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By Simon Evans

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry says he cannot get the club out of his system and would relish a return to north London.

Henry, now playing in Major League Soccer (MLS) with the New York Red Bulls, is Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer with 226 goals but left the club for Barcelona in 2007 and moved to the U.S. after three seasons in Spain.

“I love the club. Unfortunately we know I had to leave the club, for reasons I have explained many times, but although I left Arsenal you never really leave Arsenal,” he told Reuters in an interview.

“Whenever I go back I feel like I have gone home, it’s a big family and I became a fan of the club.

“I knew what it was like to beat Manchester United, I knew what it meant to the fans when we were playing against Tottenham, I knew all that, you don’t get that from one or two years, you need to live and breathe Arsenal to understand that.”

Henry trained with Arsenal, who lost to Birmingham City in Sunday’s League Cup final, during the U.S. off-season in January and maintains a close friendship with manager Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal were expected to win a first trophy since 2005 on Sunday, only to stumble against Birmingham, but Henry says Wenger would be a tough act to follow when the Frenchman, the club’s manager since 1996, eventually moves on.

However, he would like his name to be in the frame.

“It goes without saying, I would love to go back there. I hope one day I can go back, I love that club and I just want to give as much as possible to this club, after what that club gave me,” Henry, who missed Arsenal’s FA Cup win over Manchester United six years ago because of injury, said.

“I know that the day Arsene leaves is going to be a difficult one, I don’t know who can replace him. That is going to be hard. Not only the winning part of it but what he was and what he is for the club and the way he transformed the club.

“Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira amd Tony Adams were all part of it and I am sure if you ask them if they would like to come back and do something with the club they would all tell you yes. But if one day, they want me, I have joked if I go back to be the kit man or the water boy, I don’t mind, I just want to be back one day. When I don’t know— I just want to be back.”

ATTACKING MENTALITY

While the silverware has dried up, Henry said Wenger’s legacy would be about stylish football as much as trophies.

“If you talk to any Arsenal fan, or even non-Arsenal fan, they will tell you they will watch Arsenal because they know they are going to see a football game,” he said. “No disrespect to other clubs but they will enjoy watching the game.

“That is what Johan Cruyff did for Barcelona too—he brought that attacking mentality, that Dutch way, playing with wingers, playing the ball on the ground and Arsene did the same.

“To do that you have also to give credit to the club because you need your manager to be there for a long time, you can’t have a manager for five years and expect him to put his identity on the club.

“Arsene did that, he won but the club was also intelligent enough to see what he was doing and give him time to build something and now everybody talks about the ‘Arsenal way’ of playing the game and that is really because of him.”

One player who has impressed Henry with his ability to play that way this season is 19-year-old midfielder Jack Wilshere.

“I wouldn’t say I was surprised because I knew the guy was very talented but I will say that he looks more mature than I thought he would look at this stage,” Henry said.

“He is good on the ball and he isn’t scared to put his foot in. He has great vision on the ball, he is an Arsenal player — that means, he wants to play with short passes, great vision. What a great thing for some of the guys in England that he is English—that is a great boost for them.”

(Editing by Martyn Herman; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Arsenal, Family, Henry, return, Reuters, still, yearns

WEMBLEY, England (AP)—Obafemi Martins scored in 89th minute winner after a blunder by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny, giving Birmingham a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the League Cup final for its first trophy since 1963.

Szczesny and Koscielny both went to stop Nikola Zigic’s header in the penalty area and the ball landed at the feet of Martin, who slid it into the net.

“I think it was my second touch,” said Martins, who joined Birmingham on a six-month loan from the Russian club Rubin Kazan last month. “I think this is the easiest goal I’ve ever scored in my career.”

Zigic, at 6-foot-8 the Premier League’s tallest player, had put Birmingham in front with a header in the 28th minute. Robin van Persie of Arsenal evened it 11 minutes later with a volley.

Birmingham won the 1963 League Cup final. Its victory Sunday left Arsenal searching for its first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.

Birmingham is battling relegation from the Premier League, two points above the drop zone. Arsenal is second behind Manchester United.

“It’s an achievement when you consider who we were up against,” Birmingham manager Alex McLeish said. “We weren’t given a prayer by the pundits and the bookies but we believed today. It was a titanic performance by the players.”

Arsenal has lost three finals since 2005. That lack of success, manager Arsene Wenger said before the match, had placed “a weight on the team.” Wenger hoped the final would show how far his club has matured, but Arsenal was sluggish and struggled to impose itself.

Labels: Arsenal, beats, Birmingham, final, league

* Arsenal win with early Squillaci goal

* Fabregas and Walcott join injury list (adds details)

LONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Arsenal beat Stoke City 1-0 to cut Manchester United’s Premier League lead to one point on Wednesday but the win was overshadowed by injuries to Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott.

Sebastien Squillaci, who was playing in place of the injured Laurent Koscielny, was the unlikely match-winner when he headed home his first Premier League goal after only eight minutes.

However, Fabregas went off with a hamstring injury after 15 minutes and Walcott was stretchered off with a damaged ankle 20 minutes from time and will miss Sunday’s League (Carling) Cup final against Birmingham City at Wembley.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters: “Theo Walcott has an ankle sprain and he is out. For how long, I don’t know, but he is definitely out of Sunday.

“Fabregas has a hamstring problem. We will assess that tomorrow. It is impossible to see how serious it is tonight. We will know tomorrow.” With Arsenal chasing four trophies in the Premier League, League Cup, Champions League and FA Cup, Wenger will be concerned about a lengthening injury list.

Dutch winger Robin Van Persie and Koscielny are already doubtful for Wembley, and although Fabregas went off as a precautionary step, he will be desperate to play against Barcelona in the Champions League at the Nou Camp on March 8.

Walcott’s woes looked more serious after he was carried off the Emirates Stadium pitch following a challenge from Stoke’s Dean Whitehead. As he fell, his left ankle caught and twisted in the turf and he looked to be in some pain.

The three points left Arsenal with 56 points from 27 games, while United are on 57 with a game in hand. Manchester City are a distant third with 49 points from their 27 games.

United were in action in France on Wednesday, drawing 0-0 with Olympique Marseille in their Champions League last-16 first leg match.

