Arsenal thrashed a helpless Newcastle side 3-0 in their third match of the English Premier League at the Emirates yesterday. Wenger started the game with a squad expected by almost everyone: Almunia, Clichy, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Eboue, Nasri, Fabregas, Denilson, Adebayor and Van Persie.The surprise exclusion was Theo Walcott, as Eboue was given the nod ahead of him.
Newcastle kicked off the game with consecutive passes between their players, before Arsenal seized complete momentum of the game. Fabregas once again was the difference between both teams, as he made the most impressive passes. Nasri looked very good too, tricking the opposition defenders on the right wing. Gallas missed an absolute sitter in the 3rd minute, when he whacked the shot over the bar from two yards out!
Surprisingly on many occasions throughout the match, Adebayor was seen coming on to the right wing and trying to cross the ball. This was exactly what led to the first goal. In the 18th minute, Adebayor's cross from the right was deflected of N'Zogbia's stretched hand in the penalty box. The referee didn't waste any time in awarding a penalty to Arsenal. Van Persie then slotted the ball calmly and accurately past Given into the bottom right corner. Even though Given jumped to the correct side, Persie's shot was too quick and accurate for the save.
The second goal was a goal typically expected of Arsenal. Once again, Adebayor took the ball from the right side and crossed it to Eboue. After miscontrolling his first touch, Eboue had a chance to score, but instead cheekily back heeled the ball to Van Persie, who blasted the ball into the net. Eboue should have scored, even though he could have made a total mess of the situation. This was Van Persie's second goal of the Premier League 2008 and his third goal of an injury plagued 2008.
The third goal was created very well. Van Persie passed the ball to Nasri, who ran into the box and passed it to Adebayor. A Newcastle defender intervened in the pass and the ball went straight to Denilson, who gave it back to Nasri. Nasri then slotted another pass to Adebayor, who set up Denilson for a good finish to sign off any Newcastle hopes of victory or a draw.
Given was undoubtedly the goalkeeper of the match, as he dealt an amazing strike by Kolo Toure, a bullet from Gael Clichy, and brilliant free-kicks from Van Persie and Nasri. Almunia had a relatively quite day, since he wasn't troubled by Owen or any of the Newcastle players, except for a header which had beaten him but hit the post. Walcott and Vela were later brought into the match, and they made an immediate impact, with Walcott having a chance to score and creating chances, and Vela constantly running into the box.
This was a very good victory for Wenger and his boys, who'll be looking forward to many more to come.
Highlights!!
Van Persie (Penalty), 19th minute, 1-0
Van Persie, 40th minute, 2-0
Denilson, 59th minute, 3-0
Go Gunners!!!
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