Gilberto so impressed by fast-learner Denilson

By Chris Harris

It's a good time to be a Brazilian at Arsenal. Gilberto has won plaudits for his goals and captaincy, Julio Baptista has emerged as a Carling Cup hero and now Denilson has nudged his way into the first-team picture.

The Brazil Under-19 captain has spent much of his first season at Emirates Stadium studying one of his compatriots. "Gilberto makes football look simple and I want to follow that example as much as possible," he told Arsenal TV Online. It seems the admiration is mutual.

Gilberto was hugely impressed by Denilson's display in the first leg of Arsenal's Carling Cup tie against Tottenham last month. The World Cup winner had the chance to play alongside his fellow countryman in the second leg and had no reason to change his opinion.

"Denilson is a great character," Gilberto told Arsenal.com. "Like many of the youngsters he's not scared of playing in the team. It's amazing to see such young players show such great performances, great character and great ability on the pitch.

"Denilson has adapted so quickly to the system of the team in the short time he's been at the Club. It's great to see."

When Gilberto arrived in the summer of 2002, fresh from Brazil's triumph in the Far East, he relied on another compatriot, Edu, for guidance. The former Gunner helped Gilberto adapt to a new culture, a new language and a new life. Now Gilberto is doing the same for Denilson.

"Edu helped me to settle and I am trying to help Denilson feel comfortable," he said. "He is enjoying his time at the club, he is enjoying living here and he is learning the language like I had to do when I first came here.

"I have tried to help him as much as I can can to make him feel comfortable in the Club and he's doing very well."

Arsenal.com

Wenger - I use Carling Cup to see the future

By Richard Clarke

The Carling Cup is becoming Arsène Wenger’s crystal ball.

For a number of years the Arsenal manager has put out a youthful side in the competition with some success. However this season they have surpassed themselves; reaching the Final and putting out three Premiership teams en route.

Youngsters like Denilson and Armand Traore have hit the headlines this year. In previous seasons Cesc Fabregas, Philippe Senderos, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboue and Johan Djourou have emerged in this competition. It means that Wenger can limit his transfer outlay to those truly exceptional — and highly costly — players.

"The Carling Cup is almost like looking into the future,” said Wenger. “That’s what I use it for.

“I look at the Carling Cup team to see where we are going as a Club. Do we have enough to fight for the Premiership and Champions League? Or do we have to buy because they aren’t good enough? This year they have shown me they are good enough.

"To work well in the future, a club like ours should only have to buy the exceptional players. We should have a good enough squad to fight for the rest.

"I didn’t buy anybody in the transfer window because there’s no point bringing average players in.”

However, according to Wenger, such a policy does require strength from the Club’s manager and its directors.

“The problem is you have to combine two things,” he said. “You have to install enough in the club to go with that policy. If it’s done in the short term and the manager changes every two years then why should he go for a policy of five years?

“Secondly, you have to be strong enough to play the young players when there’s a big demand. You have to stick to it. If you want to know how good your players are then you have to play them.”

Final Score : Boro 1-1 Gunners

By Richard Clarke

Thierry Henry struck 13 minutes from time as 10-man Arsenal brought back a valuable point from Middlesbrough on Saturday evening.

Arsene Wenger’s side were edging a pedestrian Premiership game when Philippe Senderos was adjudged to have fouled Yakubu in the area after 63 minutes. It would be the key incident of the game for both sides. The Arsenal defender was sent off and the Middlesbrough forward scored from the spot.

However this week has proved that you simply cannot doubt the fighting spirit of any Arsenal side — whatever the competition. Last Sunday, they battled back to earn an FA Cup replay against Bolton, on Wednesday the Carling Cup team completed a wonderful comeback against Spurs and on Friday the Under-18s threw away the lead twice and yet still triumphed in the FA Youth Cup.

Tonight it was the turn of the Premiership side.

After the sending off, they dusted themselves down and rolled up their sleeves. In the 77th minute they got their reward when Emmanuel Adebayor knocked the ball down for Henry to slot home in style.

A decent end to a decent week.

After those Carling Cup heroics, Wenger returned to his normal Premiership line-up for the trip to Teesside.

Arsenal’s last League game had been that wonderful late win over Manchester United at Emirates back on January 21. There were only two changes from that side that day and both of those were because of injury. Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) and Alex Hleb (hamstring) dropped out. Justin Hoyte and Gilberto came in.