Arsenal asserted their dominance early in the game when Walcott hit the post in the opening minutes before Squillaci, guilty of some erratic performances this season, scored after a cross from Nicklas Bendtner following a Jack Wilshere corner.

While Stoke’s defenders ball-watched, Squillaci ran in to head home from close range.

After Fabregas went off, Arsenal appeared to lose some cohesion and Stoke went close to an equaliser with John Carew, Jermaine Pennant, Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth all having good chances to score.

However, Arsenal’s defence held firm and Stoke were beaten away for the fifth successive league match leaving them 10th in the table.

(Editing by John Mehaffey and Alan Baldwin; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Arsenal, INJURIES, overshadowed, Reuters

Labels: Arsenal, Fabianski, goalkeeper, Reuters, ruled, season

BARCELONA, Spain (AP)—Arsenal has poached another player from Barcelona’s lauded youth academy.

Barcelona confirms that 16-year-old Jon Toral is set to follow in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas and join the Gunners from next season.

Spanish reports said the north London club paid ?350,000 ($480,500) for Toral, who was free to sign with any professional team.

Toral came through the Spanish champion’s La Masia ranks like new teammate Fabregas and fellow prospect Fran Merida, who were both signed by Arsenal as teenagers. World Cup champion Fabregas is captain at Arsenal and Merida is now with Atletico Madrid.

The lanky Toral, who is listed as a midfielder in Barcelona’s youth team, reportedly has roots in Britain, where his mother is from.

Labels: Academy, Arsenal, Barcelona, prospect, signs

Jacques Crevoisier fears the Gunners are unprepared for sustained success The French physiologist and coach, who has known the Emirates boss for over 40 years, says the Londoners are not mentally strong enough as they fail to win matches when playing badly.

Crevoisier says the team has not got a Plan B for tough matches and their defence is still not good enough.

The Gunners, who conceded a late goal in a 1-1 FA Cup draw with Leyton Orient at the weekend, host Stoke in the Premier League tonight.

Then Wenger's men go in search of the club's first trophy in six years when they face Birmingham in the Carling Cup final on Sunday.

Crevoisier said: "Arsenal have an intelligent style of play. They always seek to impose their mastery, skills, speed and passing game on the opposition.

"There are just two teams in Europe who are really a treat to watch - them and Barcelona.

"But the problem with Arsenal is simply that they do not know how to win when they play badly, unlike Manchester Untied.

"Arsenal do not really have a Plan B that I have noticed.

"They don't always look to have a good balance between attack and defence, and if they are not in dazzling form they don't manage to win. We saw this once again recently at Newcastle, where they led 4-0 and ended 4-4, although refereeing mistakes and the behaviour of some opposing players were factors as well."

Crevoisier, who had a spell as a coach at Liverpool under Gerard Houllier, devises psychometric tests for the Gunners' young players.

His 117-point questionnaire helps Wenger identify their strengths and weaknesses.

In the past, Crevoisier has worked closely with Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott.

And he insists it is obvious Arsenal need to strengthen their back four. He added: "Above all, they need a top central defender who can compliment Thomas Vermaelen or Laurent Koscielny.

"A guy of Rio Ferdinand's calibre, who is very strong in one-on-ones, or someone like Tony Adams.

"Arsene's never had anyone better than Adams all the time he has been at the club.

"I have to add that their defence is still punished too often from the impact and size points of view. Bacary Sagna, Koscielny, Gael Clichy - it's not great, is it?

"But even if Arsene has the chance to invest in this area of the team, who could he bring in and how much would they cost?

"He does not have a straightforward choice.

"The team seems more mature and experienced than a year ago.

"If they can maintain their standard of play, avoid major injuries and get Vermaelen back they will be close to winning the Premier League.

"This could be their year. It will be between them and Manchester United and it will go down to the wire. There are the two domestic cups for them as well.

"I often speak with Arsene and I know he can't put up with not winning anything any longer. He loves the beautiful game but he is a competitor above all."

Labels: Arsenal

LONDON (AP)—After beating Barcelona in midweek Arsenal was brought down to earth by third-tier London rival Leyton Orient, which held the Premier League club to a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday.

Orient substitute Jonathan Tehoue powered past Arsenal defenders Kieran Gibbs and Ignasi Miquel before striking under goalkeeper Manuel Almunia in the 89th minute to cancel out Tomas Rosicky’s header.

“We were the underdog but we got a draw and we’re looking forward to the replay now,” Tehoue said. “We had to keep believing. We were prepared to fight to get through.”

The Gunners, who made 10 changes from the side which beat Barcelona 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, now have to fit another fixture in their already congested program as they chase four titles.

Manchester City secured a more comfortable victory over another League One side Sunday, with Patrick Vieira’s heading in two goals in a 5-0 rout of Notts County in a delayed fourth-round replay.

In Sunday’s third FA Cup match, Bolton reached the quarterfinals by winning 1-0 at Fulham.

Arsenal looked to be on course for a last-eight meeting with Manchester United when Rosicky scored his first goal since Jan. 2010.

The Czech Republic midfielder glanced in a header in the 53rd minute after meeting Nicklas Bendtner’s cutback, but Arsenal lacked cutting edge up front at Brisbane Road in east London.

Rosicky was denied a second goal by Jamie Jones in the 68th, with the goalkeeper making a reaction save at the near post and then blocking the rebound. Andrey Arshavin was also denied by the post.

The arrival, though, of French forward Tehoue had injected some pace into the Orient attack and the home side’s perseverance eventually paid off.

“We have played the game with the right attitude and could not fault our fighting spirit, but you also have to give credit to Leyton Orient because they never gave up and fought very hard,” Arsenal manager Wenger said. “The most negative side of our result today is one more fixture and in fairness that is not what we needed.”

At Eastlands, Man City had to rely on free signing Vieira after the 50 million-pound ($81 million) striking combination of Mario Balotelli and Dzeko struggled to trouble Notts County.

After weathering early pressure from County, Vieira headed in from David Silva’s corner with the help of Krystian Pearce’s deflection in the 37th minute.

The 34-year-old Vieira made a cleaner connection when he nodded in Alexandr Kolarov’s corner in the 58th.

