Premier League UK

Philippe Senderos celebrates
after putting Arsenal ahead

chris beven said:

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points after beating Blackburn despite a unconvincing performance.

Philippe Senderos headed home Eduardo's corner to give Arsenal an early lead. But Rovers quickly dug in and the Gunners did not threaten again until Alex Hleb hit the post after the break. Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel denied Emmanuel Adebayor twice but the Togo striker added a late second when he drilled his shot home in injury time. Sunday's results - which saw second-placed Manchester United lose to neighbours Manchester City and third-placed Chelsea held by Liverpool - had handed Arsenal the advantage in the title race.

And the way the Gunners started the game suggested they had learnt from watching their rivals slip up. Arsene Wenger's men began at an incredible tempo and simply did not give the visitors any time to settle. When Tugay was caught in possession, Eduardo escaped and, although the chance was wasted when the Croatian dwelled on the ball - allowing Andre Ooijer to recover - a Gunners' goal was not far away. Eduardo sent across the resulting corner and Benni McCarthy's abysmal attempt to mark Senderos meant the Swiss international was all alone as he planted his header in the back of the net in the fourth minute.

It was uncharacteristic defending from Mark Hughes' side, who were protecting an unbeaten league record in 2008, but they did not immediately learn their lesson. There were still gaps at the back on 20 minutes when Cesc Fabregas sent Mathieu Flamini racing clear down the right, only for Friedel to come to Rovers' rescue, blocking smartly with his legs. But from then on, Rovers tightened things up and could even have managed an unlikely equaliser before the break as Arsenal's early momentum disappeared.

Brett Emerton found space on the right to turn in an inviting cross but McCarthy failed to make any meaningful contact in front of goal and only succeeded in diverting the ball away from team-mate Roque Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz also just failed to reach a Stephen Warnock cross and Jens Lehmann turned David Bentley's free-kick round the post as Rovers continued to improve. Arsenal finally awoke from their slumber in the second half, with Hleb smashing his shot against the base of Friedel's right-hand post with the keeper well beaten.

Belatedly, the Gunners began to show some of their early fluency but Friedel was in imperious mood, twice denying Adebayor and pushing away a drilled effort from Hleb. Friedel's form allowed Blackburn to push forward again, with the visitors sensing they could still salvage something from the match. But instead it was Adebayor who had the final word, teeing himself up with a clever first-touch from Hleb's pass in the penalty area before shooting low into the corner of the net.

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PHIL THE FORCE ... Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos rises to head his side's early opener

Dah ni Habari mbaya hii ya 5pts gap kwa wadau wote wanaoipenda MAN U..lets hope bado kuna mechi 12 zimebaki na mwelekeo bado upo BIG BOYS NEVER GIVE UP EASILY...Jmosi nitakuwa na picha kamili kama Gooners watatufunga pale trafford kwa mara ya pili katika kipindi kisichozidi wiki moja....basi nitalazimika kuamini kuwa mwaka huu ni wao..lets wait

Horror injury KO's Eduardo





AGONY ... Eduardo clutches his leg after Martin Taylor's tackle

ARSENE WENGER called for Martin Taylor to be banned for life after the defender broke Eduardo's leg at St Andrew's. Taylor was red-carded just three minutes into Arsenal's clash with Birmingham for a rash challenge on the Croatian striker.

And Wenger demanded the ultimate punishment after discovering Eduardo is likely to miss the start of NEXT season. The Gunners boss fumed: "This guy should never play football again. What is he doing on the football pitch? "Eduardo's injury is very, very bad. More than the season is over for him as he appears to have broken his shin and his fibula. "The injury is the result of a very bad tackle that is not forgivable.

"The answer you normally get after a tackle like that is 'he is not the type of guy who does that'. "But it's like a guy who kills one time in his life. It's enough and you have a dead person.

"This tackle is absolutely horrendous. If you watch it again, you can't say the guy has played the ball. It is not acceptable.
"I've gone along with the idea for a long time that to stop Arsenal, you have to kick Arsenal. "I knew that an injury like this had been coming for a long time now. "We have escaped a few horrendous tackles since the beginning of this season and I knew something like this could occur sometime."

Sky Sports initially refused to show replays of the tackle due to the horrific nature of the injury. But Brum boss Alex McLeish insisted Taylor had no intention of hurting the Arsenal man.
He said: "Martin's distraught about the lad's injury. "It's certainly not in his make-up at all to commit a malicious tackle."

Birmingham striker James McFadden, who scored twice as McLeish's men held the Gunners to a 2-2 draw, added: I've not seen the tackle but it was a terrible injury. "I've seen his leg and it didn't look too clever. "You just have to get on with it at times when things like that happen."

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Must we break their legs to get peace?

as ninavyo type..man utd twaongoza ligi..chelsea wako down 1 man kwa red card ya kijinga ya lampard..ila wanatandika mtu bao nne...arsenal mdebwedo kwao tena kwa moja..God bless aston villa wabane mpaka mwishoo

arsenal kadraw na villa kwa bao moja moja

chelsea kawaadhibu madogo westhamuu kwaoo kwa bao nne

man utd kama kawa tumetundika fulhamuu bao tatu tuu

alaf mabingwa wa carling cup totenhamuuu eti wamepigwa bao nne kwa moja na birminghamuu

Arsenal survives at the last two seconds 1 - 1

GOAL!! Bendtner strikes in the third minute of injury time. Clichy's deep cross is headed back across goal by Adebayor and the young Dane was left unmarked five yards out to stroke home the equaliser.

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Bendtner scores ... ...



