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Arsenal`s title dream dies in draw |
Arsenal`s title dream dies in draw | 6.04.2008 | |
ARSENAL`S faint Barclays Premier League title hopes were all but extinguished as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium by Liverpool.Arsene Wenger`s decision to rest a clutch of first-team regulars ahead of the return leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final at Anfield back-fired as his makeshift side proved unable to overturn Peter Crouch`s opening goal for a similarly reserve-grade Liverpool.
Nicklas Bendtner preserved Arsenal`s unbeaten home record with a 55th-minute equaliser but the draw was not enough for the Gunners, who nowl trail leaders Manchester United by five points having played a game more.
Liverpool, meanwhile, departed content as Rafael Benitez`s team tightened their grip on fourth place and Champions League qualification for next season.
There was no surprise in Benitez`s decision to make eight changes, given his rotation policy at Anfield, but Wenger`s decision to make five changes was surprising. Wenger had suggested that he required wins in all his remaining league games to prevent his sputtering title hopes from being completely snuffed out.
Wenger`s line-up succeeded only in revealing the lack of depth at Arsenal in comparison with their title rivals.
Liverpool`s reserves appeared to relish the opportunity to impress on one of the division`s grander stages, and they duly dominated the first half.
Crouch, in particular, performed as if determined to make up for the time he has lost sat on the sidelines this season. He stung Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia`s fingertips with a raking 20-metre drive and then teed up John Arne Riise for a glorious chance, only for the Norwegian to blaze over with his right foot.
Arsenal, it is true, were in an obliging mood. Wenger`s side have rarely delivered such a limp display on home soil, and their fans began to grow audibly restless when Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun broke onto Lucas`s pass and dragged wide.
That let-off did spark a mini revival by Arsenal.
In a frenetic four-minute spell, Cesc Fabregas pulled wide from 20 metres, Bendtner shot tamely at Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina and Liverpool full-back Steve Finnan was forced into a desperate clearance from Emmanuel Eboue`s cross.
But Arsenal, in their eagerness to attack, forgot how to defend.
Three minutes before half-time, a long punt downfield from Reina was nodded by Crouch to Benayoun. Crouch charged on to the Israeli`s return pass, twisted inside William Gallas and crunched a shot into the bottom corner for his first away league goal of the season.
Wenger stalked off at half-time looking as if he was chewing a wasp, but pointed words during the interval had the desired effect.
Arsenal emerged for the second half snappier in the tackle and brighter on the ball, and they were level within seven minutes of the re-start - Bendtner atoning for his earlier aberration by heading home Fabregas` free-kick.
Arsenal`s sense of urgency was renewed.
Wenger sent on Emmanuel Adebayor and Gael Clichy, and the hosts gradually began to dominate possession.
Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini both saw long-range drives bravely blocked while the Frenchman also deflected wide from Clichy`s near-post cross.
But Arsenal`s determination to snatch a second goal left gaping holes at the back, and Andriy Voronin should have done far better than lob the ball over the crossbar after being set up by Crouch with 10 minutes to play.
A goal then would have secured Liverpool`s first away win against Arsenal for seven years, but, at the final whistle, a draw nevertheless felt like a defeat for Arsenal. Agence France-Presse |
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09. 2008 |
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