Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Gunners...

[Karl]

Excellent Arsenal set up all-English semi
Updated: April 15, 2009, 4:50 PM ET

Arsenal have been portrayed as a club in crisis this season but they are now in the Champions League semi-final after sweeping past Villarreal 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie were on the scoresheet as Arsene Wenger's youngsters defied their injury worries in defence to wrap up the tie 4-1 on aggregate within an hour.

The Spaniards had Sebastian Eguren dismissed, and the hosts were then able to conserve energy for their FA Cup clash against Chelsea at the weekend.

If they win at Wembley there will be genuine hope of getting something out a season where many predicted them to slip out of the traditional top four in England.

Wenger himself admits he has been amazed by how his young players have gone 18 Barclays Premier League games without defeat - and this performance will have impressed him too.

But nothing has been easy at Arsenal this season. Earlier in the campaign William Gallas was stripped of the captaincy, now Wenger is desperately short on numbers in at the back.

Ahead of this clash, Bacary Sagna was taken ill, meaning an entire back four was missing as Arsenal protected their slender away-goals advantage.

Kolo Toure held together a defence that contained Emmanuel Eboue at right-back, Kieran Gibbs at left-back and inexperienced Lucasz Fabianski in goal.

Villarreal had problems of their own, with Marcos Senna, the cornerstone of their midfield, out injured.

They did have Robert Pires stationed on the left flank, meaning it was Arsenal's past versus the club's future, as Walcott was raiding down the right.

It was a fascinating clash, with Walcott almost putting the ball out of play early on when Pires picked up a knock, only to carry on with the ball to set up an attack.

The 20-year-old showed his ruthless side again when he netted the opener in the 10th minute.

Eboue slipped the ball forward from the right, Cesc Fabregas' flick allowed Walcott to run through on goal, with the England winger chipping home high over goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

It was reward for Arsenal's bright start after Van Persie went close with a header that cleared the crossbar and a long-range effort that Lopez gathered at the second attempt.

The hosts were inches from adding a second goal after Van Persie's powerful free-kick was saved by Lopez. Adebayor's follow-up header got deflected on target but Gonzalo Rodriguez hacked off the line.

All eyes were on the assistant referee but it would have been the tightest of calls if he had flagged for a goal.

The equation for Villarreal shifted only slightly - they still needed a goal.
Diego Godin had given Wenger's side an early scare when he got on the end of Giuseppe Rossi's free-kick and forced Fabianski into a save with his scissor-kick.

The visitors then caused some nervous moments in Arsenal's defence before the break, with Rossi getting sight of goal at the near post before the hosts scrambled clear.

Pires also had a shot blocked from the edge of the area, while Godin headed over from a corner in first-half stoppage-time.

Manuel Pellegrini's men sensed that it was their time to apply pressure on Arsenal's makeshift defence. It meant all hands on deck for Wenger's makeshift back line.

Arsenal's best option was to counter attack. Van Persie was making runs from deep to cause Villarreal problems, with Godin picking up a booking for stopping one run.

No opponent got close enough to Van Persie on the hour mark and he sent through Adebayor, who took one touch before finishing past Lopez with the outside of his boot.

The third came from Van Persie's penalty and also saw Eguran dismissed.

Godin took Walcott's legs away in the penalty area but escaped a second booking for the offence. Eguran, who got a yellow card in the first half, got another caution for dissent and then disgracefully put his hands on the referee while protesting more. Van Persie kept his nerve and fired in the spot-kick.

Wenger's goalscorers were then given a breather to rest for the battles ahead.

[Karl]

Arsenal 3-0 Villarreal (agg: 4-1)

Arsenal 3-0 Villarreal (agg: 4-1)


By Phil Dawkes




Walcott scored Arsenal's first and was the inspiration behind their victory

Arsenal booked their place in the Champions League semi-final as they produced a dominant attacking display to beat 10-man Villarreal.

Theo Walcott scored the first goal, collecting a Cesc Fabregas flick before running clear and chipping in.

Emmanuel Adebayor put the hosts firmly in charge, producing a neat finish with the outside of his right foot.

Sebastian Eguren was then sent off for disputing an Arsenal penalty that Robin Van Persie scored to seal the victory.

