News
ARSENAL 2
NEWCASTLE UNITED 0
Carling Cup Third Round
Emirates Stadium
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Kick-off 7.45pm
MATCH REPORT
ARSENAL fired two late goals to end Newcastle United's Carling Cup hopes at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners deserved their victory and found the much-coveted opener in the 83rd minute, Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner powering home a header from Armand Traore's inviting left-wing centre.
The result was beyond doubt when Denilson cracked a stunning second for the Gunners in the 89th minute, the young Brazilian firing into the top corner of GIven's goal from outside the area - Traore again the creator.
Martins could have restored parity within minutes of Bendtner's strike, the Nigerian rounding keeper Fabianski but his all too casual finish was cleared from the line by the recovering Senderos.
The Toon No.9 had the best chance for the Magpies in the first-half but his header was fisted away by Fabianski when it had seemed destined for the top corner.
SECOND HALF ACTION (click refresh for latest)
It's all over with Arsenal 2-0 winners at the Emirates Stadium.
89min - ARSENAL GOAL (2-0): Traore breaks down the left and rolls infield for Denilson arriving, he cracks first-time right-foot shot which zips through the North London air and finds its way into Shay Given's top corner - what a goal and a worthy winner for the Gunners.
85min - Martins has a great chance to restore parity as he rounds Fabianski inside the area, it's a narrow angle but he manages to get his effort on target, the shot is weak however and allows Senderos to get back in time to slide and clear.
83min - ARSENAL GOAL (1-0): Traore drives to the left-hand touchline before deliverind a whipped left-footed cross, Bendtner has stole a march on Rozehnal and powers a header beyond a helpless Given from eight yards to hand the Gunners the lead.
78min - Eduardo and Bendtner exchange passes, but with the Croatian falling backwards his scuffs his volley wide of goal from the penalty spot.
73min - Bendtner latches onto a punt upfield, he steadies himself 20 yards from goal and tries to catch out Given with a lofted chip, the Irishman is never in trouble however and the ball clears the crossbar by a good five feet.
70min - Nicky Butt replaces James Milner.
68min - Traore crosses from the left and the ball spins high as Enrique and Eduardo challenge in the air on the penalty spot - as it drops Enrique gets there first and clears. The Magpies break and Martins and Milner work an opening for Emre unmarked 25 yards out, the Turk hurries his left-foot shot and the ball skids wide of the post.
64min - Abou Diaby replaces the dangerous Eboue.
62min - Walcott darts past Beye and crosses, the delivery nearly catches Given out and the Irishman has to back-pedal before tipping over the crossbar from underneath his woodwork. Walcott takes and Beye heads behind for another flag-kick. Denilson takes from the right side this time and Smith is able to clear the low cross at the near post.
60min - Emre repalces Shola Ameobi.
56min - Eboue gets yet antother sight on goal and is only denied by Taylor's brilliantly-timed sliding tackle which forces the ball behind for a corner. Walcott takes and Eduardo is leaning backwards but manages to head goalwards, the ball is looping towards the top corner with Shay Given beaten but French star Charles N'Zogbia is on the line to head over. From the corner Given claims and United can breathe a sigh of relief.
52min - Eboue is causing all sorts of problems and after exchanging passes with Bendtner is denied the much-coveted opener by Shay Given who dives low to his left to push the 12-yard pot shot around the post. From the corner United can only half clear and a shooting chance is worked for Walcott on the edge of the area, again it's Given who saves the Magpies as he beats away to concede another flag-kick.
47min - Eboue's low cross is hacked clear by Taylor but the ball finds its way back to the Arsenal midfielder and only a timely challenge by Rozehnal denies the Gunner a clear crack on goal.
FIRST HALF ACTION
It's half time at the Emirates with the score still goalless.
43min - Denilson springs Walcott clear, the ball doesn't quite drop for the Arsenal striker and Rozehnal recovers to get between Walcott and Shay Given's goal, the England Under-21 star is forced wide and when he eventually crosses Taylor is on hand to power a header clear for the Magpies.
40min - Milner turns neatly to create a crossing opening on the right, his looping ball is challenged for by Ameobi, Martins, Senderos and Fabianski with the Arsenal keeper coming out on top to pluck from the air.
38min - Eboue's low 25-yard strike is saved low down by Given, the ball stays in play and Eduardo retrieves before laying back for Eboue who is tripped by Enrique on the right-wing touchline. Denilson takes but Beye climbs highest to head clear, Bendtner recycles possession and pulls back for the supporting Walcott on the edge of the area, with the home crowd willing him to shoot he blazes over the crossbar.
36min - N'Zogbia feeds an overlapping Enrique and his cross is headed behind by Senederos. Milner takes but Fabianski is unchallenged as he plucks from the air inside his six-yard box.
33min - Nice play by Eboue sees Eduardo freed off the shoulder of Taylor, Given has to rush to edge of the area and does well to block at the feet of the Croatian before the recovering Taylor completes the clearance.
32min - Rozehnal hacks clear and in doing so gives Martins a ball to chase, debutant keeper Fabianski has to race from goal to head clear from the Nigerian 35 yards out and the bounce of the ball evades James Milner with the Arsenal keeper stranded.
30min - Milner plays a straight chip forward for Martins to challenge with Senderos, the Nigerian gets the better of the Arsenal centre-back and has a clear sight on goal but lashes left-footed wide of the goal when all he needed was a little composure.
24min - Walcott skips by the challenge of Beye on the left and surges into the United box, Smith arrives to charge down the teenager's attempted cross and the Gunners have a corner. Walcott takes and the ball skims off the head of Bendtner, Eboue retrieves on the right and hits a looping shot which goes over Shay Given, it's missed by Song and at the far post Eduardo under pressure from Taylor is only able to direct his sliding effort into the side netting with the angle against him.
17min - Nicklas Bendtner should do better when Traore attacks the touchline before cutting back for the Danish striker but his header clears Given's goal having got there ahead of Rozehnal - a real let off for the visitors.
10min - United are unlucky not to be in-front - Fabianski acrobatically repelling Oba Martins' far post header from Jose Enrique's left-wing centre with the ball appearing destined for the top corner.
8min - Milner's works half an opening at the other end but Senderos charges down his 20-yard pot shot before the Swiss defender hacks away to the safety of a throw-in.
6min - Hoyte tries to get Eduardo away down the right but Jose Enrique is in close attendance and nicks the ball from his toe for a corner. Denilson comes across to take and when the delivery is only half-cleared Eboue lashes goalwards from 20 yards, his effort his wild and ends up high in the stand behind Shay Given's goal.
TEAMS
Newcastle United: Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, David Rozehnal, Steven Taylor, Abdoulaye Faye, Alan Smith, James Milner, Charles N'Zogbia, Obafemi Martins, Shola Ameobi.
Subs: Fraser Forster, Emre, Geremi, Nicky Butt, David Edgar.
Arsenal: Lukasz Fabianski, Philippe Senderos, Lassana Diarra, Eduardo, Denilson, Alex Song, Nicklas Bendtner, Emmanuel Eboue, Armand Traore, Justin Hoyte, Theo Walcott.
Subs: Abou Diaby, Henri Lansbury, Vito Mannone, Gavin Hoyte, Fran Merida.
Ref: Howard Webb
Attendance:
TEAM NEWS
SAM Allardyce shuffled his pack as NewcastleUnited faced their second fixture in just over 48 hours with the Carling Cup tie at Arsenal.
There were no fewer than six changes to the starting line-up from Sunday's 3-1 win against West Ham. Michael Owen (groin) and Claudio Cacapa (groin) and Mark Viduka (foot) were ruled out, while Geremi and Nicky Butt dropped to the bench and Steve Harper was rested altogether, not even making the trip to the Emirates Stadium.
In came Shay Given, Jose Enrique, Steven Taylor, Abdoulaye Faye, Shola Ameobi and Obafemi Martins.
Alan Smith is named skipper as United sport their sky blue and white third kit for the first time this season.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Toon @ Emirates Stadium
2006/07: Drew 1-1 - Dyer
League Cup Meetings
1971/72: Lost 4-0 (a)
1995/96: Lost 2-0 (a)
Last Five Outings
NUFC
West Ham (h) 3-1 Viduka (2), N'Zogbia
Derby (a) 0-1
Wigan (h) 1-0 Owen
Barnsley (h) 2-0 Owen, Martins
Boro (a) 2-2 N'Zogbia, Viduka
AFC
Derby (h) 5-0 Diaby, Adebayor (3), Fabregas
Sevilla (h) 3-0 Fabregas, Van Persie, Eduardo
Spurs (a) 3-2 Adebayor (2), Fabregas
Portsmouth (h) 3-1 Adebayor, Fabregas, Rosicky
Sparta Prague (h) 3-0 Rosicky, Fabregas, Eduardo
Top Goalscorers
NUFC: Oba Martins, Charles N'Zogbia, Mark Viduka - 3
AFC: Cesc Fabregas - 7
REF WATCH
Howard Webb - It will be the second time the official has presided over a Toon fixture this season, Webb in the middle for the goalless draw with Aston Villa at St.James' Park last month.
He will be flanked by Mr P Kirkup and Mr P Sharp.
TICKET NEWS
Tickets for the game are now sold out with a crowd of 59,000 expected.
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