What Is Happing To Arsenal

Arsenal fans tend to listen when Arsene Wenger speaks. Most recently, he said, "I feel the team fights, we came back again against ‘Boro and this team will fight until the end."

But for many, even the words of their esteemed manager will sound less than re-assuring when one analyses the fact that, barring Arsenal’s fantastic victory in the Champions League against AC Milan, there has been a real downturn in Arsenal’s results as of late.

Never mind that this run of games has seen the Gunners contrive to draw their last four Premiership games, in the process seeing a five point lead over Manchester United evaporate in to thin air. A more worrying prospect for the Arsenal fans will be the form their team is exhibiting as they enter the ‘business end’ of the season, with the team's next five fixtures undoubtedly determining whether the Gunners' three-season wait for a trophy is going to come to an end, or is to extend in agonising fashion.

The scale of the task facing the out-of-sorts Gunners over the next few weeks reads is massive. It starts next Sunday away to the team breathing down their necks in the table, Chelsea, followed by a long trip up North to face bogey team Bolton Wanderers, and then the first of three consecutive games against Liverpool, of which two Champions League Quarter Final games bookend Rafa Benitez’s side travelling to the Emirates for a vital league encounter.

Whilst this run of fixtures would unnerve even the most brazen of Arsenal supporters, the fact that there are worrying echoes of the Gunners' progress last season would seem to only exacerbate the anxiety of the Emirates faithful.

For it was at a similar stage last season when in the space of a few games Arsenal managed to crash out of the Champions League to PSV Eindhoven, a Benni McCarthy thunderbolt sent them out of the FA Cup, Chelsea beat them in the Carling Cup final, and consecutive away day defeats to Everton and Liverpool put the final nail in the coffin of their Premiership challenge for the season.

Whilst the stunning performance of Wenger’s men at the San Siro against AC Milan stands as an example of how Arsenal can equip themselves in a style befitting any title winning team, when one watches the type of displays put in by the Arsenal players in the league in recent weeks then the alarm bells should be ringing loud and clear.

Gone, it would seem, is the breathtaking fluidity that delighted all that had the pleasure to watch Arsenal play, with shining lights such as Cesc Fàbregas and Emmanuel Adebayor on league form alone looking like jaded imitations of the players that started the season in such exciting style.

Furthermore, the injuries to Eduardo da Silva and Tomáš Rosický have seemed to really set the Gunners back, with Arsenal’s trophy push being seriously derailed from the moment that the promising partnership that was developing between Emmanuel Adebayor and Eduardo Da Silva was broken up so horrifically against Birmingham City.

Uncharacteristic mistakes have also begun to creep in, with a case in point being left back Gael Clichy who by twice criminally dawdling in the penalty box against Manchester City and Birmingham City cost the team goals. There was also his last minute infraction against Birmingham City leading to yet another draw, and of course the embarrassing on-pitch implosion of captain William Gallas.

These types of displays would seem to point to the undeniable fact that this youthful Arsenal team are starting to tire at the most vital stage of the season. The cumulative fatigue exhibited by Arsenal contrasts vividly to that of their rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, who are able to boast squads of much more depth.

For example, players of the calibre of Michael Essien, Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba have found themselves on the bench in recent weeks for Chelsea, but the teams winning ways have prevailed.

With regards to Manchester United, the contrast between their squad strength and that of Arsenal’s was displayed in unequivocal fashion in the F.A Cup meeting between the two sides where both managers decided to rest key players. However, the Red Devils' second string simply annihilated their North London counterparts, knocking Arsenal out of the F.A. Cup, and in the process inflicting a 4-0 defeat that would have undoubtedly pleased Sir Alex Ferguson.

Chelsea and Manchester United have also been able to win regularly when not playing anywhere near their maximum. This has not been the case as often for Arsenal, with a review of this weekend’s Premiership fixtures seeing Chelsea and Manchester United winning away to Sunderland and Derby County when playing nowhere near their best, whilst Arsenal dropped two potentially vital points at home to Middlesbrough.

This ability to claim all three points whilst performing well below your previous high standards is a key component of any title push. Arsenal must begin to exhibit this monotonous ability to win to significantly increase their chances of holding aloft the Premiership crown come May.

However , regardless of the poor Premiership form that Arsenal have exhibited in recent weeks, it would be incredibly churlish to write off any team that can boast players of the calibre of Kolo Touré, Cesc Fàbregas, Emmanuel Adebayor et al. when it comes to deciding who will be collecting the silverware on offer come seasons end.

It is not like Arsenal have stopped creating chances over the last few weeks, and supporters will point to dubious refereeing decisions such as Emmanuel Adebayor’s disallowed goal against Middlesbrough and the highly debatable penalty given against Birmingham City as more pertinent reasons for the side’s downturn in results.

Indeed, this Sunday’s visit to Stamford Bridge could provide the team with the perfect opportunity to correct the team’s disappointing results, and get the club’s Premiership title challenge back on track in the most dramatic of fashions.

Champions League Draw

Arsenal has been drawn against Liverpool in the champions league quarter finals Arsenal came out of the bowl first, and they got Liverpool. The Reds will have the luxury of playing the second leg at home.

Incidential the champions league feature will collide with a premier league fiture which makes it 3 games in just 8 days!