“We know how to win but we saw how difficult it will be to go all the way,” Vieira said. “We need to believe in ourselves and work as hard as we did today.”

City had to wait until the last six minutes to finish off the League One side, with goals from Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Micah Richards.

Tevez latched onto Dzeko’s throughball and outsprinted the defense to round Stuart Nelson and roll the ball into an empty net in the 84th.

Tevez turned provider for Dzeko in the 89th, crossing for the Bosnia forward to head in from close range.

Richards hooked in City’s fifth in stoppage time after County failed to clear a corner.

The quarterfinal draw was also made Sunday and if Man City can overcome Aston Villa on March 2, Roberto Mancini’s side will play either Everton or Reading in the last eight later in the month. Stoke will host West Ham or Burnley, who meet on Monday.

Bolton will travel to Birmingham on the weekend of March 12 and 13 after Ivan Klasnic scored his second FA Cup goal in four days.

The Croatia striker, who scored the winner in Wednesday’s fourth-round replay against Wigan, volleyed home in the 19th against Fulham.

In Sunday’s only Premier League match, West Bromwich Albion salvaged a 1-1 draw against bottom-place Wolverhampton Wanderers to move a point clear of the relegation zone.

Carlos Vela scored his first West Brom goal since joining on loan from Arsenal last month in the 90th, netting the rebound after James Morrison’s shot was spilled by Wayne Hennessey.

The Mexico striker canceled out a first goal for Wolves from Jamie O’Hara, who is on loan from Arsenal’s north London rival Tottenham. The midfielder curled a 20-meter (yard) shot past Boaz Myhill in the 39th.

While Wolves remain bottom of the Premier League, West Brom are a point and a place clear of the drop zone after Roy Hodgson’s first game in charge.

Labels: 3rdtier, Arsenal, Leyton, Orient

Email Thom Gibbs with your hard-luck stories. Anything sadder than Barry Hearn's gets published.
-----------------------------

LEYTON ORIENT 1 ARSENAL 1

18:35: Over and out from me, thanks for your company. I'll leave the final words to Henry Winter on Twitter: "With 10 mins remaining #afc fans were singing "we'll never play you again". Yes they will."

18:32: Raucous celebrations in the Orient dressing room. A light fitting has been torn down. The Brisbane Road facilities manager will be livid.

18:28: Jonathan Tahoue correctly wins ITV's novelty oversized bottle o'booze. He says "what's this?!" as it's presented to him. He also says: "This is the magic of football. Today we were the underdog, but we achieved this draw so we will look forward to the replay. We will do our best to get through."

18:25: Fantastic stuff from Orient. Arsenal pay for their complacency, and Tahoue, who arrived at Orient from the French fourth tier made all the difference. Hard not to feel pathetically touched by the scenes at Brisbane Road. Orient's grinning players mob one another and salute their crowd. Orient's long-suffering fans bellow the name of Russell Slade.

FULL TIME

90+4 min: Sagna's cross is headed clear by Chorley.

90+3 min: Awkward moment as Jones comes out of his box and looks set to collide with Forbes. Jones clears it emphatically. He's had a great game.

90+1 min: Four minutes of added time for Orient to hang on and secure a lucrative replay.

89 min: GOAL!!! Leyton Orient 1 Arsenal 1 (Tahoue)
WOW! Tahoue beats Gibbs and Miguel with some awkward-looking tricks and powers through the middle of them before unleashing a blast at goal. It went through Almunia somewhat, (surprise surprise) but what a moment!

88 min: Arsenal have made 658 passes this afternoon. Orient 169.

87 min: Arshavin gets down the right wing on his own and gets a great shot away which clips the bottom of the far post. Arsenal looking tremendously comfortable here, but we all know about that famous fictional "magic" which is associated with this competition...

86 min: Cox looks to break by Orient, but is halted under pressure by Song.

84 min: Revell is off for Paul-Jose M'Poku. Top name.

83 min: At the other end Tehoue bursts forward down the right and is pulled back superbly for Revell. It's hit first time directly into the face of Squillaci. "Ha'ballllll!" scream the Orient fans. Closeish, but no penalty. Squillaci looks to have copped that right in the eye, which is a worry.

82 min: Arshavin has a free kick out wide. It's crossed deep, but the impressive Jones claims it cleanly with outstretched arms. Ajay Kartik has me practically cheering on Arsenal with his seductive blend of reason and excitement: "We've done the double over Brum this year in the league, so at least one trophy, I'd think. Premier League is still a possibility for considering United have a much harder run in than us. A lot will depend on our results against United. And as for the Nou Camp, I'm pretty sure it will be a whole lot closer than last year. Mind we didn't have Cesc Fabregas, Gallas, Van Persie and Arshavin from our regular starters last time around, looking forward to a tasty match on the 8th!"

79 min: Tehoue is muscled off the ball by Rosicky and gives away a foul in his attempt to win it back. Richard Perkins offers the Arsenal view: "I am an Arsenal fan so we'll win all 4! Well, except the Champions League as I cannot see us getting past Barcelona. Oh, and maybe not the FA Cup as we drew Man U away. Not sure about the Premiership as I can't see Man U slipping up more often than us (despite 2 games against Chelsea). As I said ... Carling Cup glory here we come!"

77 min: Tehoue's made an impact for Orient since replacing McGleish. He chases down what looks a lost cause after Revell pings a ball towards the box, forcing a hurried clearance from Gibbs.

74 min: Yuck, Arsenal's fans sing "we'll never play you again" to Orient's. Admittedly Orient had been taunting them with a rather ruder version of my prediction that they won't win any trophies this year, but there's something so classless about fans of gigantic teams taunting supporters that follow a team that operate several leagues and universes below theirs. Like watching a burly twentysomething skinhead and his mates starting a fight with a 12 year old.

73 min: John Fischer has a reasoned response to the question of what Arsenal will have to show at the end of 2010/11: "2 trophies. Carling cup then either fa cup or premier league. Think both will come down to the game with man utd (sorry orient) not unreasonable to think they'll win one of the two."

70 min: Tehoue beats Sagna with a combination of pace and physicality and puts a hard pass along the ground for Revell. He takes on the shot first time but it's wide.