In 2006 Arsenal faced Villarreal in a Champions League semi-final and after securing a 1-0 first-leg advantage would have paid for their defensive approach to the second leg had Jens Lehmann not saved Juan Roman Riquleme's last minute penalty.

Partly due to this chastening experience, and partly because of the loss of a number of key defenders through injury, Arsene Wenger decided attack was the most efficient form of defence.

From the off Arsenal bit into tackles, were the first to loose balls and at every opportunity sought to release the superb Walcott down the right.

Every time the England winger received the ball he threatened to embarrass the Villarreal defence, in particular his marker - the Spanish international full-back Joan Capdevila.

It was a break from Walcott that created the Gunners' first chance.
His initial cross evaded Van Persie in the box but Fabregas was able to collect on the opposite wing and find the Dutch striker with a cross, which he headed over the bar.

Walcott's next contribution to the game was even more significant.

Emmanuel Eboue's forward pass was flicked on by Fabregas into the path of Walcott, who bore down on goal and lured out Villarreal keeper Diego Lopez before exquisitely chipping the ball over him to reward his side's initial endeavour.

For all the talk of Arsenal's defensive fallibility in the absence of the likes of William Gallas, Manuel Almunia and Gael Clichy, it was the Spaniards who were vulnerable.

It would be simplistic to blame the absence of influential midfielder Marcos Senna from the Villarreal side when so many of his team-mates' performances were lacking.

In one incident Gonzalo Rodriguez twice plunged his side into trouble.
His needless foul on Adebayor on the edge of the box gave Van Persie the chance to strike a free-kick that Lopez could not hold and Adebayor's follow-up header was almost knocked over the line by the defender before he finally cleared.

The start to the second half was not quite as frenetic as the first but this did not prevent Arsenal from seizing their opportunity to take firm control of the tie.

Van Persie picked up the ball in the Villarreal half and drove forward before neatly playing in Adebayor whose finish, with the outside of his right foot, was too good for Lopez.

Arsenal's control of the tie was converted into certain qualification nine minutes later.

Walcott dribbled into the box from the right and drew a rash challenge from Diego Godin, prompting the referee to point to the spot.

The Villarreal players protested vociferously, pointing out that the linesman had not signalled for a penalty.

Referee Wolfgang Stark took exception and brandished a second yellow card to Eguren, resulting in his dismissal.

Unperturbed by the raised emotions of the opposition, Van Persie strode up and fired in the penalty to the left of Lopez.

All three goalscorers were substituted soon after and rightly received a standing ovation.

Two of the replacements - Nicklas Bendtner and Abou Diaby - combined late on to almost score the Gunners' fourth but the latter flashed his shot across goal after being fed by the former.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Eboue, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs, Walcott (Denilson 77), Song Billong, Fabregas, Nasri, Adebayor (Bendtner 83), Van Persie (Diaby 77).
Subs Not Used: Mannone, Eduardo, Vela, Ramsey.

Booked: Silvestre, Gibbs.

Goals: Walcott 10, Adebayor 60, Van Persie 69 pen.

Villarreal: Diego Lopez, Angel, Rodriguez, Godin, Capdevila, Cani (Pablo 70), Eguren, Bruno (Nihat 64), Fernandez (Ibagaza 64), Pires, Rossi.
Subs Not Used: Viera, Llorente, Javi Venta, Fuentes.

Sent Off: Eguren (68).

Booked: Eguren, Cani, Godin.
Agg (4-1)

Att: 58,233

Ref: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Arsenal's Theo Walcott 8.65 (on 90 minutes).

[Lazie]

I wonder what Wenger's reaction is now that his team is facing a team he described as "untouchable"?

[Twan]

I wonder what Wenger's reaction is now that his team is facing a team he described as "untouchable"?

he was referring to the EPL !! trust mi..they will be "touched"..

[Gamma]

unnuh soon find out...

[Karl]

Arsenal turned on the style

Arsenal Cruise Into Champions League Semis With Three Nil Win Over Villarreal

Arsenal turned on the style to beat Villarreal 3-0 in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, setting up an all-English semi-final against Manchester United.





Arsene Wenger's side are coming good into some real form and their 4-1 aggregate victory was deserved reward for a great showing.

