Bovey Tracey 4 Torridgeside 2

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Arsenal 0 Liverpool 2

 

Match report: Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool

Josh James 16 Mar 2022

LIVERPOOL -

WED MAR 16 - 20:15

Wed Mar 16 - 20:15

 

Emirates Stadium

Arsenal

02

Liverpool

Jota (54)Firmino (62)

NEWS & VIDEO

WHAT HAPPENED

Our winning run came to an abrupt end against a ruthless Liverpool side at Emirates Stadium.

After a closely fought first-half, the visitors took control when Diogo Joto scored out of nothing, moments after Martin Odegaard had been denied by Alisson from close range. Roberto Firmino doubled the lead soon afterwards, and from then on the result was rarely in doubt.

We had come into the game on the back of a five-game winning run that had elevated us to fourth place, so there was plenty of excitement and anticipation among the home fans as title-chasing Liverpool got us underway at a sodden Emirates Stadium.

But it was the visitors who nearly dampened the atmosphere in just the second minute. Virgil van Dijk rose highest to meet a corner, but Aaron Ramsdale was alert enough to dive down low to his left and push the ball away for another corner.

After that it took us five or ten minutes to get into our stride. Mikel Arteta stuck with the same starting XI that had won the previous two games, and we soon began to play with more confidence.

Bukayo Saka was looking full of running on the right wing, and his cross caused confusion after being set up by a searching Thomas Partey pass.

On the other flank Gabriel Martinelli's persistence got himself into a dangerous position, but his low cross was snuffed out close to goal.

It was a typically industrious performance from the Brazilian in the first half, and he again struck fear into the Liverpool backline late in the half with a surging run. It ended with Granit Xhaka's pass just eluding Saka in the box.

There was plenty of passion and commitment on display, but no goals - and just that early van Dijk header on target - in the opening 45 minutes.

Sadio Mane lifted a shot over the bar on the counter attack right on the stroke of half-time, and in the first minute after the restart he thought he had scored the opener, only to be denied by a late flag for offside.

Arsenal responded. Martinelli went on a superb run into the box, beating three players - including one audacious nutmeg – but his cutback cross fell to a yellow shirt.

Moments later we passed up a real gift. Alexandre Lacazette picked up a loose backpass from Thiago in the box, laid the ball off for Martin Odegaard, but the Norwegian's shot was turned over at close range by Alisson.

It proved a costly miss. Just as we were building the pressure, Liverpool took the lead out of nothing. A Thiago pass from deep released Diogo Jota, who raced into the box and beat Ramsdale with a low shot at the near post.

It was against the run of play, but it changed the momentum of the game. Within ten minutes Roberto Firmino had doubled the lead, squeezing his shot home from Andy Robertson's cross after the Scot had dispossessed Saka.

The two goals knocked the stuffing out of us, and Liverpool took control.

Arteta sent on Emile Smith Rowe, Nicolas Pepe and Eddie Nketiah as he sought so salvage something from the game. Martinelli - who deserved a goal for his performance - shot just wide late on, but it wasn't to be.

We stay in fourth place, but one of our three games in hand on Manchester United has been eaten up.

WHAT IT MEANS

WHAT'S NEXT

Our third game in the space of seven days is away to Aston Villa, in the early kick off on Saturday. It's our last match before the March international break, as Arteta's side look to make it five consecutive away wins in the Premier League.

300 GAMES AT THE EMIRATES

This was our 300th Premier League game at the Emirates

The first was against Aston Villa on August 19, 2006. Gilberto scored in a 1-1 draw.

We have won 194, drawn 65 and lost 41 of the 300 games, scoring 605 and conceding 258.

The teams we have beaten most often in those 300 games are Newcastle and West Ham (12 each).

The team we have scored the most goals against is Tottenham Hotspur (41).

Theo Walcott is the leading appearance maker in those games, with 146 appearances.

Robin van Persie is the venue's leading scorer in the league, with 45 goals.

Copyright 2022 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.

