Premier League matches

Arsenal 7, Blackburn Rovers 1

Gunners Use Width to Rediscover Scoring Touch

Arsenal finally rediscovered the goalscoring habit and hit seven past lowly Blackburn Rovers. It was the way that the Gunners used their natural width that defined the free-scoring performance.

Wide men Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain led the way. The duo regularly made well-timed runs inside the full-back and central defender and provided a consistent outlet for Arsenal to utilise on the counterattack.

One such run led to a second-minute lead for Arsene Wenger's team. Walcott was picked out by makeshift right back Francis Coquelin and dragged the ball across the box for Robin van Persie to nudge the Gunners in front.

This familiar combination linked up again after Rovers had equalised via a Morten Gamst Pedersen free kick. This time it was Alex Song who spotted Walcott's run and hit him in stride with a decisive through pass. Walcott reversed the ball to Van Persie and the Gunners skipper turned it in to put Arsenal back in front.

Walcott and Van Persie then combined moments later with the England speedster laying the ball off to the cerebral Dutchman who slotted a nice pass into the path of Oxlade-Chamberlain. The 18-year-old rounded Paul Robinson and netted his first Premier League goal for Arsenal.

In the second half, Walcott again got loose and stretched Blackburn's defense with his sprinter's speed. He slid the ball into path of Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had the pace to match him on the break and the youngster slammed home his second goal of the day.

This is how Arsenal's front three is supposed to function. Fluid movement and quick interchanges at pace can expose any defense and the Gunners have the natural speed to utilise these tactics against any opposition.

Nobody is going to catch Walcott or Oxlade-Chamberlain when they are in full flight. Van Persie has the flair, creative instincts and passing range to drop into space and pick out the passes to match their runs.

Playing to the speed of Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain allows Arsenal to be more direct and move the ball more quickly. They can bypass the quagmire created by teams who choose to crowd the midfield and close off the space for the short passing game.

Arsenal have struggled this season playing a system based around the talents of Cesc Fabregas, without a player possessing the similar skills. By emphasising the wingers more, the Gunners can reduce the need for and reliance on a central playmaker.

Manchester City 3-0 Fulham

Sergio Aguero leads hosts to comfortable victory as they move three points clear at top of Premier League

Routine win despite extremely snowy conditions at the Etihad Stadium with the majestic Argentine, Edin Dzeko and a Chris Baird own-goal sealing the win for Roberto Mancini's side

Stefan Savic came into the City backline in place of injured captain Vincent Kompany, with Aleksandar Kolarov and Adam Johnson also replacing Gael Clichy and James Milner, respectively.

Martin Jol re-instated Mark Schwarzer to his line-up and opted for Baird rather than John Arne Riise at left-back for the Cottagers, while Clint Dempsey partnered Moussa Dembele in attack.

Roberto Mancini's team started dominantly and had early chances through Dzeko, firing into Schwarzer's arms before flicking over from Gareth Barry's cross under pressure from Brede Hangeland.

The home side had a glorious chance to open the scoring after ten minutes, Adam Johnson jinking his way into the box before going over Baird's outstretched leg. Mike Dean pointed to the spot and Aguero dispatched the penalty with ease.

The Cottagers were struggling to get a foothold in the game with City dominating possession, but they looked to work a way back into the game as Simon Davies' shot low towards goal, but his effort was saved by Hart.

City constantly looked dangerous on the break, with Aguero's play particularly ominous as the Argentine tricked his way into the box and with no Fulham players wanting to make a challenge, cut the ball back to Silva who prodded wide.

Fulham were feeding off scraps, although Duff worried Hart with a searching effort that almost crept in at the far post.

However, City went straight up the other end and doubled their lead. Kolarov's deep cross from the left fell to Johnson who fired the ball back across goal and with Baird unfortunately positioned, the Ulsterman was only able to cannon a deflection past Schwarzer.

The home side had another shout for a penalty moments later as Silva went down under Dickson Etuhu's challenge in the box, with the Nigerian not seeming to contact the ball, but referee Dean declined the hosts' pleas.

Mancini's men continued on the offensive for the rest of the first half but were unable to breach the Fulham backline another time before half-time.

Aguero fires City on their way to three points with early penalty

The west Londoners started the second half better, keeping the ball well but ultimately unable to break down City's defence, with Savic looking much improved from his previously nervy outings.

The home side were also forced into making an early change, Nasri limping off with just eight minutes gone in the second-half, getting replaced by James Milner.

Snow had fallen throughout much of the game, and the groundstaff were summoned to clear the lines of the pitch that had become obscured under a wintery blanket.

As the snow became stronger, the action failed to warm up, although Stephen Kelly almost troubled an off-balanced Hart with a toe-poked effort, before the England number one dealt comfortably with Baird's rifled free-kick.

City were stunned into action, Aguero turned neatly in the box, but saw his shot blocked by Danny Murphy before Kolarov curled a close-range free-kick over the bar.

Soon after, City had their third. Aguero picked the ball up on the left flank, darted into the box, breezing past Senderos and Davies before squaring to the unmarked Dzeko, who tapped home from eight yards.

With the game all but won for City, Mancini brought off Aguero to a standing ovation and replaced the Argentine with Nigel de Jong to shore up the midfield for the final ten minutes.

Fulham continued to chase a late goal, Riise stinging Hart's palms, but they were unable to find the net and City kept yet another home clean sheet as they move three points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table, with the Champions in action at Chelsea on Sunday.

Source: goal.com

... to be followed ...