Theo Walcott gave Arsenal the perfect start at the Emirates Stadium with a superb chip before Togo forward Emmanuel Adebayor struck to put the Gunners in control after half-time.

Robin van Persie's penalty underlined Arsenal's superiority and Sebastian Eguren's red card for complaining about the spot-kick only compounded Villarreal's misery.

Wenger said: "We sent out a very offensive team and we played in a convincing way. I was very impressed with the quality and speed of our game."

The Frenchman added,
"It is a test to play United next but a challenge you relish and we are excited about that."

[Karl]

I wonder what Wenger's reaction is now that his team is facing a team he described as "untouchable"?

He said earlier -

“I’m very proud of the team,” Wenger said. “Our average age was 22 years old...


“They have no fear – that’s very pleasing. We go everywhere and try to play. We try to dictate the game we love and it works. We started strong, we continued strong and finished strong. I consider we’re not qualified, but need one more victory.”

...I think he would say now - "We need two more victories!"

[Karl]

Arsenal 'outsiders' in Champions League: Wenger

I wonder what Wenger's reaction is now that his team is facing a team he described as "untouchable"?

Arsenal 'outsiders' in Champions League: Wenger

AFP - April 16, 2009, 8:27 pm
AFP ©

LONDON (AFP) - Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal are still "super outsiders" to win the Champions League even though his side brushed aside Villarreal 3-0 to book a semi-final showdown with Manchester United.

The Gunners were at their majestic best in Wednesday's quarter-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium as goals from Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie dispatched Manuel Pellegrini's Spanish club in resounding fashion.

After spluttering through the first half of the season, Arsenal appear to be hitting peak form at just the right time. They are unbeaten in 18 Premier League matches and now have a European semi-final to look forward to as well as Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

With Walcott, Adebayor and, perhaps most importantly, Cesc Fabregas all back from injury and showing few signs of rust, Arsenal look capable of ending their four-year wait for silverware.

Wenger's side also have the advantage of playing the second leg against United at the Emirates, where they have already beaten the European champions 2-1 this season.

But the Gunners boss admits knocking out United will be the sternest challenge his young side have faced.
"I wouldn't like to speculate about any weakness of Man United. We expect them to be strong when they play us and that should encourage us to be at our best," Wenger said. "That is how we will prepare the game. We are still super outsiders.

"It is difficult to play an English team in Europe because they will have quality, but I believe if you want to go far in the Champions League you have to play an English team at some stage.

"It is a test but I think it is a challenge you relish and we are excited about that.

"The teams always produce very exciting games so it is a promising semi-final. We are up for the challenge."

Wenger has had a long and sometimes bitter rivalry with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The Gunners boss acknowledges that the prize of a Champions League final could reopen old wounds, but he is more concerned to keep his players in peak physical condition going into the first leg at Old Trafford on April 29.

"The history is always a little part to play," he said. "But we are in a cup competition with 180 minutes to play. What is more important is the form of the day.

"We are both in the semi-final of the FA Cup and have a game in hand to play. How we are physically will have a big impact."

Wenger is keen to keep the focus on this weekend's Wembley date with Chelsea before planning for the Old Trafford clash.

But he could be forgiven a moment to reflect on the way his team showed a tenacity and belief few thought they possesssed to answer the critics who wrote them off.

"I was never worried about the quality of the players, more about the confidence and belief of a very young side," he said. "It is always more difficult when they don't win. They are a bit more fragile than guys who have a big history and have gone through difficult periods.

"I was more worried about the mental side of what happened at the start of the season but they coped very well. This group is mentally strong."
Walcott gave Arsenal the perfect start on Wednesday when he punished a mistake from Diego Godin to loft a sublime chip over Diego Lopez.
Villarreal, badly missing injured Spain midfielder Marcos Senna, never recovered.

Adebayor swept home the second on the hour after good work from van Persie, who buried a penalty nine minutes later after Gordin's foul on Walcott.

Villarreal's Sebastian Eguren was sent off for protesting the penalty decision but the Spaniards were already buried, as Pelligrini conceded.
He said: "We wanted to get through to the semi-finals but they were better than us even before the sending off, so we have no complaints. The second goal made it very difficult to come back.

"It is hard to predict a winner of their semi-final, but Manchester United will be very difficult for them."