VIDEO

 Highlights: Arsenal lose at home to Liverpool

Josh James 17 Mar 2022

Two second-half goals from Liverpool were enough to give them all three points at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

After a first-half display of passion and heart, Liverpool took the lead against the run of play through Diogo Jota.

Martin Odegaard had our best chance of the night, and Gabriel Martinelli was a constant threat, but Liverpool wrapped up the points through substitute Roberto Firmino.

Click the 'Play' button above to watch our bitesize highlights, and you can find an extended cut and the entire first and second halves below.

05:21

Liverpool (h) - Highlights

49:31

Liverpool (h) - 1st Half

50:53

Liverpool (h) - 2nd Half

Copyright 2022 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.

QUOTES

Arteta - We didn't take the defining moments

Josh James 17 Mar 2022

There was a key three-minute spell early in the second half of Wednesday's game that ultimately went a long way to determining the outcome.

First Gabriel Martinelli embarked on a magical run on the left wing, beating three players, only for his cutback to fall to a yellow shirt.

Then Martin Odegaard saw his shot saved at close range by Alisson after a loose backpass presented the ball to Alexandre Lacazette.

The misses proved costly. Within moments Liverpool opened the scoring through Diogo Jota, and once ahead, they didn't look back.

After the game Mikel Arteta was left to rue those close margins.

Probably we were the better team in many parts of the game, but when the defining moments were there for the taking, we have to take them, and we haven’t," he told Arsenal Media at full-time.

"That was the difference in the game.

"We kept trying, we believed. The way they executed the game plan was phenomenal.

“The courage and the energy that they showed. How they competed against this phenomenal Liverpool team was great to watch, but we're disappointed because we didn't get anything from the game.

"When you have those moments you have to score if you want to win against those teams."

Bath City 1 Slough Town 1

 

Battling City grab late Rebels point

15 Mar 2022

A late Alex Fletcher goal grabbed City a point against Slough Town at Twerton Park this evening, in a game that only an inspired goalkeeping performance and yet another dreadful refereeing decision denied them all three. City dominated the encounter for long periods but found regular nemesis Jonathan North in sparkling form in the Slough goal. Once in each half he produced stunning saves to deny David Sims-Burgess, the first from an acrobatic volley, that was the substitute’s first touch of the ball, and then a powerful header just before the hour mark. Even when the veteran shot-stopper was beaten the frame of the goal came to his rescue, headers from Jack Batten and Jordan Dyer striking the bar and post respectively. City suffered two setbacks in the closing stages of the first half, losing top scorer Cody Cooke to injury on 37 minutes then conceding a dubious penalty in the final minute for Dyer’s challenge on Harris, Davies netting from the spot. The Romans threw everything they could at the Rebels in the second half and this almost unrelenting pressure finally told in the 79th minute when Fletcher diverted Ryan Jones’ corner into the net. Having shown virtually nothing as an attacking force in the half it took a great save by Ryan Clarke and follow up block by Dyer to prevent Slough retaking the lead almost immediately. and Zak Delaney did equally well to deny the Berkshire side a couple minutes later after a swift counter attack. City did press for a winning goal themselves, which would have been fully deserved, but in the end had to settle for a point that North and the referee had done their best to deny them.

Exeter City 2 Crawley Town 1

 

Match Report: Exeter City 2 Crawley Town 1

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15 March 2022

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Exeter City continued their solid home form thanks to victory over Crawley Town on Tuesday evening.

Despite an uneventful first 25 minutes, the opening half livened up as it grew older, and a Timothee Dieng brace gave the Grecians a two-goal advantage.

Kwesi Appiah’s goal just before the interval brought Crawley back into it, but the stop-start nature of the second half limited the clear-cut chances; Zanzala and Nadesan wasting their respective team’s best openings.

With Town’s players flooding forward as time ticked down, Cameron Dawson and the defence in front of him stood firm, securing a vital victory.

Matt Taylor made two changes to his starting XI with Josh Coley and Offrande Zanzala brought into the side in what was a change of system; the manager hoping that a tactical switch was the thing that was needed to continue the push towards the League Two summit.

