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Gunners down Porto
Tuesday Sep 26 2006 22:15
Arsenal sit at the top of the Champions League Group G table after cruising to a 2-0 victory against FC Porto.

Goals from Thierry Henry and Alex Hleb either side of the break secured maximum points, but a more emphatic margin of victory would have been achieved had the Gunners' finishing matched their approach play.
Arsene Wenger opted to make two changes to the team which defeated Sheffield United 3-0 at the weekend. Emmanuel Adebayor and Freddie Ljungberg dropped to the bench, with Hleb and Robin van Persie replacing them.
The Gunners boss was also forced to make a late switch when Johan Djourou picked up an injury during the warm-up. Justin Hoyte stepped up from the bench.
The hosts started well and thought they had taken the lead after just four minutes when Kolo Toure bundled the ball home from a corner. However, the linesman ruled the ball had gone out of play before reaching the Ivorian.
It looked only a matter of time until Arsenal actually opened the scoring, as Hleb, Tomas Rosicky and van Persie knocked the ball about nonchalantly in midfield while the visiting defenders chased shadows.
However, for a ten-minute period in the middle of the first half Porto dominated, with Ricardo Quaresma threatening to rip the home defence apart.
It proved to be only a brief spell of dominance for the visitors and Arsenal, with van Persie at the centre of everything they did, soon regained the initiative.
The Dutchman squandered a good chance by firing over after being played in by Henry, before seeing Porto goalkeeper Helton make good low save to deny him.
It was no surprise when the goal eventually arrived in the 38th minute, but it was a shock that van Persie was not involved.
For once Arsenal swapped their intricate passing game for a direct approach and it paid dividends. Emmanuel Eboue surged down the right and sent over a perfect out-swinging cross for Henry to head home at the far post.
A looping van Persie header almost doubled the hosts' advantage just before the break, but they had to wait for less than three minutes after the restart for a second goal.
William Gallas made a purposeful run through midfield before squaring the ball to Henry on the edge of the penalty area. The Frenchman stretched to square it to the on-rushing Hleb, who despatched a low shot beyond Helton.
It was game over as soon as Hleb's shot nestled in the back of the net.
Porto had few ideas going forward and Lehmann had only two saves to make -comfortable takes from substitute Raul Meireles and Quaresma.
Arsenal were happy to show off rather than test the Porto goalkeeper and while Henry's silky skills entertained the crowd, the hosts rarely looked like adding a third.
That will have been of little concern to Wenger, as his side already have one foot in the draw for the first knockout round.
The Times September 14, 2006
Rosicky hits high note in show of silk and steelFROM MATT HUGHES IN HAMBURGSV Hamburg 1 Arsenal 2

ASHLEY COLE may think he has all the answers to Arsenal’s domestic problems, but even a man of his undoubted wisdom would struggle to explain the contrast between his former club’s poor domestic form and their continued excellence in Europe. In a performance comprising elements of silk and steel, Arsène Wenger’s team continued where they left off last season to stamp their authority on the Champions League. Cole has labelled his former team-mates lazy and selfish, but not even the most jaundiced, born-again Chelsea fan would have made such an accusation last night.