In the Other draws Roma will be playing Manchester united ,yet again in a repeat of last year's quartfer which ended in favor 7-1 in favor of the English side.The second leg comes up in old Trafford,this fixture promises to be interesting and full of drama.It may sound controversial but I predict a win for Roma this time around.

The only German team left will be playing former champions Barcelona in what seems to be a easy draw for the la liga outfit.The second leg comes up in Spain.

The Last game will be between Fenerbahce and Chelsea.The second leg comes up in stamford Bridge.This is fixture will hat will involve Mateja Kezman and Nicolas Anelka facing their former clubs.

The semi-finals will see the winners of Arsenal-Liverpool play the winners of Fenerbahce-Chelsea. In what could Yet be another Liverpool-Chelsea semi-final?

The other clas would potentially see Manchester United and Barcelona clash expect if one of Schalke and Roma pulls a surprise as I already predicted.

In general ,the draw seem to be a good draw for chelsea,Barcelona ,manchester united and Liverpool since they all will be playing their last matches at their stadia.

But then again, Arsenal and Roma won in Milan and Madrid respectively, just a few weeks ago, and will back themselves to produce something similar again!

Kaka Looks Foward To "Beautiful" Game Against Arsenal

The contest pits the Milanese old guard against Arsene Wenger’s young guns. Kaka, whose real name is Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, recognises that Arsenal will offer a stern test of Milan’s credentials. Nevertheless, he backs the Rossoneri to dump the English side out of the competition and add to the club’s seven European triumphs.

"People have called this tie against Arsenal a match between an ageing team and a new young, up-and-coming side,” the reigning Fifa world player of the year said. “It is a fair comparison, because the average age in the first team here in Milan is 32, but that doesn't mean we'll struggle against them. Experience counts for everything at this stage of the Champions League.”

“This is a game we can enjoy. It can be beautiful.”

Despite Milan’s determination to succeed, Kaka does not underestimate the threat posed by Wenger’s team. Arsenal enjoy a five point lead in the Premiership over closest rivals Manchester United. However, the Gunners crashed out of the English FA Cup 4 –0 last Saturday against United. Many observers believe the Gunners boss decision not to play his strongest team showed that he had given priority to the match against the 2007 Champions League winners.

"This tie against Arsenal will be open and more interesting than if Milan had been drawn against Liverpool or Chelsea, teams that play more in the traditional English style," Kaka conceded. “They play football the way we like it to see it in Brazil, with style, changing position all the time, moving the ball among themselves so quickly.

“They have won Premier League titles, they were in the Champions League final a few years ago and they have real quality."

Wednesday’s Champions League match is seen as crucial to the Milan team which has not hit its best form this season and lies 21 points behind city rivals Internazionale in Serie A. Kaka sees the Champions League game as a chance for Milan to ignite their season.

"We were inconsistent in the first half of the season," said Kaka. "But we have recovered since the turn of the year and have lost only once in Italy since then, even if the top is still a long way off.

“That means the Champions League is the most important competition we're in - win that and your names are etched down in history, far more so than if you win the domestic league. We are too far behind in Serie A, so the priority is completely to win the Champions League again."

Del Piero Delighted,Palladino Going To Arsenal?

Alessandro Del Piero was delighted with Juventus’ comeback win against Udinese yesterday afternoon, but Raffaele Palladino is not so happy and could be on his way to Arsenal in the summer.

Things were not looking good for the Old Lady as they trailed 1-0 at the Stadio Friuli after a first half completely dominated by the home side.

Juve were much improved though after the break and goals from Mauro Camoranesi and Vincenzo Iaquinta earned them a crucial 2-1 victory.

“We got a very important win against an excellent Udinese side who showed why they are having such a good campaign by taking a first-half lead,” Del Piero stated on his personal website.

“But in the second period we reacted in a way that enabled us to take control of the game.

“We chased down every ball and put pressure on them with a more aggressive approach. In the end we got two very good goals that allowed us to take all three points.

Del Piero’s team-mate Raffaele Palladino is not so happy as he was granted just 20 minutes as a substitute.

The Neapolitan would have been expecting to start the match after a superb performance for Italy in the midweek friendly win over Portugal.

Palladino has been complaining about his lack of action and for having to play out of position, and even hinted of a summer exit.
This possibility is growing as reports are strengthening that Arsenal are set to launch a summer bid for the star.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is a huge admirer of the 23-year-old and has attempted unsuccessfully to sign him in the past.

Carrick: ‘Title Race Is Not Over’

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick admitted he was disappointed by today's derby defeat at Old Trafford but insists it hasn't dented the club's title ambitions.

It was Carrick who struck what turned out to be a consolation goal in injury time as United slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of local rivals Man City.

“Scoring doesn't really mean much because we lost, we’re all desperately disappointed,” he told MUTV. "We never got going and didn’t create the chances we normally do. That’s not like us.

City took the lead midway through the first half through former England international Darius Vassell and doubled their lead just before the interval when new signing Benjani glanced in a cross from the excellent Martin Petrov.

“Once City got the two goals it was hard to come back from it,” added Carrick.

“One goal down, you always believe you’ve got a chance of coming back, but two is difficult. We needed to score right after half time to give us momentum, but when we did score it was too little, too late.”

Arsenal could now move five points clear at the top of the league if they beat Blackburn at the Emirates Stadium on Monday but Carrick refuses to be despondent.