Middlesbrough had struggled early on this season but, to their credit, were unbeaten in 2007. In addition, the Riverside had been a graveyard for the big teams in the past two seasons. The home side had taken 14 points out of 21 at home to Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. They had tasted defeat only once.

They started this evening’s game with the intention to sustain that good run. In the second minute, Stewart Downing’s overlap caught out Hoyte but Gael Clichy anticipated well to hack clear his cross.

Middlesbrough held the whip hand in the opening 15 minutes. Their aim was to get the ball forward quickly through the centre and throw in early crosses from the flank. Jens Lehmann dealt with everything pretty comfortably. The bulldozering runs of Yakubu caused also mild consternation but Toure and/or Senderos dealt with them well.

Arsenal gradually grew in stature as the half went on. Their first chance came midway through when the onrushing Toure nearly got on the end of Thierry Henry’s free-kick at the far post.

In the 31st minute Rosicky sent a rocket shot toward to the top corner but it drifted high and wide at the final second.

Suddenly it was Arsenal who were pushing back Middlesbrough. Toure prodded goalwards and Henry ended a marvellous passing move with a tame shot into the hands of Brad Jones.

But, in truth, the same term could have described the whole of the first half.

There was, at least, more pace after the restart. Arsenal still had the better of the game but never Jones. Too often decent passing moves lacked a final ball. Toure slashed wide and Henry’s long-range effort was easily save by Jones. That was about it.

They would be made to pay in the 63rd minute. George Boateng sent Yakubu roaring through the middle with Senderos in pursuit. Referee Mike Riley deemed that the Swiss centre back to have brought him down in the area and the Nigerian striker beat Lehmann from the spot.

Between those incidents, Senderos was sent off for a professional foul and Lehmann was booked for disputing the decisions. Arsenal had their backs firmly against the wall.

They rallied as best they could as Middlesbrough were bubbling. Mark Viduka turned Toure at the near post and forced a wonderful low save from Lehmann.

It would prove to be another pivotal moment as, seconds later, Arsenal equalised. Adebayor rose high to knock the ball down to Henry on the corner of the six-yard box. The captain controlled the ball with one touch and dispatched low into the far corner of the net with the next.

It was trademark Thierry Henry.

In the build-up to that goal, Jeremie Aliadiere and Theo Walcott had appeared at the side of the pitch. Wenger was throwing on his two, pacy young attackers to try and grab a goal.

After Henry’s strike both went back to the bench and instead, Denilson came on for Hoyte. It was clear the manager was now happy with what he had.

In the dying seconds Rosicky fired off an optimistic snap-shot from distance.

But a draw was a fair result

Preview Carling Cup: Arsenal V Tottenham Hotspur

By Richard Clarke

Arsene Wenger has urged his young side to be quick off the blocks in tonight’s Carling Cup Semi-Final second leg at Emirates Stadium.

The Arsenal scholars had a bad case of exam nerves in the opening 20 minutes of the first leg at Tottenham last week. They conceded two early goals and, at one point, you feared they might be handed the sternest of lessons. However, by half time, Arsenal had steadied themselves and were beginning to ask questions of the home defence. Two goals from Julio Baptista drew them level and they might have even won the tie at the death.

It was the 11th time that Wenger’s side had trailed this season before coming back to get a result. No 12 came a few days later against Bolton in the FA Cup. No Arsenal fan would complain about a 13th successful comeback this evening — remember their team only need to avoid a defeat or a high-scoring draw to go through — however it is hardly a strategy for long-term success.

“At the Emirates we have sometimes made a hesitant start,” Wenger told Arsenal.com.

“Once we get into the game we can roll over any team and that is what we have to learn to do now.

“In the Premiership we are the team who concedes less in the second half and scores more. The numbers tell you that. But we must start better, stronger and be more focused.

“This tie is basically a match of 180 minutes and we are only at half time. You know you want to win the second 90 minutes no matter what happened in the first. The best way to be surprised tonight is not to deal with the problem mentally.

“Of course Tottenham are in the same situation. They know they cannot protect an advantage so it is not so much a first or second game this evening, it is just a game everybody will want to win.”

Wenger has vowed to replicate his selection formula at White Hart Lane. The starting XI will be the usual mix of young players, first-team squad players along with a couple of regulars. However the bench will be smothered with experienced players. They are the manager’s insurance policy.