The visitors on the other hand were looking for their first three points in the month of March, and Red Devils’ striker, Tom Nichols, led the attack against the Grecians on his return to St James Park.

As Exeter settled into the game during the early exchanges, they were unable to play their way through what was a stubborn Town backline. Up the other end, Crawley enjoyed some sustained pressure down the right flank, and had their passing been more accurate inside the City penalty area, they may have been able to test Dawson.

The first real chance of the game came for the Grecians however on 13 minutes. Pierce Sweeney found a pocket of space to deliver a deep ball in from the right, and Matt Jay giggled free of his marker to send a half-volley goalwards, with Glenn Morris tipping the shot over.

Jack Powell sent a speculative volley wide for the visitors a few minutes later, while Josh Key’s looping cross had Morris working again.

What epitomised Taylor’s men during the opening quarter was a break from Zanzala midway through the first period. The striker dribbled his way to 25 yards out, but failed to play in Jevani Brown when the opening presented itself.

In the 25th minute, Nick Tsaroulla’s foul and yellow card presented City with a chance to build some pressure. But with the Red Devils able to clear, they were presented with the best opportunity of the contest when Ashley Nadesan rounded Dawson, however, he was unable to reach the ball and turn it in.

Town were made to rue the miss five minutes later as the breakthrough finally arrived through the boot of Dieng. After Jack Sparkes’ free-kick was recycled, some intricate play inside the penalty area between Alex Hartridge and Sweeney allowed the Exeter number 14 to turn and stroke the ball into the bottom corner for 1-0.

Crawley tried to muster a response, and after firing a tame shot at Dawson through a well-worked free-kick routine, Tsaroulla saw a low shot well blocked and cleared.

But it was the hosts who looked more dangerous, and just a few minutes before the break, they doubled their advantage in bizarre circumstances. Josh Key’s bright work on the right saw a cross cleared away to the edge of the box. Dieng kept the attack alive with a looping header, and with Morris looking to divert the ball away, Zanzala’s physical challenge was deemed legal by referee Ben Speedie. The ball ended up crossing the line without any further touch, and Dieng wheeled away in celebration, while the Crawley players surrounded the officials in frustration. After a few minutes of deliberation, the goal was awarded. In the aftermath, one member of the Red Devils’ bench was shown a yellow card for his argument against the decision.

However, the first half action wasn’t finished there. The away team quickly won a corner in the final seconds of injury time, and forced Dawson into a fine stop from the initial goalbound effort. The ball fell to Appiah, and he powered home a shot past all the bodies and into the back of the net to reduce the deficit, and make it 2-1.

Dawson was forced to punch in the early second half exchanges after Dieng sliced a Town cross up into the air, but the better chance came in front of the big bank when Archie Collins’ free-kick was somehow headed over by Zanzala; The linesman’s flag saving the forward’s blushes somewhat.

Waves of Crawley attacks became more prominent as the hour mark arrived, with Taylor reacting by introducing Cheick Diabate and Kieran Philips from his bench; the Exeter shape resorting back to a more familiar wing-back formation.

The away side opened up their opponents however in the most simplest fashion in the 68th minute when Morris went route one, and a flick on to Nadesan saw the forward try and lob Dawson, however, the ball landed on the roof of the net.

That woke City up, and they perhaps should have made the game safe when Sweeney’s fizzed cross somehow evaded everyone in the 18-yard box, with the ball ending up going out for a throw in.

Some good work from Brown on the right side allowed Collins to cross for Dieng in the 73rd minute, but the midfielder saw his attempt for a hat trick repelled by a block.

The Red Devils always remained in the contest, particularly with their direct style, and Crawley replacement, Will Ferry, saw a set header easily smothered by Dawson with just 13 minutes remaining.

With Kyle Taylor coming on from the bench, the Grecians looked to make sure of the result in the final 10 minutes. However, with referee Speedie inconsistent with his whistle, the frustration grew around SJP as John Yems’ side cranked up the pressure.

