EPL Week 18: Arsenal Draw 1-1 Against Liverpool, Chelsea Can't Score Against Everton
December 25th 2008 14:08
Arsenal – Liverpool: 1-1
When Robin Van Persie gave a 1-0 lead to Arsenal at the 23rd minute, things were decidedly looking bright for the Gunners. Although Liverpool tried to suffocate their midfielders, they were able to reach Adebayor and Van Persie with long balls over the top. The goal itself came from a superb Fabregas-like pass from Samir Nasri who sent the ball right between the Reds' center defenders for the Dutch striker to control with his chest and fire off a shot in the same manner as Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp.
Find more videos like this on MySoccerPlace.net - The Real Football Social Network
Unfortunately, Liverpool equalized the mark four minutes before half-time as Robbie Keane beat Arsenal's offside trap and half-volleyed Daniel Agger's clearance/pass past Manuel Almunia.
Find more videos like this on MySoccerPlace.net - The Real Football Social Network
As the game ended in a draw, most people's favorite subject of discussion afterwards was Adebayor's red card at the 61st minute after he received two yellows. In both cases, the call was a bit harsh, especially when, on the other side, Brazilian midfielder Lucas was snapping at the heels of every Arsenal midfielder all game long. To make matters worse, the Gunners lost Cesc Fabregas at half-time as he went down with a knee injury that will keep him out until Ahttp://my.orble.com/communit y/blogs/posts/create/6272/#fo rmpril at least. Down to ten men and without their maestro in midfield, Wenger's men took card after card in the last quarter of the match, desperately holding on to their draw while the referee finally issued a card to Lucas at the 79th minute.
You could say that the Liverpool coaching staff handed the draw to Arsenal since they didn't take advantage of their extra-man. Albert Riera, one of the Reds' best, was substituted at the 70th minute and replaced by Ryan Babel, and right away Liverpool's offense went off-kilter as Babel struggled to adjust to the pace of the game. Keane was also replaced for some unfathomable reason by Nabil El Zhar to no avail. Finally, the move that everyone was expecting came at the 87th minute when Lucas was replaced by David N'Gog as Liverpool effectively removed a holding midfielder for a striker, something that they should have done as soon as Adebayor was sent off. Both El-Zhar and Agger came close to giving the lead to the Reds, but it was simply too late. Once again, Liverpool took the safe approach to the game, hoping from a Steven Gerrard miracle in the final minutes, but I think the sooner they stop using him as a crutch, the better it will be for both the teams and its captain.
Arsenal's line-up: Manuel Almunia; Bacary Sagna, Johan Djourou, William Gallas, Gael Clichy; Denilson, Cesc Fabregas (Abou Diaby, h-t), Alexandre Song, Samir Nasri (Emmanuel Eboue, 91st); Robin Van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor.
Liverpool's line-up: Pepe Reina; Alvaro Arbeloa, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, Emiliano Insuja; Xabi Alonso, Lucas (David N'Gog, 87th); Dirk Kuyt, Steven Gerrard, Albert Riera (Ryan Babel, 70th); Robbie Keane (Nabil El-Zhar, 80th).
Chelsea – Everton: 0-0
There's not much to say for this game except that apart from a deep penetration by Ashley Cole in the first minute of the game, it was Everton who had the best scoring opportunities all night long. Take it however you want, Chelsea were simply flat on that night. Maybe John Terry's red card issued in the 34th minute after a dangerous (at least in my book) tackle on a Everton player had something to do with Chelsea's poor performance, but, with the chance of grabbing first place from Liverpool, there was no excuse stopping them from going all out. If it wasn't for Everton's lack of offensive punch, the blues would've been staring at a defeat away from home.
Chelsea's line-up: Petr Cech; Jose Bosingwa, Alex, John Terry, Ashley Cole; Deco (Wayne Bridge, 86th), John Obi Mikel, Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole (Branislav Ivanovic, h-t), Nicolas Anelka (Didier Drogba, h-t).
When Robin Van Persie gave a 1-0 lead to Arsenal at the 23rd minute, things were decidedly looking bright for the Gunners. Although Liverpool tried to suffocate their midfielders, they were able to reach Adebayor and Van Persie with long balls over the top. The goal itself came from a superb Fabregas-like pass from Samir Nasri who sent the ball right between the Reds' center defenders for the Dutch striker to control with his chest and fire off a shot in the same manner as Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp.
Find more videos like this on MySoccerPlace.net - The Real Football Social Network
Unfortunately, Liverpool equalized the mark four minutes before half-time as Robbie Keane beat Arsenal's offside trap and half-volleyed Daniel Agger's clearance/pass past Manuel Almunia.
Find more videos like this on MySoccerPlace.net - The Real Football Social Network
As the game ended in a draw, most people's favorite subject of discussion afterwards was Adebayor's red card at the 61st minute after he received two yellows. In both cases, the call was a bit harsh, especially when, on the other side, Brazilian midfielder Lucas was snapping at the heels of every Arsenal midfielder all game long. To make matters worse, the Gunners lost Cesc Fabregas at half-time as he went down with a knee injury that will keep him out until Ahttp://my.orble.com/communit y/blogs/posts/create/6272/#fo rmpril at least. Down to ten men and without their maestro in midfield, Wenger's men took card after card in the last quarter of the match, desperately holding on to their draw while the referee finally issued a card to Lucas at the 79th minute.
You could say that the Liverpool coaching staff handed the draw to Arsenal since they didn't take advantage of their extra-man. Albert Riera, one of the Reds' best, was substituted at the 70th minute and replaced by Ryan Babel, and right away Liverpool's offense went off-kilter as Babel struggled to adjust to the pace of the game. Keane was also replaced for some unfathomable reason by Nabil El Zhar to no avail. Finally, the move that everyone was expecting came at the 87th minute when Lucas was replaced by David N'Gog as Liverpool effectively removed a holding midfielder for a striker, something that they should have done as soon as Adebayor was sent off. Both El-Zhar and Agger came close to giving the lead to the Reds, but it was simply too late. Once again, Liverpool took the safe approach to the game, hoping from a Steven Gerrard miracle in the final minutes, but I think the sooner they stop using him as a crutch, the better it will be for both the teams and its captain.
Arsenal's line-up: Manuel Almunia; Bacary Sagna, Johan Djourou, William Gallas, Gael Clichy; Denilson, Cesc Fabregas (Abou Diaby, h-t), Alexandre Song, Samir Nasri (Emmanuel Eboue, 91st); Robin Van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor.
Liverpool's line-up: Pepe Reina; Alvaro Arbeloa, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, Emiliano Insuja; Xabi Alonso, Lucas (David N'Gog, 87th); Dirk Kuyt, Steven Gerrard, Albert Riera (Ryan Babel, 70th); Robbie Keane (Nabil El-Zhar, 80th).
Chelsea – Everton: 0-0
There's not much to say for this game except that apart from a deep penetration by Ashley Cole in the first minute of the game, it was Everton who had the best scoring opportunities all night long. Take it however you want, Chelsea were simply flat on that night. Maybe John Terry's red card issued in the 34th minute after a dangerous (at least in my book) tackle on a Everton player had something to do with Chelsea's poor performance, but, with the chance of grabbing first place from Liverpool, there was no excuse stopping them from going all out. If it wasn't for Everton's lack of offensive punch, the blues would've been staring at a defeat away from home.
Chelsea's line-up: Petr Cech; Jose Bosingwa, Alex, John Terry, Ashley Cole; Deco (Wayne Bridge, 86th), John Obi Mikel, Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole (Branislav Ivanovic, h-t), Nicolas Anelka (Didier Drogba, h-t).
| 29 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
