FOOTBALL Live

Wednesday November 4, 2009 Finished Emirates Stadium

4 - 1

Arsenal

  • Fábregas 25’, 52’
  • Nasri 43’
  • Diaby 72’

AZ Alkmaar

  • Lens 82’

242 comments | Write your comment

  1. Cesc moves Arsenal close

    Cesc moves Arsenal close

    Arsenal effectively booked their place in the knockout phase of the Champions League with a comfortable 4-1 win over AZ Alkmaar. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Arsenal
    • AZ Alkmaar
    • 92' It's full-time at the Emirates where Arsenal have waltzed to a comfortable 4-1 win.
    • 91' Kieran Gibbs wins a freekick for Arsenal deep in their own half and he is in no hurry to take it and leaves it to Almunia to hump upfield.
    • 90' The visitors play it short but rather predictably nothing comes of it and it goes behind for a goal-kick.
    • 89' AZ have a corner on the right...
    • 87' Arsenal win a freekick for a poor challenge on Nasri. AZ clear the lines and look to break quickly but it is through to Almunia.
    • 85' Aaron Ramsey hits the bar for Arsenal! The youngster plays a neat one-two before scooping his finish off the underside of the bar and away to safety.
    • 83' The result is not in doubt, but Arsenal will no doubt be a little disappointed to concede late-on. A few kicks will be aimed at themselves among the Arsenal defence after the game.
    • 81' AZ pull a goal back! Jeremain Lens charges forward, holds off a couple of Arsenal challenges, before shooting past Almunia.
    • 79' Rosicky gets on the end of a Ramsey back-heel and bursts into the box, but just cannot get the ball under control and the chance goes begging.
    • 78' AZ muster a half-hearted attack but it breaks down as Gallas is fouled on the edge olf his own box.
    • 76' AZ are merely playing out time now after this game and the possibility of leaving with a point departed long ago.
    • 74' Arsenal make their third and final change with Arshavin giving way for Tomas Rosicky.
    • 73' Gallas launches a long-ball forward towards Eduardo, but he is crowded out and AZ clear upfield.
    • 71' It's another goal for Arsenal! A fantastic back-heel from Eduardo picks out Arshavin who crosses for Diaby to calmly finish past the keeper...easy!
    • 70' AZ make another change with David Mendes making way for Pontus Wernblom.
    • 69' Arsene Wenger takes one in the face and the crowd cheer as if he had controlled it like Fabregas... Wenger doesn't look impressed.
    • 67' Kieran Gibbs cuts inside and lets fly with a right-footed shot that skims the outside of the post as it goes wide.
    • 65' Arsenal make their first change of the night and it is captain fantastic Cesc Fabregas who makes way for Aaron Ramsey, while Eduardo swaps with Robin van Persie.
    • 64' Pocognoli is quickly into the action with a run up the left-hand side but Arsenal are quickly up the other end with swift break led by Arshavin.
    • 63' AZ make another change with Sebastien Pocognoli replacing Simon Poulsen.
    • 61' Nasri feeds Fabregas with a quick ball round the corner on the left-hand edge of the area but AZ nip in to rob Arsenal of the ball and break.
    • 59' AZ lift a long ball into the box but it is just too high for Pelle and goes behind.
    • 57' AZ make a change with Dembele coming off for Jeremain Lens.
    • 56' AZ rattle the woodwork! Martens heads down to Pelle in the area and he swivels and fires the ball against the bar from six yards... that was almost the route back into the game AZ needed.
    • 54' Dembele cuts across the face of the Arsenal box, holding off a couple of challenges, before his shot is charged down by Vermaelen.
    • 53' If this game wasn't over before, it certainly is now... the Dutch side are well and truly beaten.
    • 52' Goal for Arsenal! It's another for Fabregas who latches onto a neat through-ball from Arshavin before giving the keeper 'the eyes' and planting the ball into the other corner of the net... very nicely done.
    • 51' Vermaelen strides out of defence, but then plays the ball into touch... he's not happy about it either.
    • 50' Nasri shows quick feet to bring the ball out of defence and skip past a couple of AZ challenges.
    • 49' Ronald Koeman looks thoroughly depressed on the bench, bemused, confused and powerless to do anything to change the direction of this match.
    • 47' Arsenal are again on the front foot and keeping the ball in midfield... it doesn't look like AZ have come out after the break with fire in their bellies.
    • 46' We are underway in the second half...
    • 45' It's half time at the Emirates where Arsenal are leading 2-0 at the break.
    • 43' That goal was certainly no less than Arsenal deserve having dominated this game from start to finish.
    • 42' What a goal for Arsenal! Arshavin feeds the ball into Nasri, who turns quite brilliantly before tucking a neat finish past Romero into the bottom corner.
    • 41' Van Persie whips a freekick into the box from the right towards Fabregas. It clearly hits Moisander's head and goes behind but the ref gives a goalkick.
    • 40' Arsenal seem to be strolling through this game now... there is little urgency, but quite frankly, they don't need to be urgent.
    • 39' Dembele shows a nice turn of pace to beat Gibbs but the young full back gets back to make a tackle and concede a corner.
    • 38' Arshavin almost picks out Van Persie with a diagonal ball into the box, but the keeper comes and for once gets something right and touches the ball away from the Dutchman who was hovering at the far post.
    • 38' Ambitious effort from Onofras. He shoots from just inside the Rangers half, McGregor is back pedalling, but it hits roof of the net. Cheeky, but creative from the substitute.
    • 37' Fabregas cannot get on the end of a quick ball through the middle from Arshavin but Arsenal still win a throw on the left.
    • 36' AZ win a freekick on the left as Gibbs gives Dembele a little nudge from behind. The set-piece is launched into the Arsenal box, but is easily cleared.
    • 35' Arshavin is sent crashing to the ground by a stiff challenge from behind by Jaliens and the referee quite rightly blows for a freekick.