“I don’t think Arsenal will go the rest of the season without dropping points," the former Spurs midfielder continued. "There are still going to be ups and downs in the title race, and hopefully there will be more ups for us and we can overtake them.”

Lastly, he admitted that it was a shame that the game didn't go United's way on such an historic day for the club.

"It was good to see that the minute’s silence was well observed. But in terms of the game we’re not going home happy.”

Premiership Between Top Three According To Wenger

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that the Premiership title will be decided by the head-to-head played between the current top-three.

Arsenal earned themselves a narrow gap at the top of the table on the strength of last weekend's resilts, and now find themselves two points above Manchester United and six points ahead of Chelsea. Considering that the nearest challengers after that are a full 16 points back, it is no controversy that Wenger effectively ruled out the Liverpool sides by way of his analysis.

"The mental aspect of the game will be important but so will the direct confrontations," said Wenger through the club's official website. "They have a major part to play.

"I don't rule out Chelsea because they have to play at home against Man United and Arsenal.

"They have already put wins together when they have had players out. I don't think we can rule them out, it will be amongst these three."

All three teams still have to play each other again before the end of the season, with he next potential title-decider will take place on March 23, when Wenger's Arsenal travel to take on London rivals Chelsea

Arsenal : Fulham Review

Arsenal kept up the pressure at the top of the Premier League with an excellent 3-0 win at Fulham on Saturday.

Arsène Wenger’s side had slipped to second place last week after a disappointing draw with Birmingham at Emirates Stadium. However there were no slip-ups this afternoon. Emmanuel Adebayor gave the visitors a stranglehold with a pair superb first-half headers — his 14th and 15th goals of the season.

Fulham rallied briefly in the second period but nine minutes from time Tomas Rosicky slid in a fine volley at the far post.

The scoreline did not flatter Arsenal however this was more of a measured than memorable performance.

For much of the afternoon it appeared this could be a significant day in the title race. In the end Manchester United and Chelsea both got late winners. But, after the sluggishness of last week, this was Arsenal at their efficient best.

All they could do was win themselves and they did that with something to spare.

Wenger made just one change from the side held to a 1-1 draw by Birmingham City last Saturday. Rosicky had fallen ill on the morning of that game, his replacement that day, Theo Walcott, made way this afternoon.

It meant the Arsenal manager named the strongest line-up he had available. It was no surprise because, for only the second week since mid-September, Arsenal were playing catch-up in the table.

Fulham had been showing signs of regeneration under Roy Hodgson. However they came into this game with only struggling Derby below them in the table. Neither of their two new signings — Marlon King and Brede Hangeland - were eligible today.

The opening was typical of a London derby. But the pace was so fast that perhaps it affected the quality.

Fulham gave as good as they got in the opening quarter. Danny Murphy’s clever ball sent Seol Ki-Hyeon clear for a split-second but there was danger at the other end when Adebayor’s clipped cross into the area nearly found the head of Eduardo.

However gradually Arsenal started to put their passing together. One flowing move in the 16th minute ended with Fabregas blazing wide. The final execution was poor but the build-up had been encouraging. So it was no a huge surprise to see Arsenal take the lead three minutes later.

Rosicky sent Clichy scuttling to the byline and his high, hanging cross was nodded home powerfully by the leaping Adebayor on the edge of the six-yard box. It was the Togolese striker’s 14th of the season.

The goal tipped the game in Arsenal’s favour. Suddenly Fulham looked inhibited and Arsenal looked imperious. Still, chances were at a premium and the visitors came closest to extending their lead when Adebayor sidefooted wide in the 27th minute.

The 24-year-old was proving simply too big, too strong and too mobile for the home side. His second goal followed seven minutes from the break. Hleb’s inviting cross saw Adebayor breeze in and guide a similar header into the same corner of the net.

Again it was a goal conceded far too easily by Fulham but the real driver behind the strike had been Arsenal’s willingness to fight to regain a lost ball on the right flank.

With a two-goal advantage, the visitors were now prepared to hit cruise-control. The vociferous travelling support even start some early olès. However Fulham finally produced a decent shot across their bows three minutes from the whistle when Simon Davies reached the byline and cut the ball back for Murphy to sidefoot over.

Hodgson attempted to put further impetus into his side at the break by hauling Jimmy Bullard off the bench. The popular midfielder, who is yet to start a game since his horrific knee injury, came on to a huge reception.

However it did nothing to change the tide. Within four minutes of the restart Bacary Sagna nearly touched home a free-kick from Cesc Fabregas. Then Eduardo beat two defenders with some sublime skill on the left-hand byline. Rosicky met his low cross to the near post but his snapshot hit the outside of the post.

Arsenal were unsettled somewhat soon afterwards when Senderos needed treatment after getting a bash on the nose from Clint Dempsey.

Their concentration drifted a little bit and that loosened their grip on the game. Fulham fired another warning midway through the half when Dempsey nodded in at the far post. However the assistant referee had long-since flagged for offside.

Later Antti Niemi also required lengthy treatment after Adebayor caught him in the face following through.

Twelve minutes from time, Fabregas nearly prodded a third goal in the corner but Bullard responded by curling a free-kick well over the bar.

To be honest the visitors had started the game sprinting but, as the minutes ticked away, Arsenal seemed happy to coast over the line.

