to rebuild his fitness following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Unfortunately for the Welsh starlet, the recent cold snap has prevented him from making much of an impression at Forest.

A start against Derby on Wednesday was his first for the club and he only has one more game to take in before his short-team deal comes to an end on 3rd January.

Wenger admits he would have liked to have seen Ramsey get a few more minutes under his belt but, with Abou Diaby laid low with a calf problem, he insists there is no chance of him letting the 20-year-old stay on at City Ground.

He told Arsenal's official website: "We did not get the number of games we wanted from him because of the snow. He is a snow victim and we are as well consequently.

"But I am not tempted to do it [extend the loan]. If Abou Diaby was not injured I would certainly have considered it, but not now.

"Aaron is not completely ready yet but he has been practising every day with the group for two months. I hope that when he comes back he should be ready in February."

While reluctant to part with Ramsey again, Wenger is prepared to let Vela leave the club on loan.

He feels the Mexican striker would benefit from regular games, with his path to the Gunners first team currently blocked, and has paved the way for him to head elsewhere in the New Year.

Wenger added: "Some offensive players don't play games, like Carlos Vela. If he can get games somewhere else we will loan him out.

"Not sell him, loan him out because he needs to play. He is a top quality player and at the moment we have too many strikers.

"He does not get the games he deserves. He has an opportunity that I let him go somewhere."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6626640,00.html

[size=6]Preview: Birmingham City - Arsenal[/size]

By Richard Clarke

For Arsène Wenger, the “craziness” of the festive period is also its strength.

The Arsenal manager takes a holistic view to the Christmas and New Year games. This season there were 12 points available from encounters against Chelsea (h), Wigan (a), Birmingham (a) and Manchester City (h). Wenger’s men have taken four so far but they go to St Andrews on the first day of 2011 with the undeniable feeling it should have been more.

Some of the momentum gained from, at last, beating Chelsea was worn away by Wigan’s late equaliser on Wednesday night. However who would be unhappy with 10 points including victories over two title rivals? And that is still in Arsenal’s hands.

“I see the Christmas period as a whole,” said the manager on Friday. “We had a little disadvantage in the way the fixtures were organised compared to some other clubs. But I have to face the problem this way.

“At the end of the day we know that Christmas will be very important because we play Chelsea and Man City, and we have two away games against Wigan and Birmingham. So for us it will certainly have an impact on the rest of the season.”

The trip to the Midlands is Arsenal’s third game in six days. They only way they will be this busy again is if cup ties and postponements need to be shoehorned into the final weeks of the campaign. But Wenger knows Christmas is different in his adopted country.

“It is the charm and craziness of English football,” he admitted. “Personally I like it, I have been vaccinated after the years I have been here.

“It certainly contributes to the promotion of English football. The whole world stops and England goes on. That means when Arsenal play Chelsea, the world has no choice than to watch.

“They don’t work and are bored so they watch English football - which is not boring.

“Yes I would like a winter break but after Christmas. I would like to keep that tradition personally and create a break after January 2 for say for two weeks.

“We can go on holiday for one week and after we can prepare for one week.

“As it is, we play Man City then three days later we play Leeds and four days after that we play Ipswich. The players are under massive pressure so, when you play a 2-2 at Wigan, it is not the worst result.

“Mentally it is all very demanding but you have always a game in front of you and what is important is the next one.”

It was this packed schedule that precipitated those eight changes at the DW Stadium but the ‘big guns’ are back for Birmingham. Cesc Fabregas has seen out his suspension. Robin van Persie and Alex Song return after being rested.

The only enforced absentee is Abou Diaby, who will be out for three weeks with the calf strain he collected at Wigan on Wednesday.

The day before that game, Birmingham had once again proved their pedigree at St Andrews with a last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United. They did exactly the same thing to Arsenal when Wenger’s men were eyeing a late run for the title last season.

Only Everton have won at Birmingham this season while only Chelsea and Manchester United have conceded fewer goals at home. But Alex McLeish’s side have only hit the net nine times themselves – the lowest in the top flight. Expect this one to be tight.

But then Arsenal have conceded in each of their last seven Premier League games – their leakiest run in six years. And the manager is well aware Birmingham, like Wigan, have a habit of grabbing goals late on.

“Well, the best way to create a problem is sometimes to talk about it,” responded Wenger when the idea was put to him. “You could see that Birmingham scored late against Man United the other night and when your team is ahead in England you have the mental side of [the opponents] that will never give up. No matter where you go if you are only one goal up you can concede a goal.

“And what happens this season is the teams all play for Europe or not to go down so every game is a cup final,” Wenger went on. “You play for your survival or you to be in Europe and that makes the League so interesting and so compact.

“Of course everybody has quality too. When you go to Wigan they have Hugo Rodallega, Charles N’Zogbia who are quality players and it will be the same at Birmingham. You look at Birmingham against Man United, they had Alex Hleb and Nikola Zigic on the bench that means in the teams who play in the second half of the table still have top-class players.”

Like last season, Arsenal ended the year in third place. Like last season, the prevailing opinion is that Manchester United, at least, will be too strong for them down the stretch.

But then, as Wenger points out, the prevailing opinion has changed since August.

“For a while it looked as though Chelsea were running away with it,” he said. “The fact that they dropped a little bit in November opened up the League up. You wouldn’t have expected that at the start of the season.

“But the most consistent team will win it.”

And, despite the disappointment of Wednesday, Arsenal are in a position to become that team.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3283930/first-team/birmingham-city-v-arsenal?tab=preview

plus our cb pairing didnt communicate ! and true about johan he is a great cb ! but only problem is when thomas comes back someone has to be benched ! hope its squillaci and not johan and or koschielny

Verminator > Johan > Squillaci > Koscielny imo