69 min: Arshavin gets to the byline and tees up Rosicky in the box. His quick shot is saved by Jones with his feet. The rebound gives Rosicky a chance with his head, Jones is up in a flash to catch the ball. Good goalkeeping.

68 min: Drury and Pleat are speculating about house prices for the flats that are at the corners of Brisbane Road. "Surely now's the time to buy!" implores famed capitalist Drury. "You pay today's price and get the benefit of the Olympics next year." He's on a one man mission to revitalise this economy through the medium of football commentary.

66 min: Slow pace to the game now, as Arsenal put their "passing it around like 11 men on sedatives" hats. James Ogilvy is the first (of many, I'm sure) to take offence to my negative Arsenal trophy haul prediction. "Zero? You're surely bear-bating! £50 says Birmingham get done!" I couldn't possibly accept that wager. It would be unprofessional (and more money than I'm willing to lose!). But I've got a feeling Brum will unsettle Arsenal in the final, and the occasion will get to Wenger's players, who haven't exactly made a habit of winning trophies in recent years.

63 min: One half time change I failed to tell you about - Tom Caroll came on for Jason Crowe. Bad liveblogging. My head is suitably hung in shame. As I type, Scott McGleish is being removed from the game, with Jonathan Tehoue coming on in his place.

61 min: Arsenal sitting deeper since the goal, impetus very much on Orient now. And here comes the onslaught of Arsenal trophy-winning arguments: "3," states the optimistic Hakan Skoglund. "Premier League, FA and Carling cups." I can't see it, especially not the first one. "At least two are three," says Randy Hakeem somewhat cryptically. I think he meant to type "or".

59 min: Daniel's corner is nodded out of the box by Arsenal.

58 min: Smith's long ball falls into the box. Miguel knocks it out for a corner under pressure from Dawson.

56 min: For what it's worth, I'm saying a big fat zero. I've got a feeling Birmingham will pull off a surprise at Wembley, I think Manchester United will take the league at a canter and probably dispose of Arsenal in this competition in the next round, and I think Wenger's side's narrow advantage will count for very little at the Nou Camp.

55 min: So Arsenal are, as it stands, still on course for a quadruple. I don't think there's any chance of that happening, but will open up this as my second half topic for discussion. How many trophies do you think Arsenal will win this season? Get your strident views to me here.

53 min: GOAL!!! Leyton Orient 0 Arsenal 1 (Rosicky)
Bendtner does well to hold off a challenge and heads wide with the ball. He swivels and chips it back into the box, Rosicky is on hand to nod precisely into the corner. No chance for Jones, and that's the Czech's first goal in over a year.

51 min: Here are Henry Winter's Twitter-hosted half time thoughts: "Orient doing well against Arsenal Lite. Dawson outstanding in c-mid. Ex-Tottenham Daniels good too. Orient may tire but they are good value for this. More hunger than certain Arsenal players."

49 min: Bendtner is crowded out of a shooting chance by a swarm of Orient defenders.

46 min: Arsenal win a corner seconds after kick off. Jones claims it well at his far post.

17:34: Tracy, a nice lady in a Leyton Orient scarf, has just interrupted Stubbs, Savage and McManamanananan on their pitchside table with an offer of some bread pudding in a Tupperware box. Instead of chiding her for interrupting live TV they seem to almost forget the cameras, and hand the tub to Savage to take care of. Lovely. Stuff.

HALF TIME
Great effort by Orient. Tiresome to watch, mind. An Orient goal would be a lovely kick in the pants. Arsenal don't look interested, especially not the front two.

45+1 min: Almunia is forced to come out of his area and head away a long ball forward.

45 min: Arshavin chips in a ball to the box for Gibbs, who brings it down well, but muscled off by Terrell Forbes. Goal kick to Orient.

43 min: I'm sorry to report that absolutely nothing is happening. Fair play to Orient, I suppose, for keeping this game so tight. Arsenal's tactic will surely be to pass their opponents into oblivion and deliver a killer blow when tiredness kicks in at around the 77 minute mark. I am from the Russell Slade school of precision. (see update at 16:20).

39 min: Arshavin dances (somewhere between a foxtrot and bogle) through the Orient defence to eke out space for a shot. His snapped shot is wide.

38 min: Chorley heads Smith's delivery back across goal but it's cleared by Song.

37 min: Smith plays it off Sagna's shins to win Orient a corner.

35 min: Gibbs' cross deflects off Whing right into the path of Chamakh who is waiting just outside the six yard box. His slid attempt to poke the ball in is dreadful, and ends up wide. That should have been a goal.

34 min: Jimmy Smith is doing an excellent job of being a midfield nuisance. He's nipping at the feet of Arsenal's players like an especially annoying terrier. It's yet to come to anything. I'm looking forward to seeing how exhausted he looks at the end of the game.

33 min: Terrell Forbes heads it well wide.

32 min: Corner to Orient, after Dawson, let's face it, fouls Sagna in his hassling for the ball.

30 min: Chamakh tees up Bendtner well, but the Dane with the extremely high opinion of himself can only offer a weak volley that screws away from goal.

27 min: Rosicky is fouled by Whing to give Arsenal a free kick close to the far side of the area. Jonathan Liew on Twitter provides a typically perceptive look at the draw for the quarter finals: "Not a great Cup draw for any team who fancies a Europa League slot for finishing seventh in the league. Either United or Arsenal going out". Bolton are through, incidentally, beating Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage.

26 min: Steve Davies, a Leyton Orient director, is shown watching. "Cue Steve Davies," says Pleat. That's the best joke I've ever heard David Pleat make.

24 min: Dean Cox's cross is overhit and out for a goal kick.

21 min: David Pleat opines that Orient "could get out-footballed" if they close down incorrectly in midfield. That's got to be a worry. No-one wants to see the tragedy of a team being out-footballed.

20 min: Squillaci and Song combine to clear a central Orient free kick from 40 yards that had been hopefully punted into the middle of the box. When did that ever work as a tactic?

18 min: Arshavin's corner comes to nothing. Crikey, this game is flat.

17 min: Henry Winter paints quite the picture on Twitter: "Up for the Cup: heaving balconies overlooking sold-out Brisbane Road...two blokes even sitting precariously on window ledges."

16 min: Sagna is released on the right wing with plenty of space to run into. His cross evades everyone in the middle.