That said, they did conjure up a lovely third goal nine minutes from the end when Eduardo worked himself into space on the left byline and the flying Rosicky fired in a low volley at the far post.

DIARRA JOINS POMPEY...AND ALREADY WANTS TO LEAVE

Lassana Diarra will never be a diplomat. Whereas most players commemorate their unveiling at a new club with worn-out clichés of loyalty and ambition, the midfielder marked his first day at Portsmouth by issuing what amounted to a transfer request.


Apparently disregarding the fact that in the last six months he has successfully agitated his way out of Chelski and Arsenal, Diarra snubbed convention by putting pen to paper on a three-year deal on the south coast and then immediately declaring he was ready to leave.


"The people at Portsmouth know that I will not spend my life at the club," he confirmed. "I was able to add a clause to my contract. If I shine, if a really big club wants me, I already know that everything will go well. I don't want any more battles."


With Pompey short of players due to African Nations Cup commitment and Diarra desperate to play first-team football in order to secure a starting spot for France during the forthcoming Euro 2008 championships, their marriage is one of convenience. Yet it remains to be seen just how sympathetically the Fratton Park public will regard the 22-year-old's extraordinary pronouncements.


Another curiosity of the Diarra deal is the size of it. Having been acquired from Chelski by Arsenal on the last day of the August transfer window for a fee of around £2m, the Gunners have managed to persuade Pompey to spend £5.5m despite Diarra playing less than eight hours of football over the past five months.

Manchester Or Madrid? A Question Of Culture

The English Premier League touts itself as the greatest in the world. It’s certainly up there. It’s the most watched domestic championship globally and few teams anywhere can better the big four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.


The Premiership is a major success story, a true money spinner and has attracted some classy individuals. There’s just one problem with it: it’s in England.

I love watching the Premier League. I enjoy the coverage of the games, I think the stadia are terrific (far better than you’ll see in either Italy or Spain) and for me there’s no finer city in the world than London. But I’m an Englishman, not a South American superstar.


A comment from Bayern Munich defender Lucio got me thinking: The Brazil captain has played in the Bundesliga for many years and enjoyed enormous success there, but Germany will never be his true aim.


“I dream of playing in Spain or Italy,” he admitted. “It’s almost impossible to convince Brazilian stars playing in Serie A or La Liga to move to the Bundesliga. It’s not to do with Bayern, but the country. In Italy and Spain, the culture, the habits and the language are much more similar to Brazil. Bayern can’t compare to that.”


Swap ‘Munich’ for ‘Manchester’ and you get my point. In a climate where so many of the game’s greatest players are of Latin origin, English football will find it hard to compete for the top players. For the Portuguese or the South Americans, top Spanish and Italian sides are the pinnacle. Once there, not even whopping great bundles of English cash are likely to force their hands unless, like former Barcelona man Juliano Belletti, they are told it’s time to go.


This doesn’t mean Latin talents won’t ever come to England and succeed (Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the best player in the world at the moment, proves they do and can), but it does mean that Premiership sides must act swiftly to beat their Spanish and Italian cousins to emerging talents. England is a step up for a player at a club in South America, Portugal, France or Eastern Europe. But if he’s a Spanish, Italian or Portuguese speaker, it’s likely he considers the Premier League a poor relation to Serie A or La Liga for cultural rather than footballing reasons. United beats Parma, Liverpool beats Atlético (as we saw with Fernando Torres) but neither beats Real Madrid.


A look at the most successful Latin players in the Premiership illustrates this: Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano reached the north west via West Ham and the Brazilian league; Anderson left Porto; Elano came to City via Shakhtar Donetsk; Xabi Alonso to Liverpool from a smaller Spanish side. Even Cesc Fabregas was tempted by London because he feared for his chances at Camp Nou. Those who do move from Real, Barcelona or Milan to England were usually outcasts or, like Andriy Shevchenko, from an entirely different culture altogether.


Just like we never got to see Diego Maradona, French legend Zinedine Zidane or Brazilian duo Ronaldo and Rivaldo in England, the likelihood is that we have now also missed the boat on Lionel Messi, Kaká and Alexander Pato, who already play at top Spanish or Italian sides. Even Ronaldinho appears to favour Serie A over the Premier League should he leave Barcelona in the summer.


Yet, like Lucio at Bayern, the threat always exists that one day stars such as Tevez, Torres or Cristiano Ronaldo will head south to seek new challenges in a country that tugs more forcefully on their emotional heartstrings. And while it might be frustrating for fans to see these players leave, there’s little we English can do about it short of turning Manchester into a continental metropolis (and who among us would want that anyway?). In terms of bringing Latin talents to our league, English football’s task remains to discover promising individuals before rival clubs in Spain or Italy do.


Of course, the cultural divide has its advantages, too: Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs or Steven Gerrard are unlikely to ever trade their respective red shirts for the white of Madrid or the black and blue of Inter. And northern European stars like Petr Cech, Michael Ballack and Alexander Hleb could probably remain happily in England for the rest of their careers.


But for as long as southern Europe and South America continue to produce many of the best players, the world’s top stars will continue to consider the Premier League second best, even if the football is first class.

Source Goal.com

Fabregas:Profile ,Biography and Photo Gallery

Biography

Spanish midfield playmaker Cesc Fabregas is a brilliant passer of the ball with an eye for goal and is one of a crop of outstanding youngsters beginning to establish themselves at Highbury.