    • 33' AZ's Simon Poulsen swings in a cross from the left but it fails to cause any trouble at all as Gallas comfortably clears at the near post.
    • 32' Fabregas heads over for Arsenal! Kieran Gibbs scoots down the left before sending a deep cross to the far post where Fabregas leaps but cannot keep his header on target.
    • 31' Arsenal seem to have taken their foot of the peddle in the last few minutes... Wenger won't want them to rest on their laurels having taken the lead that's for sure.
    • 30' Dembele beats Gibbs on the right, cuts inside before feeding Holman who shoots wildly off target.
    • 28' Half chance for AZ goes begging... Martens powers forward towards the box as Arsenal back-off but his shot is poor and fails to trouble Almunia who makes a simple save.
    • 27' It's all Arsenal now as they look to build on their lead and heap more pressure on their opponents.
    • 26' Romero will certainly not be happy with that one when he sees it again on the replay... Fabregas' shot really shouldn't have beaten him.
    • 24' Goal for Arsenal! Cesc Fabregas tries his luck with a skidding shot from outside the box that catches AZ keeper Sergio Romero asleep and sneaks in at the near post.
    • 23' Song tries to find Arshavin with a looped ball from left to right, but once again it is over-hit and flies out for a throw.
    • 22' Varmaelen is furious with the referee after a throw-in decision goes against him... you wouldn't want to fall out with the former Ajax man if that little outburst was anything to go by.
    • 21' Song tries to set Gibbs away down the left but his pass is a little over-hit and the full back cannot catch it up and it goes behind for a goalkick.
    • 19' Diaby gets a little over excited as he goes into a tackle and is penalised by the ref who hands AZ a freekick and a chance to ease the pressure.
    • 18' Van Persie slightly overhits a pass to Nasri who miscontrols on the left touchline and it goes out for a throw... a rare bit of sloppiness from the Gunners.
    • 17' Arshavin and Van Persie link up beautifully down the left but Van Persie's cross is cut out with several Gunners streaming into the box.
    • 15' Eboue drives a low cross into the box that Diaby just cannot stretch a foot to divert it towards goal... if the game carries on like this I can't see AZ holding out.
    • 14' AZ look to get their foot on the ball and play a bit of football themselves but Arsenal hustle and hurry them and force them back to the keeper.
    • 13' Van Persie plays a delightful ball into the middle where Fabregas is waiting but the pass is just cut out before it reaches the Spaniard.
    • 12' Arsenal have another corner on the right and it's swung into the middle where Eboue attacks the ball but can't get his head on it.
    • 11' Fabregas touches it for Van Persie who blasts it towards goal but it is deflected behind for a corner.
    • 10' AZ keeper Sergio Romero inexplicably picks up a back pass to hand Arsenal a freekick six yards from goal...
    • 9' Fabregas plays a fabulous one-two with Nasri and almosts gets on the return but an AZ defender gets back to clear.
    • 8' Nasri gets back to make a good challenge on Martens... that will certainly please his manager.
    • 7' Arsenal win a corner on the left but when it is delivered the referee spots some argy-bargy in the box and blows for a freekick to AZ.
    • 6' Arsenal are playing keep ball with some typical one-touch passing before a long-ball forward just evades Van Persie.
    • 5' Eboue steams forward, driving into the visitors' half before he is eventually dispossessed... Arsenal are certainly setting the tempo in the early stages.
    • 4' Nasri gives away a sloppy foul in midfield after losing control of the ball... Monsieur Wenger won't be happy with that.
    • 3' Van Persie is inches away from giving Arsenal the lead with a right-footed drive, at the end of a flowing passing move, from outside the box that flies just wide.
    • 2' Almost an early chance for AZ... Martens cuts inside and shapes to shoot before feeding a nice ball through to Brett Holman who is just offside.
    • 1' Arshavin almost sets Kieran Gibbs away down the left touchline with a cheeky backheel inside the first minute... a promising start.
    • 1' And we are underway!
    • - Right, the handshakes are done and dusted and we are ready for kick-off...
    • - After Saturday's walk in the park against Spurs, the fans inside the Emirates are no doubt expecting a big performance from the Gunners... but surely AZ cannot be as bad as Tottenham were, can they?
    • - The teams are in the tunnel, waiting to walk out on to the pitch and the atmosphere is building at the Emirates.
    • - These two sides met a fortnight ago, of course where AZ snatched a late equaliser to pinch a point... will they be as lucky tonight or will Arsenal turn on the style and book their place in the knock-out stages of the competition?
    • - And here's the Alkmaar line-up: Romero, Jaliens, Moisander, Moreno, Poulsen, Dembele, Mendes Da Silva, Schaars, Martens, Holman, Pelle. Subs: Didulica, Pocognoli, Lens, Ari, Wernbloom, Van der Velden, Swerts
    • - Arsenal line up as follows: Almunia, Eboue, Gallas, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Nasri, van Persie, Arshavin. Subs: Mannone, Sagna, Senderos, Rosicky, Eduardo, Ramsey, Silvestre
    • - The team news has landed here at Eurosport and being the quick-heeled, fleet-of-foot folk that we are, here it is for you now...
    • - Alkmaar are without a win in their last five European matches.
    • - Alkmaar have lost four of their last six European away games and have lost on all four previous visits to England, conceding 12 goals.
    • - Arsenal have lost just one of 11 CL games against Dutch teams but have drawn four of five at home.
    • - Arsenal have lost only one of their last 30 European home matches, a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in last season's semi-finals. The last home loss to an overseas team was a 3-0 defeat to Inter more than six years ago.
    • - We'll have tonight's teams for you very shortly but in the meantime, here's some background info on the game.
    • - Welcome to tonight's live coverage of Arsenal's Champions League Group H clash with AZ Alkmaar at the Emirates.

