Old Game Threads!

[kennethlindheim]

Arsenal need to build on their hard-fought win over Wigan when Portsmouth visit Emirates Stadium on Saturday, but the South Coast side are looking to prove their lofty Premiership position is no fluke.

Just one point separates the sides in the table at present, with Arsenal now the closest challengers to Chelsea and Manchester United in third place following their late 1-0 victory at Wigan on Wednesday.

The Gunners have also enjoyed wins of 4-0 and 3-0 at home to Pompey in the last two seasons, but Harry Redknapp's side are currently enjoying their finest spell in the Premiership and will be aiming to show they are genuine contenders for a European spot.

The visitors from Fratton Park are desperately short on firepower however, and Sol Campbell's first return to The Gunners since leaving in the summer could come in a makeshift attacking role if Pompey's injury crisis fails to subside.

Redknapp's best hope is former Arsenal striker Kanu who faces a late fitness test due to a knee problem, but Andy Cole (Achilles), Tresor Lomana Lua Lua (thigh) and Benjani Mwaruwari (hamstring) are definitely out.

Pompey have even joked about fielding coach Joe Jordan for the trip to London, but at least their midfield will be strengthened by the return of Pedro Mendes following suspension.

Dejan Stefanovic remains sidelined following a knee operation, whilst Arsenal will no doubt be wary of Matthew Taylor's potency from long range following his stunning strike against Everton last weekend.

Arsene Wenger will also be waiting on updates from his medical staff with both William Gallas (thigh) and Tomas Rosicky (groin, hamstring) nursing injuries.

The Gunners will be hoping Emmanuel Adebayor continues to impress as a replacement for injured skipper Thierry Henry following his goal against The Latics, with Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott, Freddie Ljungberg and Alexander Hleb hoping to be given the nod in the wide positions.

Arsenal are also likely to recall Cesc Fabregas after the talented Spaniard was rested for the trip to The JJB Stadium before emerging from the bench to set up Adebayor for the winning goal.

Lauren (knee) and Abou Diaby (ankle) are still pencilled in for a return in the New Year.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=435464

[Mighty T.A.L.]

0:1 Noe Pamarot (45')

[Olzy]

0-2 not sure who scored.

[russe||]

Matty Taylor, only a 25 yard volley this time.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

0:2 Matthew Taylor (47')

A fantastic goal again from Taylor.

[russe||]

Ooh, game on.

2-1.

Adebayor.

(He'd only been on the pitch 2 minutes)

[LAF]

Shit!

2-2 Gilberto, again!

[Olzy]

You can never rule Arsenal out espically at home.

[russe||]

Originally Posted by Olzy

You can never rule Arsenal out espically at home.

When was the last time Arsenal came back from 2-0 down to get a result?

[LAF]

Arsenal have the game by the balls. Just a matter of time.

[russe||]

FT 2-2

[kennethlindheim]

Arsenal produced a thrilling comeback to draw 2-2 with Portsmouth at The Emirates Stadium.

Noe Pamarot fired Pompey ahead against the run of play on the stroke of half-time and Matthew Taylor scored brilliantly to make it 2-0, but The Gunners hit back with two quick goals and continued to pound away late on as they looked for victory.

Arsenal will wonder how they left with just a point after a one-sided encounter, but there may also be a tinge of disappointment for Pompey after they had opened up a two-goal cushion.

Jeremie Aliadiere was surprisingly preferred to Emmanuel Adebayor up front for Arsenal but the young Frenchman started to justify his selection with some neat touches in the early exchanges.

He played a part in the build-up as The Gunners carved out the first opportunity of the game in the fifth minute, but Robin van Persie's firm header from Emmanuel Eboue's cross was well stopped by David James.

Arsenal were forced into a change after just moments later as Freddie Ljungberg hurt his knee whilst pulling out of a challenge on Glen Johnson and had to be replaced by Theo Walcott.

The substitution did not affect Arsenal's passing rhythm and they continued to dominate the rest of the first half, but Pompey packed the midfield with bodies and did well to starve them of many clear-cut openings.