National team
Fabregas was voted the player of the tournament at the 2003 FIFA Under-17 World Championship and won the Golden Boot after his six goals helped Spain reach the final. He was a key member of the Spanish squad in the 2004 UEFA Under-17 European Championship, and scored a vital 89th-minute goal against England to take the team through to the final. Has since stepped up to U21 level.

Club
Despite coming through the ranks at FC Barcelona, Fabregas moved to Arsenal FC in September 2003 at the age of 16 having never played a first-team game at Camp Nou.

2003: After impressing with the reserves, he became the youngest player to feature in the Arsenal first team when, at 16 years and 177 days, he made his debut in the English League Cup against Rotherham United FC on 28 October.








2004/05: Fabregas made his Premiership debut in the 4-1 win away to Everton FC on the opening day of the season and went on to start 24 matches as Arsenal finished second in the league. He opened his Premiership scoring account in the 3-0 win against Blackburn Rovers FC on 25 August and scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in December's 5-1 victory against Rosenborg BK

PHOTO GALLERY


fabregas AND lehman



cesc fabregas in celebration Mood

Worst players of the season... so far

While it is a comment that applies to entire teams, the half-term report card for certain players contains the unwanted words 'could do better'. The only consolation is that the second half of the season presents an immediate opportunity for improvement. But if not, it won't represent a year to remember for the following:

Arsenal: Emmanuel Eboue

While the majority of his team-mates have exceeded expectations, Emmanuel Eboue is an unfortunate exception. His campaign has hardly been a disaster, yet the transition from attacking full-back to right-sided midfielder is proving awkward. While Eboue provides vitality on the right, his lengthy wait for a Premier League goal is one indication that he has his shortcomings in the final third. In addition, his aggression can be misplaced, and the Ivorian could have been dismissed against either Middlesbrough or Chelsea.



Manchester United: Michael Carrick

If Owen Hargreaves was initially perceived as the threat to Michael Carrick's place, Anderson has emerged as another. Even with Paul Scholes sidelined, Carrick has been a spectator for the majority of the matches against Arsenal and Liverpool with the axis of Anderson and Hargreaves preferred. It all suggests that, though he remains a fine passer, Sir Alex Ferguson is unconvinced, with questions remaining about his capacity to dominate the biggest games.



Chelsea: Claudio Pizarro
Adding strength in depth on the cheap can prove problematical, even for a club with the pull Chelsea exert. Steve Sidwell, Tal Ben-Haim and Alex all have their doubters, but Claudio Pizarro ranks as the greatest disappointment among the fringe players. A Premier League debut goal against Birmingham promised much, but it remains his only strike and the Peruvian's performances have made Avram Grant's need for another forward evident.



Liverpool: Peter Crouch
His band of admirers appears to grow with each occasion he is omitted, but the case for Peter Crouch is as thin as the man himself. Without a Premier League goal since March, his domestic drought this season is usually attributed to a lack of opportunities. Yet Crouch has been granted 13 games in English competitions and one of his most ineffectual displays, in the ignominious defeat to Marseille, placed Liverpool's Champions League place in doubt. And because of the dreadful tackle that led to his dismissal at Stamford Bridge, he must also take a sizeable share of the blame for Liverpool's Carling Cup exit.



Manchester City: Darius Vassell
Among the enduring mysteries of Darius Vassell's career is that that he has 22 caps, all awarded by Sven-Goran Eriksson. Yet at Manchester City, Eriksson has deployed Vassell as an ersatz and often unproductive right winger, which has only served to show the importance of Stephen Ireland to the City cause. Even with a City strike-force that Eriksson appears to mistrust, Vassell has been restricted to two Premier League starts in attack. He may have ended December as the first-choice forward but with Eriksson already securing striking reinforcements in January, it is hard to imagine Vassell featuring as prominently in the New Year.



Everton: Tony Hibbert
He has missed the majority of Everton's winning run, but Tony Hibbert has the unfortunate distinction of starting each of their seven Premier League defeats. While his dismissal in the Merseyside derby was debatable, those results indicate that Everton are a superior side with Phil Neville, providing a higher quality of cross, or Phil Jagielka, a speedier defender, at right-back. Hibbert's efforts cannot be questioned, but better options are starting to emerge.



Aston Villa: Curtis Davies
At least Curtis Davies has been honest. Rather than proffering excuses for Aston Villa's Carling Cup exit at the hands of Leicester City, he made the frank admission that: 'I looked like a pub player.' A rather expensive pub player, however; with Villa having agreed to spend £10 million on the defender, such words were unlikely to have reassured Martin O'Neill. With Zat Knight, his other defensive addition, making a rather quicker impact and injury hindering Davies, he managed a mere eight minutes' Premier League action before Christmas. It should not take much for the second half of the campaign to be an improvement, and a goal at Wigan suggests it will be.




Portsmouth: David Nugent
The English striker can appear an endangered species, but they are playing a part in their own downfall. When the much-coveted David Nugent eventually left Preston, he had options, but his choice of Portsmouth should be questioned. Still without a Premier League goal, Nugent has not started since August. Apart from becoming a Carling Cup specialist, he has been reduced to a series of unmemorable cameos, while Harry Redknapp's entertaining Africans appear a class apart from their £6 million substitute.



