Five Games return to haunt http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 – Part 3
Article Continued from Part two of the article.
Arsenal versus Sunderland, Emirates stadium, March 2011
Arsenal has also been extremely short-handed when it comes to luck in crucial moments. If you tend to notice, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 has an amazing luck when it comes to this. Whether it is the refereeing blunders, goals leaking in and after the end of stoppages or the
trademark defensive howlers, Arsenal seems to be on the wrong end of the stick in every crucial game and moment.
One cannot deny that Arsenal have been extremely unfortunate on numerous occasions.
At the end of a morale-sapping Carling Cup loss to Birmingham, the devastated Gunners needed a positive display and a convincing win against Sunderland at home. The match however ended differently.
Arsenal were held to a goal-less first-half and as the play resumed after the break, the Arsenal fans had their nerves stretched to the extreme limit. But had it not been for the officials that night, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Andrei-Arshavin-c5771 would bowed down for prayers twice.
A long through ball released Arshavin through on goal and with the goal in his sights, he measured a shot. But in the quickest of times, the defender, who was slightly behind the small Russian, pushed him in the back. Though he managed to get his shot away
(which went wide anyways) the replays clearly showed that he was shoved and was already falling before taking the shot. A clear cut penalty was not given.
Only a few minutes later the Russian was sent one-on-one with the goal-keeper when a clever through ball met his diagonal run. Arshavin dribbled past the keeper with relative ease, rounding him coolly and fired a shot into the net. The lines-man however
had other ideas and raised the flag indicating an offside and subsequently the goal was disallowed. The replays showed that he was at least two yards onside.
Arsenal although continued to push forward, they were unable to break open the resilient Sunderland defence. Two points were dropped and the downfall for Arsenal had started. The title goes begging once again.
Arsenal versus Tottenham Hotspurs, Emirates Stadium, November 2010
It is of general view that Arsenal was severely damaged when they failed to maximise on a 2-goal lead-away at White Hart Lane recently to draw 3-3. The loss to the London rivals at home back in November caused the Gunners far more damage.
Arsenal was leading the game 2-0 at the break thanks to a flash of pure football brilliance displayed by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Samir-Nasri-c32360. Chamakh had to easiest of tap in's for the Gunners second. At half-time, all 3 points seemed inevitable. Bale returned the favour with an
easy tap in at the other end. Clichy failed to clear a long ball and Denilson forgot his running shoes that day. Tottenham pulled back to within touching distance and compounded with Arsenal’s inability to kill off games, a few nerves began to tingle in the
Emirates Stadium.
Article Continued In part 4 of Five Games return to haunt Arsenal
Tags: