Premier League - Villa down Arsenal at Emirates
Eurosport - Sun, 16 Nov 11:05:00 2008
Aston Villa inflicted a rare home defeat on Arsenal as Martin O'Neill's side ran out 2-0 winners at the Emirates Stadium.
Gabriel Agbonlahor's 80th minute strike sealed all three points for Villa after Gael Clichy had put into his own goal to break the deadlock 10 minutes earlier.
Ashley Young saw a first-half penalty saved by Manuel Almunia as Martin O'Neill's side produced a superb performance.
The result saw Villa move level on points with the Gunners, who dropped a place into fourth after Manchester United beat Stoke City.
Following the euphoria of beating United last weekend, Arsenal were brought back down to earth with a bump as their title credentials once again came under serious scrutiny.
This was their fourth defeat of the season and while Arsene Wenger's side seem more than capable of beating the likes of United, their ability to pick themselves up after the big games is questionable.
For Villa the win gave their hopes of breaking into the so-called Big Four and claiming a Champions League place a real shot in the arm.
The hosts started the better of the two sides, crowd favourite Theo Walcott terrorising Villa left-back Luke Young during the opening moments with his direct and pacy bursts down the Arsenal right.
Nicklas Bendtner was the first to benefit, the England winger's third minute cross finding the Dane six yards out, only for him to glance a header wide of the mark when he should have at least found the target.
Two minutes later Walcott went for goal himself after having been played though by a clever Denilson pass; his shot flashed wide of the far post and Villa were let off the hook.
Arsenal were made to rue their early profligacy as Villa grew in confidence and went on to enjoy the better of the remainder of the first half.
That they did not go into the dressing rooms at half-time a goal to the good had much to do with the form of Almunia in the Arsenal goal.
The Spaniard denied Young the opener from the penalty spot - following Walcott's trip on the Villa winger in the box - with a smart stop down to his right on 20 minutes.
And he was again brought into action moments later when Steve Sidwell - playing against this former club - took a pass down on his chest, swivelling and shooting in one swift movement.
Like Walcott in the opening moments, Ashley Young began to enjoy himself as the opening period wore on, the winger going close to scoring on the half-hour mark with a 25-yard shot that whistled wide of the upright.
Gareth Barry should have broken the deadlock on 37 minutes, but his first-time effort from Agbonlahor's pull back to the penalty spot was straight at Almunia who was allowed to make what was in the end a comfortable save.
After the break Arsenal upped their game once again, Walcott again posing their main attacking threat in the absence of the suspended Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor, who started on the bench on his comeback from injury.
But it was Villa who took the lead after 70 minutes, Ashley Young delivering a teasing cross towards Agbonlahor in the danger area; Clichy followed the flight of the ball but could only direct his attempted headed clearance into the back of his own net.
The hosts nearly hit back straight away, Adebayor - on by that stage as a replacement for Abou Diaby - heading against Brad Friedel's upright with the Villa keeper beaten.
The warning went unheeded, and Villa continued to sit back in a bid to protect their lead.
But they soon opened up a two-goal cushion, Agbonlahor punishing Arsenal with a cool finish past Almunia after having held off the challenge of William Gallas as Villa broke quickly.
Arsenal have become famous for their late comebacks at the Emirates, but there was to be no miracles this time, Fabregas going the closest to pulling one back as time ran out, only to see Friedel tip his effort over the bar.
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Comment 148 - 167 of 167
Its about time the likes Agbonlahor and Young make the England team.
Its not much fun at the sterile Emirates these days...looked like Aston Villa won without much trouble. I think Wenger should leave now to encourage the youngsters to stay and get a game.
arsenal aren't undefeated at the emirates but villa are !!!
villa4life
Well, this is going to be a very long season for Arsenal. And only Wenger thought otherwise. Arsenal is not capable of challenging much. Maybe, the juniors in Carling Cup? Or does Wenger still think otherwise. Has anybody ever wondered to ask why apart from may be being the team with the yongest squad, Arsenal may also be the team lowest average weight? Is it a coincidence we get so outplayed by teams which decide to play contact football against us? I don't think so. Wenger may just need to look at the Arsenal videos of yester-years to see where he has got it all wrong this time. The difference is so obvious only he refuses to see. Meanwhile he may be sure that this team may not deliver anything this season. And in the Premier League, there is nothing like improving on last season's performance. At the begining of each season all teams start at ground zero points. No aggregation of points Mr. Wenger.
when arsenal are winning everythink is merry, if they dont wenger has to step down, get a life you guys
Wenger must go....
it's high time arsenal stopped all the neither cold nor hot display,still attached to arsenal irrespectable oof whatever that happens.ibk 4rm 9ija.
It is time for Wenger to go!!We need change.