The major omission from the first leg is Julio Baptista, who injured his groin against Bolton on Sunday. However Gilberto is back after a ban and will come straight in to the side. Otherwise, broadly speaking, it is ‘as you were’ from the first leg. Alex Hleb and Emmanuel Eboue came off the bench to have a huge influence on the Arsenal fightback a week ago. Unfortunately they picked up injuries in the process. As a result Tomas Rosicky and Emmanuel Adebayor have been drafted into the squad this evening. In addition Gael Clichy replaces Mark Randall.

Wenger made no apologies for sticking with his ‘Young Guns’.

“It is part of the learning process,” he said. “You know once you are a player at Arsenal Football Club only the best will be expected of you. That is why it is very interesting to continue to play and deal with the pressure.

“At White Hart Lane we had to deal with being 2-0 down. But the team stuck to their game and did it well. They will have to do it again this evening.”

* If the scores are level tonight after 90 minutes, two periods of 15 minutes extra time will be played. If the scores are still level after this extra half-hour, whoever has scored the most goals away from home will progress. If the teams still can’t be separated, there will be a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner.

Final Score : Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham

(Arsenal win 5-3 on aggregate)

By Richard Clarke

Cardiff here we come.

Arsenal reached their first League Cup Final in 14 years with a fraught, frantic 3-1 win over Tottenham at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

Arsene Wenger’s side had drawn 2-2 in the first leg at White Hart Lane last week and appeared to be through when Emmanuel Adebayor planted his shot past Paul Robinson in the 77th minute. However substitute Mido equalised with a close-range header five minutes from the end of normal time.

Arsenal wobbled in the dying seconds but, as they have proved so often in this run, Wenger’s Young Guns have composure beyond their years. Jeremie Aliadiere, a veteran at 23, hooked home a second with the final kick of the first half of extra time. Seven minutes into the second period, Rosicky’s shot bounced off the post — and then Pascal Chimbonda — before going in.

The sight of the assistant referee indicating to Alan Wiley that the ball had crossed the line was a blessed relief. It had been a night of unremitting tension.

However it ended wonderfully for Arsenal, who now meet Chelsea in the Final on February 25, and sealed perhaps the first truly historic win at Emirates Stadium.

As expected, Wenger stuck with the policy he had employed in the first leg - youngsters, squad players and first-teamers in equal measure. Julio Baptista, scorer of both Arsenal goals at White Hart Lane, was out with a groin injury so Adebayor came in up front. Gilberto returned after suspension therefore Cesc Fabregas was left on the bench. Otherwise the starting XI was exactly the same as the first leg.

For Tottenham, Aaron Lennon was surprisingly listed on the bench. It turned out the England winger had been taken ill just before the game.

Arsenal’s youngsters had the weight of pressure on their shoulders for the first time in the competition. A greater than usual away allocation — the norm for Cup games — only added to a crackling atmosphere.

As at White Hart Lane, Tottenham held the initiative early on. Their first clear chance came in the 10th minute. Robbie Keane timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and race through. But by the time he had collected the ball on the corner of the area, Almunia was upon him. The keeper not only smothered the Irishman’s shot but also, chased him, tackled him and slid the ball out for a throw.

It acted as a wake up call for Arsenal. In the 14th minute Denilson’s shot was fumbled by Paul Robinson and Kolo Toure was first to the follow-up. His connection was poor but the ball did bounce over the prostrate keeper only to trickle agonisingly wide.

Midway through the half Adebayor sent Walcott down the right and his cross was hooked past the far post by Aliadiere. The Togolese frontman then slashed a shot over the bar. Arsenal were starting to flex their muscles.

And there was no one more muscular than Abou Diaby. The 20-year-old’s start in the first leg was his first in almost nine months. However his surging run and shot in the 36th minute suggested that nasty ankle injury was a thing of the past.

A couple of minutes later, Hossam Ghaly skipped past Traore on the right and Steed Malbranque send a stooping header just past the far post. A bad miss.

Arsenal regained their composure and, with it, a measure of control before the break. In injury time, Adebayor had space to turn in the area but his hurried shot flew high over the bar.

The second half began at breakneck pace. Tottenham now had added urgency, Arsenal had a little extra space. Seven minutes in, Denilson sent Walcott clear on the right and he drifted a shot over the bar.

The speed of the game combined with its importance was always going to lead to bookings. Yellows for Diaby and Ghaly early in the second half only added to the atmosphere.