  • Summary

    • 85' Aaron Ramsey hits the bar for Arsenal! The youngster plays a neat one-two before scooping his finish off the underside of the bar and away to safety.
    • 81' AZ pull a goal back! Jeremain Lens charges forward, holds off a couple of Arsenal challenges, before shooting past Almunia.
    • 71' It's another goal for Arsenal! A fantastic back-heel from Eduardo picks out Arshavin who crosses for Diaby to calmly finish past the keeper...easy!
    • 67' Kieran Gibbs cuts inside and lets fly with a right-footed shot that skims the outside of the post as it goes wide.
    • 56' AZ rattle the woodwork! Martens heads down to Pelle in the area and he swivels and fires the ball against the bar from six yards... that was almost the route back into the game AZ needed.
    • 52' Goal for Arsenal! It's another for Fabregas who latches onto a neat through-ball from Arshavin before giving the keeper 'the eyes' and planting the ball into the other corner of the net... very nicely done.
    • 42' What a goal for Arsenal! Arshavin feeds the ball into Nasri, who turns quite brilliantly before tucking a neat finish past Romero into the bottom corner.
    • 38' Ambitious effort from Onofras. He shoots from just inside the Rangers half, McGregor is back pedalling, but it hits roof of the net. Cheeky, but creative from the substitute.
    • 32' Fabregas heads over for Arsenal! Kieran Gibbs scoots down the left before sending a deep cross to the far post where Fabregas leaps but cannot keep his header on target.
    • 28' Half chance for AZ goes begging... Martens powers forward towards the box as Arsenal back-off but his shot is poor and fails to trouble Almunia who makes a simple save.
    • 24' Goal for Arsenal! Cesc Fabregas tries his luck with a skidding shot from outside the box that catches AZ keeper Sergio Romero asleep and sneaks in at the near post.
    • 11' Fabregas touches it for Van Persie who blasts it towards goal but it is deflected behind for a corner.
    • 3' Van Persie is inches away from giving Arsenal the lead with a right-footed drive, at the end of a flowing passing move, from outside the box that flies just wide.

