Champions League - Arsenal fight out draw

Eurosport - Wed, 08 Apr 10:07:00 2009

Emmanuel Adebayor's stunning second-half bicycle kick gave Arsenal a hard-earned 1-1 draw against Villarreal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

adebayor - 0

Adebayor's 66th-minute equaliser came as Arsenal took control of the match in the final half-hour, but an excellent Villarreal side pushed them all the way to the whistle.

Veteran midfielder Marcos Senna put the visitors ahead on 10 minutes with a stunning rifled shot from 25 yards as the home side dominated the early exchanges.

Yet the visitors came back into the game, with Cesc Fabregas being denied a goal from a quickly-taken free kick at the end of the first half, and Adebayor's equaliser coming as part of a sustained period of second-half pressure as the Gunners imposed their will on their hosts.

Villarreal had started the game brightly, dominating possession with passing and movement that saw them run their guests ragged in the early stages, and in the fourth minute Joan Capdevila's header was cleared off the line by Gael Clichy.

The hosts took the lead when veteran midfielder Senna's long shot came perfectly off his right boot to curl in to the top-right corner and leave Manuel Almunia grabbing at thin air.

The goal woke Arsenal up with a start, and they came in to the ascendancy with some good football.

On 18 minutes Samir Nasri's left-foot effort drew a fine save from Diego Lopez in the Villarreal goal, and a minute later Clichy's header forced another excellent stop from the keeper.

However, the hosts gradually regained their momentum as they began to hold on to the ball more effectively and reduce Arsenal's chances.

And on the half-hour mark Villarreal came close to doubling their lead as Senna's long shot and Capdevila's follow-up drew two great saves from Lukasz Fabianski, who had replaced the injured Almunia.

Just before the break William Gallas hobbled off injured, and soon after Fabregas looked to have grabbed the equaliser after taking a free-kick quickly.

But the referee not only disallowed the goal but, rather harshly, booked the Spaniard to cap a disappointing first half for the visitors.

As the game restarted the two sides were ruthless in closing each other down and denying chances.

But when Arsenal calmed the pace down and focused on staying patient they slowly began to take control of the game around the hour mark.

Theo Walcott went close for the London side while Adebayor also headed wide before claiming the equaliser.

It was breathtaking goal from Adebayor. The Togolese player controlled a long ball on his chest, despite the attention of several Villarreal defenders, and volleyed home past Diego Lopez.

It was just reward for Arsenal's endeavours and inspired the visitors to finish strongly with Adebayor, Walcott and Nasri all going close.

Villarreal had a late flourish that restored some pride, but they never looked like finding a winner.

Arsenal closed out a draw that, in the context of their poor start, was a fantastic result, while Villarreal will travel to the Emirates Stadium having conceded what could well prove to be a critical away goal.

Toby Keel / Eurosport

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  1. sure i beleive arsenal will finish villareal at home­ dey are in trouble thank God all the bad guuys are back­ on track once again up gunners wherever u are reply­ saying gunners 4 life lollllllllllllllllolllll

    From dennisdcute, on Wed 8 Apr 4:57PM

  2. All Is Done, Arsenal Should Trash Villareal

    From aishat.abba, on Wed 8 Apr 12:49PM

  3. Kudos to Arsenal for a very spirited fight. Really­ would have loved to have seen Fabregas combine with­ Arshavin, but it wasn't to be. Arsenal have to be­ aggressive at Emirates or Villareal will shock 'em.­ Adebayor is still a @#$% striker, despite his wonder­ goal.

    From Federal C, on Wed 8 Apr 11:52AM

  4. Kudos to Arsenal for a very spirited fight. Really­ would have loved to have seen Fabregas combine with­ Arshavin, but it wasn't to be. Arsenal have to be­ aggressive at Emirates or Villareal will shock 'em.­ Adebayor is still a @#$% striker, despite his wonder­ goal.

    From Federal C, on Wed 8 Apr 11:50AM

  5. Fabianski should replace Almunia permanently and become­ number 1.

    From artur.herman, on Wed 8 Apr 11:07AM

  6. The goals on both end are good. Both are stunning and­ good to watch. However, Arsenal must learn how to deal­ with pressure. Immediately after kickoff, Villarreal­ started to play fast paced attack and Arsenal looked­ vulnerable at the back.