Arsenal’s patched-up, inexperienced back four, further disrupted by a first-half injury to Kolo Touré, held their own against a spirited SV Hamburg team, who continued to attack despite suffering the early sending-off of Sascha Kirschstein, the goalkeeper. The visiting team scored two goals of contrasting beauty, with a clinical counter-attack resulting in a first-half penalty converted by Gilberto Silva before Tomas Rosicky stole the show with his first goal for the club. Jens Lehmann played his customary crucial role, making two good saves with the score at 1-0, although Boubacar Sanago’s injury-time consolation brought his remarkable run of European games without conceding a goal to an end after 853 minutes. The previous time he picked the ball out of his net in Europe was in March 2005. With Arsenal having taken only two points from their opening three Barclays Premiership matches, Wenger’s belief that his team are title contenders is looking dubious, but the Champions League is a different matter. It is becoming difficult to avoid the conclusion that the Frenchman’s adherence to risky, attacking football makes Arsenal more suited to what remains, in essence, a knockout competition. It was surprising, though, to see Wenger abandon the tactics that took his team to the final without a single defeat last May. That run was based on a 4-5-1 formation with the midfield rushing forward on the counter-attack at every opportunity, but last night Wenger reverted to 4-4-2, with Robin van Persie partnering Emmanuel Adebayor up front in place of the injured Thierry Henry. William Gallas remained exiled at left back — how long before his next incredible sulk? — and Johan Djourou made the most of his opportunity at centre back as Hamburg started brightly. The Switzerland player needed every inch of his muscular frame to repel two dangerous passes and he made a well-timed tackle on Raphaël Wicky on the edge of the area to spare the blushes of Emmanuel Eboué, who had given the ball away. Having been criticised by Cole all week, it appeared as if Arsenal were going to stay under siege in Germany, but after ten minutes they were liberated by a piece of breathtaking counter-attacking football. Alexander Hleb collected Lehmann’s throw in his own half and released Adebayor with one of those wonderful cross-field passes he produces once or twice in every match. Adebayor thundered down the left flank before finding Van Persie in the penalty area, with the goal at his mercy. The Holland striker almost went around Kirschstein but went over the goalkeeper’s trailing leg, with Peter Frojdfeldt immediately sending him off. The home team clearly thought that Frojdfeldt should have acted differently and were still protesting as Gilberto dispatched the penalty. For a team a goal and a man down within 11 minutes, Hamburg’s commitment to attack was impressive, with Arsenal by no means completely comfortable. Nigel de Jong headed just past the far post and Lehmann made a smart save from Danijel Ljuboja just before half-time, problems caused in part by Touré’s 28th-minute withdrawal with a hip injury. Arsenal’s only other real chance of the opening period also fell to Van Persie, whose shot was saved by Stefan Wächter, the substitute goalkeeper, following a left-wing cross from Rosicky, and their second goal came from the same combination. Dropping deep to receive possession in the 53rd minute, Van Persie passed square to his new team-mate, with Rosicky cutting inside to unleash a right-foot thunderbolt from 25 yards.Having provided a partial response to Cole’s latest diatribe, Arsenal must prepare for a further test of their spirit against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. SV HAMBURG (4-4-2): S Kirschstein — G Demel (sub: M Mahdavikia, 53min), B Reinhardt, V Kompany, J Mathijsen — D Jarolim, N de Jong, P Trochowski, R Wicky (sub: S Wächter, 12)— B Sanogo, D Lluboja (sub: J P Guerrero, 81). Substitutes not used: M Fillinger, B Berisha, A Laas, C Benjamin. Sent off: Kirschstein. ARSENAL (4-4-2): J Lehmann — E Eboué, K Touré (sub: J Hoyte, 28), J Djourou, W Gallas — A Hleb (sub: M Flamini, 69), Gilberto Silva, F Fàbregas, T Rosicky — E Adebayor, R van Persie (sub: J Baptista, 69). Substitutes not used: M Almunia, F Ljungberg, A Song, T Walcott. Referee: P Frojdfeldt (Sweden). · FC Porto were left to rue a series of missed chances after a 0-0 draw at home to CSKA Moscow. Anderson, Porto’s Brazilian midfield player, hit the post and Adriano missed the best chance when he fired wide when clear.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,278-2357445,00.html

Henry uses head again to mark Wenger's anniversary in styleBY MATT DICKINSON, CHIEF FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENTArsenal 2 FC Porto 0

TOMORROW marks a decade in North London for Arsène Wenger, a period during which he has transformed just about everything at Arsenal apart from the name. No wonder, then, that when he heard Tony Blair telling the Labour conference yesterday how much had changed in the past decade, he briefly wondered: “Is the Prime Minister talking about me?” It is the only time the Frenchman has allowed himself to look back over his tenure. The anniversary, he said, would be marked by a routine training session, although one conducted against a happy backdrop of improving results. After a jittery opening to the campaign, last night’s swatting of a subdued FC Porto team was a fourth consecutive victory.