Team lineup & ratings

  • Arsenal

    Manager: Arsène Wenger

  • AZ Alkmaar

    Manager: Ronald Koeman

  • Lineup

    Live Team Line-Up

    • Arsenal

      Manager: Arsène Wenger

      Starting line-up

      • M. Almunia
      • E. Eboué
      • W. Gallas
      • T. Vermaelen
      • K. Gibbs
      • C. Fábregas Goals×2 Substitution Out (67′)
      • A. Song
      • S. Nasri Goal
      • A. Diaby Goal
      • A. Arshavin Substitution Out (75′)
      • R. van Persie Substitution Out (67′)

      Subs

      • T. Rosický Substitution In75′
      • M. Silvestre
      • V. Mannone
      • E. da Silva Substitution In67′
      • A. Ramsey Substitution In67′
      • P. Senderos
      • B. Sagna

    • AZ Alkmaar

      Manager: Ronald Koeman

      Starting line-up

      • S. Romero
      • K. Jaliens
      • N. Moisander Yellow Card
      • H. Moreno
      • S. Poulsen Substitution Out (64′)
      • D. Mendes da Silva Substitution Out (70′)
      • S. Schaars
      • M. Dembélé Substitution Out (58′)
      • B. Holman
      • M. Martens
      • G. Pellè

      Subs

      • J. Didulica
      • J. Lens Substitution In58′ Goal
      • S. Pocognoli Substitution In64′
      • G. Swerts
      • N. van der Velden
      • P. Wernbloom Substitution In70′
      • Ari

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

    Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account.

    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.6 -
      Defenders
      6.2 -
      7.5 -
      8.2 -
      7.4 -
      Midfielders
      Goals ×2 Substitution Out67′ 9.6 -
      7.4 -
      Goal 8.6 -
      Goal 7.9 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out75′ 8.9 -
      Substitution Out67′ 8.5 -
      Subs
      Substitution In75′ 7.3 -
      Substitution In67′ 7.8 -
      Substitution In67′ 6.8 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      3.5 -
      Defenders
      4.1 -
      Yellow Card 4 -
      4.4 -
      Substitution Out64′ 4.3 -
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out70′ 4.5 -
      4.2 -
      Substitution Out58′ 3.9 -
      4 -
      3.4 -
      Strikers
      3.9 -
      Subs
      Substitution In58′ Goal 5.8 -
      Substitution In64′ 4.9 -
      Substitution In70′ 4.7 -

Comment 223 - 242 of 242

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. Arsenal on Rampage

    From BRIGHT, on Wed 18 Nov 11:30PM

  2. ARSENAL ARE THE BEST SO ALL SHUT UP

    From charlie, on Fri 13 Nov 5:48PM

  3. ofc, ARSENAL win CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From emil_rotar, on Mon 9 Nov 6:46PM

  4. Arsenal is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Moses, on Fri 6 Nov 1:18PM

  5. Great

    From ndole71, on Thu 5 Nov 5:01PM

  6. 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ­ 0000 0
    0 0 0 0 0 ­ 0 0 0 0 0 0
    0oooo0 ­ 00000 00000 0000 0 0 00000 ­ 0
    0 0 0 0 0 0 ­ 0 0 0 0 0
    0 0 0 ­ 0 0000 0000 0 0 0 0 ­ 00000

    From Dosukey, on Thu 5 Nov 4:33PM

  7. HAHAHAHHAH AZ ARE LOZERS

    From yippiehenk, on Thu 5 Nov 3:51PM

  8. arsenal thanks for making me happy, I will continue to­ support arsenal till I breath no more.

