Wenger - It's still a young Carling Cup side

 
Arsène Wenger insists his Carling Cup team is as youthful as ever, it’s just not as obvious as before.

The manager’s policy of giving youngsters the opportunity to cut their teeth in previous seasons seems to have been overlooked on the surface this time around, though look a little deeper and you can see Wenger’s point.

Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs, Craig Eastmond and Wojciech Szczesny have all played their part this season alongside relative ‘old timers’ Theo Walcott, 21, and Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner, both 22. Hardly a team of veterans.

Wenger says the experience of his youthful side is testament to players who initially made their name in the competition and have now made the cut at the highest level.

“You will be surprised if you look at the age of the Carling Cup team,” said Wenger.
“People are used to seeing them in the Premier League so it doesn’t look as exclusively a Carling Cup team anymore.

“I have many players who are top level and I have many players who are young as well.
“When I speak about the young players, the young players are still in the squad but they are still very young.

“We need games for young players so that explains why we have less ‘super’ young players playing. However, the team who plays in the Carling Cup is still very young."

Eboue back ahead of schedule for Wigan

Emmanuel Eboue has made a remarkable recovery from injury and will be named in the squad for the Carling Cup tie against Wigan at Emirates Stadium.

The Ivorian was stretchered off at Braga last Tuesday with a medial knee ligament strain. At the time, Wenger said: “It can be four weeks, can be six weeks or can be eight weeks. But I think it will be four weeks minimum.”

It turned out to be one week.

“Emmanuel Eboue is back in the squad much quicker than planned,” Wenger told TV Online on Monday afternoon. “When we made a scan his knee was swollen but the ligament was intact so we decided to push him back as quickly as possible and the tests were successful.” 

The prognosis for the other casualty from Portugal remains the same and there will be one omission from the 4-2 win at Aston Villa.

“Cesc is still out,” said Wenger. “He has ten more days or two weeks maximum. Sebastien Squillaci has a knee problem from Saturday. He is out, everyone else is available.” 

Wenger indicated that his side for Tuesday’s Carling Cup Quarter-Final will be similar in strength to the ones that won at Tottenham and Newcastle in previous rounds. The manager confirmed that Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner will be in the squad but, aside from that, he wanted to keep his counsel.

“I don’t want to give the team today,” said the Frenchman. “The only thing I promise is that we will take the tie seriously.

 “I have to consider how many games my players play. For six weeks we have played every three days with Champions League and internationals. I will consider who needs to play and who needs to rest.”

Aston Villa 2 - 4 Arsenal - Match Report

Arsenal went top of the table early on Saturday afternoon thanks to a nail-biting 4-2 win at Aston Villa.

After a tough, tough week, Arsène Wenger’s side needed a win of any kind to restore their confidence. They made heavy weather of the three points here today but it was still thoroughly deserved.

Results later on Saturday will probably see them knocked off the summit of the Premier League. But the ability to be there suggests Arsenal’s problems are being overplayed right now.

The visitors bossed the first half but had to wait until 39 minutes until Andrey Arshavin fired home. On the whistle a corner from the Russian, excellent on the day, was volleyed in by Samir Nasri.

Ciaran Clark fired Villa a lifeline six minutes after the restart but Marouane Chamakh replied almost immediately to restore the visitors' two-goal cushion.

Clark headed home with 20 minutes to go but, despite the odd scare, Arsenal were untroubled.

In the final seconds, Chamakh set up Jack Wilshere to head home at the far post.

This win does not answer all the questions posed at Arsenal this week. But it is a blessed relief in current circumstances.

Wenger’s men have had a hard seven days but they are still capable of having a great season.

The Frenchman made seven changes from the side beaten 2-0 at Braga in midweek.

From the back four only Sebastien Squillaci survived. Kieran Gibbs and Johan Djourou dropped to the bench. Emmanuel Eboue (knee) was injured. Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny and Gael Clichy came in.

Alex Song, Tomas Rosicky and Andrey Arshavin came into midfield. Denilson and Theo Walcott started as substitutes while Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) was sidelined. Chamakh came in for Nicklas Bendtner up front.

Villa had John Carew and James Collins back from injury. Meanwhile Robert Pires was making his first start in English football since Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Wigan in May 2006 – the ‘final salute’ to Highbury.