Walcott skipped down the right and surged into the box in the 20th minute but could not pick out a team-mate in the centre as his cross was intercepted by James.

James was called into action again soon after as Cesc Fabregas let fly with a swerving effort from distance. He parried the ball straight into the path of van Persie but reacted quickly to spread himself and deny the Dutchman.

Pompey offered little as an attacking force and, apart from one long shot from Johnson, seemed reluctant to try their luck against Jens Lehmann.

They did look more threatening from set-pieces though, and silenced the Emirates Stadium crowd with a goal out of the blue in the 45thn minute.

Matt Taylor deserves credit for whipping in a superb free-kick from the right but Arsenal's marking was non-existent as David Thompson crept in unchallenged to crash a header against the post. The rebound was kind for Pompey as it looped out to Pamarot and he had no problem in nodding home from two yards.

Having come from behind to draw four Premiership games at home already this season Arsenal would have started the second half confident of getting at least a point, but their task was made doubly difficult when Taylor popped up with another stunning left-foot goal after 47 minutes.

Not quite as spectacular as his strike against Everton but again showing textbook technique on the volley, Taylor lifted his shot from the outside of the area past Lehmann and into the top right corner after Arsenal had again failed to deal with a cross into the area.

Arsene Wenger responded by bringing Adebayor on for Aliadiere and Arsenal immediately raised the tempo to a level Pompey could not live with.

Adebayor saw a penalty appeal waved away just seconds after his introduction following a strong run into the box but reduced Arsenal's arrears in the 58th minute as he connected with an inch-perfect low cross from Walcott, who had once again broken down the right with lightning pace.

Producing the type of inspirational performance that Arsenal fans have become accustomed to from Thierry Henry over the years, Adebayor was also instrumental in Arsenal's equaliser after 60 minutes.

After James had beaten away Kolo Toure's shot Adebayor crossed from the left and found Walcott at the far post. The teenager scuffed the ball fortuitously back to Gilberto, and the Brazilian coolly slotted his shot past James from 12 yards.

Arsenal's relentless pressure continued in the last half hour and only a superb tackle from Johnson prevented Adebayor unleashing another shot.

Linvoy Primus also denied Alexander Hleb with an equally good challenge, before van Persie poked wide following a delightful dribble from midfield.

Hleb matched his team-mate for skill as he jinked into the area but also missed the target with his shot, while Gilberto saw an effort slide inches past the post after being released down the right.

Portsmouth tried to take the sting out of the game in the closing stages but it was one-way traffic until the final whistle, with Mathieu Flamini slicing wide in stoppage time.

http://home.skysports.com/matchrepor...ootba ll_home

[JD]

disapointing - we only started to play at 2-0 down
pompey prob deserved something from that
I watched it hungover/still pished in a new york bar
decent atmosphere actually

[kennethlindheim]

Arsenal play host to Blackburn aware that they cannot afford any more slips if they are to put any sort of pressure on Manchester United and Chelsea.

The Gunners' transition to their new Emirates Stadium has been anything but smooth and Saturday's draw with Portsmouth was their fifth at home this term - although they are yet to lose on home soil.

Arsene Wenger will be without three of his big guns for the visit of Rovers, as William Gallas (thigh), captain Thierry Henry (hamstring) and Fredrik Ljungberg (hamstring) remain sidelined.

Tomas Rosicky has returned to the fold, but Mathieu Flamini must pass a fitness test on his shoulder to figure.

Lauren returned to action for the reserves recently, but he is unlikely to be risked even though Emmanuel Eboue is set to miss out with an ankle complaint.

Rovers head to North London in poor form, as they have gone five away games without keeping a clean sheet and manager Mark Hughes is aware they are flirting with relegation.

And the Welshman's cause has not been helped by the suspension which has ruled top scorer Benni McCarthy out of the trip south.

Stephane Henchoz returns after serving a suspension, while Zurab Khizanishvili and Brett Emerton are hopeful of shaking off groin and hamstring injuries respectively.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=437066

[russe||]

3-1 at half time.

Just seen the goals.

Good header for the 1st and great work from Hleb for the 2nd but what a dive for the 3rd from van Persie.