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Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool: Abou Diaby header clinches important win for Gunners
Gunners grab three points from Champions League rivals...
10 Feb 2010 21:44:00
By Owen Watson
Arsenal v Liverpool: Line-up & stats
Premier League results/standings
Arsenal closed the gap on the league leaders with a 1-0 win over Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium as Abou Diaby scored the only goal of the game with a header in the second half.
Both sides made a decent start and Liverpool worked the ball well on the right, forcing Thomas Vermaelen to commit a foul as he jumped into the back of Maxi Rodriguez. Steven Gerrard swung the ball into the box and it was headed back into the middle but Manuel Almunia was off his line quickly and pounced on the loose ball.
Arsenal enjoyed a composed spell of possession and played in Emmanuel Eboue, who was fouled on the right flank as he looked to attack Emiliano Insua. Cesc Fabregas crossed into the centre where William Gallas rose unchallenged but he headed over from eight-yards out.
The hosts had another free-kick minutes later after a slick interchange of passing between Nicklas Bendtner, Gael Clichy and Fabregas. The Spaniard received the ball 25-yards from goal and was brought down as he advanced on goal. He got up to take the set piece but his execution was poor, as he fired straight into the Liverpool wall, squandering the opportunity.
Liverpool were defending well, pressing Arsenal quickly in midfield and the hosts were struggling to create clear opportunities on goal. The Reds had a few openings on the break, catching the Gunners with three men back on two occasions. They didn't capitalise, however, wasting both chances with sloppy passes that were easily intercepted.
Arsenal responded with a slick passage of play as Andrey Arshavin slid Bendtner through on goal. The Dane was closed down quickly, but he managed to retain possession, turning away from goal and passing back to Eboue. The Ivorian back-heeled to Arshavin who slipped the ball through to the Danish striker for a second time although after taking the shot on early, it whistled over the crossbar.
The Gunners sensed weakness and started to push forward. Samir Nasri had a snapshot blocked in the penalty area before Gallas looked to have broken free of the offside trap, running unopposed into the penalty area until the assistant raised his flag.
Liverpool flighted a hopeful long ball into the Arsenal penalty area from a free-kick that was defended sloppily by Alex Song on the edge of the box. The loose ball fell to Rodriguez who smashed it goalwards but the shot ricocheted off Vermaelen and out for a corner. The resulting cross into the box was dealt with by a strong punch by Almunia.
Nasri was withdrawn just after the half hour mark having failed to shrug off an earlier knock. He was replaced by Tomas Rosicky and the pace of the game slowed once again. The only attempt on goal arrived shortly before half-time as Fabregas went on an individual run from the half-way line but his 25-yard shot was saved easily by Pepe Reina.
Arshavin worked a half chance for himself at the beginning of the second half as, from the right flank, he burst past Jamie Carragher to create half a yard but Reina had it covered as he fired into the side netting.
Clichy gave the ball away after winning back possession for Arsenal on the left allowing Dirk Kuyt to play a lovely reverse pass to Lucas Leiva, who was charging into the right hand side of the box. The Brazilian took a touch and hammered the ball over the cross bar when he may have done better.
Liverpool then burst through on the counter attack, with Gerrard playing a perfectly weighted pass forwards for David Ngog. The Frenchman ran across Vermaelen to collect the pass and shaped to shoot as he entered the box although just as he was about to let fly, Gallas slid in with a fantastic sliding challenge to deny the young striker.
Arsenal charged up the other end and immediately split open the Liverpool defence as Arshavin played a wonderful ball through for Rosicky on the left and the midfielder was clean through on goal. His first touch took him into the left hand side of the penalty area, and instead of shooting, the Czech opted to take a second touch. It was a poor decision as he knocked the ball too far and it trickled out of play with Bendtner well placed in the middle.
The Dane had a chance of his own moments later and, as he tried to play Fabregas through, he picked up the rebound and powered past his marker to get onto the loose ball. Reina was advancing from his line, so Bendtner had to shoot first time and thus failed to beat the Spanish goalkeeper.