It was a bitterly cold November afternoon and both sides needed a victory. Arsenal’s travails had been headlines all week but Villa were struggling too. They were used to being a top eight side but they went into this game in the bottom eight. Their side were laudably young but they had been paying for it with points.

And, as it turned out, this afternoon would be expensive.

The visitors might have been ahead within seconds. Arshavin angled a pass to Chamakh eight yards out. Brad Friedel half-blocked his shot, Richard Dunne deflected the ball goalwards and Collins booted the ball of the line.

The Moroccan had scored after 38 seconds at Wolves. This would have been even quicker.

A couple of minutes later Wilshere fed Rosicky and the midfielder drove a snap shot wide of the far post.

In the 14th minute, Chamakh’s back-header fell to the feet of the Czech midfielder just inside the area. He elected to shoot with the outside of his right foot and his effort rolled weakly in to the hands of Friedel.

It was all Arsenal. The visitors had taken the game to Villa and were completely on top. They simply needed a goal.

Chamakh, Arshavin and Nasri all had efforts blocked as Arsenal lined up to shoot.

But there was always the nagging of a breakaway chance.

It came in the 25th minute.

Stewart Downing crossed from the right, Clark flicked it on and Ashley Young popped up at the far post to steer a shot over the bar. In the context of this game, it was a massive miss.

However, it did nothing to turn the tide. Just after the half-hour, Nasri crossed low into the six-yard area and Dunne sliced the ball over his own bar.

Then Arshavin’s trickery left Pires on his backside. The Russian’s cross eventually found Nasri just outside the area. His fierce goal-bound drive hit Chamakh.

To this point, Villa had been pretty abject and the goal they conceded in the 39th minute had as much to do with them as Arsenal.

Two defenders attacked, and then left, a lofted clearance. Arshavin raced on to the ball, cut in from the left and fired into the far corner. The Russian had been afforded too much space and Friedel got a hand on the ball. But it did not matter.

It was Arshavin’s first goal since the trip to Partizan Belgrade on September 28 and utterly deserved.

Seconds later, it should have been 2-0. Arshavin fed Nasri who skipped past Friedel but could only flick the ball into the sidenetting.

In injury time, Friedel produced a stunning save to deny Chamakh’s bullet header. Arshavin thumped the corner to Nasri on the far post and the Frenchman fired home on the volley from the edge of the area.

The goal meant the score finally reflected the game.

Villa mustered a response at the start of the second half. Sagna cleared hurriedly from Ashley Young’s cross and Nathan Delfouneso had a shot charged down.

In the 53rd minute, Squillaci’s clearing header flew high to Clark just outside the area. He was given too much space and thumped a shot into the top left-hand corner of the net. Replays suggested that Carew, who was standing in an offside position, had impaired the view of Fabianski.

It was all horribly reminiscent of last Saturday. But then, three minutes later, Arsenal veered from the script.

Rosicky fed a perceptive pass to the sliding Chamakh, who beat Friedel to the ball and poked home.

That should have killed the game but Arsenal kept on going forward. Chamakh and Arshavin had half-chances for a fourth but the visitors attacking intent allowed space for Villa to exploit.

In the 70th minute, Sagna’s clearance fell to the feet of Clark, who thumped his snap-shot into the sidenetting.

Two minutes later the Villa midfielder did find the net once more. Squillaci nodded the ball out for a corner, Ashley Young fired it to the near post and Clark’s header hit the underside of the bar and bounced down over the line.

The game was in the balance once again – and Villa had now got their game together after a poor first half.

Wenger brought on Denilson and Gibbs to shore up the result. Their introduction came just after Arshavin sent Chamakh through only for a combination of Collins and Friedel to clear the danger.

Arsenal shut up shop in the final stages and Wilshere’s goal finally killed the game.

Some of the players threw their shirts into the visiting fans at the end.

The supporters deserved that as much as their team deserved three points this afternoon.

Ramsey joins Nottingham Forest on loan

 
Aaron Ramsey has joined Nottingham Forest on loan until January 3, 2011.

Ramsey recently made his long awaited comeback since suffering a broken leg in February, successfully coming through 45 minutes for the Reserves against Wolves on Tuesday. He is joining Billy Davies’ side on loan to gain match fitness and sharpness.

The 19-year-old midfielder joined Arsenal in June 2008 from Cardiff City, having been the youngest player ever to represent the Bluebirds at 16 years and 124 days. He has made a total of 51 appearances for the Gunners, scoring five times.