The play was stretching now. There was little midfield control and the game flowed from penalty box to penalty box.

Just before the hour, Adebayor nodded over. Five minutes later, Walcott was replaced by Rosicky. Before play had restarted, Armand Traore went down with what appeared to be cramp. Fortunately Clichy was the perfect replacement.

Denilson had been growing in stature since the first whistle of the first leg. The Brazilian was efficiency personified this evening and even showed a little Samba shuffle as he ghosted past two defenders before hitting the sidenetting 22 minutes from time.

As at White Hart Lane, Arsenal’s substitutes had made a difference. The home side were exerting greater control though it did little to dissipate the tension in the air.

But the opening goal did.

In the 77th minute, Rosicky swapped passes with Aliadiere and fired in a shot. Robinson batted the ball away but could not clear his lines. The Czech midfielder eventually collected and slipped a clever ball to Adebayor, who slotted it past the Tottenham keeper.

Arsenal appeared to have one foot in the Final. However, five minutes from time, Spurs won a free-kick on the right of the area. Jermaine Jenas whipped the ball in and Mido rose among a ruck of players to nod the ball home.

Game on once more.

Suddenly Arsenal were rattled. Spurs began piling forward and, just after the fourth official had indicated five minutes of injury time, Mido shuffled himself into space on the edge of the area and curled an effort inches wide.

However Arsenal would still have two chances to win in normal time. Robinson tipped over Denilson’s piledriver and parried from Toure’s drive.

The Brazilian produced another hand-stinger just after the start of extra time. Understandably, the pace of the game had now dropped — but not the tension.

To be honest there was little to report in the first half. That was until Arsenal scored with the final kick. Denilson’s crossed was nodded into the path of Aliadiere by the stumbling Ricardo Rocha. The Frenchman whipped his shot past Robinson and into the net.

Cue pandemonium.

The emotion was more like relief in the 112th minute when Toure’s long ball was nodded down by Adebayor for Rosicky in the area. The Czech midfielder waltzed around Rocha before shooting goalwards. The ball smacked off the post and then Chimbonda before going in. The former Wigan defender hooked it out but the goal was given.

Alaidiere might have hit a fourth and Defoe worried Almunia at the other end.

However the night belonged to Arsenal.

YouTude Video

Arsène Wenger: 'I'm happy that Kolo scored the goal'

The Wenger's Interview after 4th round Fa Cup
on a game of two halves...
"We didn't have the right sharpness and focus to play at our pace, and we played at their pace and it suited them. From then on I felt because our focus was not maybe sharp enough, our passing was sloppy, we were flat. In the second half, it was a a little bit a repetition of the Man United game. We come out, with good resolutions, and before we can put them into practice we are one-nil down. From then on it was all us, but like when we chase the game like we did it today you are at the mercy of a mistake at the back. They had a chance to score a score another goal when Almunia came out [and saved], but it was all us in the second half and it was a repetition of the Man United second half."

on Arsenal's injury list...
"I will see when we play and with whom we play because at the moment for us it is important not to lose too many players, because first of all you want your good players to be with you and we have important games coming up, and we might have lost again Julio Baptista today. So if we continue to lose players I will have to choose what we go for. We check now, a groin problem, but we hope it's not too bad and he can play on Wednesday."

on a replay at the Reebok...
"I'm not concerned about that. I just said in the FA Cup sometimes, it's better when you play away from home than when you play at home."

on Arsenal's equaliser...
"We have improved a little bit on set-pieces, on heading, and I'm happy that Kolo scored the goal because he was a lion again today. It's a good inspiration for the other players to see how he fights and that he gets the goal - I'm very happy for him."

on Bolton...
"They give you a problem because they put the ball when you don't want it to be, and every time you bring it down they close you down. They have good players, they have Anelka, they have Nolan, they have Campo - they have good players."

on buying to ease their injury problems...
"That's a good question but I cannot give you an answer - I don't think so. We lost now Van Persie - you will see what Baptista has, you know?"

Toure's Goal Video clip

Valentine Day Match : Replay FA Cup

Toure's Goal has been call Gunners back to get replay match on Valentine Day

FA Cup match Report Arsenal : Bolton
By Richard Clarke

It’s official. Arsenal are this season’s ‘comeback kings’.