14 min: Squillaci and Almunia have a communication breakdown and give away a corner. It's played back to Daniels around 25 yards out. He takes a mean first-time shot with his left foot, which fizzes just over.

13 min: Chamakh's low side-footed drive is easily saved by Jones down to his right.

12 min: Orient look to have three players offisde, running on to a long ball over the defense. Replays show it was only one, and it was marginal. Arsenal's high line is asking for trouble.

10 min: Arsenal out-singing their opponents, which is a rare thing to find yourself typing. Their tiresome desire to hang on to the ball has quietened Orient's support which was borderline noisy at the start of the game.

8 min: Miguel does well to edge out McGleish, and wins a foul following the Orient forward's over-exuberant attempts to win the ball.

7 min: The possession stats so far must be around 80:20 to Arsenal. Orient won't mind too much as the game is largely taking place in Arsenal's half.

4 min: Arsenal are playing like Arsenal. Lots of intricate but purpose-less passing. This isn't the Champions League, chaps.

2 min: Chamakh's header is well held by Jones. Graeme Walker is quick off the mark to get on the Barry-bashing bandwagon: "I always thought that managers had an easy life, but not now. Has Barry Hearn aged or has Barry Hearn aged? Prediction: Leyton Orient 0, Arsenal 6" I'll overlook the fact that Barry Hearn isn't a manager.

1 min: Arsenal, in their vibrant yellow and murky burgundy away kit, get us started. Wenger hands a debut to 18-year-old central defender Ignaci Miquel.

16:27: The teams are on the pitch and we're almost ready to start. Betting adverts seem to be taking the cue of car insurance ads, equating being annoying with being effective.

16:24: Jon Champion, ESPN's commentator this afternoon, addresses us standing up from a balcony on the odd structure that is Leyton Orient's West stand. We're told it doubles up as an NHS Poly-clinic. Is that like a sophisticated future hospital?

16:20: "I put my pen and paper away after about 11 minutes," says Russell Slade on his night out at the Emirates watching Arsenal in the week. That's very exacting, Russell. The winner of this match faces the not-so-daunting (at least after yesterday) trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the quarter finals. Here's the full draw:

Stoke v West Ham or Burnley
Man City or Aston Villa v Everton or Reading
Birmingham v Fulham or Bolton
Manchester United v Leyton Orient or Arsenal.

16:14: ESPN's coverage is a baffling, shouty, intense maelstrom of earnestly-stated rote opinions. A jittery camera pans relentlessly as Savage and McManaman egg eachother towards full-on mania. I expect them to be stood on the pitchside desk by the end of the match, pointing and screaming "THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!" and "FOOTBALL!" into the other's face until one of them collapses.

16:10: Here are the teams:

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

Certainly a slightly under-strength side from Arsenal, but my, Mr Wenger, what an impressive bench you have.

16:08: Steve McManaman, Robbie Savage and Ray Stubbs are working themselves into a lather about West Ham's Olympic stadium future. Savage calls playing games in stadia with a running track "the worst thing in the world." I think that's a bit of an exaggeration, to be honest. I think famine is slightly worse.

16:00: Poor old Leyton Orient. Very much London's forgotten club at the best of times, they're in danger of being obliterated when West Ham move on their doorstep to the Olympic stadium.

Barry Hearn has been vocal of his criticisms of West Ham being awarded the stadium, and Orient's manager Russel Slade has also chipped in with his own futile anger over the move.

Today they have the minor business of seeing off Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round. Given that Arsenal beat Barcelona in the week, this could be the footballing equivalent of an especially gory massacre. Exciting!

Stay tuned for the teams.

---------------------------
PREVIEW

Sunday, February 20

FA Cup, fifth round
Leyton Orient v Arsenal
Brisbane Road
Kick-off: 16.30 GMT
TV: Live ESPN, highlights ITV1

Tale of the game

In 25 FA Cup ties against lower division opposition under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal have never lost.

And Robin van Persie has scored five goals in his last seven FA Cup appearances.

And Orient will be aware that Arsenal have gone seven FA Cup matches without a clean sheet.

They last kept a clean sheet against Burnley in the fifth round two years ago.

Scott McGleish, the Orient striker, has scored six goals in his last five FA Cup matches this season.

But, like Arsenal, Orient struggle to keep clean sheets in the FA Cup: they have kept just one in their last 10 FA Cup matches.

The East London club started their FA Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw at neighbours Dagenham & Redbridge, winning 3-2 in the replay with a McGleish winner.

They drew in the second round as well, at non-league Droylesden.

But in the replay there were remarkable scenes with both sides reduced to nine men and Orient recovering from a two-goal deficit before forcing extra time with an 89th minute equaliser from Jonathan Tehoue.

Tehoue went on to complete a hat-trick in extra-time - and McGleish also netted a hat-trick to earn an 8-2 victory.

Arsenal's passage to the fifth round has not been comfortable; in round three they needed a last minute Cesc Fabregas penalty to force a replay which they won 3-1.

And in the fourth round another penalty was required from Fabregas, with four minutes left against 10-man Huddersfield to reach the next stage.

Past FA Cup meetings: Arsenal 4 wins.

Stat of the game: In four FA Cup meetings, Arsenal have won all four, scoring nine goals and conceding one - in 1911.

Betting tip: Arsenal have two other cups and the small matter of the league on their minds and could steal a draw. Try 1-1 at a healthy 10-1.

Team details

Leyton Orient (probable, 4-4-2): Jones; Wiing, Chorley, Forbes, Daniels; Cox, Dawson, Spring, Smith; McGleish, Revell.
Arsenal (probable, 4-2-3-1): Almunia; Eboue, Koscielny, Squillaci, Gibbs; Denilson, Song; Bendtner, Nasri, Arshavin; Chamakh.
Referee: Kevin Friend. Matches: 23. R4 Y69.

Labels: Arsenal, Leyton, Orient, Telegraphcouk

The 23-year-old French international has emerged as a key player in manager Arsene Wenger’s side since arriving in England from Marseille in 2008, and has been a key perfomer this season, chipping in with nine Premier League goals with the club still very much in the title race.

