Quick-fire Gunners back on top

ASTON VILLA 1 ARSENAL 2
By Ricky Butler at Villa Park

Jack Wilshere celebrates scoring the opening goal at Villa park last night with Serge Gnabry

TWO goals in a minute from Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud midway through the first half were enough to send Arsenal back to the top of the Barclays Premier League last night despite a strong late rally from Aston Villa.

Arsene Wenger's side had initially found Villa's five-man defence difficult to break down, but an early head injury to Nathan Baker, when he felt the full force of a Serge Gnabry pile-driver, resulted in Paul Lambert reverting back to a 4-4-2 formation and that proved decisive.

Wilshere finished a fine 34th minute move involving Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Nacho Monreal before the Englishman then created the second for Giroud seconds after the restart.

Villa upped their intensity in the second half and were rewarded 14 minutes from time when Christian Benteke headed home a Matt Lowton cross, but Arsenal held on to move back to the top.

Wenger said: "We had to have a strong response because everyone was looking at us to see if we would drop points after everyone else had won over the weekend.

"You are under a bit more pressure when you play last because you know you are not allowed to drop any points.

"The only way you can give an answer to that is to win the games and we have here."

The north-Londoners arrived at Villa Park having seen all their title rivals win over the weekend so this became a vital match for Wenger's side. But this has proved to be a happy hunting ground for them in recent years with their last defeat here coming way back in December 1998.

With Mikel Arteta missing with a calf problem, Wenger brought back Mesut Ozil, with Mathieu Flamini playing the holding role in front of the back four. Meanwhile Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was named among the substitutes for the first time since picking up an injury in the opening day defeat to Villa.

Despite dominating the early possession, Arsenal was unable to create many clear-cut opportunities. Giroud twice flashed a headers wide of Guzan's right-hand upright but the best of the early chances fell to the hosts.

A poor touch from Wilshere on the edge of his own penalty area allowed Fabian Delph the opportunity to fire wide before Karim El Ahmadi shot over following a quick Villa counter-attack.

But the injury to Baker, and the subsequent reorganisation at the back, gave Arsenal a chance which they took advantage of in emphatic fashion.

The opening goal was superbly worked. Ozil sent Monreal clear down the left and his pull back was perfect for Wilshere, who took one touch to control and the other to pass the ball into the corner of the net.

Then straight from the restart, Wilshere nicked the ball from Delph before finding Giroud in the area. The Frenchman's first touch was true and while his second bounced off his knee, it set up perfectly to sweep past Guzan from 10 yards.

Olivier Giroud makes it 2-0

Wenger's side was now in complete control although their intensity dropped significantly in the second half. Tomas Rosicky replaced Gnabry before a stray elbow from Gabby Agbonlahor ended his involvement, giving Oxlade-Chamberlain his long-awaited return.

But by then Villa had pulled a goal back. Cazorla lost possession cheaply out on the left touchline and Lowton's superb delivery was met with a diving header by Benteke, his fist goal since mid-September.

Suddenly Villa Park sensed a comeback but this Arsenal side can dig in when they have to. Having had a comfortable evening up until that point, Per Mertersacker and Laurent Koscielny really came into their own in the closing stages and Arsenal was able to hold on for a vital three points.

Wenger said: "We had two halves I think. One about playing, the second about fighting. We were maybe a little too cautious in the second half and wanted to just keep the score.

"Our defence kept us through that difficult period. I am very pleased that when we are under pressure we can respond.

"Olivier needed a goal but I believe that for the team, if you want to do well, your centre forward needs to score goals.

"It is really important to win these types of games. Villa was really up for this game and they prepared well for it. You have to give them credit, they had a go until the end."

With potentially winnable games coming up against Fulham, Southampton and Crystal Palace, Arsenal now have a great opportunity to cement their position at the top going into February and beyond.

ASTON VILLA - Guzan, Lowton, Baker (Bacuna 21), Vlaar, Luna, El Almadi (Weimann 73), Clark, Westwood, Delph, Agbonlahor, Benteke.

