Arsenal hammer a weakened Newcastle side

Arsenal beat Newcastle 4-0 on Wednesday night at St James' Park to reach the quarter finals of the Carling Cup. Walcott grabbed 2 goals, Bendtner got one and an own goal sealed the victory. Both teams fielded weakened sides but Arsenal put a stronger lineup out than in recent years in this competition. Wojciech Szczesny was playing in goal for the Gunners, making only his second Arsenal appearence. Meanwhile in midfield young Craig Eastmond was only making his sixth start for Arsenal.

Arsenal should have taken the lead only 20 seconds into the game when Williamson gifted the ball to Rosicky who fed the ball through to Vela but his shot was kept out and went for a corner. Walcott took the corner and delivered it towards Bendtner who had 3 bites at the ball but failed to convert his chances. It was all Arsenal and Bendtner had another great chance to make it 1-0 moments later but he dragged his shot wide.

Then Newcastle had their first chance of the game when Ranger was sent through and went round the oncoming Szczesny but failed to score as his shot was blocked by Koscielny. From the resulting throw in, Denilson gave the ball straight to Smith who smashed a thundering shot towards goal. Szczesny managed to get fingertips to it to tip the ball onto the bar to make a great save.

Arsenal were then forced into making an unfortunate substitution on only 18 minutes as Kieran Gibbs hobbled off to be replaced by Bacary Sagna.

Eboue got a great chance when he raced down the left hand side, he opted to shoot from a tight angle but wasted the opportunity when the ball hit the side netting and there were plenty of Arsenal bodies in the box which he should have found.

Then just before half time Arsenal finally took the lead through an own goal. Walcott delivered a corner and it was then headed towards Bendtner who flicked it towards goal. The ball was cleared off the line but straight on to the head of the Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul and in.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Arsenal.



8 minutes into the second half the Gunners doubled their lead through Theo Walcott. Johan Djourou with a massive defensive clearence to Walcott who raced clear and dinked the ball over Krul to make it 2-0 to Arsenal.

Newcastle were now begining to create chances and Szczesny saved brilliantly from close range from Taylor after an inswinging corner from Guthrie.

But 8 minutes from time the Gunners sealed the victory through Nicklas Bendtner. Guthrie had gifted the ball to Fabregas who then found Bendtner who fired the ball beyond Tim Krul to make it 3-0.

Szczesny then stopped Newcastle again from grabbing a consolation goal when he made a brilliant save from Ryan Taylor's free kick, diving to his left hand side to keep the score at 3-0.

Arsenal then completed the win 2 minutes from time when Koscielny found Walcott who raced clear again and slotted the ball past Krul for his second and Arsenal's fourth of the night.

The final score ended Newcastle 0-4 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Newcastle: Krul, Williamson, Perch, Taylor, Kadar, Guthrie, Routledge(56), Smith(70), Vuckic, Lovenkrands(56), Ranger.
Subs: Coloccini, Gutierrez(56), Tiote, Carroll(56), Soderberg, Enrique, Barton(70).

Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Djourou, Koscielny, Gibbs(18), Denilson, Eastmond, Rosicky, Walcott, Bendtner(83), Vela(69).
Subs: Fabianski, Sagna(18), Nordtveit, Fabregas(69), Arshavin, Emmauel-Thomas(83), Lansbury.


My man of the match: Theo Walcott

Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 33,157

Arsenal gundown 10 men City

Arsenal beat an in form Manchester City side at the City of Manchester Stadium 3-0 on Sunday to move into second place in the table and 5 points behind Chelsea. City had a man sent off early on which didn't help their cause. Nasri, Song and Bendtner grabbed the goals. Arsenal despite being heavily criticised against not doing well against their title rivals put the critics wrong with a well deserved victory against a team that had beaten Chelsea 1-0 earlier in the season.

Manchester City got a great early chance to take the lead when Tevez broke down the right hand side. He slid the ball into Silva who flicked the ball towards goal but Fabianski kept the shot out brilliantly diving to his right hand side.

Man City's chances then took a turn for the worse when young centre back Dedryk Boyata was sent off for bringing down Chamakh just outside the box. The referee had no choice but to send the player off because he had got none of the ball and was denying a goal scoring opportunity.
Manchester City were still causing troubles despite being down to 10 men and Tevez had a great opportunity to break the deadlock but his shot was straight at Fabianski.

