Hope still springs eternal

HOPE. As a football fan this is the worst feeling you can have. After the last gasp win over Leicester City a fortnight ago had given us renewed hope, this defeat at Manchester United has taken it away again.

And the match itself was littered with false hope. Danny Welbeck's goal just before half time to pull it back to 2-1 gave us hope that we would see a second half comeback. Then Mesut Ozil's strike immediately after United had scored their third. With more than twenty minutes still to play, hope was raised for a late comeback. But once again it never materialised.

Overall though it has to be said this was not the performance of potential champions. We rarely produce at Old Trafford at the best of times, last year's FA Cup success being the only recent exception, but I think most of us would have accepted defeat if we had at least shown the heart and desire required at this stage of a title race.

Personally I would have to question some of Arsene Wenger's team selections. For a game of this magnitude you have to start with your best central defensive partnership. After a very good performance against Barcelona in midweek, why was Per Mertersacker left out here? Apart from being our only natural leader on the pitch, the German's understanding with Laurent Koscielny would have been vital in a game like this.

The fact that Mertersacker's replacement, Gabriel, was at fault for the crucial opening goal merely confirmed the error in Wenger's decision. And it was a lack of understanding and communication between the two centre halfs that resulted in United's second goal just a few moments later. Gabriel has his qualities but having just returned from injury was it really wise to throw him straight back in at Old Trafford?

The other poor decision from Wenger was not to start with Olivier Giroud. While his recent goalscoring record has been poor, without a goal in his previous eight appearances, the Frenchman is the pivotal point of our attack. His aerial strength combined with ability to hold the ball up, keep possession and utilise the pace of Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez would have given us an extra option.

Instead Wenger went with the one-dimensional Theo Walcott. I am not sure what has happened to Theo but since returning from injury he has been very poor. Apart from vital goals against Manchester City and Leicester, his contribution has been minimal and he looks shot of all confidence.

I did feel sorry for him here as the service to him was virtually non-existent, which makes his selection over Giroud all the more baffling. If you have a player like Walcott in the side you have to play to his strengths and we just did not do that. Perhaps starting him and Welbeck together, two very similar players in terms of style if not commitment, was the problem, leaving us with a lack of variety in the final third.

It should be pointed out that we came up against a young and hungry United side who were playing with no fear and no pressure. In the relatively unknown Marcus Rashford they have a real star in the making and it was typical of our luck that just like Wayne Rooney a few years ago, he decided to announce himself to the world against us.

We looked jaded and lacking sharpness but we played with the fear that has been evident since the mauling at Southampton on Boxing Day. We look scared to really express ourselves until we have gone a goal up and whenever we fall behind we seem to panic and run out of ideas.

The frustrating thing is that on paper at least we have the squad to win the title. We seem to have the right mix of youth and experience, and we have big players down the spine of the team; Petr Cech, Mertersacker, Francis Coquelin, Ozil and Sanchez. Yet when it really matters we lack leadership on the pitch and perhaps more importantly, in the dugout.

Wenger has never been one for ranting and raving, except towards the officials or opposition managers, and it is perhaps this which has been our undoing. He has always expected the players to take responsibility and when he had the likes of Tony Adams, Lee Dixon, Partick Vieira, Thierry Henry etc. that was fine. They knew what was required and they delivered.

But in recent years the players have not had that same winning mentality. They have been able to put it together for the odd game as has been demonstrated by the recent FA Cup successes and the games against Manchester City and Leicester, but when the heat of as title race is on, they continue to come up short. All too often when we reach Spring and the clocks go forward, our title chances go backwards.

How many of this squad can you say are genuine winners? Cech, obviously. Merterascker, perhaps. Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck, Giroud? They have all won big trophies in the past. But too many of the others seem to lack the mental strength to finish the job.

But I am not writing us off just yet. We have a tough midweek game against our bogey side, Swansea City, but this is a game I would expect us to win. Then we go to White Hart Lane on Saturday lunchtime in a game where nothing less than three points will do.