ARSENAL - Szczesny, Sagna, Mertersacker, Koscielny, Monreal (Gibbs 66), Flamini, Wilshere, Gnabry (Rosicky 69), (Oxlade-Chamberlain 86), Cazorla, Ozil, Giroud.

REFEREE - N. Swarbrick

MAN OF MATCH - Wilshere (Arsenal) - Scored one and made one. So much more effective in a central role.

ATTENDANCE: 36,097

Colburn through to another final

MEDALS SHIELD SEMI FINAL

COLBURN TOWN 5 RICHMOND MAVERICKS RESERVES 1

By Ricky Butler at Kneeton Park

Highlights of this match are available here

 

COLBURN TOWN eased into the final of the Medals Shield on Saturday as two goals apiece from Tom Sweeney and Mikey Brend, plus a late strike from Stu Murray, was enough to see off the challenge of Richmond Mavericks Reserves at Kneeton Park.

However, the score-line was not a true reflection of the tie as a whole as for a spell either side of the break the Mavericks gave as good as they got. But after drawing level with a fine header from Kieran French just before half time, they crashed out thanks to five minutes of madness midway through the second period.

Colburn had started well and grabbed the lead after just four minutes. Brend was fouled on the edge of the penalty area by Matty Bromirskyj and Sweeney curled home a delightful free kick – his 24^th goal of the season.

It could have been all over moments later when Sweeney was put through by Si McGuiness but after rounding goalkeeper JJ Elliott, the Colburn striker was unable to finish from a tight angle.

However, the Mavericks slowly began to settle and they had a golden opportunity to draw level after 16 minutes. James Laws’ pace sent him clear down the right but Colburn goalkeeper David Mutch was out quickly to deny him.

The Mavericks did have the ball in the net soon after when Phil Stirling squared for Carl Tate to tap home, but the assistants flag had already been raised for offside. Tate then saw an effort from 20 yards tipped onto the crossbar by Mutch as the Mavericks finished the half on top.

And the pressure finally paid off a minute before the break; French rising at the far post to nod home Mickey Sartini’s left wing corner.

Colburn started the second period as they had the first, with Luke McCormack bringing a fine save from Elliott before Murray fired over with just the goalkeeper to beat.

The Mavericks responded with an effort from Laws which flew wide of the right-hand upright but their cup dream was over when they conceded three times in five minutes midway through the half.

The goal that restored the Colburn advantage in the 61^st minute had more than a touch of fortune about it. Brend was only looking to find Murray or Sweeney in the penalty area but his hopeful ball in from the right was misjudged by Elliott at the near post and somehow ended up in the net.

Then, less than two minutes later, Brend's ball over the top found Sweeney in the penalty area and he was given far more too much space to beat Elliott from 10 yards.

Mavericks heads went down after that and Colburn sealed their place in the final when Brend tapped home his second from Murray’s low left wing cross straight from the restart to make it 4-1.

The Richmond side deserved to make the final score closer and they were inches away from a consolation when Darren Matthews’ effort from 15 yards hit the crossbar, but it was Colburn who added another goal two minutes from time.

Substitute Mikel Szwak beat three defenders on a thrilling run into the penalty area before squaring for Murray to tap home despite the Mavericks appeals for offside.

Colburn will face league leaders Hawes United in the final at Northallerton Town in March after they overcame Richmond Buck Inn 4-2 in the other semi final.

COLBURN TOWN – Mutch, Hall, Cole, Nisbet, McCormack, Swales, Hamilton, McGuiness, Brend, Murray, Sweeney. SUBS – Szwak, Cadd.

RICHMOND MAVERICKS RESERVES – Elliott, Bromirskyj, Cleminson, Straw, Fenney, Laws, Sartini, Tate, Matthews, French, Stirling. SUBS – Miller, Clarke.

REFEREE: M. Ullyott.