Already a key figure in the Welsh national team, for whom he has made 11 international appearances, Ramsey signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal in the summer.

Everyone at Arsenal Football Club wishes Aaron the best of luck during his time with Nottingham Forest and we all look forward to seeing him once again in an Arsenal shirt in the New Year.

Wenger - I won’t take captaincy off Cesc

Arsène Wenger insists he has no intention of taking away the captain’s armband to ease the pressure on Cesc Fabregas.

It’s fair to say this season has so far been a frustrating one for the Arsenal skipper. After picking up a hamstring injury against Sunderland in September he has struggled to find full fitness and since then has admitted to not being at his fluent best. A frustration compounded when he limped off against Braga in midweek.

The role of captain brings added responsibility to lead by example, something that would be hard for any player not at 100 per cent let alone a World Cup winner who barely had any rest over the summer.

Wenger has admitted he may give the midfielder extra time to recover from his latest setback, but releasing him of his captaincy duties? That is out of the question.

“For me he's a fantastic leader,” said Wenger. “In every big game he takes the ball and plays and is not scared. That's what you want from a leader.

“When you take the captaincy away from someone you put more pressure on that person. You tell them that he's not good enough to be captain.

“I think he will develop more [as captain]. He had a period where he had problems with his hamstring - but the more you make a case of it the more it becomes a problem.”

Ramsey - I've been waiting for this day

Ramsey featured for 45 minutes for the Gunners' reserve side on Tuesday for the first time since he suffered a compound fracture of his right leg sustained against Stoke in February.

The Wales international now has his sights on building up his fitness before pushing for a comeback on the first-team stage.

"I have been waiting for this a long time, and I couldn't wait to get out onto the pitch," Ramsey told Arsenal TV Online.

"Obviously it is great to be back playing my first game and I felt it went quite well.

"I was blowing a bit after about 20 minutes, so I have got some work to do in that department, but I feel very good about myself."

The 19-year-old, who joined Arsenal from Cardiff in 2008, continued: "The only way you can get match fitness is by playing games.

"In training, I felt I was as fit as all the rest, but being out there proved I was a bit behind.

"That is to be expected and the more games I play, the more match fit I am going to get.

"After you have been out for nine months, your muscles are still adapting to the hard training and games, so for some players they can get injuries which set them back for a few weeks, but hopefully I can stay injury free.

"I have another few reserve games planned, with 60 minutes and then a full game - then I can try to fight for my place again.

"I am not going to jump back in, it is going to take a bit of time.

"But as soon as I feel I am match fit, I am going to try to get back into the starting XI."

Fabregas facing two weeks out

 

Arsenal will be without Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Eboue for two weeks and four weeks respectively.

Both midfielders suffered their injuries during the defeat at Braga on Tuesday. The Spaniard hurt his hamstring while the Ivorian was stretchered off with a knee ligament problem.

Both players are still being assessed. But when Arsène Wenger spoke to TV Online before training on Thursday, he gave us the best estimate possible.

 “Eboue has a medial knee ligament strain,” he said. “It can be four weeks, can be six weeks or can be eight weeks. But I think it will be four weeks minimum. 

“Fabregas will be assessed today with a scan. After that we can tell you how long he will be out, but I count two weeks.

It is a big blow because it will question how cautious we have to be in the future with him. Cesc has played 50 games a year since a young age.We may have to be more cautious with him, especially in the next two months.” 

On the upside, there were no other injuries from Tuesday while, on the same day, Aaron Ramsey and Manuel Almunia started their comebacks in the Reserves. However both may have to wait for first-team action.

“We have a lot of bumps and bruises but everyone else should be available,” said Wenger. “Almunia should be capable to play but I will see how he reacts.  

“Ramsey needs competitive games. He played 45 minutes and he did well. We need to get him slowly and progressively into competition mode.”

Braga 2 - 0 Arsenal - Match Report

Arsenal must now beat Partizan Belgrade in the final game of Group H in order to be sure of qualification to the Knockout Stages of the Champions League.

Arsène Wenger's side are left playing brinkmanship after they slipped to defeat at Braga on Tuesday night.
Matheus sealed Arsenal's fate. With seven minutes remaining, the Brazilan broke through and kept his nerve to steer a shot beyond Lukasz Fabianski. With the final kick of the game, he held off two challenges to add a second.