Birmingham 4 - 1 Tottenham

Derby 0 - 0 Sunderland

Fulham 0 - 3 Man Utd

Man City L - L Wigan 17:15

Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Reading

Newcastle 0 - 1 Blackburn

West Ham 0 - 4 Chelsea

A LOT of people were shocked by that phenomenal Arsenal performance against AC Milan. Not me. I had a bet on the Gunners going through because this season they have mastered the art of not losing. It was a sensational all-round show in the 2-0 Champions League victory San Siro. They took their game to a new level and now they have to keep performing to that standard.

Arsene Wenger has developed a system which is impossible for any other team to copy. Their movement and speed of thought is key to everything they do. Whenever one of their players receives the ball he usually has five or six passing alternatives.

And they are constantly changing the point of play. Cesc Fabregas was phenomenal the other night and a lot of people couldn’t understand why Milan gave him so much time and space.

But if you delegate two men just to close Fabregas down, who is going to pick up Hleb? Or Walcott, Rosicky, Flamini, Eboue, Adebayor?

You can bet your life Wigan will look to get into Fabregas’ ribs in tomorrow’s Premier League game.

But does that mean Wenger doesn’t pick his best player? I don’t think so. Emmanuel Adebayor has also given Arsenal a new dimension this season. For a long time, Wenger didn’t play with a traditional centre-forward. It was all about Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie going out wide, dropping deep and pulling defenders out of their comfort zone.

Arsenal still do that, but now they have an aerial threat from a player who, like Didier Drogba or Nicolas Anelka, is quite happy playing on his own up front. Losing Eduardo was a big blow to Arsenal but they should have Van Persie fit again for the Champions League quarter-finals and they will not be short of attacking options.

Defensively, too, Wenger knows he can rely on the likes of Philippe Senderos if required. Senderos might not be everyone’s cup of tea but he’s developed into an excellent defender after some early teething troubles. You don’t want a centre-half who does tricks on the ball, you want someone who keeps the ball as far away from your goal as possible. That’s Senderos.

If Kolo Toure is fit, he plays. If not, Senderos showed in Milan he won’t let anyone down. Senderos, like so many of his team-mates, has come through the ranks at Arsenal and the camaraderie they’ve developed will be a key factor in their bid for European success. But I also like the fact that Arsenal have developed that ruthless streak which you must have to become a winner.

I learned that lesson a long time ago when I was playing cards. I was winning big money and one of my team-mates was so upset he was almost in tears. So I eased up on him and the next thing I know he’s taken me to the cleaners. As the old saying goes, never give a sucker an even break. If you’ve got your foot on someone’s neck, make sure you keep it there. If not, he’ll jump up and bite you.

What I’m trying to say is that Arsenal now know how to finish off opponents. Once they get ahead, they rarely fail to win. In a way, last month’s FA Cup defeat at Manchester United might turn out to be the best thing that happened to Arsenal all season. It was the noisiest wake-up call they will ever get — and from their deadliest rivals at that.

If ever they needed a lesson in keeping your guard up at all times, that dismal day at Old Trafford was it. Now the whole of Europe knows what Arsenal are capable of. Tuesday’s win in Milan will add an extra layer of respect which means the Gunners can go out and play with no fear. And that is when they are at their most dangerous.

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TEAM WORK ... Arsenal's Fabregas, Adebayor and Flamini we're on form at the San Siro

ARSENAL dropped two more points in their pursuit of the Premier League crown after failing to get past Wigan at the JJB Stadium.

The Gunners remain top with Manchester United having played in the FA Cup yesterday.

But Sir Alex Ferguson’s men now have a game in hand, in which a win would see them leapfrog Arsenal by a point.

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Blank......Ade was frustrated upfront

Yeah i hope next few days MANU will be back in our position

Derby 0-1 Man Utd

Liverpool 2-1 Reading

Portsmouth 2-0 Aston Villa

Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea

West Ham 2-1 Blackburn


MANU has gone on top of the Premiership for the moment, Arsenal have started their match against Middlesbrough at the Emirates.

45'Half-time, Boro leading 1-0 although Arsenal have had a goal incorrectly ruled-out for offside.

44'Boateng brings the ball away and plays a great ball wide for Downing who has it on here and slides a low ball in for Aliadiere but hacked away by Gallas.

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We wait for the last 45 minutes.

90'Four minutes added time to be played...

89'ARSENAL SUB: Clichy gets stretchered off with a cut face, Senderos on in his place.

88'Mido is sent off for a high foot on Clichy! He went in with his boot very high, although he's about a foot taller than Clichy and didn't mean to catch him.

86'Corner to Arsenal then on the right, Fabregas takes it and Adebayor rises with the header BUT A TOTAL HOWLER BY SCHWARZER WHO PUTS IT INTO HIS OWN NET! Terrible, he came to punch it clear, Flamini and Taylor obscured his vision but he was nowehere near contact and it came off his shoulder and went in.

Arsenal are trying to win now in extra time!

Ron to a winner ... Darren Fletcher hails Utd team - mate
Cristiano Ronaldo for his late goal.

ALEX FERGUSON hailed Ben Foster as "England's goalkeeper for the next 10 years" - after Cristiano Ronaldo saved United at the other end.

Ronaldo's 76th minute winner - his 31st goal of the season - was the ninth of 11 chances he had as United dictated.
And Ferguson praised both Ronaldo's courage and debutant Foster's brilliant saves...........................

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New Castle first win for Kevin Keegan. While Tottenham won against Portsmouth 2 -0; Everton drew with West Ham 1 - 1

Blackburn won against Wigan 3 - 1





What will Easter Sunday bring?