MAN OF MATCH - Brend (Colburn Town) - May have got lucky with his first goal but was a constant threat down the right.

Arsenal back on top as late goals see off Cardiff

ARSENAL 2 CARDIFF CITY 0
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates

Nicklas Bendtner makes the late Arsenal breakthrough against Cardiff

LATE GOALS from substitute Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott sent Arsenal into 2014 back on the top of the Premier League as Cardiff City's brave resistance was finally broken.

It was looking set to be a frustrating start to the New Year for Arsene Wenger as Cardiff's mass defence kept his side at bay for long periods. But with just 90 seconds of normal time remaining, the much-maligned Bendtner smashed home a loose ball inside the six-yard box to bring relief all around the Emirates.

That proved to be the Danes final contribution however, as he injured his ankle in the act of scoring and was forced off to rapturous applause.

Walcott, with four goals in his previous four matches since returning from injury, then sealed the points in stoppage time with a clever finish to a superb Jack Wilshere pass to send the Gunners back to the top.

Wenger said: "We needed to be patient against a very good Cardiff side. They did work absolutely hard, their new manager was in the stands. They deserve credit and were a bit unfortunate to lose in the end.

"I think we were mature, intelligent and resilient. I felt in the first half it took us a while to get in our stride and our pace was a bit slow. We did all right in the second half but didn't take our chances and they defended very well.

"We know we have to play 10 home games and we want to make this place a fortress and take the points no matter what the others do.

"If we can manage to do that we will be in a very strong position."

Wenger was forced into three changes to the side that had won 1-0 up at Newcastle on Sunday; Nacho Monreal, Mikel Arteta and Lukas Podolski replacing Kieran Gibbs, Tomas Rosicky and Olivier Giroud.

But the new-look side were slow out of the blocks against a Cardiff side looking to impress new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was watching from the directors' box.

Without a win at home for almost a month and having seen Manchester City replace them at the top with victory at Swansea earlier in the day, Arsenal looked nervy from the start. Although dominating possession they were unable to penetrate the well organised and hard working Welsh side.

With Wilshere and Santi Cazorla busy, the chances slowly began to come with Walcott firing into the side netting and then just failing to get on the end of an Arteta cross.

Arsenal felt they should have had a penalty just before the break when Wilshere appeared to be caught by Gary Medel but referee Jon Moss waved away their appeals and it remained goalless at half time.

The second period looked to be a similar story as Wenger's side was once again unable to break down the blue-shirted wall in front of them. But the introduction from the bench of Bendtner and Rosicky with twenty minutes to play finally opened up the game.

A series of corners saw Per Mertersacker twice head wide from good positions before Wilshere hit the post following a raking run into the penalty area.

But just as it looked as though Cardiff would hold on for a point, Bendtner made the breakthrough.

Monreal's cross from the left found the head of opposite full-back Bacary Sagna, but Bluebirds goalkeeper David Marshall produced a fine save down to his left. However, the Danish striker reacted quickly to smash the rebound into the roof of the net to send the Emirates wild.

The goalscorer then had to make way due to an ankle injury but in the second minute of stoppage time, Walcott latched on to a lovely flick from Wilshere to clip the ball over Marshall and send the Gunners back to the top.

Theo Walcott celebrates sending Arsenal back to the top

Despite the defeat, Cardiff caretaker manager David Kerslake was pleased with what he saw from his team. He said: "The players have given their all and I thought they had done enough to get a draw.

"We knew we would be good enough to soak the pressure, not a lot of teams can do that."

When asked about the presence of Solskjaer at the match, Kerslake said: " I'm not even sure how much the players knew. They are very professional boys and gave it their best.

"If I was a gambling man I would say yes, it will be my last game in charge. I am contracted to the club and until the owners and chairman say so that is the case.

"I have 100% belief this squad are good enough to stay in the Premier League."

ARSENAL - Szczesny, Sagna, Mertersacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Flamini (Rosicky 64), Walcott, Cazorla, Wilshere, Podolski (Bendtner 64), (Vermaelen 89).

