Arsenal FC @ Emirates All Gunner fans fall in

[kiko]

Arsenal showed the spirit of champions to overcome the dismissal of defender Thomas Vermaelen as they battled back to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over struggling West Ham.

• Cesc: We'll prove our quality

Brazilian midfielder Denilson fired the Gunners in front after only five minutes as Arsene Wenger's men looked to leapfrog Manchester United and Chelsea, who do not play until Sunday.

Vermaelen was then deemed to have been the last man when he pulled down Guillermo Franco, and was shown a straight red card by referee Martin Atkinson.

However, Manuel Almunia saved Alessandro Diamanti's penalty and captain Cesc Fabregas - back from a injury lay-off - made it 2-0 with nine minutes left from the same spot following a handball by Matthew Upson.

The Gunners could, of course, fall back down to third place should both United and Chelsea win on Sunday, but after another brave display, Wenger's youngsters remain very much in the hunt for a first title since the `Invincibles' campaign of 2003/2004.

Arsenal swept into the lead when Denilson won the ball from Valon Behrami on the edge of the West Ham box, before playing a neat one-two with Nicklas Bendtner.

The Brazilian needed no second invitation as he stepped into the penalty area before sidefooting a low shot into the bottom right corner.

The pair had also combined for Arsenal's stoppage-time winner at Hull, where Bendtner tapped in after a long-range effort from his team-mate.

The Dane then tried his luck from 20 yards, but was just off target.

West Ham were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position 25 yards out when Sol Campbell bundled over Franco.

Diamanti's effort was well struck, but flew over.

The Hammers, who are hovering just above the relegation zone, produced a decent response to their early setback.

Junior Stanislas got away down the right, and his cross was almost met by Mido at the far post.

Fabregas and Bendtner combined to release Eboue into the right side of the box, and his angled drive was just too far ahead of Andrey Arshavin, sliding in at the far post.

Arsenal were reduced to 10 men a minute before the break when Vermaelen was, on the advice of the assistant, adjudged to have pulled down Franco as they chased a long ball into the box - and deemed the last man by Atkinson who, from 20 yards away, went to his back pocket for the red card.

Wenger was fuming - but will feel justice was done when Almunia made a brilliant save down to his left to keep out Diamanti's spot-kick.

Song dropped back into the centre of defence, as Arsenal regrouped for the second half with Bendtner deployed as a lone striker, which limited Arsenal's attacking options.

West Ham, though, failed to make the most of their extra possession.

Matthew Upson, the former Arsenal defender, was cautioned for tripping Eboue to concede a free-kick 25 yards out on the right.

Fabregas curled his effort around the wall, but wide.

Arsenal suddenly found another gear, lifted by the Emirates Stadium faithful as Samir Nasri flashed a low ball across the face of goal from the right.

West Ham were still a danger, though, as Diamanti's drive was deflected behind for a corner.

Campbell forced a good save from Robert Green when he met Fabregas' free-kick, before Nasri was replaced by Bacary Sagna as Eboue went onto the right wing, while West Ham sent striker Benni McCarthy on for Mido.

Arshavin's drive was well held by Green on what was now a skiddy surface, before Cole cut inside and drilled a low shot onto the outside of the far post.

Arsenal secured themselves a two-goal cushion and some much-needed breathing space after Upson's handball with nine minutes left, as Fabregas made no mistake from the penalty spot as the Gunners recorded a sixth successive league victory.

[Naka_Timo]

Hope they can last till the end and provide this kind of frighting spirits till the end of the seasons.

[jackygogogo]

Gunners all the way!!!

[arsenal-fan]

hello all...I'm new here but I'm also a Arsenal Fan. Hope I'm welcome here.

[tatata21]

Hi. Exciting 3 horse race will be down to the wire.

If no serious injuries from now on, we should have a fair share of chances claiming the title! Something magnificient with the young and less depth team.

[stephan]

dun give urself too much hope... I had already disappointed many years, they give u some hope, then make u more sad....

[tatata21]

Originally Posted by stephan

dun give urself too much hope... I had already disappointed many years, they give u some hope, then make u more sad....

Lol.. true to a certain extent, but if you no hope, you everyday sad.

RVP is back in time, it just might turn out as a season for us. Still I would like to see 1-2 major signings whether we win any cup or don't. We need some sort of injection and booster to the team. Even if just 1 Chamakh it would be great! Somemore will be free in Summer.

[grandsexster]

with the spirit gunners may win. Gunners all the way liao.

[kiko]

Cesc Fabregas kept Arsenal's European dream alive after the Gunners came from 2-0 down to draw the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona at Emirates Stadium.
The Spaniards had lived up to their billing as favourites following a blistering start and a second-half double from Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked to have all but killed off the tie.

