Sunderland 2 Arsenal 0
Possibly the most painful week of Arsene Wenger’s tenure at Arsenal came to a disastrous end at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland struck in either half to sink the Gunners’ FA Cup dreams for another season. It was another bitter pill for the Gunners to swallow and coming on top of their virtual elimination in the Champions League with the 4-0 first leg thrashing at Milan, many are coming to the conclusion that this is possibly the worst Arsenal side that Wenger has had in his 15 years in England.
AC Milan 4 Arsenal 0
It was a slaughter, but not so much of the innocent, but of the mediocre. Actually mediocre may be too good an adjective to describe an Arsenal side, who were actually poor throughout their Champions League last 16 clash with Milan at the San Siro. The worst European performance under Arsene Wenger, who now faces fresh calls for him to either reinforce a side that lacks experience, or to step aside for a fresh approach. If the latter is the path chosen, then perhaps the Arsenal Board could also do the honourable thing and resign en masse.
Sunderland 1 Arsenal 2
Thierry Henry gave Arsenal the perfect Premiership parting gift after he netted the winner at the Stadium of Light. Trailing to James McClean’s 70th minute opener, substitute Aaron Ramsey drew the Gunners level five minutes later, before fellow substitute Henry volleyed the winner in time added on. It was Sunderland’s first defeat under Martin O’Neil, but for Arsenal the crucial three points sees them climb to fourth place in the Premiership. Henry, Arsenal’s record breaking goal scorer will still be available for the Champions League trip to Milan before he returns to his MLS side New York Red Bulls.
Arsenal 7 Blackburn Rovers 1
Robin Van Persie struck a memorable treble that saw Arsenal crush ten man Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates. The Holland striker has now netted 22 times in the Premiership, and scoring his first two Premiership goals, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain showed once again that he is a force not to be ignored. Mikel Arteta and substitute Thierry Henry got on the scoresheet in a game that saw Gael Givet shown a straight red card two minutes before the break for a two footed studs up lunge on Van Persie. Morten Gamst Pedersen briefly restored parity for Rovers just past the half hour mark, but a rampant Arsenal were never going to be held back.
Bolton Wanderers 0 Arsenal 0
It was not the scoreline that Arsenal needed, but after three consecutive Premiership losses, a point in the stalemate at the Reebok represents improvement of sorts. But one Premiership point from the twelve available from their past four matches is form conducive to relegation and not form of a side with Champions League aspirations. Once again, it was the familiar scenario. The Gunners blitz the opposition, create a wealth of chances, but fail to take them only to suffer the consequences later. Here, later came in the shape of a penalty appeal, not upheld when Wojciech Szczesny challenged Mark Davies. The Poland stopper will be pleased that he kept a clean sheet, but when your side possesses the Premiership’s top scorer, not getting on the scoresheet is poor show.
Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 2
If there ever was a game of the proverbial two halves, then this was it. Having taken the game to Villa, the Gunners were somehow undone by Richard Dunne and Darren Bent goals in an inexplicable opening first 45 minutes. Whatever was then said at the break had the desired effect as the Gunners tore into Villa in the second period. Robin Van Persie struck twice from the penalty spot, with Theo Walcott getting on the team sheet in somewhat fortuitous circumstances.The smiles, were back, the players had found the belief once again, and even Thierry Henry’s late introduction was to be only a sub plot this time. It was Villa’s turn to be shell shocked, but for them there was to be no return.
Arsenal 1 Manchester United 2
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a young player very much on the up. His £12 million capture last summer was another feather in Arsene Wenger’s cap and cemented his accepted held belief that Arsenal invest in youth and give their young talent the chance to flourish. Oxlade-Chamberlain has seen Theo Walcott become a first team regular, and his own ambition to break into Wenger’s side has been something that the forward has relentlessly pursued. His first Arsenal Premiership start against the reigning champions Manchester United, and the world got to see the talent on display. Too bad then, with the scores level at 1-1, Wenger chose to remove his teenage prodigy a move that not only confused the 63,093 at the Emirates, but also cost Arsenal the game. The worse decision Wenger has ever made in 15 years at Arsenal ? Absolutely!
Swansea 3 Arsenal 2
It was a clash of two footballing sides, and when Robin Van Persie scored after only five minutes at the Liberty Stadium, it seemed that Arsenal were on track for a vital away win. Playing with composure and their own passing game, and with more than a hint of luck however, the home side levelled through a controversial Scott Sinclair penalty. Swansea then took the lead after the break through Nathan Dyer, and although Theo Walcott drew Arsenal level on 69 minutes, a sloppy and immature lack of concentration allowed Danny Graham to get the Swans an immediate response with a third. Thierry Henry came on after 63 minutes, and the Gunners had enough chances to at least level again, but surprisingly were unable to fire again when it was needed most.
Arsenal 1 Leeds United 0
It was to be a night of pure raw emotion at the Emirates. After an absence of seven years, Thierry Henry returned to north London to score his 227th goal for Arsenal, and that was to prove to be the winner against Leeds in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Arsenal is the club he calls home, and for Henry it was a real welcome home from the fans to the player they are calling “the King.” On a tense night and with the Gunners lacking any early incision or cutting edge, and frustrated by a disciplined Leeds side, the game was headed for a goal-less draw and a replay at Elland Road. That dynamic was to change on 68 minutes however, when Henry came on from the substitutes’ bench.
Fulham 2 Arsenal 1
Arsenal succumbed to their first defeat of the festive fixtures in a controversial loss at Craven Cottage. Laurent Koscielny headed the Gunners into a deserved first half lead, but disaster was to strike late into the second 45 minutes. Twelve minutes before full time, Johan Djourou was shown a second yellow card, and with their football in the ascendency, two late goals from Steve Sidwell and Bobby Zamora were to rock Arsenal who after the exertions against Queens Park Rangers only 48 hours earlier, just could not respond.