CARDIFF CITY - Marshall, MaNaughton, Caulker, Turner, John, Medel (Gunnarsson 61), Noone, Kim, Mutch (Cowie 67), Whittingham, Campbell (Maynard 79).

REFEREE - J. Moss

MAN OF MATCH - Wilshere (Arsenal) - Drove his team on and looked back to his best.

ATTENDANCE: 60,004

New-found resilience takes Arsenal back to the top

NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 ARSENAL 1
By Ricky Butler at St. James's Park

LEAGUE titles are won over 38 games. Over the course of the season there will be occasions when you play well and win convincingly while at other times you will need to grind out a result.

In recent years that has been the one quality Arsenal has lacked. All too often they have been found wanting when the going gets tough. But this victory up at St. James's Park on Sunday shows that perhaps they are now ready to take that next step.

It was not always pretty. Far from it. But it is all about results at this time of the year and Arsenal had enough quality at both ends of the pitch to secure another festive three points to regain leadership of the Premier League.

This was not the free-flowing Gunners from earlier in the season. But, just as they had done here in the final game of last season to secure Champions League football, they managed to get a goal and hang on to it; the epitome of a title winning side.

Make no mistake about it, Newcastle are in the top eight on merit. Alan Pardew has build a very good side full of quality players and they started the day with a spring in their step. But these are the sort of games Manchester United always used to win on their way to the title and Arsene Wenger's side was able to do just that.

"We played against a very good side," said the Arsenal boss. "But I felt we controlled the game until we were leading 1-0 and then missed the chance for a second goal. The last 15-20 minutes was more difficult but we defended with great spirit and it is three great points for us."

The first half was typical of many Gunners games this season. They dominated possession but played in front of their opponents and rarely managed to get in behind. Missing the injured Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey, Wenger's men seemed to lack that extra bit of spark in the final third.

Newcastle, on the other hand, was more direct, often stretching Arsenal down the right in particular, and a first half of precious few chances nearly ended with the hosts grabbing the lead. Moussa Sissoko's shot was well saved by Wojciech Szczesny while Mathieu Debuchy's header from the resulting corner came back off the crossbar.

But Arsenal upped the tempo at the start of the second half and it bore fruit for them just past the hour-mark. Cheick Tiote fouled Santi Cazorla 30 yards from goal and Theo Walcott's superb free kick delivery was glanced in by the head of Olivier Giroud; the Frenchman's first goal in eight games and 11th of the season.

Giroud heads the vital Arsenal winner at Newcastle on Sunday

Speaking of his centre forward, Wenger said: "Giroud gives us good balance in the team. He gives us a good structure up front. We are a short team; more technical, more mobility, and he gives us the ability to win the ball in the air."

It should have been all over moments later when Walcott was first denied by Tim Krul before seeing his clever follow-up effort cleared off the line by a combination of Debuchy and the crossbar.

But the heavy festive schedule seemed to take its toll in the closing stages as Wenger's troops were forced to hang on to what they had.

It lead to a thrilling climax as the Toon sensed an equaliser but this Arsenal side are made of sterner stuff these days and they were able to stand firm in the face of the late onslaught to claim a vital three points.

Wenger said: "It gives me huge satisfaction (to go into the New Year on top). We have surprised many people but as you can see this team is ready for a fight. So lets keep fighting and keep developing this team."

Arsenal has now picked up 82 points from 38 games in 2013, a total not bettered by anyone else in the Premier League, and conceded just 34 goals. They have added a steely determination to the obvious flair and suddenly the title looks a real possibility.

Of course nothing is won in December and with just two points now separating the top three, every single victory is going to be crucial going into the New Year. But if they continue to show this sort of resilience, 2014 may just be Arsenal's year.

NEWCASTLE UNITED - Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye, Anita (Ameobi 74), Gouffran (Ben Arfa 62), Sissoko (Haidara 79), Remy.