However, Theo Walcott came off the bench to pull a goal back before Fabregas - who will miss the second leg at his old club after being booked - smashed in a late penalty after Carles Puyol was sent off for fouling the midfielder in the box.

While Barcelona will still be favourites to progress, Arsene Wenger's young side again showed great character and could yet prove their doubters wrong once more with a similarly courageous display in the Nou Camp.

Arsenal were on the backfoot straight away in a frenetic opening, with Thomas Vermaelen cutting out a low ball into the six-yard box.

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia - who had been at fault for Birmingham's stoppage-time equaliser on Saturday - was suddenly in the thick of the action as the Spaniard pulled off fine saves to deny Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi.

The hosts just could not get hold of the ball - a situation so alien here at Emirates Stadium.

Almunia was again called into action when he blocked Messi's drive following another mesmerising run by the Argentina international as the Gunners were simply outplayed at their own game, the home fans subdued as Wenger paced his technical area.

Then, the Arsenal keeper first denied Ibrahimovic from point-blank range and then spread himself in front of Xavi to save the follow-up before Messi's effort was blocked on the line by Alex Song, and eventually the ball hacked clear.

With quarter-of-an-hour gone, it continued to be relentless, one-way traffic from the Spaniards.

When Arsenal finally got some possession, Andrey Arshavin swung over a dangerous cross from the right before Samir Nasri cut inside from the left and drilled an angled shot across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

On 27 minutes, Arsenal were forced into a change when Arshavin was replaced by Emmanuel Eboue on 27 minutes, as the Russian limped off.

Barcelona continued to look the more threatening as Ibrahimovic again shot over.

Nicklas Bendtner - who smashed a hat-trick against Porto to seal a place in the quarter-finals - was picked out by Nasri's left-wing cross. But the Dane could only fire his close-range effort against keeper Victor Valdes and the rebound onto the post. However, the assistant had already correctly flagged for offside.

Three minutes before the break, defender William Gallas - just back from eight games out - had to be carried off after appearing to aggravate his calf problem. Song dropped back into the centre of defence, with Denilson coming into midfield.

Just before the break, Fabregas was penalised for a foul on Busquets, with Swiss referee Massimo Busacca showing a yellow card - which rules the Spaniard out of next week's return to his old club.

Then, disaster struck for Arsenal 30 seconds after the restart.

A long ball from inside the Barcelona half by Gerard Pique split the centre-backs, and Ibrahimovic raced clear down the right channel.

Almunia decided to come out, which invited the Swede to simply lob his shot up and over the keeper into the far corner.

The Gunners looked for a quick response when Fabregas sprinted down the right before releasing Gael Clichy on the overlap.

His cross was met by Bendtner, but the Dane could only power a header straight at Valdes.

It was, though, seemingly game over and indeed the end of the Gunners' European dream when, on 59 minutes, Ibrahimovic beat the offside trap as he latched onto Xavi's fine throughball, before drilling his shot past Almunia.

With 24 minutes left, Wenger made his final throw of the dice as he sent on Walcott for Bacary Sagna.

It proved an inspired move as the winger, under the watchful gaze of England manager Fabio Capello, latched onto Bendtner's pass on the right side of the box, before slipping the ball under Valdes.

With seven minutes left, the match turned when Barcelona captain Puyol barged into Fabregas as he tried to connect with a knockdown from Bendtner.

The referee pointed to the spot, before showing a red card. Fabregas lashed in the spot-kick to give his side hope at the Nou Camp.

[stephan]

Originally Posted by tatata21

Lol.. true to a certain extent, but if you no hope, you everyday sad.

RVP is back in time, it just might turn out as a season for us. Still I would like to see 1-2 major signings whether we win any cup or don't. We need some sort of injection and booster to the team. Even if just 1 Chamakh it would be great! Somemore will be free in Summer.

If u watch today Arsenal vs Wolves game, u should feel it now!

(after posting this... Arsenal get a final goal at 94mins... really last min goal)

Anyway, I still dun see any chance for Arsenal...

[Ah Ken]

Me too. I don't think they can be champions of EPL.
Maybe 2nd spot is possible?

[kiko]

Nicklas Bendtner came off the bench to head a dramatic stoppage-time winner and keep Arsenal's Premier League title dreams alive with a narrow 1-0 win over 10-man Wolves at the Emirates Stadium.


• Wenger thought it was all over




The Gunners - outplayed by Barcelona for large spells at home on Tuesday night - made seven changes to their starting XI as manager Arsene Wenger clearly had one eye on next week's Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Nou Camp.
However, despite dominating the home side could not find a breakthrough until deep into five minutes of stoppage time.