There were chances at both ends now and Djourou had a chance to make the score 1-0 to Arsenal but put his free header over the bar after a great ball in from Sagna.
Then on 20 minutes the deadlock was broken and Arsenal had a deserved goal. Nasri playing a neat 1-2 with Arshavin and then firing the shot home for his seventh goal of the season.

Manchester City were fashioning a lot of chances and Micah Richards got a great chance from right back to score but put his shot harmlessly wide on his weaker foot.

Arsenal were then awarded with a penalty after Kompany brought down Fabregas just inside the area. Fabregas stepped up to take the penalty as usual but his spot kick was saved brilliantly by the hands of Joe Hart to keep the score at 1-0 going into the break.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Arsenal.

Fabregas got a great early chance in the second half to make up for his penalty miss but he hit the shot tamely and it was saved by Hart.

Manchester City then had a great chance to grab an equaliser but David Silva's shot was again saved brilliantly by Fabianski. From the resulting corner Adebayor got a great chance to score against his former team but headed over from just 4 yards out.

Manchester City were ruing their missed chances and Arsenal then extended their lead to 2-0 half way into the second half after Bridge gifted the ball to Song inside the area. He then smashed the ball into the back of the net for his second goal of the week. The three points looked in the bag now for the Gunners.


Arsenal were now having the majority of the chances and with City down to 10 men the defence were now looking tired and weak. Chamakh got a great chance to make it 3-0 to the Gunners but blazed his shot over the crossbar.

The Gunners then sealed the victory late on when Nasri did brilliantly to keep the ball in play on the left hand side. He then fed the ball to Bendtner who slotted the ball beyond Hart for his first goal since coming back from injury. The score was now 3-0 to the Arsenal.

City had a great chance to get a consolation goal when Silva fed Adebayor but Clichy got the crucial tackle in and the ball went out for a corner. From the corner the ball went out to Boateng on the edge of the box who smashed an effort towards goal but Fabianski who had had a great game tipped the ball over the bar to keep his clean sheet intact.

The final score ended Manchester City 0-3 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Manchester City: Hart, Richards, Boyata, Kompany, Boateng, Milner, Barry(71), De Jong, Toure Yaya(46), Silva, Tevez(51).
Subs: Given, Bridge(46), Lescott, Vieira, Johnson, Adebayor(51), Balotelli(71).

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Djourou, Squillaci, Clichy, Arshavin(69), Denilson, Song, Fabregas(83), Nasri, Chamakh(83).
Subs: Szczesny, Koscielny, Gibbs, Eboue, Walcott(83), Rosicky(69), Bendtner(83).

My man of the match: Lukasz Fabianski

Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Attendance: 47,393

Arsenal run riot as Eduardo returns to the Emirates

Arsenal continued their deadly Champions League form with a 5-1 victory over Ukranian side Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night. The goals came from Song, Nasri, Fabregas from the penalty spot, Wilshere and Chamakh. Eduardo was playing for Shakhtar, the team he departed to after leaving the Gunners in the Summer. It was a welcome return to the Emirates as he scored Donetsk's consolation goal.

Arsenal grabbed their first real opportunity 17 minutes into the game when Nasri whipped in a ball from the left but Chamakh failed to get onto the end of it and it came off a Shakhtar player and out for a corner.
From the resulting corner Arsenal got the breakthrough. Pyatov in the Shakhtar goal made a hash of Squillaci's headed attempt towards goal and spilt the ball right into the path of Djourou who then found Song who could not miss from 4 yards out.

Arsenal were pressuring the Ukranian side well and Nasri got a great chance to double the Gunners lead after Chamakh cushioned the ball down to him on the half volley but he saw his shot saved.
Then just before the break the Gunners did double their advantage. Song this time turned provider for Nasri who fired home to make the score 2-0.

The score at half time was 2-0 to Arsenal.

Shakhtar had a great chance to get back into the game when Luiz Adriano raced through on goal but only to see his shot saved by Fabianski.

Then on 60 minutes Arsenal were rewarded with a penalty after Djourou was brought down off the ball inside the area. The reliant skipper Cesc Fabregas stepped up to take the penalty and fired it into the top corner of the net to make it 3-0.