For all Leicester's plaudits this season, Spurs are the real threat. As much as it pains me to say it they have been the best side in the league over the last couple of months and have hit form at just the right time. I actually admire the way they have been playing football. They have a vibrant young team and a manager who knows how to get the best out of them. I feel dirty for saying it but if we can't win the title then I would rather they did. Better than the plastic money of Manchester City or the physical, long ball approach of Leicester.

But we simply have to beat them. Despite my claims about us lacking bottle, we have tended to win the big games this season. Let's hope this is a run we can continue. Yes, a win would raise those hopes again but after this latest disappointment I will take that chance. After all the clocks don't change for another four weeks! 

It's all a little Messi for Arsenal again

ARSENAL 0 BARCELONA 2

By Ricky Butler at the Emirates

ARSENAL ARE all but out of the Champions League at the round of 16 for the sixth year in a row after two late goals from Lionel Messi last night gave Barcelona a 2-0 win at the Emirates.

This was not a classic performance by the Spanish champions by any means and for more than an hour Arsene Wenger's side had the better chances. But in the end it was inevitably that man Messi, as he so often does, who proved to be the difference.

Having suffered poor first leg performances at this stage in recent years, Arsenal at least proved they have learned the lessons of the past. In fact had Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, selected ahead of Theo Walcott for his defensive duties, or Olivier Giroud, taken the chances that came their way either side of half time, Wenger's men may well have had a lead to take to the Nou Camp.

But as soon as the Gunners were caught on the counter attack with less than 20 minutes to play, there was only ever going to be one winner. Messi had been having one of his least effective performances until then, but aided by the work of Neymar and Luis Suarez, the little Argentinian displayed a cool head to fire past the exposed Petr Cech, his first goal against the giant Cech in seven previous attempts.

Suarez then hit the post before Messi won a penalty for a clumsy challenge by substitute Mathieu Flamini, who had only been on the field for 49 seconds. Messi made no mistake from 12 yards to all but end Arsenal's interest in the competition once again.

Yet it could have been so different. Happy to concede possession early on, Arsenal always looked threatening on the break and just past the 20 minute mark they should have taken the lead. It was a lovely move involving Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil and when Hector Bellerin's shot was blocked, Oxlade-Chamberlain was left with an open goal. A little composure was needed but instead the Englishman mis-kicked his shot straight into the body of stricken Barca goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegan.

Giroud was slightly more unfortunate. His second half header was destined for the bottom corner of the net until ter Stegan got down smartly to his right to claw the ball away.

So for all their improvements the result for Arsenal was the same. Having won second legs away in Bayern Munich and Monaco in recent years, all may not quite be lost for Wenger side. But few would back them to score three times next month in the Nou Camp.

In any case it is possible that an early Champions League exit may benefit them in the long run. With a tough Premier League run in to come and a possible third straight FA Cup success still a possibility, Arsenal still have much to play for domestically.

Worryingly, however, is a lack of goals. This is the fifth time in the last eight matches that they have failed to score. The goals are drying up at the wrong time of the season and unless the trend is broken quickly their season could be over before the clocks go forward.

As for Barca well they look simply unstoppable. If you can stop Messi, as Arsenal did well for the most part, you have Suarez to deal with. If you keep him quite then there is Neymar. No team on the planet can live with that.

Next up for the Gunners is the small matter of a trip to Old Trafford on Sunday. How they respond to this set-back will shape the rest of their season.

WWF - Walcott and Welbeck outfox the Foxes

ARSENAL 2 LEICESTER CITY 1

By Ricky Butler at Emirates Stadium

Danny Welbeck heads a dramatic late Arsenal winner

LEICESTER CITY have rightly earned plaudits this season for a remarkable series of results that have defied all the odds.

With a unique blend of bargain basement buys and Premier League rejects, the Foxes have spent most of the season near the top of the table.

They certainly do not have the best group of players in the league but they work hard for each other, have an incredible team spirit, and play to their strengths. They press the ball early and make quick transitions from defence to attack with long balls into space for the pacey Jamie Vardy.