The visitors were down to 10 men at the time - Emmanuel Eboue had been stretchered off and Wenger had used all his substitutes. In addition they had just been denied a seemingly clear penalty when Carlos Vela was tripped in the area.

After that thought-provoking defeat to Tottenham on Saturday, this was the last thing Arsenal needed.
There is comfort in the fact Belgrade have lost all their Group H games but it would appear that top spot is now gone given that Shakhtar only need a point at home to Braga.

It was another tough, tough night for Wenger's men.

The manager's team selection tapped into the slate-wiping mood that had followed the weekend defeat. He made seven changes in all.

Only Fabianski, Denilson, Sebastien Squillaci and Cesc Fabregas remained from Saturday's side. Five of the seven omitted went to the bench meanwhile Gael Clichy (back) and Andrey Arshavin (rested) missed out entirely. Robin van Persie was left in London to work on his fitness.

The scene inside the Estadio Municipal de Braga was slightly surreal. This two-sided ground is carved into a quarry with a sheer rock face behind one goal and a grassy hill behind the other.

Coupled with that, the home side were playing in red shirts and white sleeves - a look taken from a former President's trip to Highbury in the 1920s. Meanwhile Arsenal were in yellow.

All very odd.
Kieran Gibbs was the main attacking threat for the visitors in the first 15 minutes. In the opening seconds he reached the left-hand byline before crossing in the hope of finding Nicklas Bendtner at the far post. Moises cleared the danger.

In the eighth minute the Braga defender would head over the bar from Luis Aguiar's free-kick.

However Gibbs was still the focus. Aguiar headed another of his crosses clear and the full back forced Braga to scramble the ball away on a number of other occasions.

In the 18th minute Bendtner and Walcott set up Fabregas, who fired a shot over the bar.

On the half-hour, the captain saw his free-kick tipped over the bar by Felipe after Leandro Salino had fouled Eboue just outside the area. From the corner, Johan Djourou steered a shot wide at the far post.
To be honest, in the first 30 minutes there had been little pace or pattern about the game. But Arsenal had owned all the urgency and invention on display.

The game would pick up as half-time approached.

There was the merest sniff of a spark when Fabregas fed the scampering Walcott with a defence-splitting pass. The England winger beat Felipe to the ball but the keeper's sliding challenge cleared the danger.

Play switched to the other end and Lima's long-range snapshot forced Fabianski to dive full-length even though the ball went wide.

Eboue fouled Matheus on the left-hand touchline and Aguiar's free-kick was headed into the side-netting by Bendtner.

Five minutes before the break, Walcott broke clear and fired a shot beyond Felipe and the far post.

Suddenly, it seemed we had a game on our hands.

In the dying seconds, Bendtner was fouled 25 yards out and Fabregas thumped the free-kick wide. It was the final act of a largely forgettable first half but one in which Arsenal had been clearly the better side.

The second period started the same way, only this time Walcott missed the target with his free-kick.

Matheus dragged a shot wide for Braga in response but, once again, the game was settling into its altogether lethargic first-half groove.

It seemed that only a piece of individual skill or, more likely, a mistake, could provide the opening goal.

On the hour, the latter scenario nearly came to pass. Alan curled in a cross from the right and Squillaci could only nod his clearance to Aguiar, who fired a low shot inches wide of Fabianski's left-hand post. In the context of this tight game it was a massive moment.

Wenger sensed the need for change and brought on Samir Nasri for Fabregas, whose hamstring injury had made him touch-and-go to start. Chamakh replaced Bendtner soon afterwards.

Arsenal were still lively. Wilshere nearly dribbled his way through the entire Braga defence and Moises slid in to stop Rosicky's right-wing cross finding Bendtner at the near post.

But as the game went into the final 15 minutes, neither keeper had made a serious save.

That should have changed in the 78th minute when substitute Vela appeared to be tripped by Alberto Rodriguez in the area. But referee Viktor Kassai booked the Arsenal striker for simulation.

It got worse for Arsenal when Eboue was carried off with an injury and Arsenal were left a man short.

And then it got worse again.

The visitors pushed for the equaliser but were caught on the break with seven minutes left when Matheus broke through and steered his shot beyond Fabianski and into the far corner.

Wenger's men looked to find a way back but Matheus added a sparkling second on the break.