Staying alive | Diaby gives Gunners life line in title race
Arsenal were steamrolling Liverpool's defensive line. Song scythed open the defence with a precise through ball to Bendtner on the right. The Danish international took a touch and burst into the penalty area and with his fellow countryman Daniel Agger struggling, Bendtner went tumbling under a challenge from the Reds' centre-back. The referee blew his whistle, but awarded Liverpool the infringement and swiftly cautioned Bendtner for diving.
The Gunners didn't have to wait long for their next opportunity, however. Attacking down the left, the ball was pulled back to Arshavin in the middle. The Russian got a slight touch, but it was just behind him and continued on to Bendtner, who laid it off to Rosicky on the edge of the penalty area. He struck the ball first time but his shot zipped over the bar.
Arsenal would open the scoring in the 72nd minute, however, with a quality goal from Diaby. Bendtner received the ball from Fabregas on the right-hand side of the box and turned beautifully before feeding Rosicky on the flank. The Czech whipped the ball first time towards the back post, where Diaby rose unchallenged to head home into the left-hand side of the goal to make it 1-0 to Arsenal.
Rafael Benitez responded by throwing on Ryan Babel for Lucas and Arsenal had their backs to the wall as they entered the final 10 minutes. Arsene Wenger decided to substitute Bendtner in order to bring on Bacary Sagna, pushing Theo Walcott up into the lone striker role.
Arsenal seemed sturdy and willing to commit men forward in search of a second. They were almost caught out by Babel, who received the ball 30-yards from goal, turning Gallas with his first touch. The Dutch international lined up the shot and unleashed a venomous strike on goal and with Almunia at full stretch, the Spanish goalkeeper managed to tip the effort onto the crossbar to deny the forward.
Liverpool won a free-kick deep into stoppage time, 25-yards from goal and dead centre. Gerrard struck it but it hit Fabregas in the wall and bounced clear but on closer inspection, it had hit the Spaniard's arm and could have easily been a penalty, but the referee let play go on and Arsenal collected the three points.
Premier League results/standings
Arsenal closed the gap on the league leaders with a 1-0 win over Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium as Abou Diaby scored the only goal of the game with a header in the second half.
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Both sides made a decent start and Liverpool worked the ball well on the right, forcing Thomas Vermaelen to commit a foul as he jumped into the back of Maxi Rodriguez. Steven Gerrard swung the ball into the box and it was headed back into the middle but Manuel Almunia was off his line quickly and pounced on the loose ball.
Arsenal enjoyed a composed spell of possession and played in Emmanuel Eboue, who was fouled on the right flank as he looked to attack Emiliano Insua. Cesc Fabregas crossed into the centre where William Gallas rose unchallenged but he headed over from eight-yards out.
The hosts had another free-kick minutes later after a slick interchange of passing between Nicklas Bendtner, Gael Clichy and Fabregas. The Spaniard received the ball 25-yards from goal and was brought down as he advanced on goal. He got up to take the set piece but his execution was poor, as he fired straight into the Liverpool wall, squandering the opportunity.
Liverpool were defending well, pressing Arsenal quickly in midfield and the hosts were struggling to create clear opportunities on goal. The Reds had a few openings on the break, catching the Gunners with three men back on two occasions. They didn't capitalise, however, wasting both chances with sloppy passes that were easily intercepted.
Arsenal responded with a slick passage of play as Andrey Arshavin slid Bendtner through on goal. The Dane was closed down quickly, but he managed to retain possession, turning away from goal and passing back to Eboue. The Ivorian back-heeled to Arshavin who slipped the ball through to the Danish striker for a second time although after taking the shot on early, it whistled over the crossbar.
The Gunners sensed weakness and started to push forward. Samir Nasri had a snapshot blocked in the penalty area before Gallas looked to have broken free of the offside trap, running unopposed into the penalty area until the assistant raised his flag.