Blackburn: Morten Gamst Pedersen
He was once the likeliest target of a raid on Blackburn from one of the 'big four', but not any longer. Morten Gamst Pedersen's slump in form has meant that mantle has passed to David Bentley or Roque Santa Cruz. Other indications of his underachievement include his omission for several games - when the right-footed David Dunn deputised on his flank - and the fact that the possessor of one of the finest left feet in the division is still looking for his first Premier League goal of the season.



West Ham: Freddie Ljungberg
Among the perplexing glut of attacking midfielders at Upton Park, Julien Faubert has been spotted least, but that is entirely the product of injury. But Freddie Ljungberg, whose descent from regular scorer to irregular presence in his final two years at Arsenal prompted his exit, has represented the major disappointment. In a stop-start season, his case for inclusion, thus far, is rather weaker than those of Nolberto Solano, Lee Bowyer, Luis Boa Morte and Matthew Etherington. The bench, at best, beckons when others are fully fit.





Newcastle: Jose Enrique
The presence of a winger, in the shape of Charles N'Zogbia, at left-back for the majority of the season has hardly endeared Sam Allardyce to many among the Newcastle support. Yet, with Celestine Babayaro paid off, the only alternative is his £6 million acquisition Jose Enrique, and it is understandable why Allardyce has been reluctant to field the former Villarreal man. With 12 goals conceded in his five Premier League starts, the Spaniard - present, if not correct, for the home humiliations at the hands of Portsmouth and Liverpool - is certainly taking time to acclimatise to the English game. Much of the £62 million Newcastle have spent on defenders in the last decade has been wasted, and Enrique is in danger of joining a roll of dishonour at St James' Park.



Tottenham: Younes Kaboul
When Juande Ramos decided to travel to Belgium for a UEFA Cup tie with only one fit central defender, his actions were explicable. The alternative was to select Younes Kaboul, who has become a byword for mistakes. A litany of errors have resulted in goals already this season, with the grateful beneficiaries including Birmingham's Gary McSheffrey and West Ham's Carlton Cole in the two games prior to Kaboul's omission. Ledley King's extended absence was lamented for many reasons, but Kaboul's continued blundering was among them.



Reading: Michael Duberry
Repeating their heroics of last season was always unlikely, but Reading's porous defence has endangered their Premier League status. Michael Duberry is one of those who, especially when playing away from the Madjeski, has appeared best suited to the Championship. Conceding 19 goals in his last six appearances to date helps explain the significance of Ibrahima Sonko to the Reading cause and the 7-4 defeat at Portsmouth comprised an afternoon to forget for Reading, in general, and Duberry, in particular



Middlesbrough: Jonathan Woodgate
Normally, the problems with Jonathan Woodgate concern his fitness, not his form. This season, however, has been the exception. The sight of strikers bettering Woodgate has been a comparative rarity over the years, but it has happened with disturbing frequency in recent months. Woodgate, usually mentioned in dispatches for England, has barely rated a mention. The cause for optimism for Boro is that the December victories over Arsenal and Derby have appeared to herald a return to form for the usually dependable defender.



Birmingham: Garry O'Connor
At least his season started well. Garry O'Connor's debut goal against Sunderland briefly pushed him to the forefront of Steve Bruce's thinking. Since then, however, O'Connor has failed to find the net in the Premier League and successive managers, Bruce and Alex McLeish, appear to have pigeonholed him as a substitute. That even the often diplomatic McLeish has told him to 'mature quickly' is a sign the Scot has much to do if he is to be anything better than a substitute.




Bolton: Gerald Cid
No one disagreed when Gary Megson, with more than a hint of understatement, announced: 'Andy O'Brien is not Bobby Moore or Franz Beckenbauer.' But the Bolton manager was lamenting the absence of O'Brien after, with Lubo Michalik deputising, his side conceded eight goals in two games. And Gerald Cid is rated below Michalik at the Reebok. The decline in Bolton's fortunes this season is a consequence of a loss of solidity, coinciding with Sam Allardyce's departure and Cid's arrival. Hauled off after a disastrous 45 minutes against Everton, there were suggestions he was injured. Few were convinced.



Sunderland: Greg Halford
It may seem perverse to nominate a Sunderland defender who missed the 7-1 thrashing at Everton but Halford's haplessness explains his absence then. And, error-prone as Paul McShane and Danny Higginbotham have proved, they have retained their places and, perhaps, Roy Keane's confidence. Halford has not. His incorrigible clumsiness has already brought two red cards and Keane has taken to selecting a squad of 16 without a specialist right-back, with McShane, Ian Harte, Dean Whitehead and Nyron Nosworthy standing in. At the moment, the sale of Halford for £3 million ranks as Steve Coppell's best bit of business in the summer.



Wigan: Titus Bramble
Yes, he is an easy target. But when Titus Bramble, under no pressure, can contrive to gift the opposition the lead 30 seconds into his new manager's first match, it is understandable why. A move from Newcastle has brought less mockery, but only because Wigan are rarely in the spotlight. He remains as prone to pratfalls as ever. At least, contrary to Steve Bruce's pre-match prediction that Wigan could not afford to concede three goals and win, he could enjoy the 5-3 victory over Blackburn, if not Bramble's defending.