A long throw had Exeter’s defence in a bit of bother as the match ticked into injury time, and in truth, a loose Town touch had the Grecians rather relieved. Tilley’s late flurry forward saw him deliver a threatening ball and force a corner, but despite the four minutes of added time, and the numerous Crawley set-pieces into Dawson’s box, Speedie’s whistle sounded with City still ahead, with the important three points putting Taylor’s men on 61 points, still just a point outside the promotion spots.

Exeter City: Dawson, Sparkes, Sweeney, Hartridge, Key, Coley (Diabate 62), Collins, Dieng, Jay © (Taylor 84), J. Brown, Zanzala (Phillips 62)

Subs: S. Brown, Diabate, Caprice, Taylor, Atangana, Phillips, Amond

Crawley Town: Morris, Francombe ©, Powell, Nichols, Nadesan, Tilley, Francillette (Hutchinson 90), Appiah, Tsaroulla (Ferry 71), Payne, Hessenthaler

Subs: Seymour, Davies, Adebowale, Ferry, Hutchinson, Marshall

Referee: Ben Speedie

Attendance: 4042 (60 away)

City return to the rod on Saturday with a northern trek to Oldham Athletic.

AFC Bournemouth 1 Reading 1

 A stunning top corner equaliser from Tom Ince deservedly earned the Royals a come-from-behind point after a fine performance against high-flying Bournemouth this evening.

The cut and thrust of the Championship was evident from the off – Jordan Zemura upending Morrison with a late challenge at one end, Drinkwater bustling his way into the Bournemouth box at the other only to overrun it and allow Travers to gather the ball in without too much alarm.

But the hosts had the lead with a very well worked goal eight minutes in. Zemura beat Ince’s sliding tackle, fed Solanke who ran onto a neat one two with Lerma to pass the pass wide of Nyland for 1-0.

Reading were so close to levelling moment later. Ejaria fed Ince on the right and dinked a lovely cross into the middle where Joao and Travers’ right glove met the ball at the same time, six yards out. The keeper got enough on it to send the ball away from danger and the Cherries survived a scare.

Stacey tested Nyland at his near post when he was found by Christie on the overlap down the right and the full-back drilled it goalwards from a tight angle only to see the debutant parry it away with his body.

At the other end, Yiadom fizzed a cross in from the right and Ince then delivered a free kick that needed heading behind for a corner. But Nyland was needed again to shovel away a shot from Christie as the hosts came close to a second through more neat passing play in the final third.

Reading put together a very nice move of their own, involving Ejaria, Ince and Yiadom who cut the ball back for Rinomhota who shot first time, only for Travers to leap to his left and save well.

With seven minutes of the first half remaining, Joao won a free kick 30 yards out which Ince fizzed out wide of Ejaria. But his cross was deflected into the arms of Travers.

Reading were threatening and a deep Ince corner was headed behind by a Bournemouth head only for a goal kick to be given by the referee to the away side’s amazement.

But after one minute of injury time elapsed, the half-time whistle sounded and the home side had a goal’s lead to hold onto.

HALF-TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 1-0 READING

Half time substitute Jamal Lowe’s first contribution was to slide a well-weighted pass into the path of Christie inside the box and his right-footed angled effort was gathered in low by a well-positioned Nyland.

At the other end, Laurent took aim and tested Travers’ handling – the Cherries keeper was down well low to his right to save.

Ten minutes played in the second period and Ince arced a lovely cross into the box with Joao waiting to pounce, but Phillips got a stretched out a leg to toe it behind for a corner before it could get to the Royals striker.

The Royals were giving it a real go and Laurent won a free kick which Ince swung in on the hour. The ball dopped to Drinkwater who controlled with his first touch and then arrowed over with his left foot with the second.

Drinkwater was nudged next and another good Ince delivery was nodded behind for a corner this time. An outswinger in front of the travelling fans found the head of Morrison but the ball fell kindly for a Bournemouth defender to clear.

Reading were enjoying some sustained pressure and Laurent won the ball on the right to burst in behind, but his low centre was behind Joao in the middle and the chance evaporated.