It was not a fair reflection on the game but matters are conspiring against Arsenal right now.

They need to turn the tide and quickly.

GROUP H

Pos.	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1.	Shakhtar Donetsk	5	4	0	1	10	6	12
2.	Arsenal	5	3	0	2	15	6	9
3.	Braga	5	3	0	2	5	9	9
4.	Partizan Belgrade	5	0	0	5	1	10	0

Arsenal Complete Signing of “New Cristiano Ronaldo”

Arsenal have completed the signing of Ryo Miyaichi, a 17-year-old Japanese wonderkid touted as being the “new Cristiano Ronaldo”.

The signing will go through in December 2010, though the youngster will not be able to make the switch until he is granted a work permit to compete in the English Premier League.

The paperwork for his work permit is reportedly completed and submitted, with Arsenal simply waiting on confirmation before bringing the player to North London.

If his work permit cannot be granted with immediate effect, Arsenal are set to agree a deal with Salamanca, whereby the player would play for the Spanish side until he fulfilled the criteria that made him eligible to compete in the Premier League.

Arsenal have a long and established loaning relationship with Salamanca, as Spanish work permits are more easily accessible for non-EU players. Having only played competitive fixtures for Japan Under-15s and Under-17s, Miyaichi is expected to be filtered through the loaning process at Salamanca.

After being impressed by the youngster in the summer of 2009, Arsene Wenger has apparently offered Miyaichi a five-year contract that he will be able to sign when he turns 18.

“For us, it’s very important that Asia is represented at our club,” Wenger stated.

“The problem we have in England at the moment is that we have difficulties to bring in the non-EU players. Before they are internationals so it makes the work for the young players very difficult but we will try to bring him in here.
”Miyaichi is currently recovering from a broken leg, but is set to return to full training in January.”

Clichy, Arshavin, Van Persie miss Braga trip

Gael Clichy has been ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League game with a back problem.

The Arsenal full back completed Saturday's North London derby but has not travelled to Braga.Kieran Gibbs is likely to deputise.

Arsène Wenger will also be without Andrey Arshavin and Robin van Persie for his team's penultimate Group H fixture. Both forwards have been rested and Van Persie will use the opportunity to work towards full fitness at the training ground.

"I left Clichy behind because he has a small back problem and we will take the opportunity to clear that out," explained Wenger before the squad flew out to Portugal on Monday.

"Arshavin [is not in the squad] because I want to give him a rest, he has played every single game recently and played for Russia on Tuesday night.

"And Van Persie [will not travel] so he can improve his fitness because he is back in the squad but is not 100 per cent fit at the moment - I mean his physical condition to fight in a top-level game.

"I think that [working hard on the training ground] is what he needs at the moment. If I take him to Braga and he is not 100 per cent and is on the bench and doesn't come on then it is a waste of time and for three days, so I leave him behind and he will take the opportunity to work."

Manuel Almunia (elbow), Abou Diaby (ankle) and Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) are still sidelined by injuries.

Henri Lansbury joins Norwich City on loan

England Under-21 International Henri Lansburyhas joined Championship side Norwich City on loan for 28 days.

The 20-year-old midfielder enjoyed an eventful 2009/10 campaign, scoring five times in 39 appearances during a season-long loan at Watford. This impressive form earned Lansbury his England Under-21s debut in November 2009 and a first Premier League appearance for Arsenal, against Fulham on the final day of the season.

He has become a regular at Under-21 level and even starred as an emergency goalkeeper in the second half of the recent match in Germany.

The energetic, technically-gifted midfielder has continued to progress this season. He was involved in the first team’s pre-season training camp and featured in the Carling Cup Third Round win over Tottenham Hotspur, scoring his first senior goal for Arsenal when he netted the opener at White Hart Lane. He’s also been a recent regular for Neil Banfield’s Reserves.

Other highlights of his young career include an FA Youth Cup winner’s medal in 2009 which followed hot on the heels of a successful three-month loan with Scunthorpe United, then in League One.

Enfield-born Lansbury joined Arsenal at just eight years of age and this temporary move sees him return to a club whose youth set-up he was part of during the late 1990s. He signed a new long-term contract with the Gunners in January 2010.

Everyone at Arsenal Football Club wishes Henri the best of luck during his time with Paul Lambert’s team.