Wolves defended bravely and overcame the sending off of captain Karl Henry for a late challenge on Tomas Rosicky only to be denied when Bendtner headed in what could prove to be the young Dane's most vital strike yet.

Bendtner also netted a last-gasp strike as the Gunners defeated Hull last month.

The victory keeps Arsenal on the coat tails of Chelsea and Manchester United with five games remaining.

After Chelsea went back to the top of the table with their controversial 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, Wenger knew there was little margin for error if Arsenal wanted to keep pace as the title race heats up.

Theo Walcott - recalled to the team after his goal against Barcelona - weaved his way into the Wolves box after cutting in from the right, before chipping the ball back across goal where Eduardo forced goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann into a fine, one-handed reaction save.

Wolves defender Michael Mancienne charged forwards and let fly from 25 yards, which was just off target.

Arsenal went close again when Rosicky pulled the ball back through a crowded six-yard box to find Eduardo, but the Croatian could only stab the ball wide as he lost balance.

Walcott then released right-back Bacary Sagna on the overlap into the Wolves penalty area, and his shot was blocked by Hahnemann.

After 15 minutes, the French defender was in again, this time sliding to hook the ball to Emmanuel Eboue, whose attempted backheel hit his trailing leg.

Arsenal continued to press, with Walcott testing Hahnemann with a 20-yard snap-shot after the ball dropped to him from a corner.

Although it continued to be one-way traffic, Wolves remained solid.

Rosicky created some space for himself on the edge of the area, but could only fire his shot high into the stands, while Denilson then drilled a low effort wide and Mikael Silvestre tested the Wolves goalkeeper again.

Arsenal maintained the pressure at the start of the second half as Silvestre flashed a low centre across goal.

Alex Song collected the ball 30 yards out and charged forwards, only to blaze his shot wide.

Walcott continued to be Arsenal's main attacking outlet, but the home side lacked any real presence in the Wolves box.

Eduardo volleyed wide after reacting quickly to a high ball.

As the hour mark approached, Rosicky cut in from the right and fired a low, angled drive goalwards, which Hahnemann was again behind.

There was still a threat from Wolves, though, as winger Matthew Jarvis flashed a couple of dangerous balls into the Arsenal six-yard box.

After 66 minutes, Wolves captain Henry was shown a straight red by referee Andre Marriner for needlessly going through the back of Rosicky, who was facing his own goal in the centre-circle.

The Czech midfielder needed treatment to his calf, but was soon back on the pitch and forced Hahnemann into another good reaction save before Bendtner stretched the American with a looping header.

Rosicky cleared off the line as Sol Campbell deflected the ball towards his own goal following a Wolves corner.

Arsenal sent on Mexican Carlos Vela to try to find a way through.

Walcott stabbed a close-range effort wide during five minutes of stoppage time.

Then, just when it seemed all over, Sagna whipped the ball into the six-yard box where Bendtner arrived to bullet a header past Hahnemann as the Emirates Stadium erupted.



Wenger thought it was all over



Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal's title chances would have been "finished" if they had not produced a dramatic stoppage-time winner against 10-man Wolves at the Emirates Stadium.


"It keeps us in the title race, yes. If we had not won, it would have been finished," said Wenger. "You know if you are five points behind Chelsea with five games to go, you can forget it, but with three points it is feasible. We have a difficult programme but they have a difficult programme as well."

Wenger continued: "It was important to forget Barcelona for 24 hours and focus on today's game, and that was not easy. But we did it well - I think we had a good focus. We were a bit jaded physically, but we kept going and we were serious, we didn't make a mistake at the back.

"In the end we got a deserved victory against a resilient Wolves team who had a great goalkeeper. We kept it late, as with many times, but overall we deserved to win the game."

Bendtner had also struck a crucial late winner at Hull. Wenger said: "Bendtner is a player who can take critics. He responds well to it and has that strength. I believe he is improving, which is not unusual for a young player at 22. There is still room for improvement, but he is becoming more of a team player and is working hard. It is all positive."

Wenger feels Arsenal must win all of their remaining matches to stand a chance of winning the league.

"I calculated how many games we have to play and how far we can go if we win all our games, 86 (points), so I decided that 86 will do it," he quipped.

Arsenal will head to Barcelona without key men like captain Cesc Fabregas, out with a broken leg.

Wenger, though, maintains all hope is not lost. "We have to raise above the impression Barcelona left on us in the first part of the match, to have a game plan and stick to it," he said. "I believe we have to be audacious and not hide. I do not deny in the first part of the game that Barcelona were over-dominant, if you look at the chances we created, we had some good ones."