Nasri’s current contract is set to expire in 2012, with the rumour mill hinting at a summer bid from Barcelona if the Spanish giants fail to bring in the Frenchman's team-mate Cesc Fabregas.

However, agent Jean-Pierre Barnes has indicated that the French star is close to signing a new contract at Arsenal, which is expected to keep him at the club until 2016.

He told the Daily Express: "Samir is happy at the club, the coach believes in him, the directors believe in him as well.

“He said to me, ‘You won’t believe the great atmosphere in the changing room, I’ve rarely experienced anything like this’.

"Samir has done his three seasons with Arsenal and the wise thing to do is to stay with this club.”

Labels: agent, Arsenal, expected, Goalcom, happy, Nasri, Samir

Barcelona were still confident last night of a second-leg comeback against Arsenal in the Champions League because they believe Arsène Wenger will not be able to copy Jose Mourinho's ultra-defensive tactics in the Nou Camp next month.

Barça went out of the competition at the semi-finals stage last season having lost the first leg away to Internazionale 3-1. Then the Inter coach, Mourinho said: "We did not park the bus, we parked the plane," after seeing his side defend for 90 minutes in the second leg to go through following a 1-0 defeat.

Wenger's natural attacking instincts are now seen as Barça's biggest ally and last night Barcelona players were consoling themselves by reflecting on the amount of chances they were allowed at the Emirates before Arsenal's comeback.

Midfielder Xavi said: "We had infinite opportunities to kill off the tie; we didn't take them and we ended up paying but there are 90 minutes left and I am still optimistic. I'd like to think that we are still favourites with the second leg to come at home and in front of our supporters."

Lionel Messi will need to find the goalscoring touch that deserted him in London. The Argentine has now failed to score in seven games on English soil for Barcelona. "Jinxed" was the one-word verdict on the Argentine after he made it 626 minutes without a goal in England.

Messi does have happy memories of last year's home-leg against Arsenal however when he scored all Barcelona's goals in a 4-1 win. The Spanish Champions have scored 103 goals so far this season but could have far bigger problems at the other end of the pitch with Gerard Pique's suspension ruling him out of the second leg and putting more pressure on captain Carles Puyol to return quickly from injury.

In 40 games this season Barcelona have only lost four times and Puyol has been missing in each of the defeats. He has been out with a tendinitis problem in his left knee for three weeks but was due to return for this Sunday's home game against Athletic Bilbao. Barcelona have no defensive cover and coach Guardiola would be forced to pair Gabriel Milito with Eric Abidal if the 32-year-old Puyol does not return on time.

His La Liga return could now be delayed to ensure he can face Robin van Persie and company in the Champions League, sparing Guardiola the necessity to call on Milito who has struggled for form and fitness this season.

Despite the optimism in Spain over the second leg, there was still an inquest over Barcelona's second-half capitulation with special attention paid to England starlet Jack Wilshere's second-half domination of Xavi.

Barcelona paper El Mundo Deportivo eulogised: "Wilshere confirmed all the good things that have been said about him in the last few months. The great hope of English football looked like the complete midfielder. He started the game as a holding player and in the second half played further forward in the style of Xavi who was not comfortable at the Emirates and whose experience could not save Barça from a nervous end to the game."

Nicola Rizzoli was the other protagonist of the enquiry into why Barcelona had thrown away a lead at the Emirates for the second year running. The match official known as "Mourinho's friend"' was accused of denying Barcelona a penalty as well as wrongly ruling out Messi's first-half goal.

Rizzoli mistakenly gave Inter a penalty in 2009 that enabled Mourinho's team to draw 3-3 with Roma. He was demoted to Serie B for the mistake and his past misdemeanors were not forgotten as replays showed Messi onside when he headed over the line in the first half.

Barcelona now play four games in the 19 days leading up to the return. After Sunday's home game they travel to Mallorca and Valencia followed by a home fixture against strugglers Zaragoza on the Saturday before their most important 90 minutes of the season so far.

What the Spanish papers said...

Cesc's Arsenal breaks Barcelona

Marca praised the counter-attacking threat that Arsenal posed throughout the game. However, it did describe Robin van Persie's goal as a "fatal error" by goalkeeper Victor Valdes. Marca.com also conducted a 40,000-strong survey which pinpointed the failings of Lionel Messi, Maxwell and Pedro in Barça's defeat, but praised the performance of Eric Abidal, who played out of position at centre-back.

Forgiveness

Mundo Deportivo criticised Barcelona's "forgiveness" in front of goal and their failure to kill off the game. They also questioned manager Pep Guardiola's change in formation following David Villa's substitution in the 67th minute: 16 minutes later Andrei Arshavin added Arsenal's second to complete an unlikely turnaround.

A 'good fit'

AS described Barcelona as becoming "too enchanted by their own football" and argued that Barça's first hour of dominance at the Emirates only helped to spur Arsenal on: "A wounded Englishman is very dangerous. And if he knows how to play on the counter, even more so. And it turned out that power, in the end, overcame technique."

However, the Madrid paper led with Emmanuel Adebayor saying Cesc Fabregas would be "a good fit" at Real Madrid.

The Camp Nou comeback

Sport backed a Barça win in the return leg after refereeing decisions went against them at the Emirates. Messi had a goal "unfairly disallowed" and there was no penalty awarded for a "foul" on Pedro.

And the rest...

El Pais

"Last night Arsenal fought like champions. They didn't give up even when the night looked at its bleakest."

"Arsenal have definitively shed their respect for Barcelona, who yesterday were more functional, less ambitious or, at the least, more vulnerable and less punishing."

El Mundo

"Arsenal won deservedly, thanks to their noble resistance and the drive of Wilshere."

The idea that La Liga is the best league in the world "fell apart in a single trip to London."

Michael Butler

Labels: aposto, Arsenal, busapos, confident, crash, Independent, refusal, Wengeraposs

A night of forgettable football may just be remembered for years to come. Arsenal, of all teams, sustained their challenge for the title by winning ugly. They even capped their recovery from 1-0 down by scoring from a Robin van Persie corner, as Laurent Koscielny headed beyond Tim Howard in the 75th minute. The pressure was applied late and Everton could not quite resist it.

The victors had often been pedestrian, even if the goal they conceded was contentious. Samir Nasri, who has a hamstring injury, was missed terribly. A dependence has developed on a player who has been outstanding this season.

Still Arsène Wenger's men stuck together and weathered a long stretch of ineffectiveness before the substitute Andrey Arshavin equalised. It has to be assumed that the attrition took its toll of David Moyes's team later in the game after they allowed themselves to be pinned down. Although Louis Saha scored, the restricted menace in Everton's squad means that they are likely to be dominated eventually by such opponents as these.

No suggestions of that sort can be made regarding Manchester United, who still hold a five-point lead in the table, and when they come to the Emirates on 30 April Arsenal will have to be sure of themselves in every element of the game. This was a chastening fixture for even a prodigy such as Jack Wilshere, who was taken off because too much was at stake for a teenager to be left on the pitch in the hope that he would muddle through.

As challengers Arsenal have reached the stage where there are hopes, if not assumptions, and the level of stress climbs. Just as Wenger's side were settling down here, they suffered the loss of an unusual goal. In the 22nd minute Koscielny, who was the last defender, stretched a leg and deliberately made contact with a pass from Seamus Coleman. That touch nudged the ball on to Saha, who was behind him. The forward took his opportunity impeccably and no flag was raised.

The referee, Lee Mason, seemed to review the episode on the screen at the Emirates; he then consulted an assistant, Stephen Child. The offside law can be tortuous in its modern form and, unusually, both managers agreed afterwards that the goal ought not to have stood. Unsettling as it was for Arsenal, there had been more fundamental difficulties for them in the sluggish start they had made to the match. They might have had superior means to Everton but the hosts were conscious of one absentee.

With Nasri unavailable, Wenger could have been racking his brains over who could possibly assume the Frenchman's responsibilities. The manager might have asked himself if that chap Cesc Fábregas could compensate for the loss of Nasri. Flippancy aside, the Arsenal captain is the club's one player most capable of increasing his contribution and so helping to make this a season of real achievement for the club.

He has scored only three Premier League goals in the current campaign and his marksmanship was dubious here when he pulled a shot wide after he had been set up by a back-heel from Van Persie in the 17th minute. Fábregas is unlikely to come anywhere close to last season's tally of 15 goals in the league alone, which he reached despite having his club season ended by a leg fracture in March.

There was a hint of another sort of impact in this match when he set up Van Persie but the centre-forward could not keep his balance and his attempt went high in the 37th minute. At that point Wenger's men had not subdued the visitors and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov had to be denied by the goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, although the angle was tight.

Bookings for Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky gave the impression that the concentration levels of the Arsenal players were dubious. Everton, with an hour gone, had stopped their opponents from showing the normal grace. The visitors, indeed, were not always pinned down around their own penalty area.

Arshavin took over from Rosicky in the 62nd minute and he levelled the score eight minutes later. Arshavin was standing behind Jack Rodwell but it was the midfielder's header from a chipped pass by Fábregas that set him up to equalise. Belatedly Arsenal were on course for a result that they will find curiously satisfying.

Labels: Arsenal, Everton, Guardian, Koscielny, Laurent, rescue, tables

UEFA Champions League
Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Wednesday, 16 February Kick-off: 1945 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live and Live on ITV 1

Arsenal lost to Barca in the quarter-finals last season but the Gunners boss says his side are now better equipped.

"We are highly motivated to show we are a different team today," said Wenger ahead of Wednesday's first leg.

"Barcelona are the best team in the world. If you knock them out you have a good chance to win the competition."

Arsenal are still awaiting a first victory over the Catalan giants having lost three and drawn two of their five previous encounters.

Wenger's men held Barca at the Nou Camp in the 1999-00 group stage before losing 4-2 in the return at Wembley (Arsenal played their Champions League home games at Wembley for the 1998-99 and 1999-00 seasons).

The Spaniards came from behind to win 2-1 in the 2006 Champions League final and the pair faced off again in 2010.

Pep Guardiola's team produced a devastating first-half display at the Emirates Stadium but Arsenal held firm and, despite falling 2-0 behind early in the second, they fought back to secure a 2-2 draw.

The Gunners, missing several key players, took a surprise lead in the second leg but Barca's class soon told and Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as they ran out 4-1 winners (6-3 on aggregate).

"Last year they were the better team but I believe in my players, they have the quality 100% to do it," stated Wenger.

"In the first half of the home game we were spectators and a little bit inhibited. Now I believe we are a completely different team.

"Losing to Barcelona made us better because we came out of the second game with a lot of frustrations after missing the turning point when we were 1-0 up.

"But more than looking at the past we want to show how good we are. We want to win this competition, we know we face the super-favourites but the only way to do it is to knock them out.

"The players don't deny the quality of Barcelona. What is important is to say 'look who we are now, we are capable of knocking you out now'. That is our target."

Barcelona top La Liga and have been in superb form this season, although they did suffer a blip at the weekend when they needed a sublime late David Villa goal to snatch a 1-1 draw against Sporting Gijon.

That draw ended Barca's 16-match winning run in the Spanish league and Wenger believed the Londoners could take positives from Barca's weekend stutter, saying: "It is always difficult after internationals but when you end a series [of wins] it always takes something out of you of course."

Arsenal are fresh from a commanding 2-0 victory over Wolves last weekend that kept them second in the Premier League, while they also remain in contention for the FA Cup and will contest the Carling Cup final against Birmingham on 27 February.

By the time they played Barca last season, the Londoners had already missed out on both domestic cups and were struggling to keep pace with the Premier League's top two.

After losing the second leg in Spain, Arsenal suffered three defeats and a draw in their remaining five games of the season to ensure their trophy drought would run into a sixth year.

"We are now a stronger team because we have attitude and I have not seen many teams with such consistent focus every day," added Wenger.

"We have made our own way by challenging for the title when nobody predicted we would. I believe we are a stronger team because we have attitude and focus.

"We are in ideal condition to face Barcelona. We have the belief and confidence and the players available are close to 100%. That was not the case last year.

"We want to show how good we are. We want to show the belief we have in our game and in our quality.

"Everyone expects an exciting game because it is two teams that play quality football. We want to be faithful to our philosophy and pass the ball well so we can dominate the game."

