Arsenal survived a second-half onslaught from Aston Villa to regain - at least temporarily - the leadership of the Barclays Premier League.
The Gunners looked to be cruising to victory after dominating the opening 45 minutes and netting through Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri.
But Villa were transformed in the second period and Ciaran Clark struck twice either side of Marouane Chamakh's 10th goal of the campaign before Jack Wilshere's injury-time clincher.
EPL Today
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Roy plotting Spurs 'surprise'
The Reds travel to White Hart Lane this weekend in the unusual role as underdogs, having been usurped by Spurs as one of the Premier League's top four clubs last season before making a terrible start to the current campaign.
But Hodgson, who will again be without injured captain Steven Gerrard, saw his side defeat rock-bottom West Ham with ease last Saturday evening to ensure they have now lost only one game in eight matches in all competitions.
After an apparent lack of fitness and confidence, Fernando Torres has rediscovered his goalscoring form in that period, while Ngog impressed against the Hammers when starting in Gerrard's absence.
But Hodgson, who will again be without injured captain Steven Gerrard, saw his side defeat rock-bottom West Ham with ease last Saturday evening to ensure they have now lost only one game in eight matches in all competitions.
After an apparent lack of fitness and confidence, Fernando Torres has rediscovered his goalscoring form in that period, while Ngog impressed against the Hammers when starting in Gerrard's absence.
Tevez thinking of quitting football
Tell me if you have heard this one before...
Carlos Tevez says he will only continue his career in Europe for "three or four years" as he has grown tired of the money swamping professional football.
Tevez often cuts an unhappy figure and 12 months ago said he would consider retiring from professional football if Argentina won the World Cup finals as he wanted to spend more time with his family.
He returned from South Africa to captain Manchester City this season but it appears that football's financial focus, and a lack of respect from young players emerging from the ranks, has once again led the striker to ponder his future in the game.
Carlos Tevez says he will only continue his career in Europe for "three or four years" as he has grown tired of the money swamping professional football.
GettyImages
Tevez often cuts an unhappy figure and 12 months ago said he would consider retiring from professional football if Argentina won the World Cup finals as he wanted to spend more time with his family.
He returned from South Africa to captain Manchester City this season but it appears that football's financial focus, and a lack of respect from young players emerging from the ranks, has once again led the striker to ponder his future in the game.
Cole set to be dropped after outburst
Avram Grant is considering axing England striker Carlton Cole for the Hammers' must-win match with Wigan after a behind-the-scenes bust-up, according to ESPNsoccernet sources.
Grant has called a players' meeting and told his squad that, while criticising the manager is one thing, he cannot tolerate public rebukes for team-mates, a pointed attack on Cole who said he had been starved of chances playing as the lone striker in the first half at Anfield.
Grant has called a players' meeting and told his squad that, while criticising the manager is one thing, he cannot tolerate public rebukes for team-mates, a pointed attack on Cole who said he had been starved of chances playing as the lone striker in the first half at Anfield.Cole's place in the team for Saturday's game, which the club have themselves billed as the "save our season" match, is now under threat, with the likelihood of him being dropped down to the bench.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Manchester United 1-0 Rangers
There was no apology from Wayne Rooney, only a match-winning penalty as the Manchester United sharpshooter fired his side into the knockout phase.
On his first start since signing a lucrative new contract and annoying the Red Devils fans with his negotiating tactics, Rooney gave another television interview in which he did not say sorry.
Whether United are bothered is debatable. After all, Rooney is paid to score goals and on his first start following a long-standing ankle injury, he did just that, sending Allan McGregor the wrong way after Fabio had been fouled to give the visitors their fateful spot-kick near the end.
On his first start since signing a lucrative new contract and annoying the Red Devils fans with his negotiating tactics, Rooney gave another television interview in which he did not say sorry.
Whether United are bothered is debatable. After all, Rooney is paid to score goals and on his first start following a long-standing ankle injury, he did just that, sending Allan McGregor the wrong way after Fabio had been fouled to give the visitors their fateful spot-kick near the end.
Tottenham 3-0 Werder Bremen
Tottenham Hotspur went marching on into the Champions League knockout stage as their fairytale first season in the competition continued with a thumping win over Werder Bremen.
Spurs easily sealed qualification from Group A with a game to spare, a truly remarkable achievement for a side whose last campaign among Europe's elite came almost half a century earlier.
In fact, it is arguable whether any team have made such a thrilling impact on their Champions League debut as Harry Redknapp's great entertainers, who have now added the scalp of an admittedly depleted Bremen to those of holders Inter Milan and Dutch champions FC Twente.
Spurs easily sealed qualification from Group A with a game to spare, a truly remarkable achievement for a side whose last campaign among Europe's elite came almost half a century earlier.