'It’s difficult to understand how we lost'

On the team’s performance against Spurs…
“We could not maintain the focus nor the urgency for 90 minutes because some players dropped. I believe as well that overall we delivered a performance expected in a game like that quality wise and if you look at the stats and the numbers it’s very difficult to understand how we lost this game.

“A drop of concentration, some basic errors, some bad luck as well because the penalty spot I think was not a foul for them at the start. And on top of that, not only did we get the foul but we get the penalty where we are guilty of. But overall you are a bit speechless. To re-analyse the game, it’s a mystery how we can lose a game like that.”

On whether Arsenal were denied a penalty in the second half…
“I don’t know, I haven’t seen that well.”

On being in complete control in the first half…
“[We were in control] in the second as well. It was a free kick for us – goal for them. You know? We were caught on counterattack at 2-0 up. And after we were punished on the second goal. If you look at the clear-cut chances that Tottenham had today, it’s easy to see how we conceded three goals. It’s one of those games where we dominated them more than any other one but we lost it and we can only look at ourselves.”

On Harry Redknapp saying Spurs can win the title…
“There are ten teams who can win it mathematically. Tottenham is one of them.”

On whether the team lacked focus…
“No. I believe that we have focused on the game. If we had not started the game well I would say that. I felt some players who played mid-week – who played Sunday, Wednesday, today – could not maintain the pace in the game and that we dropped physically and we had some heavy legs in the second half. 

On if he would have liked to see Nasri shake hands with Gallas…
“Ideally you would prefer that everybody in the world always loves everybody, but it doesn’t always happen.”

On complacency after building the lead…
“It’s difficult to say if we dropped physically or concentration-wise. I believe what is difficult to accept is that when you are 2-0 up, you have a free kick and you are caught on a counter attack. That is very difficult to understand. Once a team comes back to 2-1 they have hope again. And we couldn’t take our third chance. We had plenty of chances to score: we had Chamakh, Koscielny, one or two shots and overall Spurs always remained dangerous on the counterattack.

On whether Arsenal were slow to react to Spurs’ changes in the second half…
“Maybe. I felt that they were more open in the second half and we had more room to play and to create chances, but I felt for example that Chamakh in the second half was clean through and came back because he had no legs. He played 70 or 80 minutes on Wednesday night. Of course after they come back and they are dead. But we had the opportunities, even in the second half to kill this game off.

If three home defeats is too many at this stage of the season…
“Yes I agree. Three home defeats are three too many. The first two games we didn’t deliver the performance and we can only say that we got what we deserved. Today we delivered the performance, but what is worrying for me is that we had an opportunity to go to the top of the league and when we have to deliver we can’t. That’s worrying because that’s part of our job.”

If Arsenal still had a chance to win after the handball…
“Yes of course. I’m convinced that we are it but there are opportunities in the championship that you want to take and today we put ourselves in the right position and we failed. We have to accept that. And that is mental more than football. If Tottenham had dominated the game and created 10 chances and they won the game, you would say, ‘okay, we have lost against the better team today.’ Today we were always in the position where we could win the game and we didn’t win it. And that is something that is difficult to swallow.

“They are tough. I believe there is a matter that exists in football as well – that is bad luck. How can you imagine that suddenly you get a free kick and then a penalty behind that when the free kick is missed? It is difficult. You cannot predict all but for me there is a mixture of fatigue in the second half and lack of cautiousness as well.”

Arsenal 2 - 3 Tottenham H - Match Report

Tottenham recorded their first victory on Arsenal territory in 17 years amid incredible scenes at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The home side seemed to have the game under control in the first half. Samir Nasri’s persistence paved the way for the first goal and then Marouane Chamakh slid in another from Andrey Arshavin’s cross.

However, Gareth Bale started the revival five minutes after the restart and then, just before the hour, Cesc Fabregas was adjudged to have handled from a free-kick and Rafael van der Vaart scored from the spot.

Five minutes from time, the Dutchman floated over a free-kick from the right and Younes Kaboul touched a delicate header into the far corner.

It was a stupefying comeback on a day that could have seen Arsenal go top of the table.

Wenger’s men had put themselves in that position with back-to-back away wins. However there is little home comfort for them at the moment.

This is the third defeat in their last five Premier League games at Emirates Stadium. But while the wins for West Brom and Newcastle were painful for a day or so this one will ache for a long, long time.

