FA Cup wrap: Arsenal, Man City sweep into quarters

Arsenal brought Leyton Orient back to reality at the Emirates on Wednesday, while Manchester City advanced at the expense of Aston Villa.

The Gunners, who fell victim to a last-gasp equaliser in their trip to Orient in the FA Cup fifth round, ensured there would be no such surprises in the replay with an emphatic 5-0 thumping of the League One outfit.

Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner endeared himself to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger with a hat-trick, accompanied by goals to Maroune Chamakh and Gael Clichy, to set up a tantalising visit to fellow Premier League title contenders Manchester United in the quarter-finals.

Wenger, whose hopes of an ambitious quadruple of trophies were dashed when Arsenal lost to Birmingham City in the Carling Cup final on Sunday, retained only Tomas Rosicky from that side and handed debut starts to 19-year-old midfielder Conor Henderson and 18-year-old defender Ignasi Miquel.

If the Gunners were not showing respect to Orient in their make-up it certainly did not affect their attitude on the pitch, and after bursting out of the blocks they deservedly took the lead in the seventh minute through Chamakh.

The Moroccan striker, struggling for regular first-team appearances behind the likes of Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Andrei Arshavin, tapped home from close range after being picked out on Rosicky’s surging run down the right.

Bendtner, whose last goal came in Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat of Ipswich Town in the Carling Cup semi-finals, nodded a superb header past Orient custodian Jamie Jones on the half hour and made it 3-0 with a quality individual move 13 minutes later.

Bendter completed his hat-trick – Arsenal’s first in the FA Cup for 18 years – from the penalty spot shortly after the hour, and French defender Clichy put his own exclamation mark on the proceedings in the 75th minute, meeting Emmanuel Eboue’s cross at the far post with his left boot.

Manchester City set up a quarter-final meet with Reading after defeating a weakened Villa line-up 3-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Villa boss Gerard Houllier made eight changes to his first-team line-up, opting to leave the likes of Marc Albrighton, Ashley Young, Stewart Downing, Nigel Reo-Coker and Robert Pires warming the bench.

The sweeping changes turned the fifth-round clash into a lopsided affair as Yaya Toure, Mario Balotelli and David Villa all found the net.

Toure opened City’s account in the fifth minute after Patrick Vieira’s corner kick fell fortuitously into his path and Balotelli nabbed his 10th goal in City colours 20 minutes later, collecting Toure’s pass and volleying from 15 yards out.

Silva, returning from an ankle injury, fired off a third goal in the 70th minute after being played in by Pablo Zabaleta’s cross from the right.

Wed 2 March, 2011

FA Cup wrap: Arsenal, Man City sweep into quarters

Arsenal brought Leyton Orient back to reality at the Emirates on Wednesday, while Manchester City advanced at the expense of Aston Villa.

The Gunners, who fell victim to a last-gasp equaliser in their trip to Orient in the FA Cup fifth round, ensured there would be no such surprises in the replay with an emphatic 5-0 thumping of the League One outfit.

Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner endeared himself to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger with a hat-trick, accompanied by goals to Maroune Chamakh and Gael Clichy, to set up a tantalising visit to fellow Premier League title contenders Manchester United in the quarter-finals.

Wenger, whose hopes of an ambitious quadruple of trophies were dashed when Arsenal lost to Birmingham City in the Carling Cup final on Sunday, retained only Tomas Rosicky from that side and handed debut starts to 19-year-old midfielder Conor Henderson and 18-year-old defender Ignasi Miquel.

If the Gunners were not showing respect to Orient in their make-up it certainly did not affect their attitude on the pitch, and after bursting out of the blocks they deservedly took the lead in the seventh minute through Chamakh.

The Moroccan striker, struggling for regular first-team appearances behind the likes of Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Andrei Arshavin, tapped home from close range after being picked out on Rosicky’s surging run down the right.

Bendtner, whose last goal came in Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat of Ipswich Town in the Carling Cup semi-finals, nodded a superb header past Orient custodian Jamie Jones on the half hour and made it 3-0 with a quality individual move 13 minutes later.

Bendter completed his hat-trick – Arsenal’s first in the FA Cup for 18 years – from the penalty spot shortly after the hour, and French defender Clichy put his own exclamation mark on the proceedings in the 75th minute, meeting Emmanuel Eboue’s cross at the far post with his left boot.

Manchester City set up a quarter-final meet with Reading after defeating a weakened Villa line-up 3-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Villa boss Gerard Houllier made eight changes to his first-team line-up, opting to leave the likes of Marc Albrighton, Ashley Young, Stewart Downing, Nigel Reo-Coker and Robert Pires warming the bench.

The sweeping changes turned the fifth-round clash into a lopsided affair as Yaya Toure, Mario Balotelli and David Villa all found the net.

Toure opened City’s account in the fifth minute after Patrick Vieira’s corner kick fell fortuitously into his path and Balotelli nabbed his 10th goal in City colours 20 minutes later, collecting Toure’s pass and volleying from 15 yards out.