In essence it is a slightly more sophisticated version of the 1980s Wimbledon Crazy Gang. Yet while Dave Bassett's Dons were vilified in the press and hated by the football world, this Leicester side seem to have won the hearts of the nation.

Yet on Valentine's Day at the Emirates, it was not exactly flowers and chocolates. Leicester are not called the Foxes for nothing. They have a wiliness about them which has helped them win the most penalties in the Premier League this season; ten, which is double the number of anyone else.

Many of those have been awarded for 'fouls' on Vardy, and it is easy to see why. The former Fleetwood man, with 19 goals this season, has a tendency to fall down in the box at the faintest of touches, belying the strength he displays when outside the penalty area.

Ignoring the fact that Wes Morgan had fouled Mesut Ozil at the start of the move that led to the 44^th minute penalty award here, Nacho Monreal actually pulled out of the challenge with Vardy. But the Leicester front man, as he so often does, wrapped his leg around the Spaniard's and fell over him.

You can dress it up however you like but the fact is it is diving and cheating. Referee Martin Atkinson, who had handled the pretty game well until then, fell for it hook, line and sinker, and Leicester not only had the lead but where closing in on an eight point advantage at the top of the table.

A game which had been bubbling just beneath the surface in the first half suddenly sprang to life. Arsenal felt a sense of injustice and Atkinson clearly felt a sense of guilt. That can be the only explanation as to why at the start of the second period he decided to produce two yellows in quick succession for Danny Simpson.

Matches of this magnitude should not be decided by the ineptitude of the referee. Atkinson made an error just before the break but to then compound that with another just after the restart is unforgivable. But what will be done about it? Nothing. And Atkinson will no doubt be back in the middle next weekend.

Down to ten men Leicester reverted to full 1980's Wimbledon mode. Tactical fouls, time wasting, and long ball after long ball in the vague direction of Vardy, presumably hoping he'd once again fall over.

Arsenal always used to struggle against the Crazy Gang and it seemed that would be the case against Claudio Ranieri's modern reincarnation as chance after chance went begging. But in the final twenty minutes, it was Arsene Wenger's substitutes that turned the match, and title race, in the direction of North London.

Theo Walcott has a good record against Leicester but his recent form had been such that he rightly started this encounter on the bench. Yet when he reacted quickly to a sublime knock down from Olivier Giroud to fire past the excellent Kasper Schmichael, he showed his value to this team.

Now it was just a matter of whether Leicester's ten men could hold on. They couldn't. Over the years Manchester United often won games in the final few seconds when they hadn't been at their best. Everyone says that is what wins you titles.

It was fitting therefore that the winner should come from a player who was brought up at United and who was making his first appearance for almost 10 months following a knee injury. Danny Welbeck's stoppage time header not only gave this match a fitting climax but showed that Arsenal do have the mental strength to go on and win the Premier League.

Of course Leicester still lead the way but that eight point half time advantage is now down to just two. The ultimate six-pointer.

With a break for the FA Cup and then Champions League, Arsenal return to Premier League action at the end of the month with another big game at Old Trafford. Win there and perhaps the doubters will be convinced.

As for the wily old Foxes, well they have two very winnable home matches to come against Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion. But it is how they react to this disappointment that will be key. Having put so much energy into the match, to come away with nothing will be a devastating blow.

No doubt the wave of public support will continue but this is where the pressure really starts. The run in. Twelve cup finals to play. Wimbledon only ever got so far on guts and bravado. The question now is; do Leicester have more than that?

The next few weeks will give us the answer.

EBAC NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION TWO

DARLINGTON RA 1 SOUTH SHIELDS 3

By Ricky Butler at Brinkburn Road

IT WAS a case of the haves versus the have nots at Brinkburn Road last night as Ebac Northern League big spenders South Shields met the paupers from Darlington RA.