It was Tottenham’s first victory in Arsenal’s new home.

That is difficult enough to digest. What it did to the title ambitions of Wenger’s side can be assessed later.

Derby day is always special but this one had received a bigger build-up than most. For the first time, the visitors came with Champions League credentials. Finishing fourth last season had led some to suggest the gap between the two sides had closed. On this cold, bright North London afternoon that theory would be put to the test.

Wenger made two changes from the side that had won so well at Everton last Sunday.

Denilson replaced Jack Wilshere, just like he had at half-time at Goodison Park. Laurent Koscielny returned from suspension so Johan Djourou dropped to the bench. Given his form, the Swiss centre back could count himself unfortunate to miss out.

Last season, William Gallas had occupied that role. Today he led out a Tottenham side with higher ambition than any other in recent memory.

Both sides conjured up cheeky chances in the opening five minutes. First, Bale backflicked Van der Vaart’s corner into the hands of Lukasz Fabianski at the near post. Then Nasri shoveled a pass over two Tottenham defenders to Fabregas on the right-hand byline but Heurelho Gomes intercepted at the near post.

However the keeper would soon be found wanting. In the 10th minute, Fabregas fed a pass forward towards Nasri, who had already shown his attacking intent this afternoon. The Frenchman chased after the ball but Gomes was favourite. Inexplicably the keeper then retreated a few paces before going for the ball. That allowed Nasri to poke it clear. However there still was much more to do.

The ball raced away towards the touchline and by the time Nasri reached it, he only had a sliver of the goal to aim at. Somehow he managed to hook his foot around the ball and trickle a shot over the line. It was his eighth goal of the campaign, bringing him level with Chamakh as top scorer. Temporarily, as it turned out.

The goal injected a confidence into Arsenal’s game. Fabregas wriggled clear on the right of the area and fired beyond the far post.

Midway through the half, Kaboul sent over a dangerous cross that Bacary Sagna flicked clear of Roman Pavlyuchencko and then headed over himself as the visitors mounted a modicum of pressure. But immediately after that, Arsenal stretched their lead.

Fabregas broke through the midfield and fed Arshavin on the right. His probing cross was touched home by the stumbling Chamakh. With just 27 minutes played, Arsenal were already cruising.

Luka Modric saw a shot batted away by Fabianski but Van der Vaart’s wild, wasteful shot suggested frustration had already set in.

The visitors continued to plough forward until the break. Fabianski was forced into a little caretaking but Chamakh caused much more consternation with a couple of moments just before the break. First he saw a shot charged down in a crowded area and then he went clear for a second but the ball got stuck under his feet and Spurs smuggled the ball away.

At the break, Tottenham brought on Jermain Defoe for Aaron Lennon. The England striker had been out for months with an injury but Harry Redknapp simply needed something different in his side.

Within five minutes, Defoe helped the visitors grab a foothold in the game.

It was his high hanging header that saw the Arsenal defence back off and allow Van der Vaart to feed the overlapping Bale. The Welshman took the ball in his stride and nudged it past Fabianski. A poor, poor goal to concede.

Suddenly Arsenal were anxious. The confidence of the opening half-hour had not exactly disappeared but they were now facing a side who had rediscovered itself.

Luka Modric danced through and blasted over as Tottenham looked for immediate parity. The home side responded with pressure of their own but, in the 67th minute, Tottenham did go level.

Alex Song fouled Modric 25 yards out and Van der Vaart fired his free-kick into the wall which was standing in the penalty area. The ball definitely hit the hand of Fabregas, which had been raised. The captain claimed he was protecting his face when the referee pointed to the spot.

When the protests had died down, Van der Vaart sent Fabianski the wrong way.

Squillaci’s header was ruled offside shortly afterwards then Fabregas fired a volley over the bar. Arsenal were stung.

Both sides made changes. Peter Crouch came on for Pavlyuchenko. For Arsenal, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky replaced Chamakh, Arshavin and Narsi.

Wenger was clearly going for it.

Arsenal did create the better chances. Fabregas tried a curler but Gomes patted the ball beyond the far post. Then, with 15 minutes left, an unmarked Koscielny headed over the bar at the far post.

But Tottenham were still dangerous. Eight minutes from time, only Song’s strength stopped Van der Vaart pouncing after a scramble six yards out.