Fulham: Diomansy Kamara
There was a time when mentions of Fulham and £6 million signings did not seem so incongruous. After the enforced parsimony of Chris Coleman's tenure, Lawrie Sanchez restored them to the category of big spenders. But Diomansy Kamara, who appeared the Championship equivalent of Thierry Henry last season, has reverted to the role of the Premier League let-down, with goals outnumbered by misses. Having struck only once in his last top-flight campaign, he has at least topped that tally, but, flitting in and out of the Fulham team, that is about as much as can be said for his season.



Derby: Andy Griffin
Having bought brilliantly in the Championship, Billy Davies recruited terribly for the Premier League. If singling out any one individual is unfair, given the mediocrity that abounds at Pride Park, Andy Griffin has had a particularly undistinguished season. Found wanting in the top flight in previous campaigns, he appeared an odd signing and, in retrospect, another spell at Stoke may have been more beneficial for all concerned. As an honest trier who lacks the requisite quality, he epitomises Derby, but the frequency with which his immediate opponents - including Ryan Giggs, Salomon Kalou, Lee Bowyer, Ashley Young and Ryan Babel - have scored is surely no coincidence.



Comments are welcome on this review

Arsenal will face Stoke or Newcastle in the FA Cup

Oldham and Huddersfield have been drawn together in the draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup after both pulled off third-round giant-killings.

The Latics were 1-0 winners away to Everton while Huddersfield saw off Birmingham 2-1 at the Galpharm Stadium.

And Oldham boss John Sheridan admits he was disappointed to be drawn against Huddersfield boss and Latics legend Andy Ritchie.

Sheridan told Sky Sports News: "I'm a good friend of Andy and I'm sure he'll be disappointed. It'll be a full house and a game we both think we can win.

"I heard Andy on the radio this morning saying he didn't want to draw us. We wanted to avoid each other and go as far as possible.

"It's done now and it's a good game for us. It'll be a full house, a great atmosphere and a game I think we can win.

"We'll both be looking to get a result to get into the next round and hopefully get a big boy.

"We're still on a high (after the Everton game). It was a great result, a great effort and you can see the excitement around the club."

Oldham chief executive Alan Hardy told BBC Radio Five Live: "We are having a decent time - we are still on a high after the weekend result against Everton.

"It was a terrific goal by Gary McDonald. He will go down in history now at Oldham Athletic.

"It will be a good game. It is a Lancashire-Yorkshire derby, they are only 17 miles up the road. They will bring a lot of fans.

"Huddersfield are managed by one of our best ever players in Andy Ritchie. I know he will want to put one over us.

"There will be a lot of interest in the game and I am hopeful of a near-capacity crowd at Boundary Park."

Non-leaguers Havant & Waterlooville could face a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool in the fourth round.

The Blue Square South side, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, held Coca-Cola League One leaders Swansea 1-1 at the weekend and are at home to the Welsh side in a replay next week, while Rafael Benitez's side must overcome Luton to reach the last 32.

Havant boss Shaun Gale told Sky Sports News: "It's fantastic. We've got a tough tie getting past Swansea, I'm sure they'll want to go there as well.

"Everyone was jumping around, it's potentially something fantastic for the club, for me and for everyone connected.

"The boys have given me everything. We went there (to Swansea) with a gameplan. Going behind at the time we did, we could have folded, but they kept going and got their reward in the end.

"They (Swansea) wont enjoy coming here. It will be a full house and an intimidating atmosphere. We've got to make it awkward for them - they are a good side and we've got to stop them playing.

"It's been a fairytale. You see it every season and this year it's been us and it's great."

Club secretary Trevor Brock added: "It's absolutely unbelievable. What an incentive to get past Swansea. The capacity of our ground is 4,800 and it will sell out without any doubt whatsoever.

"We have been producing miracles all season to get to this stage. We'll do everything we can against Swansea and what an incentive we've got."

Elsewhere, there are two definite all-Premier League ties, with Manchester United at home to Tottenham or Reading, and Wigan at home to FA Cup holders Chelsea.

Mansfield, 23rd in League Two, are at home to Premier League side Middlesbrough.

Boss Billy Dearden said: "It's a tremendous draw. We've got a Premier League club at home and we're looking forward to it - anything can happen.

"They are a top-class team, we'll have to be at our best to get any kind of result."

Arsenal will face the winners of the replay between Stoke and Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium, while Coventry will be hoping to reach the fifth round after being drawn at home to face either Walsall or Millwall.

Portsmouth face Plymouth at Fratton Park while Sheffield United will be looking for another Premier League scalp when they take on either West Ham or Manchester City at Bramall Lane. The Blades beat Bolton 1-0 in the third round.

Swindon or Barnet could take on Premier League side Fulham, unless the Cottagers fall foul of Bristol Rovers in a Memorial Stadium replay next week.

Darren Ferguson's Peterborough side will host Championship opposition with either Charlton or West Brom heading for London Road, with Southampton taking on the winner of the replay between Norwich and Bury.

Derby or Sheffield Wednesday will host Preston, Watford play Wolves in an all-Championship tie at Vicarage Road, Tranmere or Hereford will play Cardiff and Southend host Barnsley.

The ties will be played on the weekend of January 26 and 27.