Labels: Arsenal, Barcelona, challenge, Sport, urges, Wenger

In truth, there's only one way Barca can defeat Arsenal, and that's because there's only one way Barca play: possession, attacking football. Pep Guardiola does not change his approach, playing system, formation, or tactics for any opponent. What he does change, though, is his specific instructions to his superstars during the game. More of a conductor than a coach, Guardiola will bark orders to his players from the touchline to accommodate Arsenal's minute-by-minute strategy, and it is imperative that the players follow instructions.

2. Do not get complacent

Barca could've embarrassingly routed Arsenal at the Emirates last season. But having taken a two-goal lead, the Catalans took their foot off the gas and grow complacent, allowing speed demon Theo Walcott to spark a comeback and salvage the first leg clash in a 2-2 draw. First, a sloppy pass by Sergio Busquets, then some slack defending which prompted Carles Puyol to clatter into Cesc Fabregas inside the box, gave the Gunners a free get-out-of-jail card, albeit only temporarily in the end.

So far this season, Barca have shown no signs of easing off during a game when they are in front, spanking opponents left, right and centre with goals galore. But Saturday's surprise 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon demonstrated that a lackadaisical approach can be costly for Guardiola's side.

3. Be direct 

Barca had difficulty breaking down Arsenal in the first half in London, despite utterly dominating the contest. It was in fact two direct, over-the-top through balls which released Zlatan Ibrahimovic on his way to scoring both goals in the first leg. Without Ibra, Barca lose a secret weapon, but that doesn't mean that the likes of Lionel Messi, Pedro and David Villa won't be able to finish off route one chances. If Arsenal do attempt to take the game to the Catalans by fighting fire with fire and playing eye-candy attacking football, Barca can hit the Gunners hard on the break, but they must be quick, direct and precise.


Heads up, Gerard! | Barca should look to the air to create chances
4. Keep the ball away from Robin van Persie

With in-form Samir Nasri doubtful for the clash due to injury, Arsene Wenger will rely heavily on Fabregas to provide the attacking arsenal. The captain didn't have the best of games in last season's first leg clash, although he was undoubtedly the hero of the night for the home fans when he scored from the spot - with a broken leg - to level the tie and keep his side in the fight.

He will be eager to impress against a team who have been trying to lure him away from the Emirates, but it's the red-hot Van Persie that Barca should be worried about. The Dutchman has scored nine goals in his last five Premier League games and with defensive stalwart Carles Puyol struggling to recover in time after injury, Barcelona's backline could be easily exposed.

5. Beware of Arsenal's speed & physicality

Arsenal will be deprived of the ball, of that there is no doubt even before the two teams head for the tactical drawing board. But while Barca are sometimes too reluctant to play route one football, Wenger's men have no problems adopting that approach, as evidenced by the fact that they scored two of their three goals against the Catalans over two legs last season through speedy counter-attacks.

Arsenal are not the most physical side in the Premier League, but almost any team in football today is more physical than Barcelona. The Gunners can get rough and mix it up with the "big boys" if they want to, and if Wenger decides to throw a curveball and deviate from his usual one-touch football and get physical, it could be the ace card that could stun the Blaugrana.

Labels: Arsenal, Barcelona, Goalcom

LONDON (AP)—Arsenal plans to remain faithful to its attacking philosophy against Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday despite having been comprehensively outplayed by the Catalan club in the competition last year.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his team won’t sit back and merely defend at Emirates Stadium in the first leg of the last-16 match.

“If we manage to get them under pressure, we will create chances,” Wenger said.

But he acknowledged he may have to change tactics for the return leg at the Camp Nou, where Lionel Messi scored all four goals as Barcelona crushed Arsenal 4-1 in the second leg of their quarterfinal last year to win 6-3 on aggregate.

Arsenal hopes to exploit the defensive weaknesses evident in Barcelona’s 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon on Saturday.

But stopping Messi, who has shown no signs of being tamed, may be more difficult to accomplish. Messi has scored 40 goals in all competitions this season, including 24 in the Spanish league.

Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby urged his teammates not to be obsessed with Messi, who has won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards under coach Pep Guardiola.

“We need to be focused on the way we defend and not be focused on one man,” Diaby said. “We know that individually he is really good, but if we do the job together I think it will be difficult for him. For me, that is the best way to control him and control the game.”

Diaby played in both legs against Barcelona last year and can vouch for the visitors’ depth of talent and skill.

“When you focus on one man it is never a good idea, because they have also got (Andres) Iniesta, Xavi (Hernandez), (David) Villa—so many players,” he said. “The most important thing is to be well organized defensively and, when we have got the ball, play our game.”

The last time Barcelona played at Emirates Stadium, the team produced a sensational attacking display in the first half that was foiled by save after save from Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. The game ended 2-2.

Arsenal look to have a more settled team this time, with main striker Robin van Persie expected to start after having missed last year’s matches because of injury.

Arsenal’s midfield has also been tougher defensively this season and the emergence of Jack Wilshere as a gritty complement to captain Cesc Fabregas has been a boost.

Barcelona winger Pedro Rodriguez said his team isn’t taking anything for granted.

“They’re a great team and very difficult opposition with very good players, especially up front,” Rodriguez said, adding that the form of Fabregas and Van Persie will make it “a very difficult tie, different from last year as maybe they are more dangerous.”

The Gunners beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 last Saturday, putting an embarrassing result against Newcastle behind them from the previous weekend. The team surrendered a 4-0 lead to draw 4-4.

Arsenal also hopes to be lifted by the return of Samir Nasri, who has been sidelined for two weeks with a hamstring injury. Barcelona, meanwhile, confirmed that center back Carles Puyol would not make the flight because of a knee injury.

Labels: Arsenal, attack, Barcelona

Labels: Arsenal, Comments, David, Everton, Fabregas, Goalcom, Manager, Midfielder, Moyes, Officials, Regarding, Slams

Laurent Koscielny headed a second-half winner as Arsenal scored twice in six minutes to beat Everton 2-1 on Tuesday and keep the Gunners firmly in the Premier League title race. Everton striker Louis Saha opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a contentious goal, after Seamus Coleman threaded a ball behind Arsenal's defense.

Labels: Arsenal, comes, Everton

Labels: Arsenal, crush, Fulham, Reuters, scrape, Spurs, through