arsenal 0 - Everton 3 Match Report 06-Apr-2014

For 16 successive years Arsene Wenger's side have taken their place alongside Europe's elite, but this season the Toffees are pushing for a top-four spot.

Strikes from Steven Naismith, Romelu Lukaku and a Mikel Arteta own goal have put them just a point behind the Londoners with a match in hand.

The way they played their visitors off the park was an example of manager Roberto Martinez's passing game in full effect and was reminiscent of the lessons Wenger's side used to hand out to opponents.

But Arsenal's weak spot has always been their soft underbelly and it was brilliantly exploited at Goodison Park as Everton were tenacious, incisive and just plainly better in every department.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard is Mr Reliable, centre-back Sylvain Distin continues to churn out classy performances, Gareth Barry bestrides central midfield with a simplicity and calmness which allows Ross Barkley to terrorise further forward while the Lukaku provides a cutting edge up front.

That two of those players are only on loan is a debate for another day. After this performance it is difficult not to talk up Everton's chances of qualifying for the Champions League for only the second time in their history.

It was difficult to argue with Martinez's tactics, which saw him switch to 4-3-3 with Lukaku unusually stationed on the right wing to target Nacho Monreal, who was replacing injured left-back Kieran Gibbs.

However, even the best managers need a stroke of luck.

Leon Osman, who had looped Everton's first shot of the match just past Wojciech Szczesny's left-hand post, got in a tangle with Bacary Sagna, resulting in a gash that opened up after appearing to catch a boot in the face.

It forced Osman's immediate exit down the tunnel after just nine minutes, but brought Barkley to the fore in a more disciplined role on the left than he has been used to playing under Martinez.

However, with Barry providing support behind, the 20-year-old was still able to express himself and was instantly installed as the focal point of Everton's attacking play.

The goal, however, came from Arsenal's inability - or unwillingness - to engage opponents.

Leighton Baines was allowed to carry the ball 30 yards into enemy territory unchallenged and with that amount of time he picked out Lukaku with a low cross. Although the Belgium striker was denied by Szczesny, Naismith - who seems to have become Martinez's lucky charm - was in the right place at the right time to ram home the rebound.

One Barkley through-ball caused panic in Arsenal's defence but Kevin Mirallas could only shoot weakly while another sent Baines away down the left to create a chance for James McCarthy.

Martinez's ploy to expose Monreal down the other flank saw the Gunners defender give up the chase with Lukaku and call for Szczesny to race out of his area and clear.

Barkley continued to torment the visitors and after numerous step-overs hit an angled shot that was kept out by the goalkeeper's legs, with Mirallas also forcing a save near down at the same right-hand post.

Arsenal were cut open again just after the half-hour when Everton sliced their way through central midfield, with Naismith and Mirallas combining to release Lukaku on the right. Again Monreal, Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker stood off as he cut inside and the striker took full advantage to smash home left-footed.

Lukaku's celebration with Martinez on the touchline spoke volumes about the way the players have so wholeheartedly embraced the Spaniard's change in philosophy since replacing David Moyes in the summer.

The closest Arsenal came to a first-half reply saw Howard superbly tip over Lukas Podolski's dipping half-volley, but there was little else to enthuse over.

Everton, on the other hand, were rampant and midway through the second half applied the killer blow.

Mirallas broke from deep and although Szczesny just got to the ball before Naismith, it rebounded back in front of goal where former Toffees midfielder Arteta, under pressure from Mirallas, turned it into his own net.

Substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's shot against the crossbar late on couldn't offer Arsenal any consolation.

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Source : http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/match-report/287609/everton-v-arsenal

Arsenal vs Manchester City match Report 29-March-2014

It arrived seven days too late to salvage his own hopes but Arsene Wenger finally applied a rocket to the backsides of his Arsenal troops and kept the title race wide open.

Mathieu Flamini – bizarrely omitted from last weekend’s 6-0 shellacking at Chelsea – fired the equaliser which prevented Manchester City from returning to the Premier League summit.

But after falling behind to an early David Silva effort, this was an unrecognisable Arsenal side from that which had capitulated at Stamford Bridge and shambled its way to a home draw against Swansea.

Suddenly there was high-tempo attacking ­football, purpose and passion, zip in the passing and snap in the tackle.

These are the sort of displays which keep Wenger believing in this squad of players when others simply cannot see it.