Arsenal now couldn't help themselves but score a fourth and they did. Jack Wilshere and Rosicky combining briliantly before Wilshere dinked the ball over the keeper to make it 4-0, it was a classic Arsenal goal.
Arsenal then grabbed their 5th and final of the night 3 minutes later after Nasri chipped the ball into Chamakh who thought he was offside and was waiting for the flag to be raised. The flag did not come though so he slotted the ball past the stationary Shakhtar goalkeeper to round off a perfect night for the Gunners.

The action was not over though and Shakhtar Donetsk grabbed a late consolation goal through the man that no Arsenal team would mind conceding against; Eduardo, after the ball was looped high in the air the Croatian international smashed the ball home on the half volley.

The final scored finished Arsenal 5-1 Shakhtar Donetsk.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Squillaci, Eboue, Djourou, Clichy, Fabregas(63), Rosicky, Wilshere, Song, Nasri(72), Chamakh(72).
Subs: Szczesny, Diaby, Walcott(72), Gibbs, Bendtner, Denilson(63), Arshavin(72).

Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Hubschman, Kucher, Srna, Rat, Teixeira, Mkhitaryan, Rakitskiy, Gai(68), Luiz Adriano(63), Willian(45).
Subs: Khudzhamov, Jadson(68), Kobin, Stepanenko, Costa(45), Eduardo(63), Chygrynskiy.

My man of the match: Jack Wilshere

Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (NOR)
Attendance: 60,016

Walcott and Bendtner return to squad as Arsenal win 2-1

Arsenal earned a much needed 3 points after they beat Birmingham 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Emirates. A Samir Nasri penalty and a Chamakh goal gave the hosts the victory after Zigic gave the visitors the lead. Jack Wilshere was sent off for the Gunners. Alexander Hleb was playing for Birmingham against the club he said he should never have left.

Arsenal had a great early chance to give the hosts the lead after a neat 1-2 between Wilshere and Chamakh but it resulted in the defender making a great block.
The Gunners then thought they had taken the lead when Nasri delivered a freekick from the left, Squillaci leapt the highest to head home but the linesman's flag was up for offside.

Arsenal had started very well and were pressing the visitors enormously when Larsson gifted the ball to Clichy but he only managed to drill his shot just wide.

Then out of the blue Birmingham took the lead on 33 minutes when 6ft 8 striker Zigic beat Djourou in the air and headed the ball past Fabianski to score the first goal of the game.
Birmingham had now livened up and Zigic had another great chance but he skied his shot miles over the bar.

4 minutes before half time Arsenal were awarded a penalty when Scott Dann brought down Chamakh in the area. Nasri stepped up to take the penalty and sent Foster the wrong way and grabbed Arsenal's equaliser.

The score at half time was Arsenal 1-1 Birmingham.

2 minutes into the second half Arsenal grabbed the lead when Chamakh danced around 2 players and slotted the ball past Foster to make the score 2-1.
Arsenal were pressing well again and Wilshere grabbed an opportunity to extend the Gunners lead but smashed his shot well over the bar.

Moments from the end of the game Jack Wilshere was shown his first career red card after a dangerous tackle on Nikola Zigic. A sour end to the game for Wilshere who had been playing well.

The final score ended Arsenal 2-1 Birmingham.

The teams lineups:
Arsenal: Fabianski, Eboue, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy, Arshavin(70), Wilshere, Nasri, Diaby, Song, Chamakh(79).
Subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Rosicky(70), Walcott, Denilson, Vela, Bendtner(79).

Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Hleb, Fahey(78), Bowyer(80), Ferguson, Larsson, Zigic.
Subs: Taylor, Jiranek, Murphy(78), Michel, O'Connor(80), Derbyshire, Phillips.

My man of the match: Marouane Chamakh

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Attendance: 60,070

Drogba shines again as Arsenal lose 2-0.

Arsenal slipped up again as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. A Drogba back heel and an Alex thunderbolt helped the Blues to beat the Gunners.

Arsenal got a fantastic early chance when Sagna whipped in a ball from the right hand side towards Chamakh but could only direct his header just wide of the post. Alex just managing to get a foot to it afterwards. From the resulting corner Koscielny headed over from 2 yards!
Nasri also got a great opportunity just inside the box but fired his shot wide.

