Jason Roberts? goal with 45 seconds left in extra time was enough to send Wigan through to the Carling Cup Final as the semi-final ended 2-2 on aggregate. Thierry Henry scored midway through the second half for Arsenal to send it to extra time, and Robin van Persie scored the Gunners? second, with only seven minutes left in extra time. It should have been enough, but a lapse of concentration by the defense allowed Wigan to score, and that was all she wrote.
It?s sickening really. 45 seconds….
Well, no rest for the weary, as it?s away to Bolton on Saturday for the 4th round of the FA Cup. The FA Cup is now Arsenal?s best chance at silverware this year, so they best play like it. Match kicks off at 12:30 PM ET, and will be available live via PPV throughout the US.
16 Responses to “Arsenal 2 - 1 Wigan (Wigan go through on away goals)”
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January 25th, 2006 at 8:59 am
To be honest we were beaten by a side that did their homework and showed why they are a place behind us on goals only in the Premiership.
Jewell knew we had an inexperienced right back in Gilbert and the slowest pair of dimwits in the Premiership at centre, At times against Everton Senderos and Campbell looked like Dumb and Dumber, except slower, last night Dumber and Dumberer!
So it couldn’t have come as much of a surprise that Wigan chose to use Jason Roberts, lowly skilled but arrogant, to push and shove D&D about all night, he got his reward from the 90 yard punt upfield from the ‘keepers hands. The NFL need look no further for special teams punter!
And now we hear that Campbell will be rested on Saturday, when we can expect more of the same from Fat Sam’s Bolton. Another team with the intoxicating mix of rough ‘em up play and the Route 1 stratagem.
Gulp….
January 25th, 2006 at 9:02 am
Well, Wenger said he’s going to rest alot of players against Bolton and I agree with him, I couldn’t give a toss about to F.A Cup to be frank.
I hope all the people who bleat on about our offense being the problem watched last nights game against Wigan. Anyone with one brain cell would see that our defense is the worst it has been since the mid 1980’s. Campbell is playing like a big girls blouse and Senderos? Words fail to describe how useless he’s become, which is a shame because I like him and hoped he, along with Cesc and other youngsters, would provide the furure back-bone for our team.
People keep pointing to the statistics and say statistically we have the third best away defence in the league but that does not take into account how our negligent defence undermines our offense by making a meal out of every long ball and forcing our whole team back to help them out. Our attack struggles because the defense spends half the game attempting to rectify the **AYE CARUMBA**(censored)-ups they’ve just made so therefore have to defend needless throw-ins and corners, thus wasting precious attacking time.
Our midfield and attack was good all night I thought, apart from Bergkamp, who is making a compelling case for being shunted into the reserves for the rest of the season. I have never seen such a mediocre finisher in all my life. His shots are great training practice for goalkeepers.
Hleb played well, as did Gilberto and Diaby. Reyes did well overall but I still want to punch him in the face for his decision-making, such as that pathetic dive in extra-time. Flamini is officially useless. If there ever was a perfect example of Wenger’s over-the-top penchant for foreigners, this guy is it. He couldn’t even compete against Graham Kavanagh for christ’s sake.
January 25th, 2006 at 9:14 am
It is a weird feeling, winning a game but losing the tie. Plenty of talk today about the away goal counting double in extra time.
Anyway Diaby and Gilbert both played well and the Van Persie goal was amazing.
We should have won the game in normal time, we had enough chances, plenty of shoots were too near the keeper although he had a great game.
Three injuries from last night will make Saturday’s game a REAL test.
January 25th, 2006 at 9:22 am
Away Goals - wait until February, we can try again against Real Madrid… if we can stop their forwards waltzing past Dumb and Dumber at the back….
But hopefully Kolo wlil be back!
January 25th, 2006 at 10:26 am
Disagree with your opinion of Sendoros. He was playing out of position because of Campbell who favour the left side of CB. In a situation like yesterday before Roberts ran thru Campbell and Sendoros and scored the goal, one would expect the seasoned professional like Campbell to take charge in 50-50 situations and not leave it to the rookie. Maybe he is still injured or his mind is in Germany - I don’t know but resting him and bringing in the faster Djourou to complement Sendoros will mean that Sendoros gets to play in his preferred position.
I smell an upset against Bolton - er, I mean Arsenal will nick it from under big, fat and ugly Sam’s nose.
January 25th, 2006 at 10:31 am
So now we shouldn’t care about the FA Cup either?
Its the only legitimate chance for a trophy this season, and we’re defending Champions.
Everything possible should go towards winning the FA Cup.
Rest whomever you like during the road games, as we play like we don’t care anyway.
January 25th, 2006 at 10:32 am
I think we’ll lose 3-0 to Bolton.
The team is tired and fed up and it badly needs a captain - Thierry Henry is not a captain.
No-one in that team wants to take responsibility for anything.
People slag Reyes off, but at least he tries like hell and there is some end product from assists and stuff.
Flamini gets on my goat. This bloke is 100% pathetic. I’ve never seen a player so frightened to play football as him, he’ll always take the easy route - backwards or a 5-yard square pass. That would be ok if he broke up play and tackled, but he doesn’t, he just follows people around the pitch like a sheep and they go round him like he isn’t there. I want him out.
January 25th, 2006 at 11:12 am
DannyT has it 3-0 to Bolton.
Marking that one down, as he’s yet to be wrong this year.
If we lose 3-0 to Bolton, the world may end.
No chance of that scoreline in my opinion.
January 25th, 2006 at 11:35 am
I think the scoreline depends on if they still have the four or so players in the ANC. Actually, scratch that. Anything can happen in our current state, but I don’t think 3 nil. We lose, but not with aplomb. Just quietly, painfully, and assuredly.
I say Lightweight Falling Down Boys FC 0 - Bolton 2 (with the last goal coming as a result of us playing too high trying to get a snif).
January 25th, 2006 at 11:37 am
I don’t think so.
I think we can win the match.
We’ll either lose by a goal, draw or win by a goal.
I think we’ll win at Bolton.
2-1.
I am saying it: WE WILL WIN at BOLTON.
Thats my opinion.
Mr.Negativity says WE WIN.
Mark it down on your calendars…
January 25th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
What is Reyes trying to do apart from diving all over the place and trying hard to get others sent off
January 25th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
Why? We lost 2-0 there a few months ago and we’re fielding a weakened team this time.
It would nice to be wrong for once, I hope I am.
January 25th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
I’m gonna put money on Bolton, that way we’re bound to win.
January 25th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
No way SC gets into the WC with this type of form.
January 25th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Based on the current evidence and the fact that Bolton wrote the book on how to beat Arsenal, I think our asses get handed again on Saturday.
Who knows, it appears that Wenger is playing the kids on Sat . . . if they win, well, it sends a message to the vets who are just dialing it in; if they lose, well no matter, this year is pretty much the “transition year”. Also, a loss will help the team focus on getting the Top 4 CL qualification and on Real itself.
January 25th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Unless Wenger buys some experienced players next year will be a transitional season too, and the year after that.