Ok so, can i just say...Silvatree...ahahahaha. anyway back to business. I was hoping Sylvestre would be a shrewd cunning move by Arsene. But it seems like he was on the bench for Man U for a bloody good reason. Thought maybe a new team a new start would equal anew mentality but it aint happening. We needed experience but we need experience with abilty too. As for moving sylvestre to left back in the place of Clichy??? Youre having a laugh. Toure needs a big back up man and Galas and Sylvestre could then be called into action if an injury occured. I wonder how Senderos is doing at AC? He was dubious for us but maybe he will have learnt a thing or two by the time he returns from loan. I always thought losing Gilberto would come back and haunt us and i think the proof is in the pudding. Denilson has a great future but he aint ready yet, and I thought Diaby would play centre midfield more. Our attack is amazing, im very happy with our attack apart from Bendtner., wish we still had Hleb for depth though. We need a man of steel to partner Fibreglass. Bottom line and our defence is fine apart from Gallas and Sylvestre so one or both need to be replaced. Eboue should always play right back in direct competition with Sagna. Both im very happy with. Clichy i wouldnt let go for anyone, who needs @#$% Cole? Gallas should be cover for centre and left back only. We arent going to win the Premier League, highly unlikely to win the champions League, but I think possible we could do the FA or the Carling cup. But I aint holding my breath. youth development is what i love about Wenger and Arsenal, but we need grit and strength to challenge properly. Why did we let Lassana Diarra go after only half a season? He's looking nae bad for a def midfielder now. Loose him and Gilberto wasnt a good plan. I aint happy the now, but as long as we keep our champ League spot i think we have a very bright future with the kids we have coming through. Need a def midfielder though. badly.
is this what the gunners called "BEAUTIFUL FOOTBALL??????"
15. Mr.Wenger is relying too much on youngsters and this unfortunately proves that his place nowdays does not belong to first team professional squad. He likes to promote and encourage teenagers and help them to improve their skills. He is more of a scout or a coach for young players.
Mr.Wenger has done a lot for Arsenal but due to his new directions and visions he is no-more able to lead Arsenal first team squad. We need real football players, player strong physically and mentally. A team like Arsenal can't afford to rely on youngsters who are weak physically and mentally. Bendtner and Adebayor are a waste of money for Arsenal, they are third grade players. Van persie is injured week in week out and its over for him. The van persie we knew is over now. Fabregas can't lead the team now as he is more preoccupied with his hair style.
Toure, eboue and Silvestre are KO. Silvestre is a waste and toure&eboue since returning from recent CAN competition provide poor performance not worth for a so-called big FOUR team.
Come on Arsenal fans whats teh point beating Chelsea,Liverpool&Manchester united if we keep on losing against other premiership teams and on our pitch. The emirates been suffered 3 defeats already. Some fans feel satisfied when we beat bolton 3 nill with a teenage squad but me football is also about winning competitions/trophies. Our manager is used up. WE NEED FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND NOT KIDS WHO CANT PLAY REAL FOOTBALL. Whats z point playing beautiful football if physically they are weak and cant score goals.
Mr.Wenger you need to be frank with yourself and accept to step down as you are no-more fit to lead us TO PREMIERSHIP AND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GLORY as thats what Arsenal fans want.
Mr.Wenger you need to be frank with yourself and accept to step down as you are no-more fit to lead us TO PREMIERSHIP AND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GLORY as thats what Arsenal fans want.
THE FRENCH SYSTEM IS OVER. Lets start with the origin again that is lets build an Arsenal british side as it wont be worse than it is right now.
From an Arsenal fan (Foreigner)
i cant understand how tottenham fans gloat on arsenal defeats when they cant do it there selves and when they draw they think they have won the world cup get over it spurs your not in the same league as us
Is every game we lose a fluke? No! Where is the @#$%? You can have the best manager, the best players and the best ground but without the @#$% you will never ejectulate to be the champions. This is the case with Arsenal. They need an extra couple of year with their young team to mastibate their @#$% before coming to success. this is a natural process of young fledglings making their way to maturity and past the pubity stage. It is a messy business but we'll come good in the end. (No puns intended)
but agree with your blogs
savvad2004- i think they are out of race already!
..and it could have been 5 defeats for Arsenal this season if they hadn't scored a 93rd minute equaliser against Sunderland.
Last week one or two Arsenal fans took offence when I said that their team needed more height in central defence and more steel in midfield, and chose to gloat that their team was the best after beating Man Utd. I wonder what they're thinking now that Arsenal have already lost 4 games with only 1/3 of the season gone. Arsenal need twin towers in central defence of the like of Tony Adams and David O'Leary with a hard man like Patrice Vierra in midfield. Are you listening Arsene Wenger? With Arsenal already 9 points behind Chelski and Liverpool, there's a real danger they'll find themselves out of the title race before Christmas.
if arsenal dont win any thing this year
arsen wengers gotta go!
and im a arsenal fan
well done villa boys.arsenal are boring so is wenger.
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