In fact, it is arguable whether any team have made such a thrilling impact on their Champions League debut as Harry Redknapp's great entertainers, who have now added the scalp of an admittedly depleted Bremen to those of holders Inter Milan and Dutch champions FC Twente.
Manchester United v Rangers Press Kit
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
2010/11 SEASON
MATCH PRESS KIT
Group C - Matchday 5
Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
Wednesday 24 November 2010
20.45CET (19.45 local time)
Tottenham v Werder Bremen Press Kit
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
2010/11 SEASON
MATCH PRESS KIT
Tottenham Hotspur FC SV Werder Bremen
Group A - Matchday 5
White Hart Lane, London
Wednesday 24 November 2010
20.45 CET (19.45 local time)
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Arsenal stunned by Braga 2-0
Arsenal suffered a shock 2-0 Champions League defeat to Braga at Estadio Municipal.
The Gunners, beaten by rivals Tottenham on Saturday, had been top of Group H and thrashed the Portuguese side 6-0 in their opening fixture.
However, a much-changed side never hit top gear and were denied a cast-iron penalty by Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai before Braga scored two late breakaway goals from Brazilian striker Matheus, leaving Arsene Wenger's men not yet assured of their place in the last 16.
Wenger had made seven changes from the team which threw away a 2-0 lead at home to Spurs, including a return for Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner, who had previously hit out at a lack of opportunities.
The Gunners, beaten by rivals Tottenham on Saturday, had been top of Group H and thrashed the Portuguese side 6-0 in their opening fixture.
However, a much-changed side never hit top gear and were denied a cast-iron penalty by Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai before Braga scored two late breakaway goals from Brazilian striker Matheus, leaving Arsene Wenger's men not yet assured of their place in the last 16.
Wenger had made seven changes from the team which threw away a 2-0 lead at home to Spurs, including a return for Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner, who had previously hit out at a lack of opportunities.
Chelsea 2-1 MSK Zilina
Chelsea fought back against MSK Zilina to preserve their 100% record in the Champions League and ease the pressure on under-fire boss Carlo Ancelotti thanks to second-half goals from Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda.
Ancelotti's side had trailed to Babatounde Bello's shock 19th-minute opener for the Group F minnows but Sturridge levelled six minutes after the break.
Malouda then grabbed a vital winner for the Premier League champions when he slotted home at the far post four minutes from time to ensure Chelsea finish in top spot.
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| Getty Images |
Malouda then grabbed a vital winner for the Premier League champions when he slotted home at the far post four minutes from time to ensure Chelsea finish in top spot.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Champions League Play
Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester United get midweek play as the Champions League moves forward with the second return matches of the league play.
- Chelsea will play host to MSK Zilina who have been outscored a combined 11-0 in the three matches so far this Champions League. Chelsea have already punched their ticket with 4 wins in four matches.
- Arsenal will travel to Portugal to play the side Braga. Braga has 2 wins and 2 losses in league play with both wins over Partizan Belgrade. Arsenal is leading the group though losing the return match versus Shakhtar. The Gunners will move forward with a dominant +11 goal differential.
- Tottenham have a chance to move in to the knockout round with a return versus Werder Bremen. The first match was a wild 2-2 draw that showed the explosiveness of Spurs but the downright pitiful defense that is all too common on the road for the boys from White Hart Lane.
- Manchester United go to Glasgow to visit Rangers who tied 0-0 in a boring and slow first match. United should move on easily as all they need is a draw to guarantee movement into the round of 16 putting 1/4 of the final 16 being EPL squads.
Table 11/22/2010
| 2010-2011 English Premier League Table | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | W | D | L | GS | GA | W | D | L | GS | GA | GD | Pts | ||||
| 1 |  | Chelsea | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 28 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 28 | |||
| 2 |  | Manchester United | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 28 | |||
| 3 |  | Arsenal | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 28 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 26 | |||
| 4 | | Manchester City | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 25 | |||
| 5 | | Bolton Wanderers | 14 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 26 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 22 | |||
| 6 | | Tottenham Hotspur | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 22 | |||
| 7 | | Sunderland | 14 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 17 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 20 | |||
| 8 | | Stoke City | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 19 | |||
| 9 | | Liverpool | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -1 | 19 | |||
| 10 | | Newcastle United | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 18 | |||
| 11 | | Blackburn Rovers | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 12 | -1 | 18 | |||
| 12 | | Blackpool | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 16 | -6 | 18 | |||
| 13 | | Aston Villa | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 15 | -5 | 17 | |||
| 14 | | Everton | 14 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 16 | |||
| 15 | | Birmingham | 14 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 12 | -2 | 16 | |||
| 16 | | West Bromwich Albion | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 16 | -9 | 16 | |||
| 17 | | Fulham | 14 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -3 | 14 | |||
| 18 | | Wigan Athletic | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | -13 | 14 | |||
| 19 | | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 14 | -11 | 9 | |||
| 20 | | West Ham United | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 14 | -14 | 9 | |||
Sunderland 2 - 2 Everton
Mikel Arteta denied teenager Danny Welbeck the headlines as Everton snatched a late equaliser at Sunderland.