Liverpool flighted a hopeful long ball into the Arsenal penalty area from a free-kick that was defended sloppily by Alex Song on the edge of the box. The loose ball fell to Rodriguez who smashed it goalwards but the shot ricocheted off Vermaelen and out for a corner. The resulting cross into the box was dealt with by a strong punch by Almunia.
Nasri was withdrawn just after the half hour mark having failed to shrug off an earlier knock. He was replaced by Tomas Rosicky and the pace of the game slowed once again. The only attempt on goal arrived shortly before half-time as Fabregas went on an individual run from the half-way line but his 25-yard shot was saved easily by Pepe Reina.
Arshavin worked a half chance for himself at the beginning of the second half as, from the right flank, he burst past Jamie Carragher to create half a yard but Reina had it covered as he fired into the side netting.
Clichy gave the ball away after winning back possession for Arsenal on the left allowing Dirk Kuyt to play a lovely reverse pass to Lucas Leiva, who was charging into the right hand side of the box. The Brazilian took a touch and hammered the ball over the cross bar when he may have done better.
Liverpool then burst through on the counter attack, with Gerrard playing a perfectly weighted pass forwards for David Ngog. The Frenchman ran across Vermaelen to collect the pass and shaped to shoot as he entered the box although just as he was about to let fly, Gallas slid in with a fantastic sliding challenge to deny the young striker.
Arsenal charged up the other end and immediately split open the Liverpool defence as Arshavin played a wonderful ball through for Rosicky on the left and the midfielder was clean through on goal. His first touch took him into the left hand side of the penalty area, and instead of shooting, the Czech opted to take a second touch. It was a poor decision as he knocked the ball too far and it trickled out of play with Bendtner well placed in the middle.
The Dane had a chance of his own moments later and, as he tried to play Fabregas through, he picked up the rebound and powered past his marker to get onto the loose ball. Reina was advancing from his line, so Bendtner had to shoot first time and thus failed to beat the Spanish goalkeeper.
Staying alive | Diaby gives Gunners life line in title race
Arsenal were steamrolling Liverpool's defensive line. Song scythed open the defence with a precise through ball to Bendtner on the right. The Danish international took a touch and burst into the penalty area and with his fellow countryman Daniel Agger struggling, Bendtner went tumbling under a challenge from the Reds' centre-back. The referee blew his whistle, but awarded Liverpool the infringement and swiftly cautioned Bendtner for diving.
The Gunners didn't have to wait long for their next opportunity, however. Attacking down the left, the ball was pulled back to Arshavin in the middle. The Russian got a slight touch, but it was just behind him and continued on to Bendtner, who laid it off to Rosicky on the edge of the penalty area. He struck the ball first time but his shot zipped over the bar.
Arsenal would open the scoring in the 72nd minute, however, with a quality goal from Diaby. Bendtner received the ball from Fabregas on the right-hand side of the box and turned beautifully before feeding Rosicky on the flank. The Czech whipped the ball first time towards the back post, where Diaby rose unchallenged to head home into the left-hand side of the goal to make it 1-0 to Arsenal.
Rafael Benitez responded by throwing on Ryan Babel for Lucas and Arsenal had their backs to the wall as they entered the final 10 minutes. Arsene Wenger decided to substitute Bendtner in order to bring on Bacary Sagna, pushing Theo Walcott up into the lone striker role.
Arsenal seemed sturdy and willing to commit men forward in search of a second. They were almost caught out by Babel, who received the ball 30-yards from goal, turning Gallas with his first touch. The Dutch international lined up the shot and unleashed a venomous strike on goal and with Almunia at full stretch, the Spanish goalkeeper managed to tip the effort onto the crossbar to deny the forward.
Liverpool won a free-kick deep into stoppage time, 25-yards from goal and dead centre. Gerrard struck it but it hit Fabregas in the wall and bounced clear but on closer inspection, it had hit the Spaniard's arm and could have easily been a penalty, but the referee let play go on and Arsenal collected the three points.
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