Old Game Threads! - Page 2 - TalkSoccer

**kennethlindheim** · 23-12-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Arsenal maintained their unbeaten Premiership record at The Emirates Stadium with a 6-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Three goals in the space of 17 first-half minutes had put the game out of the sight for The Gunners after Shabani Nonda had given Rovers an early advantage.

Gilberto Silva, Alexander Hleb and Emmanuel Adebayor all found the net and although Nonda's second gave the visitors renewed hope, Arsenal never looked like being denied - with two strikes from Robin van Persie and one from Mathieu Flamini sealing the win in the final minutes.

Blackburn had taken the lead after just three minutes, when David Bentley was adjudged to have been hauled down in the box by Kolo Toure. Congo striker Nonda made no mistake from the spot, but the joy for the visitors was shortlived.

Toure's header from Tomas Rosicky's corner had hit the bar on nine minutes, but less than 60 seconds later the scores were level. This time van Persie's corner found Gilberto unmarked for the Brazil midfielder to steer his header into the top corner.

Blackburn responded well, with Morten Gamst Pedersen going close with a free-kick before Bentley saw his rasping long-range drive tipped wide.

But on 23 minutes, Arsenal had taken the lead when Adebayor played in Hleb in for the Belarus international to cut inside Andy Todd and slot the ball home.

Four minutes later, it was 3-1 as a clumsy push by Lucas Neill on van Persie gave referee Howard Webb no choice but to point to the spot. Adebayor duly stepped up and sent Brad Friedel the wrong way.

Blackburn's best play was coming through Bentley, and the former Gunner was denied by Jens Lehmann three minutes before the break after another effort from outside the box.

A Rovers comeback looked unlikely and the second half saw Arsenal turn the screw with some delightful football.

Cesc Fabregas twice went close to adding to the scoreline, with one effort from the edge of the box deflected just wide, while the legs of Friedel denied him after 57 minutes.

Rosicky was then left cursing after his shot from Adebayor's cutback was headed on to the bar by Andre Ooijer and scrambled clear.

And Arsenal's were almost made to pay for their failure to put the game out of sight on 69 minutes when Nonda netted his second of the match - the on-loan Roma striker showing great awareness to score with an overhead kick after Matt Derbyshire had hit the bar.

With eight minutes left Rovers almost levelled, only for the acrobatics of Lehmann to deny Pedersen - however Blackburn's hopes were finally ended when van Persie rifled the ball home on 85 minutes.

Adebayor and Fabregas then combined to tee up van Persie for his second three minutes later, while Flamini made it 6-2 in the final seconds.

http://home.skysports.com/matchrepor...=298507&CPID=8

EG7 · 23-12-2006, 05:55 PM

fuck about! what a result. where are the arsenal fans on this forum???!

**russe||** · 23-12-2006, 11:16 PM

Well played Arsenal, you destroyed Blackburn, they just couldn't cope with your movement.

c.ronaldo#1 · 24-12-2006, 01:31 AM

Henry sure looks happy from the sidelines. I am happy he is because the way the team are playing without him he might have to get used to staying there.

**kennethlindheim** · 24-12-2006, 09:43 AM

What an amazing result for Arsenal. Adebayor keeps impressing me week after week. I first thought of him as a mediocore forward when they first bought him and I regret that, hes improving alot.

EG7 · 24-12-2006, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennethlindheim

What an amazing result for Arsenal. Adebayor keeps impressing me week after week. I first thought of him as a mediocore forward when they first bought him and I regret that, hes improving alot.

yeh I second that, he has really improved this season, used to be a bit average, ambitious but things didnt come off, now hes actually pulling stuff off and has realy matured too

**Mighty T.A.L.** · 24-12-2006, 10:53 AM

Arsenal is not that depended on Henry as I thought.

Werdna · 27-12-2006, 12:51 PM

well played again Arsenal. At times breathtaking football.

When Henry does come back he will most probably be quite a bit better than the past 12 months...

He will be rested.
He will have less pressure as he has seen the team can win and score goals without him.
he will have to try hard to get back into the team.

I wouldn't write Arsenal off of another CL final just yet...

**kennethlindheim** · 29-12-2006, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Arsenal could be given a helping hand in their bid to make it three wins out of three over the festive period as Neil Warnock is pondering fielding a weakened side when Sheffield United entertain The Gunners on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1.

The Blades must travel to Middlesbrough on New Year's Day for a game that could have a significant impact at the bottom of the table, and as such Warnock may choose to rest some of his key men against Arsene Wenger's third-placed side.

The odds are already stacked firmly in Arsenal's favour after embarking on a seven-match unbeaten run, with the Christmas period bringing a thumping 6-2 win over Blackburn and a narrow 2-1 defeat of Watford.

In contrast, United have lost 3-1 to Portsmouth and 1-0 to Manchester City to end their brief resurgence in form, and Warnock's men will be keen to avoid a repeat of the 3-0 defeat that accompanied their visit to Emirates Stadium earlier in the season.

However, as well as possibly resting a number of players, Warnock has injury concerns over seven members of his squad, with Danny Webber, Michael Tonge, Keith Gillespie and Claude Davis all suffering from a viral infection.

Also of concern is the possible absence of captain Phil Jagielka, although his ankle injury is rated as less serious than Stephen Quinn's who will miss the visit of the Londoners.

Derek Geary is also suffering from a dead leg picked up in the defeat to Manchester City as The Blades look to increase their two-point advantage over 18th placed West Ham.

Arsenal still have their sights set on chasing down Chelsea and Manchester United, and only a win will do if they are to have any chance of closing the ten-point gap on the second-placed Blues.

Wenger will again have to do without experienced trio Thierry Henry (sciatic nerve), William Gallas (thigh) and Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring).

In-form Togo star Emmanuel Adebayor has joined the injured list after picking up a thigh injury against Watford, meaning Jeremie Aliadiere or Julio Baptista could be in line for a rare start.

Johan Djourou is a doubt with a hamstring problem sustained in the same game so Swiss compatriot Philippe Senderos could fill in again, whilst Lauren could return to the squad following a year on the sidelines as Emmanuel Eboue is still struggling with an ankle problem.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=438152