Wenger, meanwhile, felt there was no malicious intent in the challenge from Henry, who went through the back of Rosicky.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy believes his captain had been somewhat unfortunate to have been shown a straight red card, with referee Andre Marriner perhaps influenced by the reaction of the Arsenal squad.

"It was a bad decision, because Karl got the ball," McCarthy said. We were not kicking the Arsenal players, but there were quite a few players around the referee helping him make his decision.

"We were doing all the tackling and blocks that we had to before we went down to 10 men, but when you go down to 10 men it makes life pretty damn difficult. They had loads of chances and could have scored before, but having got to the stage of the game that we did, I have no doubt it is fatigue that has cost us."

McCarthy is confident his squad have enough about them to stay up.

"If honesty, endeavour and teamwork keep the team in the league then we have got a good chance," he said.

[kiko]

Lionel Messi lived up to his billing as the best player in the world with four goals to end Arsenal's Champions League dream in the Nou Camp.

Nicklas Bendtner had fired the Gunners into a shock lead on 18 minutes. However, Messi soon drew Barcelona level after capitalising on a mistake by Mikael Silvestre.
The Argentina forward then added a second from close range before dashing clear to make it 3-1 on the night just before the break, and grabbed a fourth with three minutes left to complete a comfortable 6-3 aggregate victory for the tournament holders.

Arsene Wenger's injury-hit squad - without the likes of captain Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin and Alex Song - must now regroup and focus on overhauling Chelsea and Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League title race.

Arsenal, playing in their white change kit, looked determined not to be overrun as they had during the opening exchanges of the first leg.

Barcelona, however, created an couple of chances when Xavi, captain for the night in the absence of suspended Carles Puyol, flicked the ball wide before Messi fired an angled shot just over the bar in a sign of things to come.

The English side, though, snatched a shock lead on their first real chance after 18 minutes.

Theo Walcott was put clear by Abou Diaby down the right, and he dashed into the Barca penalty area before squaring to Bendtner.

Victor Valdes made a good reaction save, but the in-form Denmark striker was quick to stab the rebound into the net and put the English team ahead in the tie for the first time.

The Gunners then wasted another chance of a breakaway, as Diaby pushed the ball left to Bendtner when Walcott was in space on the right.

It proved a costly error as Barcelona went up the other end to equalise on 21 minutes.

Silvestre, in the side ahead of veteran Sol Campbell who was not fully fit, failed to clear the ball on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area - and Messi needed no second invitation, lashing his shot into the top right corner.

Messi continued to torment Arsenal as he collected the ball on the right touchline before weaving into the box and drilling a shot into the side netting.

Arsenal were again punished by Messi for some poor defending as Barcelona went 2-1 ahead on 37 minutes.

Eric Abidal crossed the ball into the Arsenal box from the right, which was cut out by Thomas Vermaelen. However, his team-mates were slow to react as Pedro knocked the loose ball out to Messi - and he smashed it past Almunia.

The Argentina international completed a stunning hat-trick four minutes before the break when he latched onto a header from Abidal to race clear before dispatching a brilliant chip over the Arsenal keeper.

Messi nearly had another at the start of the second half when Pedro whipped a low ball across the Arsenal six-yard box from the right, which was just too far ahead of the Barcelona forward.

Arsenal had little choice but to go forwards, but that left the visitors exposed at the back.

The visitors nearly found away through when Diaby stabbed the ball to Bendtner just inside the Barcelona box, but the Denmark striker was hustle out of possession before he could shoot.

Then when left-back Gael Clichy broke and fed Bendtner, the home defence again got back in numbers to clear.

Diaby's low ball across the edge of the Barcelona box went all the way through to Tomas Rosicky, but the Czech snatched at his shot, which flew harmlessly wide.

Messi's clever quick free-kick released Pedro, but his angled chip was off target, before at the other end Bendtner's header crashed against the post - but the offside flag was up.

With 18 minutes left, Wenger sent on Eduardo for Rosicky, with Samir Nasri moving out to the left in a 4-4-2.

Clichy knocked Alves off the ball to charge forwards, but, with team-mates well placed, drilled an ambitious shot over from 20 yards.

Maxwell forced Almunia into a good save at his near post after cutting into the right side of the Arsenal penalty area.

Messi then completed a fine night's work with another well-taken goal three minutes from time as the holders marched on towards a mouth-watering semi-final clash against Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan.

[Naka_Timo]

Hope to c some new and defender next season.

[spotter542]

Wenger rushing Robin van Persie back for this crucial match against bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Arsenal plagued by too many injuries on key players. Gallas , Fabregas & Arsharvin.
Hope Bendtner and Walcott will be attacking too.
My prediction for this match : Spurs 1 - 2 Arsenal