Then they grabbed the winner. Koscielny brought down Bale on the left and, from Van der Vaart’s expert delivery, Kaboul nudged a header into the far corner.

In the dying minutes, Arsenal mustered a response but not the chances to go with it.

This was a head-scratching afternoon for Wenger’s men who took two giant strides forward last week but took an almighty pace back this afternoon.

Winning the title will more than right this wrong but to do that they must arrest their sliding home form.

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 Time (GMT) : From 15:00 To 17:00

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Cian Joyce's Story

(the spelling are highlighted in red)

One day inside a hospital, a team of surgeons had a patient that needed a special procedure.It was so rare that they needed special tools from New York University Hospital. But before the surgery, the surgeons had a football match. 'Who ever scores the first goal makes the first incision', they decided.
Dr. O' Neil won, and at five o' clock, the chief surgeon had to request a new box of gloves outside the door of the O.R.
Eventually, the sugery started. While Dr. O' Neil was making the incision, the team was waiting for a referee because it was a special situation.
Later on in the surgery, the patient's heart stopped beating so the surgeons had to respond by preforming C.P.R. Finally, the patient started breathing again.
Within the hour, the surgery was complete and the surgeon celebrated in the hospital garden.

The End

Former Arsenal Star Robert Pires joins Aston Villa

Former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires has signed a six month contract to join Aston Villa until the end of the season.

The former French international becomes Gerard Houllier’s first signing since arriving at Villa Park.

The 37-year-old, who has been training with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal for the past two months,  will add valuable experience to a young squad.

The one-time left-wing star, now moved to the central ground, signed for Villa as a free agent after being released by Villarreal in the summer.

The world cup winner, who will wear the number eight shirt, will meet his new teammates tomorrow and hopes to make his debut for the club against Blackburn on Sunday.

Pires told AVTV: "I can't wait to play and put on that new shirt. It is very exciting.

"I am very happy to join Aston Villa because it's a big club in England.

"I am also thrilled to have the chance of working with Gerard Houllier. I know him.

“I spoke with Gerard Houllier and like me he is very happy because I need him and he needs me to play with experience because the team is young. We need a good mix.

"Now this move represents a new opportunity and a new challenge for me. I am very happy to start.

"I can't wait to put that
 shirt on and play for Aston Villa. I am proud to play for Villa and to the fans, I'd like to say 'see you soon at Villa Park.”

Pires who spent six years with the Gunners and played 236 times for the North London club insisted playing in England was a big factor in signing for Houllier’s men.

He said: “For me it’s a good surprise but I’m very happy here because I like English football and  it was important for me to work here again.”

Assistant manager Gary McAllister is delighted the club have captured such a decorated player and believes believes the new recruit can have positive influence on the whole squad. 

He said: "He is a proven winner. It gets thrown around a lot these days when people say they are a winner but he is a genuine article. 

"He's a European champion and he has won the World Cup as well. He has vast experience and was a fantastic player in the Premier League for Arsenal. 

"People thought he was coming to the end of his career but he went to Villareal and done well there for several seasons. 

"For all the younger players - what a tremendous addition. The younger players can only learn from watching a guy like Robert on the training field. 

"He will gain respect. But I am sure Robert Pires isn't coming here just to be a player that everyone is going to stand back and admire. He will want to gain the respect of the fact that he is still competitive and still able to do a job at this level." 

Sagna - I am not angry with Gallas

Bacary Sagna does not resent William Gallas for his move to local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

The former Arsenal captain will return to Emirates Stadium on Saturday for the first time since his switch across north London and, although Gallas is expected to get a mixed reception from the fans, Sagna holds no grudges against his former team mate.

Gallas spent four years at the Club, making 142 appearances, and the right back feels he deserves respect for the commitment and professionalism he showed while in the red and white of Arsenal.

“I’m not angry at him because he signed for our rivals,” said Sagna.

“He was always very professional and he always gave everything [during his time here].

“Football is football, I’m not furious against him. He needed to leave to play football and that is what he loves.

“Even if the newspapers were talking about him because of his behaviour, [that] was his hunger because he wanted to win so much. Maybe he expressed it in a bad way but it was not bad at all because he wanted us to win.

“I’ve kept in touch with him. On the pitch there is a war but off the pitch we are all friends.

“He deserves a good reception because during the time he played for Arsenal he always did well.”

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