FA Cup Fourth-Round draw

Arsenal v Stoke or Newcastle
Coventry City v Walsall or Millwall
Oldham Athletic v Huddersfield Town
Swindon Town or Barnet v Fulham or Bristol Rovers
Wigan Athletic v Chelsea
Luton Town or Liverpool v Swansea City or Havant & Waterlooville
Southend United v Barnsley
Southampton v Norwich City or Bury
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur or Reading
Portsmouth v Plymouth Argyle
Derby County or Sheffield Wednesday v Preston North End
Watford v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Peterborough United v Charlton Athletic or West Bromwich Albion
Sheffield United v West Ham United or Manchester City
Mansfield Town v Middlesbrough
Tranmere Rovers or Hereford United v Cardiff City

[ Monday, January 07, 2008]

Arsenal Overcome Spirited Burnley At Turf Moor

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Two clinical finishes from Eduardo da Silva and Nicklas Bendtner led Arsenal to a 2-0 victory over a gallant Burnley side in the third round of the FA Cup at Turf Moor.

Burnley's manager Owen Coyle scored against Arsenal as a player during Bolton Wanderers famous win over the Gunners back in 1994 and was hoping to mastermind another upset 13 years later.

Coyle was without the suspended David Unsworth and the injured Clarke Carlisle and Alan Mahon. Stanislav Varga, who joined from Sunderland on Friday, was playing his first game in 11 months.

Arsenal rested a host of first-team players but still fielded a strong line-up. Jens Lehmann played in goal in what could prove to be his last-ever game for the club, while Bendtner partnered the in-form Eduardo up-front.

Emmanuel Eboue had the first attempt of the game on three minutes but fired high and wide from distance. However just minutes later Burnley were desperately close to taking the lead as Andy Gray found space down the right and crossed for Kyle Lafferty who saw his bullet header come crashing back off the crossbar.



The home side had made a bright start to the match, however on nine minutes they fell behind, and it was inevitable that Eduardo was the goalscorer. The Croatian latched onto an intelligent chipped pass by Kolo Toure, held off Steve Caldwell, and impudently stroked the ball past Gabor Kiraly. It was yet another classy finish from the hitman.

Burnley responded well to going behind and Gray held off a challenge from Senderos and fired straight at Lehmann. Senderos was looking very nervy and his terrible clearance inside the box fell to Robbie Blake in a promising position, but the forward couldn't keep his effort down.

Down the other end it could have been two on 20 minutes as Gilberto's header from a corner slammed off James O'Connor who was standing on the post. Eboue then nearly profited from some uncertainty in the Burnley box, but Kiraly rescued the situation. The Ivory Coast international was making some dangerous runs forward down the right and he fired another effort over the bar from distance.

Burnley were playing very well though and were arguably winning the midfield battle. Lafferty robbed Denilson of possession but his dangerous cross was cleared away by Senderos.

On 35 minutes Arsenal were awarded a free-kick in a decent position outside the area, but Eduardo's effort was tame and straight at Kiraly.

Burnley then wasted another fine chance to equalise. Armand Traore made a comical hash of a cross and was robbed of the ball by Wade Elliot, who fed Chris McCann, only for the midfielder to fire over the bar.

On 40 minutes Arsenal produced possibly their best move of the match. Some slick passing released Denilson down the right, and he crossed for Bendtner who executed a wonderful bicycle kick, but it was comfortable for Kiraly.

Burnley made a bright start to the second half and the impressive Jon Harley burst forward from left back and unleashed a long-range drive straight at Lehmann. Denilson also tried his luck from distance down the other end but he dragged his effort well wide.

On 50 minutes the usually clinical Eduardo missed a glorious chance to double Arsenal's lead. Bendtner released his strike partner, however he surprisingly fired wide of the post with just Kiraly to beat.



Burnley continued to cause Arsenal problems and McCann headed over completely unmarked from a free-kick from the right. The offside flag was up so the goal probably wouldn't have counted anyway.

The home side's hopes of getting anything from the game took a huge knock on 59 minutes when Lafferty was shown a straight red card for a dangerous, over-the-ball, studs-up challenge on Gilberto. The crowd were unhappy with the decision however replays showed that the referee probably made the correct decision.

Burnley were still displaying plenty of character and Senderos charged down an effort inside the box following a corner. The Swiss defender was making some crucial interventions now and on 67 minutes he just grew tall enough to take the ball off Gray's head.

Arsenal were creating precious little against Burnley's ten men, although Bendtner did waste a promising opener by mis-kicking the ball on the edge of the area after an Eboue assist.



On 74 minutes the tie was over as Eduardo fed Bendtner with a clever through ball and the Danish striker shifted the ball to the right of Kiraly before sliding the ball home.

Eduardo could have made it three on 83 minutes as Abou Diaby slid the striker through, however Kiraly read Eduardo's intentions to go round him and smothered the ball.

Arsenal kept possession for the remainder of the game, although Eduardo did have another effort in injury time which was deflected into the arms of Kiraly.

Line-Ups:

Burnley: Kiraly, Alexander, Caldwell, Varga, Harley, Elliot, O'Connor (Gudjonsson 76), McCann, Lafferty, Blake (Akinbiyi 78), Gray (Jones 78)

Arsenal: Lehmann, Sajma, Toure, Senderos, Traore (Hoyte 70), Eboue, Gilberto, Denilson, Diaby, Bendtner, Eduardo

Goals: Eduardo 9' (A), Bendtner 74' (A)

Sent Off: Laffery 59’ (B)