At ease in the Champions League after last season’s run to the final and increasingly at home in their new surroundings at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal seized control of group G on an evening blighted only by the late withdrawal of William Gallas with a hamstring strain. The France defender had been enjoying his night in central defence, reverting to his favoured position at the last minute only because of the withdrawal of Johan Djourou in the warm-up, and he looked to be forming a powerful and stupendously quick partnership with Kolo Touré. Not that either was particularly tested as Arsenal beat their Portuguese opponents with ease. Wenger’s men were the better team throughout, although it took them a while to take advantage of their ascendancy. The manager was to become so frustrated — ostensibly at some minor decisions from the officials, but also, partly, at his players’ failure to convert early chances — that he was sent back to his seat from the touchline by Stefano Farina, the Italian referee. Fortunately, his team had started to pick up their game and the next time he was off the bench was to salute Thierry Henry’s headed goal, which secured a half-time lead. The France forward does not score many with his head — indeed, Arsenal fans had spent some of the previous 37 minutes bemoaning their team’s familiar failure to attack crosses — but this was his second in four days after his productive nod against Sheffield United. As on Saturday, the supplier was Emmanuel Eboué, who has proved one of the great finds, even for a man with Wenger’s reputation as a talent-spotter supreme. The powerful full back charged past Marek Cech and, on the run, whipped a perfect cross to the far post. Henry directed a fine header back across goal to chalk up his third goal of this season. The previous time Eboué had rampaged down the flank, Arsenal fans had wailed as Henry, Robin van Persie and Tomas Rosicky had stood and watched the cross sail through the penalty area. “I felt that we became a bit nervous after not scoring in the opening 20 minutes against Sheffield,” Wenger had said and there had been a few jitters before Henry struck, exacerbated by Van Persie’s shocking miss. Fed by Henry, the Holland striker did not have time to pull the ball on to his favoured left foot as he prepared to shoot from eight yards. Forced to use his right, his technique flew out of the window while the ball soared over the bar. An embarrassing miss, it was not to prove costly because Arsenal extended their lead moments after the interval. Relaying the ball quickly along the edge of the Porto penalty area, Henry passed to Alexander Hleb. Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira, the Porto coach, had changed left backs during half-time, but the weakness in that area remained as the Belarussian took advantage of time and space to control the ball and then place his shot in to the far, bottom corner. It would have been a perfect night had Gallas not pulled up in the final seconds, although the injury is not serious enough to spoil the manager’s anniversary. ARSENAL (4-1-4-1): J Lehmann — E Eboué, K Touré, W Gallas (sub: A Song, 90min), J Hoyte — Gilberto Silva — A Hleb (sub: T Walcott, 86), C Fàbregas, T Rosicky, R van Persie (sub: F Ljungberg, 74) — T Henry. Substitutes not used: M Almunia, J Baptista, E Adebayor. Booked: Rosicky, Gilberto. FC PORTO (4-3-2-1): Helton — Bosingwa, Pepe, B Alves, R Costa (sub: R Meireles, 46) — L González, P Assuncao, M Cech — R Quaresma, Anderson (sub: Adriano, 65) — H Postiga (sub: L López, 46). Substitutes not used: V Baia, T Sektioui, Fucile, Jorginho. Booked: Costa. Referee: S Farina (Italy). GROUP GA second-half header by Dudu, the Brazil midfield player, gave CSKA Moscow, the Russian champions, a 1-0 home victory over SV Hamburg. Dudu outjumped Boubacar Sanogo and beat Stefan Wachter, the goalkeeper, from ten metres in the 59th minute.RESULTS: Porto 0 CSKA Moscow 0; Hamburg 1 Arsenal 2; CSKA Moscow 1 Hamburg 0; Arsenal 2 Porto 0. FIXTURES: October 17: CSKA Moscow v Arsenal; Porto v Hamburg. November 1: Arsenal v CSKA Moscow; Hamburg v Porto. November 21: CSKA Moscow v Porto; Arsenal v Hamburg. December 6: Porto v Arsenal; Hamburg v CSKA Moscow.