    From Mike, on Thu 5 Nov 2:50PM

  9. Comment 234 - "Chelsea are the pride of London­ :)­ Arsenal are just an embarrasment" (spelling­ corrected).
    What utter tosh you are talking! How can­ Arsenal be an embarrasment? We have played excellent­ football so far this season. Had we not thrown away a­ couple of points at West Ham we would be level on­ points (assuming a win in our game in hand) but top on­ goal difference (because of all those goals we score­ across the entire team). How would that be an­ embarrasment? You pilchard!
    Now, if you want to talk­ embarrasment, lets look at Chelsea. Drogba only just­ back from a European ban because of appalling behaviour­ last season (regardless of whether the result was wrong­ against Barcelona, there was no need to behave like­ that). Ballack behaved just as bad. Cashley Cole is­ always an embarrasment, then there is the little matter­ of a transfer ban for underhand transfer dealings! ­ Just a load of embarrasment.
    So get your facts­ straight before talking a pile of rubbish.

    From PAUL, on Thu 5 Nov 1:49PM

  10. i hope wenger stays till his dying day. come guys do­ you REALLY think that fabregas is going to barcelona?­ if you do, you might like to start watching AMERICAN­ SOCCER.lol.

    From Mark, on Thu 5 Nov 12:40PM

  11. i tell people all the time that arsenal are the­ greatest team that england has to offer. through thick­ and thin arsenal still manages to show thier quality.­ this season is going to be the one to watch, as i am­ certain that arsenal and chelsea will battle to the­ wire for this years premiership title. we will not­ slip-up! CHELSEA WATCH OUT!
    COME ON YOU GOONERS!!!!! -

    From Mark, on Thu 5 Nov 12:37PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ARSENAL S U C K :)

    Chelsea are the pride of London­ :)

    Arsenal are just an embaresment

    From decoandreas, on Thu 5 Nov 11:52AM

  13. Its amazing how Arsenal funs are so jubilent after­ winning a string of matches, the beilef in the team is­ huge. When they loose one match they turn critics,­ Wenger to the chop!!! I'm a gunner through and­ through, win or loose. Even with no trophy for next­ 10yrs! Its the quality and discpline of these young­ players. Also Wenger has turned us into a force in­ euro. Remember when qualification wasn't garanteed.­ It also pays well. One day we gonna be the reachest­ club in the world. If we can keep winning through­ December then we can seen trophies surely. At Arsenal,­ you'll never be bored!!!

    From badboy007, on Thu 5 Nov 11:45AM

  14. arsenal is too hot this season for any team to just­ under rate, i beg if u hear about­ arsenal...............plz run or u bow

    From agboola, on Thu 5 Nov 10:47AM

  15. well done Arsenal keep it up

    From ashraff_sa10, on Thu 5 Nov 8:18AM

  16. Good result...but this weekend, we like to see Rosicky­ and Nasri to starting 11 against wolve.Diaby you put­ him at the bench ok...Wenger.

    From Garret, on Thu 5 Nov 7:50AM

  17. Hello world do you see the real football and how­ Gunners is plying. this is what all gunners fun need­ to see always . keep going gunners kids­ …………..hola hola­ hola ………… yoyoe­ from Mettu

    From yonas b, on Thu 5 Nov 7:06AM

  18. Congratulatins to the Nerazzurri......in fat i cannot­ contain my joy after a splendid show yesternight of­ what i can call a relentless battle till end. It has­ proven that positive fighting team spirit is always­ necessary for people who want to succeed.
    We are now­ at the top of the group and really need to perform at­ camp nou on the 14th of this month to seal our position­ tight.
    Good luck Inter
    Thank God my prayer­ yesterday was answered .
    Lets start preparartions­ right away towards the 14th. for a spanish-italian­ duel.(Barca-Inter)

    From Tony Touch, on Thu 5 Nov 5:20AM

  19. i think its best for mannone to be put on goal. almunia­ is the source of complacency. he gave away simple shot­ in goal..too simple.

    From afiq a, on Thu 5 Nov 2:48AM

  20. arsenal is a good squad team................in the­ world....

    i love ARSENAL

    i ­ love ARSENAL

    i love ­ ARSENAL

    From Ammar AsyrafB, on Thu 5 Nov 1:38AM
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account