Silva, returning from an ankle injury, fired off a third goal in the 70th minute after being played in by Pablo Zabaleta’s cross from the right.

Wed 2 March, 2011

Fulham Looks For The Season Sweep

By: Jason Gatties | January 14th, 2011
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Before I get to my wack pre-match thoughts, I should offer an apology. It was originally my intention to post several times this week, bringing in hits and making mad cash for the overlords here at “The Offside” (settle down, its a joke) but it’s been a rough week. I have a back condition called “spinal stenosis” and without getting too medical on you, it means my back is fucked.

I live with  certain amount of pain everyday but it’s been much worse this week. If it sounds like I’m making an excuse, well, I am. But I do apologize. You can stop sending those email complaints now.

Fulham will travel to Wigan tomorrow and will  look to sweep “The Latics” on the season. Back in October, Clint Dempsey recorded a double in Fulham’s 2-0 win at Craven Cottage.  That match with Wigan was also significant because our downward spiral would begin a week later and we would go win less until we beat Stoke on the road at the end of December.

Plenty of pundits are calling tomorrow’s match a “relegation six pointer” but I still refuse to buy into that on January 14th. It is however a very important match in order to keep our current positive form, as we have won 3 out of 4 in all competitions.

Newcomer Steve Sidwell will be available, but don’t expect him to start. Moussa Dembele & Andy Johnson are also available for selection and may see some time in the second half.  As far as a starting XI goes, I see:

GK: Stockdale

Def: Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Baird

Mid: Duff, Murphy, Etuhu, Davies

For: Dempsey, Kamara

Take a picture of that starting XI as I predict you’ll see some new names in the starting line up when we welcome The Potters to Craven Cottage in a week.  With that in mind, I’m expecting Duff, Etuhu & Kamara to be playing for their jobs this week, which I hope leads to something positive.

Roberto Martinez will be without a few key players, so I’m hoping we can take advantage of that. Fulham hold a 15-12-10 advantage over Wigan in all competitions over the years and tomorrow, I predict we’ll record our 16th all time victory. The boys are playing well and even though we’re on the road, I see no reason for that to change. This is another example of Fulham needing to win matches they are suppose to win. In my world, failure is not an option.

Prediction: Wigan 0-1 Fulham

*Edited Note: Thanks to commenter “Rosie” for correcting me. Fulham did lose to Spurs on the road after defeating Stoke. I’ve made the corrections (I believe, I didn’t search the post real hard).

Category: Andy Johnson, Clinton Dempsey, English Premier League, Moussa Dembélé, Steve Sidwell, Team News, damien duff Tags: Andy Johnson, Clinton Dempsey, damien duff, English Premier League, Moussa Dembélé, Steve Sidwell, Team News
    Tweet « Is Shaun The “Wright” Fit? | Home | Comments   |  Add your comment Rosie | January 14th, 2011 at 7:49 am

We lost to spurs away after winning at Stoke. It’s not 2 in a row it’s 2/3

Jason Gatties | January 14th, 2011 at 8:05 am

You’re right, I stand corrected.

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Bale and Lennon sweep Newcastle

By Shourin Roy on December 28, 2010 10:11 PM | Comments | TrackBacksShare|

Once again Spurs found themselves a man short as Younes Kaboul was sent off for argy bargy after being the brunt off many fouls by Cheik Tioté. The Ivoirian is fast acquiring an unsavoury reputation.

However, Spurs are by far playing the best football in the Premiership and I say this being an Arsenal fan. Fantastic width on the flanks with Bale and Lennon burning turf with their pace, an excellent ball carrier in Luka Modric and a slot striker/ set piece specialist in Rafael Van Der Vaart who gives them many different looks. They have some defensive concerns and in Gomes a goalie who can cause a few hearts to stop but Spurs look like a complete team.

Both goals were outstanding. Aaron Lennon cutting outside and lasering a shot across the goal mouth catching Tim Krul completely off position. Spurs added another when Modric stole the ball from Andy Carroll and sent the relentless Bale racing down. The Welshman cut in and then out creating a sliver of real estate through which he drove in the ball past Krul.

At this time, Spurs resemble in counterattacking strength, the 2008 Man Utd squad with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in full flow. There is that same powerful and direct look that has opposing defenses running for cover.

With this win and Chelsea's loss, Spurs move to the top four behind Arsenal by 2 points although their hated opponents have a game in hand.

Categories: Soccer Videos, Soccer Teams - Club, Soccer Skills, Soccer Players, Soccer History, Soccer Humor, Soccer Culture, Soccer Business, Soccer Coaches & Coaching, English Premier League 2011, Gossip/Trash Talk Tags: Aaron Lennon, English Premier League 2010-11, Gareth Bale, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspurs No TrackBacks

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Bowyer's controversial late equalizer leaves Man Utd grumbling was the previous entry in this blog.

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