Arsenal moved a step closer to ending their six-year trophy drought when they beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 to move into the Carling Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.
While Arsenal have rarely taken this competition seriously in the past, the level of disappointment they suffered after losing last season’s final suggests they put a lot of stock in the event nowadays.
In the present scenario winning a trophy, any trophy at all will lift some pressure on Arsene Wenger. It is already unlikely that the Gunners will challenge for the league title, and the dominance of FC Barcelona makes the UEFA Champions League a long shot.
This means Wenger would be wise to take the domestic knockout competitions seriously so his team can achieve a tangible sign of progress and success.
Arsenal started this last 16 tie on the front foot, and South Korea captain Park Chu-Young forced Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan into two good saves during the early exchanges.
Bolton spent long periods defending during the first half but were unable to prevent the Gunners carving out any more obvious goal scoring chances.
Things got even better for Bolton two minutes into the second half when they took a 1-0 lead against the run of play. Fabrice Muamba robbed Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong 35 yards from goal and advanced towards the penalty area. The England Under-21 international exchanged passes with Darren Pratley before rifling a shot high into the net.
The Gunners were stung into a response and leveled matters six minutes later courtesy of Russian playmaker Andrey Arshavin. Yossi Benayoun fed Arshavin 30 yards out, and the Russian international drove into the penalty area before finishing well past a diving Bogdan.
Arsenal poured on the pressure after the equalizing goal, and it was only three minutes before Park scored the decisive goal. Arshavin beat several defenders before feeding Park, and the South Korean international scored with a curling shot that went in off the goal post.
Bolton refused to fold after going 2-1 down, and actually put Arsenal under pressure consistently during the games last 20 minutes. Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski had to be in good form to deny Gael Kakuta and Ivan Klasnic. Gary Cahill and Chris Eagles also had chances to equalize, but were kept out by Fabianski.
The Gunners eventually held on for a win that seals their progress into the quarterfinals for the ninth consecutive season. Wenger would likely quell some of the criticism heading in his direction if the club can go on to win the competition.
After the game Wenger was effusive in his praise of Park, and tipped the forward to go on and make impact in the Premier League. “He had a very, very good game. His movement was exceptional and his finishing is absolutely fantastic,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “He is ready to play in league games.”
LINEUPS
ARS – Fabianski, Vermaelen (Boateng 84), Squillaci, Miquel, Oxade-Chamberlain (Miyaichi 73), Arshavin, Frimpong (Ozyakup 76), Benayoun, Coquelin, Yennaris, Park Chu-Young.
BOL – Bogdan, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Muamba, Gardner, M Davies, Pratley (Ngog 61), Tuncay (Blake 85), Klasnic, Kakuta (Eagles 71).
SCORING SUMMARY
BOL – Fabrice Muamba (Darren Pratley) 47’
ARS – Andrey Arshavin (Yossi Benayoun) 53’
ARS – Park Chu-Young (Andrey Arshavin) 56’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Park Chu-Young (Arsenal)
In the present scenario winning a trophy, any trophy at all will lift some pressure on Arsene Wenger. It is already unlikely that the Gunners will challenge for the league title, and the dominance of FC Barcelona makes the UEFA Champions League a long shot.
This means Wenger would be wise to take the domestic knockout competitions seriously so his team can achieve a tangible sign of progress and success.
Arsenal started this last 16 tie on the front foot, and South Korea captain Park Chu-Young forced Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan into two good saves during the early exchanges.
Bolton spent long periods defending during the first half but were unable to prevent the Gunners carving out any more obvious goal scoring chances.
Things got even better for Bolton two minutes into the second half when they took a 1-0 lead against the run of play. Fabrice Muamba robbed Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong 35 yards from goal and advanced towards the penalty area. The England Under-21 international exchanged passes with Darren Pratley before rifling a shot high into the net.
The Gunners were stung into a response and leveled matters six minutes later courtesy of Russian playmaker Andrey Arshavin. Yossi Benayoun fed Arshavin 30 yards out, and the Russian international drove into the penalty area before finishing well past a diving Bogdan.
Arsenal poured on the pressure after the equalizing goal, and it was only three minutes before Park scored the decisive goal. Arshavin beat several defenders before feeding Park, and the South Korean international scored with a curling shot that went in off the goal post.
Bolton refused to fold after going 2-1 down, and actually put Arsenal under pressure consistently during the games last 20 minutes. Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski had to be in good form to deny Gael Kakuta and Ivan Klasnic. Gary Cahill and Chris Eagles also had chances to equalize, but were kept out by Fabianski.
The Gunners eventually held on for a win that seals their progress into the quarterfinals for the ninth consecutive season. Wenger would likely quell some of the criticism heading in his direction if the club can go on to win the competition.
After the game Wenger was effusive in his praise of Park, and tipped the forward to go on and make impact in the Premier League. “He had a very, very good game. His movement was exceptional and his finishing is absolutely fantastic,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “He is ready to play in league games.”
LINEUPS
ARS – Fabianski, Vermaelen (Boateng 84), Squillaci, Miquel, Oxade-Chamberlain (Miyaichi 73), Arshavin, Frimpong (Ozyakup 76), Benayoun, Coquelin, Yennaris, Park Chu-Young.
BOL – Bogdan, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Muamba, Gardner, M Davies, Pratley (Ngog 61), Tuncay (Blake 85), Klasnic, Kakuta (Eagles 71).
SCORING SUMMARY
BOL – Fabrice Muamba (Darren Pratley) 47’
ARS – Andrey Arshavin (Yossi Benayoun) 53’
ARS – Park Chu-Young (Andrey Arshavin) 56’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Park Chu-Young (Arsenal)
