Football News

News » Premier League news » Arsenal news

Spirited Arsenal make semis

Spirited Arsenal make semis


Spirited Arsenal make semis

An absolutely fantastic game was played at Ewood Park tonight in the Carling Cup between Arsenal and Blackburn; Arsenal's youngsters took on Blackburn's first team, and the Young Gooners came out on top when Eduardo wrapped up a 3-2 victory in Extra Time.

Arsenal are beginning to show why many consider them the best in the Premiership. They have the strength in depth in abundance to compete with the other big three, and on the basis of this performance tonight the young Gunners can go all the way in the Carling Cup too.

Wenger has often said that he hoped to win the Carling Cup and today Arsenal secured their fourth Carling Cup semi final in five years thanks to two goals from Eduardo and another from Abou Diaby.

Diaby got the ball rolling early on. Arsenal were displaying slick passing much like their seniors, and Bendtner looped a fantastic ball onto the far side for Abou Diaby to lob into the corner of Brad Friedel's net. 1-0 to the Arsenal.

It would get much worse for Blackburn, who were being completely outplayed by their young counterparts. Arsenal should've scored 2-0 when Bendtner hit the bar from a header.

But the second wasn't going to take too long, and on 24 minutes Eduardo raced clear and clinically finished past the American keeper.

Arsenal continued to display their dominance. Diaby, Denilson and Diarra looked sublime in midfield whilst Eduardo and Bendtner fought hard. The adventurous Traore was getting forward consistently much like his left-back rival Gael Clichy.

Then, against the run of play late on in the first half, Roque Santa Cruz bundled a ball home to give Blackburn a stroke of luck and a chance going into half time.

After half time, the Gunners came out and looked a little nervous as Blackburn started to come into the game a bit more. Tackles were flying in all over the place.

But, on 60 minutes Bentley bent an expertly taken vicious dead ball into the box for Santa Cruz who headed over Fabianski to equalise. Ewood Park erupted.

Arsenal really had to shut up shop for the rest of the half to keep in the game - and that is precisely what they did.

Mike Riley sent Denilson off in stoppage time for a dangerous two-footed tackle on David Dunn and a brawl ensued between both sides.

The Gunners held on for Extra Time, and the contest will still completely open.

Nazer Barazite went off worryingly with a dislocated shoulder in Extra Time as Blackburn really went at their opponents.

However, the Gunners got what they probably deserved toward the end of the first half of extra time as Eduardo showed why he is so highly rated by Arsene Wenger as he rifled home his second goal of the game to send the enormous army of travelling Gunners into song.

A well fought game, an excellent encounter, and the Young Guns continue to impress.