The Spaniard's 82nd-minute shot was deflected past keeper Craig Gordon by the helpless Phil Bardsley to ensure a topsy-turvy encounter ended all square.
Nineteen-year-old Welbeck looked to have fired the Black Cats into sixth place in the Barclays Premier League table with a double either side of half-time as he cancelled out and then overhauled Tim Cahill's early opener.
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| Getty Images |
Nineteen-year-old Welbeck looked to have fired the Black Cats into sixth place in the Barclays Premier League table with a double either side of half-time as he cancelled out and then overhauled Tim Cahill's early opener.
The choke's on Arsenal
There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that I fled the country this past weekend because I feared the tsunami of torment from Spurs fans should Tottenham finally defeat Arsenal at home for the first time in 17 years.
It just so happens I was in Amsterdam when the Gunners shamefully blew a 2-0 halftime lead. And I was about to leap from my balcony into a canal when I checked my BlackBerry one last time and saw the Tweet from The Spurs Guy, Bill Simmons: "Spurs rally back from 2 down for first win in Arsenal since '93! When is Hirshey posting his top-10 excuses for that massive choke job?"
The way I saw it, I had two choices:
1. Hurl myself into the icy waters below
2. Defend Arsenal's honor to the newly minted American Spurs Fans
Being a man (and a poor swimmer), I chose the second option. But I'm not so craven that I would simply take Simmons' bait and list my top 10 excuses for Saturday's soul-crushing, eye-gouging humiliation at the feet of our most despised rivals. In retrospect, though, I suppose I should have seen it coming for the following reasons:
It just so happens I was in Amsterdam when the Gunners shamefully blew a 2-0 halftime lead. And I was about to leap from my balcony into a canal when I checked my BlackBerry one last time and saw the Tweet from The Spurs Guy, Bill Simmons: "Spurs rally back from 2 down for first win in Arsenal since '93! When is Hirshey posting his top-10 excuses for that massive choke job?"
The way I saw it, I had two choices:
1. Hurl myself into the icy waters below
2. Defend Arsenal's honor to the newly minted American Spurs Fans
Being a man (and a poor swimmer), I chose the second option. But I'm not so craven that I would simply take Simmons' bait and list my top 10 excuses for Saturday's soul-crushing, eye-gouging humiliation at the feet of our most despised rivals. In retrospect, though, I suppose I should have seen it coming for the following reasons:
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Fulham 1 - 4 Manchester City
Carlos Tevez showed old boss Mark Hughes no mercy at Craven Cottage as Manchester City romped to a victory that saw them close to within three points of the Premier League summit.
Twelve months ago Hughes was the man profiting from the South American's prowess in front of goal.
Now it is Roberto Mancini hailing two goals and a man-of-the-match display from the inspirational South American.
Indeed, as Mancini reflects on a table that shows his side to be bang in the title hunt - as well as more money to strengthen in January than any of their rivals - and four more goals on the road to answer the critics who have panned him for being too negative, the Italian could be forgiven for having a large chuckle to himself.
Twelve months ago Hughes was the man profiting from the South American's prowess in front of goal.
Now it is Roberto Mancini hailing two goals and a man-of-the-match display from the inspirational South American.
Indeed, as Mancini reflects on a table that shows his side to be bang in the title hunt - as well as more money to strengthen in January than any of their rivals - and four more goals on the road to answer the critics who have panned him for being too negative, the Italian could be forgiven for having a large chuckle to himself.
Blackburn Rovers 2 - 0 Aston Villa
Blackburn Rovers new owners had plenty to cheer as a brace from Morten Gamst Pedersen ensured they made a winning start against Aston Villa.
Rovers, playing for the first time since being taken over by Indian company Venky's, took the lead in stoppage time at the end of the opening period at Ewood Park thanks to Pedersen's delightful looping free-kick.
The Norwegian then struck again midway through the second half to wrap up a comfortable victory for Sam Allardyce's side.
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| PA Photos |
Rovers, playing for the first time since being taken over by Indian company Venky's, took the lead in stoppage time at the end of the opening period at Ewood Park thanks to Pedersen's delightful looping free-kick.
The Norwegian then struck again midway through the second half to wrap up a comfortable victory for Sam Allardyce's side.
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