The hosts had been blown away by Liverpool and Chelsea in recent weeks, but here they were more than a match for the Premier League’s strongest squad.

While others give up ­chocolate or cigarettes for Lent, Arsenal fans tend to give up hope some time between Pancake Day and Easter. They are far too used to the sort of implosions which preceded this return to form.

There had been small-scale pre-match protests among Arsenal fans against Wenger and the board – but no ­fly-pasts from the Red Arrows trailing banners and little evidence of any dissent inside the stadium.

Instead they passed around a flag saluting the ­Invincibles, the 49ers, who once went almost a half a century of league games unbeaten.

And for much of this match, Wenger’s men performed with the verve and ­muscularity of their great forebears.

Victory for City would have made them their clear title favourites, after  Chelsea's shock defeat at Crystal Palace.

Now it is difficult to put a fag-paper between Chelsea, Liverpool or   Manuel Pellegrini's side.

Pellegrini said: “I said before the start of the season it will be a close Premier League. There will be three or four clubs fighting until the end for the title. Arsenal can still fight for the title. But let’s see now who wins.

“The most important thing is it depends on what we do for the rest of the season.”

City began as if they were planning another of those early-doors jugular jobs on Arsenal, the kind which had become so fashionable among the Premier League’s leading clubs of late.

They were passing and moving with serious intent, Kieran Gibbs being ruthlessly isolated and exploited and Jesus Navas curling a shot just wide of the far post.

When Arsenal managed to create an opening, Santi Cazorla slipping through Tomas Rosicky, the Czech looked for a penalty rather than a shot – his dive, feigning contact with Pablo Zabaleta, failing to con referee Mike Dean.

And in the 18th minute, City were in front.

Silva surged forward and released Edin Dzeko, whose shot was tipped on to the post by Wojciech Szczesny, only for the rebound to fall kindly for Silva, who scuffed home.

Arsenal were far from ­overrun.

Rosicky netted when well offside, and City had to resort to some meaty ­challenges from Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho and even little Silva, yellow-carded for a lunge on Mikel Arteta inside the Arsenal box.

Defending from the front, none-shall-pass blocks, head-in-where-it-hurts at the back – these were qualities of Wenger’s greatest teams and after the break, his current crop rediscovered them.

City might have doubled their lead early in the second half, when Per Mertesacker almost netted an own goal when Szczesny pushed out a cross which cannoned off the big German and rolled wide.

This, though, seemed to propel Arsenal into life – and they forced Joe Hart into his first save of the match as he blocked a low ranger from Cazorla.

And on 53 minutes, Arsenal were level. A sweeping ­crossfield move found Podolski and he squared for Flamini to tuck home.

It was the first goal City had conceded in more than 10 hours of league football. Yet having finally been breached, the visitors were almost undone again as Podolski forced Hart to save with his legs.

But City were always dangerous, Fernandinho shooting from 20 yards and Szczesny tipping over.

Late on, it was frenetic, breakneck stuff – you almost expected Steve McQueen and Evel Knievel to drive in on Harleys.

Too late for Arsenal’s title hopes, surely, but hope for the FA Cup, for the top four and for Wenger as he frets over his own future.

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Source : http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/arsenal-1-1-manchester-city-match-3255599#ixzz2xoHXzkh1

Arsenal Looks to Save Their Honor Against Everton in the English Premier League 2013-14

Arsenal has had a rather disappointing start to the new year 2014 in the English Premier League 2013-14. They were at the top of the points table until mid January before they slipped further down. They now stand at the fourth position ahead of their match against Everton.

Close Match Between Arsenal and Everton

Arsenal vs Everton at Goodison Park on 6^th April will see Arsenal looking to save their honor in the EPL. Arsenal is at number four position with 19 wins out of 32

games and 64 points, while Everton is on number 5^th position with 17 wins out of 31 games. This will be a very close encounter between the two teams as both are looking to make their last attempts for the league finals.

Arsenal Receives Criticism

Arsenal managed a draw against Manchester City last week. The team has received a lot of criticism for their lack of focus. Everton is in good form in the past few weeks, so it will not be a surprise if the team defeats Arsenal by 2-1 margin. The Arsenal tickets have started selling online as well as at the venue, but fans are more keen on purchasing Everton tickets for this match.

Thismatch will see both the teams fighting for their survival in the English Premier League, one looking to save their honor while other looking to rise up the table.