    With four yellow cards, there­ is a high chance they might not make it for the 1st leg­ of the Semis. Fabragas, Nasri and Ade are­ irreplaceable. Agree everyone?

    I'm not worried­ of Gallas's injury because Jourou and Silvestre can­ do the job. The performance by Fabianski convinced me­ that he should be given a chance to express himself on­ the field.

    From daniel88why, on Wed 8 Apr 11:05AM

  7. as a spurs fan can i just say although adebayors a bit­ part player i gotta say that goal was magical and they­ will win at home i hate to say it lol . please forgive­ me spurs fans

    From garylocker, on Wed 8 Apr 10:08AM

  8. If only Adebayor didn't need 10 chances for each­ goal he scores, he'd be up there with the best. He­ needs to convert more. I also dislike the pettiness in­ his game; the silly fouls, the arguing with officials.­ He also needs to be told how the offside rule works.

    From Sussex BY The Sea, on Wed 8 Apr 9:57AM

  9. Adebayor's bicycle kick that resulted to an­ equalizer has wiped out the Arsenal's lacklustre­ first half display. Villarreal actually performed­ better than Arsenal in the first half in all­ departments of the game. Arsenal should not take this­ as having won the encounter for as having scored the­ vital away goal because a surprise awaits them at­ Emirates Stadiim during the return leg.

    From Emma, on Wed 8 Apr 9:28AM

  10. it's ok

    From Idorenyin, on Wed 8 Apr 9:27AM

  11. Long Live King Football. VIVA EL FOOTBALL, who taught­ us that a little town as Villarreal, with a population­ which in its whole cannot fill Arsenal Stadium, are­ fighting it out with the grear European­ superpowers.

    VIVA EL BETIS LIBRE.

    Ahora más que­ nunca, LopeTa carcel ya.

    Por un Betis libre y limpio­ de sanguijuelas loperistas.

    From wotyagaveme, on Wed 8 Apr 8:59AM
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    From Tom M, on Wed 8 Apr 8:53AM
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  14. long live the King Ade u did well bro for once shut up­ all this critics and look at the statistics 2 games 3­ goals AFC fans should respect and appreciate Ade a bit­ more nobody is perfect and Ade got weakness but he can­ score for sure still AFC top man and top on goals, well­ done gunners Song changed is game in the 2nd and AFC­ needs him and Danilson to fight hard Fabregas is not­ fit but still got the killer pass, Viva Arsenal

    From Paulo, on Wed 8 Apr 8:48AM

  15. Villareal is a town in the Communidad de Valencia.­ Valencia is a Region, (like a state in the USA, it is­ also a Province, (Like a County in England) and it is­ also a city. Villareal is a small town in the Region.­ In fact it is so small that the whole population, men­ women and children can fit into their stadium with room­ to spare, fact. Arsenal could only draw.

    From trouble, on Wed 8 Apr 8:39AM

  16. Well done gunners, let us give credit where it is due,­ i looked at the pitch, the crowd,the squad and­ everything was against Arsenal,the Villarreal fans are­ awesome,they are enthusiastic, the field is small and­ they are very close,Villarreal squad is also­ awesome,but gunners proved that they are a force to­ reckon with,losing two key players early on and staying­ focused all through to get a draw in that field,that­ was good,these guys are no longer boys,they are­ men,congrats men,getting a draw in Villarreal was a­ very difficult job, but you did it.

    From Sammy, on Wed 8 Apr 8:33AM

  17. Great goals from both Senna and Adebayor.
    Still think­ Villarreal should've won.

    From suraya79s, on Wed 8 Apr 8:12AM

  18. ADEBAYOR`S GOAL WAS GOAL OF THE YEAR SO FAR!

    From Nath, on Wed 8 Apr 7:51AM

  19. All these idiots who keep on about Villareal not being­ a Valencian city are quite correct in that Vilareal is­ not a city but is a town, but first they should look on­ their maps and they will find that The Comunidad de­ Valencia goes from just north of Castelion to south of­ Alicante, and Vilareal is just south of Castelion and­ therefore a Valencian town.

    From george, on Wed 8 Apr 7:40AM

  20. i think "winner" in the magical universe­ where fabregas' goal actually counted is more­ likely

    From Derek J, on Wed 8 Apr 7:08AM
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