But for much of the contest it was hard to tell which was which. The RA paid the price for soft goals conceded at the start of each half to Lewis Teasdale and Adam Sakr, while substitute Christian Holliday's late effort came just moments after Barrie Smith had put the visitors 3-0 ahead.

Despite having one of the lowest budgets in the league, RA manager,Warren Moncur, was delighted with the spirit shown by his side. He said: “In patches I thought we were excellent tonight. I thought we worked our socks off.

“I'm not pleading poverty but for a team that hasn't got any money against the money men of the Northern League, I thought it was quite an even game.

“We gave an early goal away in the first half, an early goal in the second half, but apart from that I didn't think there was much in it.”

RA had been in the promotion race themselves before Christmas. But a poor run since the turn of the year had seen them drop down to eighth. Shields on the other hand, with enough money to attract ex Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder, Julio Arca, to Mariners Park, knew a win would take them nine points clear at the top.

Argentinian Arca, who played over 300 games in a 13 year professional career in the North-East, plays a slightly deeper role these days. But at 35 he is still able to dictate the pace of the game and came close to scoring here with a trademark first half free kick.

But Shields were already on their way by then. Just three minutes had elapsed when Adam Sakr's low cross from the right was turned home by Lewis Teasdale. A scrappy finish, perhaps, but a vital, early goal for the leaders.

That led to a dominant first half display from Shields. Stephen Ramsey headed narrowly wide in the 5^th minute while Sakr and John Grey were then both denied by a fine double save from RA goalkeeper, Phil Pentony.

The first chance for the hosts did not arrive until the 33^rd minute when Stephen Cheeseman's shot from a tight angle was deflected into the side netting. But moments later Arca was denied a goal on his return to Teesside as Pentony saved his free kick.

While it was only 1-0 the RA felt they were still very much in the game but all that changed within three minutes of the restart. Hesitance in the home defence was punished by the quick thinking of Sakr, who pounced to beat the exposed Pentony.

The home goalkeeper was being kept busy as he denied Teasdale a second, but the departure of Arca on the hour gave the RA fresh impetus.

Shields goalkeeper Gareth Young did well to keep out a free kick from the dangerous Jim Wilson, the hosts' first effort on target, but it was another save from Young which began the break that led to the leaders adding the killer third goal.

Young's punched clearance found substitute Danny Carson and his ball released Teasdale, who in turn found defender Smith. Showing the touch and finish of a striker, Smith rounded Pentony before squeezing the ball home from a tight angle.

Almost immediately however, the RA were rewarded for their improved second half display. Young denied Wilson again before a goalmouth scramble ended with substitute Holliday firing in from close range.

It would have been a nervy finish for Shields had Young not then denied Sam England and substitute Jon Pearson as the RA finished strongly, but the leaders held on for an important three points.

Shields assistant manager, Gary Middleton, was satisfied with his team's performance. He said: “This is always a difficult place to come, especially on a Tuesday night. The pitch wasn't very good but you have to come to places like this and put in a good performance.

“We asked the players get out of the traps quickly, which they did. I thought we took our foot off the pedal for the last twenty minutes of the first half but overall I am very pleased.”

In Valentine's week they say money can't buy you love but it certainly can buy you a decent Northern League side. So while Shields will surely continue to march serenely into Division One, and from there who knows where, little RA will keep trying to defy the odds.

DARLINGTON RA – Pentony 8, Leven 6, Grocott 6, Johnson 7, Weston 7, Cheesman 8, Wilson(N) 7, Kokes 6, England 7, Wilson(J 7, Hanratty 8. SUBS – Wood 6, Holliday 7, Pearson 7, Ward N/A.

SOUTH SHIELDS – Young 7, Smith 8, Grey 7, Hassan 7, Riding 8, Briggs 7, Sakr 8, Arca 8, Ramsay 7, Teasdale 7, Phillips 7. SUBS – Carson 7, Kanda 6, Hall 6, Turner N/A, Pocklington N/A.

REFEREE – Jamie Cann 7 - Controlled the game well