Chelsea got their first chance of the game when Drogba raced into the box but Fabianski got down well and kept the effort out.
Minutes later Chelsea made it 1-0 after a ball was slotted through to Cole on the left hand side who fired in a low cross to the feet of Drogba who backheeled his shot off the post and in to continue his run of form against Arsenal.

The score at half time was 1-0.

A couple of minutes into the second half Arsenal had an appeal for a penalty when Ramires brought down Chamakh but the referee was perfectly placed and waved the play on.
It was all Arsenal and Nasri was set free by Song but his low cross was begging for a finish but did not get one.

Chelsea got a great chance to kill the game after Squillaci gifted the ball to Anelka, he then rounded the keeper but saw his shot hit the side netting!
Arsenal also got a great chance to grab an equaliser but Chamakh who was causing problems in the air headed just wide.

Chelsea were then awarded a free kick outside the box. Alex took the free kick and scored it with an absolute belter of a goal! A rocket shot which no goalkeeper would have kept out went sailing past the hands of Fabianski in the Gunners goal.

The final score ended: Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic(72), Alex, Terry, Cole, Malouda, Ramires(82), Essien, Mikel(88), Drogba, Anelka.
Subs: Turnbull, Ferreira(72), Van Aanholt, Zhirkov(82), McEachran, Sturridge(88). Kakuta

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy, Arshavin(86), Song, Wilshere(81), Nasri, Diaby(70), Chamakh.
Subs: Szczesny, Eboue, Djourou, Denilson, Emmauel-Thomas(81), Rosicky(70), Vela(86).

My man of the match: Lukasz Fabianski

Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 41, 828

Arsenal remain top of group H with 3-1 win

Arsenal remain top of Group H in the Champions League with a 3-1 away win in Serbia against Partizan Belgrade. Arshavin, Chamakh and Squillaci grabbed the goals.
The game started a little later than usual as one of the floodlights in the ground had stopped working but that did not stop the Gunners from putting in a good performance.

The game started quietly but Arsenal soon took the lead on 14 minutes after Wilshere managed to find space in the box, he back heeled the ball to Arshavin who fired home to give the visitors the lead.
Arsenal started to press and Arshavin had another great chance after he had won the ball back just outside the area but Stojkovic in the Partizan goal kept the effort out.

Rosicky also had a great chance when Arshavin slipped him in but again Stojkovic made the save. As a result Partizan when on the counter attack and Medo found the ball at his feet outside the area but smashed his effort high and wide.

Arsenal were having plenty of the ball and so was Arshavin who found himself in acres of space inside the box. He dinked the ball over the keeper but the shot was cleared off the line by a Belgrade defender.

Partizan were then awarded a penalty after Denilson handled the ball inside the box. Cleo stepped up to take the penalty and slotted the ball past Fabianski to make the score 1-1.

The first half remained that way and ended 1-1.

The second half kicked off when Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Jovanovic pulled down Chamakh. Jovanovic as a result was sent off. Arshavin took the penalty but smashed his shot straight at the keepers leg and the shot was kept out!

Arshavin then got another great opportunity to put the visitors in front but Stojkovic seemed to playing the Gunners on his own as he saved his team again.
Chamakh then grabbed a deserved goal as he headed in from 6 yards to give Arsenal a 2-1 lead.

Arsenal then sealed the victory 8 minutes from time when a Nasri corner was headed in by Squillaci for his first goal in Arsenal colours.

The action was far from finished though as Partizan grabbed their second penalty of the game. Cleo stepped up once again but this time Fabianski kept the shot out.

The final score ended Partizan Belgrade 1-3 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Partizan Belgrade: Stojkovic, Stevanovic, Medo, Tomic(58), Petrovic(68), Cleo, Boya, Jovanovic, Lazevski, Krstajic, Ilic.
Subs: Zivkovic, Stankovic, Savic(58), Kuzito, Illiev, Bogunov, Smiljanic(68).

Arsenal: Fabianski, Gibbs, Squillaci, Djourou, Sagna, Denilson, Song, Wilshere(73), Rosicky, Arshavin(84), Chamakh(73).
Subs: Szczesny, Koscielny, Clichy(84), Eboue, Nasri(73), Lansbury, Vela(73).

My man of the match: Lukasz Fabianski

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (GER)