Gooner Talk

In a match where little separates two sides, all it can take to make the difference is a solitary moment of individual class. Last night in Marseille, it was Aaron Ramsey who provided that moment, drilling home a 92nd-minute winner to give Arsenal a vital 1-0 win and send them top of their Champions League group.

Despite the attacking threats on both sides, there was a severe lack of end product over the course of the evening, but Ramsey’s fine finish made the Gunners worthy winners. Arsenal statistics showed five shots on target out of six total, while only two of Marseille’s shots were on target, and Arsenal also held a 55-45 edge in possession.

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Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool – Ramsey 78 (og), Suarez 90

An own goal from Aaron Ramsey and a late Luis Suarez second resulted in 10-man Arsenal’s first Premier League loss of the season against Liverpool.

Despite being offside, Suarez helped net Liverpool’s opener, although it was substitute Igansi Miquel’s attempted clearance which bounced off Ramsey’s chest into the net for a freak goal.

Midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong, who impressed throughout his second Premier League start, received a second yellow after a late tackle on Lucas.

To compound Arsene Wenger’s worries, defender Laurent Koscielny was stretchered off in the first half with the Frenchman having back spasms.

Szczesny
Jenkinson – Vermaelen – Koscielny – Jenkinson
Walcott – Ramsey – Frimpong – Nasri – Arshavin
van Persie (c)

Subs: Fabianski (GK), Miquel, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lansbury, Miyiachi, Chamakh, Bendtner.

Arsenal’s slim chances of winning the Premier League were ended by a strong Stoke City side at the Britannia Stadium.

Kenwyne Jones opened the scoring for the Potters on 28 minutes before former Arsenal player Jermaine Pennant doubled the home side’s lead four minutes before half-time.

Dutch frontman Robin van Persie pulled one back for the Gunners on 81 minutes, only for Jon Walters to restore Stoke’s two-goal cushion just moments later.

Defeat for Arsene Wenger means that, whatever the result in the clash between Manchester United and Chelsea later on Sunday, they will be at least six points behind leaders United with two matches of the season remaining.

Arsenal’s Starting XI

Szczesny
Sagna – Djourou – Koscielny – Gibbs
Ramsey – Song – Wilshere
Walcott – van Persie – Arshavin

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Dirk Kuyt equalised with a penalty kick in the 12th minute of injury time to give Liverpool a dramatic 1-1 draw at Arsenal and frustrate the Gunners’ chances of winning the Premier League title.

Arsenal frontman Robin van Persie had put the home side in front with another penalty just four minutes earlier, but Emmanuel Eboue pushed Lucas Leiva over in the area and Kuyt smashed in the resulting penalty with the last kick of the match.

The North Londoners are now six points behind United with six games remaining, with Chelsea two points further back in third.

Szczesny
Eboue – Djourou – Koscielny – Clichy
Fabregas – Diaby – Wilshere
Walcott – van Persie – Nasri

Subs : Lehmann, Squillaci, Gibbs, Song, Arshavin, Bendtner, Chamakh.

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A dominant display by Barcelona saw Arsenal bow out of the Champions League at the Nou Camp, although the Gunners will feel hard done by after Robin van Persie’s sending off early in the second half.

A match between the two sides ought to be a showcase event for two of the greatest footballing teams in the world to go up against each other.

Instead, the referee decided to take centre stage, and gave Barca the helping hand they in all likelihood didn’t need to progress to the quarter finals.

Arsenal’s Starting XI

Szczesny
Sagna – Djourou – Koscielny – Clichy
Wilshere – Diaby
Rosicky – Fabregas – Nasri
van Persie

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Arsenal responded to Sunday’s Carling Cup final defeat against Birmingham with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Leyton Orient in the FA Cup fifth round.

A Nicklas Bendtner hat-trick, coupled with goals from Marouane Chamakh and Gael Clichy secured Arsenal’s passage into the quarter finals where they will play Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Teenage defender Ignasi Miquel made his first home appearance and 19-year-old winger Conor Henderson a senior debut.

Almunia
Eboue – Miquel – Squillaci – Gibbs
Diaby – Denilson – Rosicky
Bendtner – Chamakh – Henderson

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Obafemi Martins’ 89th-minute winner following a defensive mix-up from Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny gave Birmingham a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the League Cup final on Sunday for its first trophy since 1963.

The Nigerian came off the bench with seven minutes of normal time remaining, and in the 89th minute capitalised on a calamitous mix-up in the Arsenal penalty area to tap in the goal which lands the Blues only their second ever major trophy.

Nikola Zigic had headed the Blues in front near the half-hour mark to send fans of the underdogs into raptures, only for Robin van Persie to equalise with a stunning volley 10 minutes later.

Szczesny
Sagna – Djourou – Koscielny – Clichy
Wilshere – Song – Rosicky
Nasri – van Persie – Arshavin

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