Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa

[Twan]

Less than 10 minutes after coming on, captain fantastic Cesc Fabregas does the business for his side in sensational style. He wins the free-kick for Richard Dunne's foul and curls a delicious effort into the top corner from 25 yards out

Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa

That is absolutely stunning from Arsenal. James Milner's hopeless pass forward is picked up by Armand Traore, who sweeps a perfect long ball out to Theo Walcott. This time, the final ball is inch-perfect for Cesc Fabregas, who runs in between two defenders to slot past Brad Friedel. The Gunners' celebrations are cut short though as Fabregas feels his hamstring before limping back to the halfway line...

Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa

Abou Diaby takes advantage of some tired Villa legs, strolling through the midfield before bending a low finish inside the post. Scoreline a bit harsh on Villa now.

[Assasin]

Cesc mash up my side. Good win Arsenal.

[Hortical]

They have a good team, but I don't think that have all the tools necessary to win a championship especially with Van Persie out for an extended period.

[Peter R]

First half pedestrian, second half brilliant!

[Peter R]

ManchU and Hull... now on ; 7 minutes of boredom... but ManU should regain second place as Hull has a leaky defence.

[Karl]

Abou Diaby - Another super-star in the making?
Could well be. This guy is super good!

[Karl]

They have a good team, but I don't think that have all the tools necessary to win a championship especially with Van Persie out for an extended period.

Yuh ope!

[1of1]

just need to shoot more

[HL]

Diaby is good...not super-good in my opinion.

I have seen him in games where he is terrible.

Still, I think he is of the Patrick Viera mold. Diaby is work in progress.

Midfielder Song is much more consistent....

All in all...excellent game. Worth getting up at 8 on Sunday to watch.

[Karl]

Diaby is good...not super-good in my opinion.

I have seen him in games where he is terrible.

Still, I think he is of the Patrick Viera mold. Diaby is work in progress.

Midfielder Song is much more consistent....

All in all...excellent game. Worth getting up at 8 on Sunday to watch.

Yup!
Song is on song!
He has come on tremendously!
Excellent player!

[Karl]

Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 0 Scorer: Fabregas (64, 81), Diaby

Arsenal 3
Aston Villa 0
Scorer: Fabregas (64, 81)
Scorer: Diaby (90)


Attendance: 60,056 FT (15:25)


Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas came off the bench to inspire the Gunners to a 3-0 win over Aston Villa which hauls them back into the Barclays Premier League title race.


The Spaniard, who had been out with a hamstring problem, netted a superb free-kick on 65 minutes and then scored a fine breakaway goal before being substituted as a precaution.


Abou Diaby netted a third in stoppage time at Emirates Stadium, curling in a low effort from the edge of the area after a powerful run.
Villa - who had already beaten Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool this season - looked dangerous on the break but could not make the most of their best spell of pressure midway through the second half.


Arsene Wenger's men are now just four points behind leaders Chelsea, and with a match in hand on the sides around them - a position which looked inconceivable following their defeat here against the Blues at the end of November.


The hosts started brightly and Brad Friedel saved well from defender Thomas Vermaelen at the far post following a corner, before Croatia striker Eduardo shot straight at the Villa keeper after collecting the ball from Diaby and turning in the box.



dipping effort


However, Villa - winners at Old Trafford just before Christmas - are a well-organised unit under Martin O'Neill and the physical presence of England forward Emile Heskey caused the Arsenal defence cause for concern.


Following a swift counter-attack by the visitors, Ashley Young saw his shot deflected behind off Alex Song.


The Cameroon midfielder - set to head off to the African Nations Cup next month - was lucky to only get a stern talking to by referee Phil Dowd after hauling down Heskey as Villa looked to break quickly again.


From the resulting free-kick, Villa had the ball in the net, but only after Richard Dunne bundled into Manuel Almunia, the effort correctly ruled out for the foul on the Arsenal keeper.


Arsenal, though, were soon back on the offensive, with Nasri's dipping effort deflected over and Song then just off target from the resulting corner.


Denilson was bundled down right on the edge of the penalty area but the Brazilian's effort hit the wall, then Bacary Sagna's follow-up flew over.


At the start of the second half, Diaby's run down the right was halted by Young, who picked up a yellow card for his troubles which rules the forward out of the Liverpool match on Tuesday.



swept home


Eduardo's deep free-kick was pushed away by Friedel before the Villa defence scrambled the ball off their goalline following a corner.
With 33 minutes left, Denilson was replaced by Fabregas.


Eduardo was unfortunate to see his close-range effort cleared by Warnock after a clever exchange with Andrey Arshavin down the left.


Friedel then denied the Russian with a full stretch save after Fabregas had weaved into the area, and Dunne cleared as Eduardo looked to knock the loose ball in.


On 65 minutes, Arsenal were awarded a free-kick 23 yards out when Dunne tripped Fabregas - and it proved costly as the Spaniard stepped up to curl a sublime effort up over the wall and into the top left corner.


Arsenal were lifted by the goal and looked full of confidence as they poured forward - and fittingly, the skipper helped Arsenal wrap up the points.


In the 81st minute, after a spell of Villa pressure, Traore hit a long diagonal pass out to Theo Walcott on the right. The substitute dashed forward before touching the ball into the path of the onrushing Fabregas, who swept home a 12th goal of the season.


The Spaniard, though, appeared to have aggravated his hamstring problem and was replaced by Aaron Ramsey for the closing stages.


Almunia made a brave save to deny Gabriel Agbonlahor, before Diaby netted Arsenal's third goal in stoppage-time, finishing low from the edge of the area.

[Karl]

Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa: Magical Cesc Fabregas Double Downs

Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa: Magical Cesc Fabregas Double Downs Villains

Gunners into second place in Premier League as they brush past Villa...

Dec 27, 2009 3:26:36 PM


Photo Gallery
Zoom

EPL: Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal v Aston Villa (Getty Images)
Related Links

Teams

• Arsenal
• Aston Villa

Players

• Cesc Fàbregas

Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa - Line-ups/Stats

Premier League Results, Standings

Arsenal climbed into second place in the Premier League as they beat Aston Villa 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium. Cesc Fabregas came off the bench to score twice for Arsenal, before Abou Diaby rounded off the scoring with a third late on.

The Gunners had a chance in the opening minutes, Abou Diaby and Denilson exchanged passes in midfield before the Frenchman was brought down for a free-kick on the right. Samir Nasri swung the ball into the box and it found Thomas Vermaelen at the back post, the Belgian took a touch and fired back across goal, but his shot hit William Gallas on the line and bounced out to safety.

Eduardo had a glorious chance to open the scoring in the fourth minute, Diaby scythed his way into the penalty area and laid off to Eduardo on his left. The Croatian turned his marker easily to find space in the box, but his finish was tame, striking straight at Brad Friedel in the Villa goal.

The Villains created a decent opening in the ninth minute, James Milner crossed from the left towards Emile Heskey in the box. The Englishman headed down to his countryman Gabriel Agbonlahor, who was crowded out by the Arsenal defence. Agbonlahor managed to feed the ball back to Heskey and the forward attempted a strike on goal, but his shot was wayward and went comfortably wide of Manuel Almunia's left-hand post.

Villa had the ball in the net in the 21st minute, Milner sent a diagonal ball towards the back post from the left flank. Richard Dunne ran round the back of the Arsenal defence to challenge Almunia, the Spaniard spilled the ball and the visiting skipper stabbed the loose ball into the open net. The goal didn't stand, however, as the referee blew up for a foul on the 'keeper.

Arsenal burst into life in the 29th minute, crafting a flowing passing move involving Diaby and Denilson before the ball was worked out wide to Bacary Sagna. The Frenchman drove the ball in low towards the edge of the penalty area where Denilson laid off to Nasri. The former Marseille midfielder took a touch and fired goal wards, but his shot deflected over the bar for a corner.

A decent first half ended with Friedel collecting an Eduardo free-kick swung in from the right. Arsenal were on top in terms of possession, but Villa defended well and looked lively on the counter attack.

The second half started in the same fashion, with some decent build up play by Arsenal eventually cut out by Villa.

Arsenal had an attempt cleared off the line in the 56th minute, Villa failed to clear from a Nasri corner that Eduardo got his head to and Gallas pounced on the loose ball. Friedel managed to block his effort and Carlos Cuellar hoofed clear as the ball trickled to the goal line.

Arsene Wenger decided to introduce Fabregas at this juncture, bringing on the Spaniard in place of Denilson. Arsenal's talisman almost made an immediate impact with a long-range free-kick that zipped marginally over the crossbar.

Fabregas was involved again minutes later, driving towards the penalty area and playing the ball to Andrey Arshavin. The Russian took a touch and lined up his shot, drilling towards the bottom left-hand corner. Friedel produced a solid save, stretching with his left hand, and Villa managed to clear as Eduardo lurked for the rebound.

When Arsenal opened the scoring, it was all down to Fabregas. The little Spaniard turned Dunne and was brought down to win a free-kick 25 yards from goal on the left. Fabregas stepped up to take the set piece and curled the ball into the top left-hand corner with a superb effort: 1-0 to Arsenal.

The goal seemed to invigorate the Gunners as they pressed forward in search of a second, Alex Song blazed over the crossbar from 20 yards after a good passage of play by the home side. They worked the ball from left to right and back to the middle, where Song showed good footwork to work the shooting opportunity.

Arsenal sealed the game with a second goal from Fabregas after a incisive counter attack by the Gunners. Armand Traore intercepted a loose Milner pass and quickly played a cross field pass to substitute Theo Walcott on the right. The Englishman drove at the Villa defence and slid the ball to Fabregas, who had made a lung-bursting run from deep, the Spaniard struck the ball first time and fired it beyond the helpless Friedel: 2-0 to Arsenal.

The goal came at a price for the Gunners, as Fabregas clutched his hamstring in the aftermath. He was withdrawn at the next possible opportunity, ending a marvellous 21 minute cameo, to be replaced by Aaron Ramsey.

Villa almost grabbed a consolation in the 85th minute, Agbonlahor burst through the Arsenal backline for a one-on-one with Almunia. Gallas recovered brilliantly to block the young Englishman's shot, and Almunia scrambled back to claw the ball out for a corner under pressure from Agbonlahor.

Diaby capped a wonderful second half for the Gunners, scoring Arsenal's third in stoppage time. The Frenchman drove at the Villa defence, who backed off the midfielder, and Diaby curled the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from 20 yards: 3-0 to Arsenal.

The victory sends Arsenal into second place, four points behind league leaders Chelsea with a game in hand. Manchester United travel to Hull City this afternoon.

Owen Watson, Goal.com UK