Last Sunday, Arsène Wenger’s side scored twice late on to beat Manchester United and, on Wednesday, a second-half brace brought their youngsters a wonderful draw at Tottenham. This afternoon they completed the hat-trick in this FA Cup Fourth Round tie.

It seemed the Bolton bogey was going to strike when Kevin Nolan put the visitors in front five minutes into the second half. However 13 minutes from time, Kolo Toure nodded home a free-kick from Cesc Fabregas.

It was the 12th time this season that Arsenal had trailed before coming back to get a result. And, of course, the Ivorian’s goal also protected the team’s unbeaten record at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal will have their work cut-out at the Reebok in the replay. They have registered only one win up there in the last seven visits.

But that came in 2005, the last year Arsenal lifted the trophy. Omens have been made of much less.

In the build-up to this game, Wenger had stated his FA Cup side would be the same as his Premiership side. It suggested the Frenchman another run in this famous old competition. Remember Bolton had ended Arsenal’s stunning sequence in recent years with a 1-0 win at the Reebok Stadium in this round last season.

Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) and Alex Hleb (hamstring) picked up injuries in the midweek fightback at Tottenham while Gilberto sat out the last of his three-game suspension. It meant Justin Hoyte and Theo Walcott retained their starting places from White Hart Lane while Mathieu Flamini stepped in having been a substitute at Spurs.

This was Emirates Stadium’s first FA Cup tie and, as ever, the competition injected an edge into the afternoon’s proceedings. Bolton’s billing as Arsenal’s nemesis did the rest.

The visitors did little to undermine that reputation in the opening half hour.

In the third minute, Stelios floated a corner to the edge of the six-yard box and Kevin Davies, worrying unmarked, guided a header down. Manuel Almunia clutched the ball on the line and the subsequent seconds of hush around Emirates Stadium suggested the crowd knew it was a wonderful opportunity.

On the quarter hour, Stelios again found Davies from a corner and his flick on fell to Ivan Campo at the far post. He hacked over from five yards when he should have at least hit the target.

Inbetween those chances, Henry and Flamini had prodded half-chances at Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskenlainen. However the first real opening for the home side came in the 20th minute when Walcott roared down the right and fired low at the Finn, who gathered at the second attempt. Arsenal had been distinctly second best for the first quarter of the game.

Hoyte’s tempting cross towards Henry at the far post and Flamini’s hoisted shot soon afterwards suggested they were starting to stir. However it did not really materialise.

Four minutes before the break, Arsenal did nearly grab an opportunistic goal. Henry nipped in to collect Ricardo Gardner’s return header to his keeper. The Arsenal captain’s back-heel beat Jasskenlainen at the near post but Abdoulaye Meite slid in to stop the ball trickling over the line.

Adebayor had claims for a penalty almost immediately but referee Mike Dean rightly waved play on. Arsenal continued to press until half time but the best they could muster was a couple of inquisitive corners.

However if Arsenal ended the first half in some sort of ascendancy they would have their wings clipped after the interval.

Within five minutes, they were behind. Nolan flicked to ball to Anelka on the edge of the area and he spread it wide to Davies. The striker fired a cross-cum-shot to the far post. The unmarked Nolan collected, turned and fired a shot between the backtracking Toure and the upright.

Suddenly, we had a game. Almunia made a superb one-handed side to prevent Nolan skipping through then at the other end an unmarked Walcott volleyed wide when he might have scored.

Arsenal were still struggling with Bolton’s traditional weapon — the high, hanging ball into the area. The perfect illustration came in the 54th minute when Davies flicked on for Nolan to hook the ball over the bar.

However, in general, the home side responded well. Henry’s free-kick deflected over the bar then he just failed to lift the ball over Jaaskelainen after good work from Adebayor down the right.

In the 63rd minute, the Bolton keeper failed to hold a long-range drive from Fabregas and the Togolese striker flailed the rebound wide.

With games stacking up, Wenger knew he could ill- afford a replay. That is why he had packed his bench with attacking options. Julio Baptista came on for Hoyte, a defender, after 70 minutes. Jeremie Aliadiere would follow him off the bench in the latter stages.

By that time, Arsenal were chasing a winner. They got on level terms in the 77th minute when Fabregas put a free-kick into the heart of the Bolton area. The ball skimmed off the head of Gary Speed and Toure ghosted in at the far post to plant home a diving header.

Baptista’s late far-post header was as close as they came to a winner.