Rosicky Seems The Answer.
Thursday, 21 September 2006
Over the last few seasons, Arsenal have had this, "Thou shall not shoot when 20/25 yards out!" policy. Though with the addition of Tomas Rosicky it seems slowly but sure that should change, as we have watched the last 2 games Arsenal have played against Hamburg and Manchester United, they are less afraid to shoot and Tomas seems to be the key. A strange thing also of note is, Arsenal also tend to try out the audacious long range efforts when Thierry Henry is not around. When he is in the squad they do knock the ball around alot and some actually feel we knock the ball around a bit TOO much.Without shooting from long range, makes us somewhat predictable and as we have seen teams when they play us at home, the opposition either flood the midfield(not allowing our passing game) or they line their penalty box with players. (knowing Arsenal want that "eye of the needle" passes) So my question is, why just not take a pop at goal and see what happens! Last week when the Gunners took on Hamburg, their keeper didn’t even get a sniff of Rosicky’s shot flying past him, that was a rocket of a shot. Knocking around the ball is beautiful to watch, but only when you have a two goal cushion or any large lead. When the score is tied or ones team is one up, doing that is simply not the answer and in most cases we do get punished. Just take this season for example, our first 3 games were against Aston Villa, Manchester City and Middlesbrough, and in all three games Arsenal dominated but were not ruthless enough in front of goal, always laying the ball off to the other and ofcourse when Arsenal dawdle like this, all it takes is one of the opposition to hoof the ball clear and Arsenal have to start from scratch. In Rosicky, we have a player who will take the game, head on if it means breaking the deadlock. As I have seen regular footage of him, he will let fly when he sees the window of opportunity, no matter how small that is. Same can be said of Hleb when he was at Stuttgart but since he has joined us he seems more wanting to lay off balls to Henry that have a thump at goal. Henry has made mention that the "kids" should take more responsibility in the team, contributing with goals, so it seems to be working, (since he hasn’t been in the squad for 2 games and we picked up 2 deserved wins) just he should not get angry when he returns and the guys have a go at goal and leave him fuming for wanting a pass. We have the quality, no doubting that and at times the blame is spread around as to who was responsible for wasting chances, with the goal beckoning. If this season is going to be a successful season with the odd trophy thrown in, surely it will be the fact that we have a higher conversion rate with our chances and added to that, not being shy to unleash 20/25 yard screamers at the opposition goalkeeper. By Mornay Visser
http://www.arsenalsa.co.za/content/view/599/106/

Arsenal (2) - FC Porto (0)
Wednesday, 27 September 2006
For the second game in succession Arsenal’s charismatic skipper Thierry Henry used his head to score a goal. Having nodded one past Sheffield United at the weekend, Henry again exploited a magnificent cross from Emmanuel Eboue to head the Group G leaders closer towards the knock-out stages of the Champions League.The Gunners doubled their lead just after the break when William Gallas and Henry set up Alexandre Hleb.Hleb’s goal consigned the 2004 winners Porto to bottom of Group C, and ensured the Gunners went two points clear at the top.The Gunners started off brightly enough with Cesc Fabregas sending a shot skimming over, and Robin van Persie missing two opportunities.However, before Henry gave the Arsenal the lead Kolo Toure thought he had opened his account with a close range effort, but the goal was ruled out - the linesman judging that the ball had been out of play before Fabregas had passed to the Ivorian.With seven minutes to go to the break and having failed to beat the goalie Helton, the Gunners put together a marvellous move.Hleb switched the ball to Eboue who was running down the right, the full-back left Marek Cech standing, Eboue then delivered the perfect ball - expertly weighted - the ball cleared the Porto centre-half, Pepe, and dropped towards Henry who only had to beat Helton, which he duly did, with his head.Just before the whistle, another header troubled Helton, this time from Van Persie, but the Porto keeper was up to the task.Asburton Grove then erupted as Gallas glided through Porto's midfield before squaring to Henry. Instead of shooting, Henry passed the ball along to Hleb, who was arriving at speed, the Belarussian's shot was low and hard and raced past poor Helton. There should have been more as Thomas Rosicky ballooned the ball over the bar, and Fabregas went close with a shot after more good work by Henry. Soon after, Theo Walcott came on for Hleb, as the youngster made his Champions League debut.By Terry Dennis