The Royals were defending their lines well, seeing off the threat of successive corners from either side. And when Ince swept a deep ball towards Ejaria and the midfielder brought it down beautifully, appeals for a penalty when he went to ground were waved away.

Yakou Meite was brought on for the final quarter of an hour as Reading pressed for a goal that would get them back into the encounter, but Yiadom did well to charge down a Christie effort as the Cherries looked to find a second on the counter.

Into the final ten minutes and Travers flapped an Ince corner behind for another dead ball. And from that, the Royals deservedly levelled. Ejaria delivered the corner, it was cleared only as far as Ince who hammered a wonderful left-footed effort into the top right corner to make it 1-1.

Scott Parker's side raised the tempo and Lerma won a header from a corner that was straight down the throat of Nyland to the Royals' relief.

But Reading ended the game on the attack, looking for the winner. 

It never came. But the Royals had come from behind to earn a point against a very impressive Bournemouth side. The performance warranted at least a point.

FULL-TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 1-1 READING

Bournemouth: Travers, Phillips, Kelly, Stacey, Zemura, Cook (Pearson 76), Lerma, Christie, Cantwell (Lowe HT), Solanke, Anthony (Dembele 86).
Unused subs: Woodman, Cahill, Laird, Marcondes.
Yellow: Cantwell
Goals: Solanke 8

Reading: Nyland, Yiadom, McIntyre, Morrison (c), Holmes, Drinkwater, Laurent, Rinomhota, Ejaria (Hoilett 90), Ince, Joao (Meite 76).
Unused subs: Southwood, Abrefa, Dann, Barker, Dele-Bashiru.
Yellow: Laurent
Goals: Ince 83

Arsenal 2 Leicester City 0

 

Match report: Arsenal 2-0 Leicester City

Rob Kelly 13 Mar 2022

LEICESTER -

SUN MAR 13 - 16:30

Sun Mar 13 - 16:30

 

Emirates Stadium

Arsenal

Thomas (11)

Lacazette (59 pen)

20

Leicester

NEWS & VIDEO

WHAT HAPPENED

We delivered a magnificent performance on Sunday to beat Leicester City and register our fifth Premier League win on the bounce.

With confidence high and knowing the victory would take us back into the top four, we came roaring out of the blocks during a lightning-fast start to the game.

Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, so influential last time out against Watford, tore at the heart of the Foxes backline and with Martin Odegaard pulling the strings, an opening goal looked a matter of time.

When it arrived, it came from February’s Player of the Month, Thomas Partey, who rose highest to head in a corner at the near post to spark jubilant celebrations.

The Ghanaian is enjoying the best period of his Arsenal career so far of late, and came close to adding a second moments later with a brilliant curling effort, only to see it hit the stanchion.

But Leicester began to grow into the game, and Aaron Ramsdale had to be alert to deny Harvey Barnes – and before the half was out, our goalkeeper made an even better save to palm away the Foxes forward’s powerful header.

We upped the tempo again after the restart as we looked to reassert our earlier dominance and one superb sweeping move upfield soon had the crowd in their feet in appreciation.

We kept on coming, and Ben White’s powerful header was soon brilliantly saved by Kasper Schmeichel, before Thomas Partey’s follow-up was cleared off the line.

But VAR had spotted a potential handball by Caglar Soyuncu in the melee – and after a lengthy check the penalty was awarded to huge roars from the Emirates crowd.

Alex Lacazette stepped up to the spot, and made no mistake with a brilliant strike high into the roof of the net for his first goal since Boxing Day.

Granit Xhaka went close towards the end with an arrowed drive that flew over, before Emile Smith Rowe saw a close-range effort saved by Schmeichel.

The final whistle was greeted with a vociferous roar from the N5 faithful, as we brought up another big three points in the hunt for a top-four place.

WHAT IT MEANS

WHAT’S NEXT

The big games keep on coming for us as we welcome Liverpool to N5 on Wednesday night, before we hit the road to take on Aston Villa in the lunchtime kick off on Saturday.