The matches: Chelsea vs Man Utd will be played today and Liverpool vs Tottenham will be played tomorrow.

Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United

FA CUP

Rooney hits brace & Scholes returns as 10-man hosts are dumped out of FA Cup in five-goal classic

After giving up the opening three goals and defender Vincent Kompany seeing red, Roberto Mancini's side roared back into the tie with a remarkable second-half display

Manchester United were given an almighty scare but did just enough to hold off Manchester City’s spirited, ten-man fight-back to secure a 3-2 victory and progression to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

A Wayne Rooney header gave the visitors an early lead and, moments later, the hosts' task was made infinitely harder as Vincent Kompany saw red for a challenge on Nani.

Danny Welbeck then added to City's woes with a fine volley before Rooney added his second and United's third, nodding in from close range after seeing his spot kick initially saved.

However, Roberto Mancini’s side roared back with ten men after the break and goals from Aleksandar Kolarov and Sergio Aguero brought them agonisingly close to an incredible comeback.

Mancini chose to rest first-choice goalkeeper Joe Hart, with 24-year-old Romanian Costel Pantilimon handed a place in the starting 11. City’s two leading strikers, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko, missed out through injury, forcing Aguero to operate in a more advanced forward role. Yaya Toure, along with his brother Kolo, were absent after joining the Ivory Coast squad for the Africa Cup of Nations and Gareth Barry was suspended meaning James Milner partnered Nigel de Jong in the centre of midfield.

United were boosted by the shock return from retirement of midfielder Paul Scholes, who took his place on the bench. Anders Lindegaard was preferred to David De Gea in goal, while Chris Smalling returned to the defence. Welbeck partnered Rooney in attack, with Javier Hernandez left on the bench and Dimitar Berbatov out of the squad entirely.

City started the match at great speed, forcing Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to weather an early storm in the Manchester rain, but as that pressure began to subside the hosts were hit by a stunning double blow.

Rooney has had a disappointing few weeks to say the least but he looked ominously sharp as he sprung a United counter-attack with the help of Ryan Giggs. Antonio Valencia, so often the Englishman’s partner in crime since his return from injury this season, found some space on the right and fired in a first-time cross that Rooney superbly converted from ten yards with his head.

If that was a setback for Mancini’s team, their hopes took a more devastating blow minutes later. Referee Chris Foy’s decision to show Kompany a red card for a challenge on Nani will ignite debate and divide opinions; the Belgian defender appeared to win the ball but flew into his tackle with two feet in a reckless enough manner to immediately draw the protestations of Rooney and the subsequent early bath.

To their credit, City responded strongly with ten men. Aguero was frequently at the centre of their attacking play and curled an effort at goal shortly after Kompany’s dismissal that Lindegaard did well to palm around his post.

They were undoubtedly held back by the numerical disadvantage, however, with Milner withdrawn to right-back and Micah Richards moved into the centre of defence. United, looking comfortable when their opponents did get on the ball, gradually began to assert more control.

Their lead was doubled when Evra, attacking Milner aggressively down the United left-hand side, was able to send a low cross into the City box after Nani’s run inside left him with room to manoeuvre. When that ball hit a leg and flew into the air, Welbeck was on hand to react quickest with a tremendous volley on the turn that sailed past Pantilimon.

United’s 6-1 loss to their Manchester – and now Premier League title – rivals at Old Trafford in October was apparently fresh in their minds, because Ferguson’s side were by no means content to see the game out with the security of a two-goal lead.

Welbeck had Richards and Kolarov for company when Giggs’ pass slipped him into the City penalty area and some neat footwork drew a clear foul from the latter. Foy had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and, after his penalty was well-saved by the unfortunate Pantilimon, Rooney reacted well to head home the rebound and extend his side’s lead.

Welbeck almost made it four moments later when he just failed to touch home a superb Valencia cross and by the break Mancini had seen enough to acknowledge the game was well out of his side’s reach. David Silva and Adam Johnson’s legs were rested as they were withdrawn at half time for Pablo Zabaleta and Stefan Savic. City reverted to a 5-2-2 formation with Zabaleta and Kolarov operating as wing-backs.

Great blue hope | Aguero second sparked hope of an unlikely comeback

Kolarov in fact almost immediately made up for the error that led to the United penalty by pulling a goal back shortly after the restart to offer the most optimistic of City fans a glimmer of hope. After Richards’ charging run forward was ended prematurely by Evra, the Serbian curled the resulting free-kick over the wall and beyond Lindegaard.

Not long after his goal, Kolarov again appeared to commit a foul in his own area which could have truly ended the tie. This time he impeded Valencia’s run but Foy was unmoved.

Ferguson was confident enough to introduce the returning Scholes on the hour mark, but one of his first touches was not the finest of his illustrious career. The 37-year-old weighted a simple pass from a throw-in incorrectly, allowing the tireless Milner to steal in. His cross found Aguero, who put City on the verge of a remarkable comeback by poking home the rebound after Lindegaard had saved his initial effort.

A reinvigorated Etihad Stadium might have thought the comeback was on but as the minutes ticked away the reality of City’s situation, with ten men, became more apparent. United began to retain the ball with increasing ease, with Scholes, unperturbed by his earlier error, dictating the play like he had never been away.

Kolarov, very much at the centre of this match, had time to send in a cross that Phil Jones appeared to block with his arm before firing in a free-kick in the dying moments that caused panic in the United box but Ferguson’s side did just enough to ensure they moved into the fourth round.

Source: goal.com