ARSENAL - Szczesny, Sagna, Mertersacker, Koscienly, Gibbs (Arteta 70), Wilshere, Rosicky, Flamini, Walcott (Jenkinson 80), Cazorla, Giroud (Bendtner 86).

REFEREE - L. Probert

ATTENDANCE: 52,161.

Stalemate at the Emirates as Wenger rues late misses

ARSENAL 0 CHELSEA 0
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates



Olivier Giroud missed late chances to give Arsenal victory last night

IT WAS a case of Bah Humbug for Arsene Wenger last night as he was once again unable to get one over on old foe Jose Mourinho.

In a game of precious few chances, Frank Lampard hit the bar for Chelsea in the first half while Olivier Giroud missed two late chances for the Gunners which would have seen them top the table at Christmas.

But Wenger was left frustrated after his side were denied a first half penalty when Theo Walcott was clipped in the area by Willian.

He said: "It was a penalty, 100%. I have regrets because I felt on points we should have won this game. The game was locked tactically by Chelsea.

"We were a bit edgy at the start because of our last result and it took us a while to get going. We were maybe less fluent than we can be. We played maybe with the handbrake because we knew we had not to lose this game."

But in truth neither side really did enough to earn three points where fear of losing became more important than winning.

In wet and windy conditions it took over half an hour for an opportunity to be created. Eden Hazard's lovely ball over the top of the Arsenal defence was met with a sweet volley from Lampard but the ball crashed out from the underside of the crossbar.

Then came the controversy. Jon Obi Mikel was late and over the top on Mikel Arteta on half way but referee Mike Dean allowed play to go on, and after Mesut Ozil had fed Theo Walcot inside the area, Willian clipped the England winger.

Dean again angered the home crowd by waving away their appeals for a penalty and a disappointing half drew to a close with a poor effort from Willian on the counter attack.

The second half promised better but failed to deliver. The game become a war of attrition with Ozil and Branislav Ivanovic squaring up at one point and that summed up the evening.

But Wenger's side could have nicked all three points in the closing stages. Tomas Rosicky, in for the suspended Jack Wilshere, fed Aaron Ramsey who's lovely ball fell perfectly to the left foot of Giroud. But with only Petr Cech to beat the Frenchman lashed his shot wide of the near post.

Then with less than five minutes remaining, Rosicky combined with Kieran Gibbs down the left and this time Giroud was denied by the knee of the Chelsea goalkeeper from inside the six-yard box.

Mourinho made his intentions clear by replacing Fernando Torres with defender David Luis in the closing stages and what they had they held.

"It was a game where both want to win," said the Chelsea boss. "But it was a game where both teams don't want to lose.

"For us it was more important not to lose. If we lose we go to five points behind the leader and with this result we keep two points distance.

"We controlled the game with a very good defensive concentration and stability. OK, we don't go to Christmas as leaders, but we go with evolution because last season the championship was already lost by this point. Now, we are there."

In terms of the title race, this draw means that just two points now separate the top five.

Mourinho said: "It is a unique situation, an unbelievable championship because we are all there. Manchester United and Tottenham are not in this top four but they should be."

Wenger, meanwhile, said: "It is very interesting. It will be very tight. It will come down to the team who is most consistent. For everyone who follows the Premier League it is interesting."

Unlike this game.

Arsenal are next in action on Boxing Day away at West Ham while Chelsea face Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.

ARSENAL - Szczesny, Sagna, Mertersacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Walcott, Rosicky, Ozil, Giroud.

CHELSEA - Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpiliquerta, Mikel, Ramires, Lampard, Willian (Oscar, 77), Hazard (Schurrle, 73), Torres (David Luiz 87).

REFEREE - M. Dean

ATTENDANCE: 60,039

Nigel Winterburn - Mr Consistency

ARSENAL have had  a rich history of great left backs. From Eddie Hapgood in the 1930s right through to Ashley Cole in the early part of the 21st century, it has been the one position where the club has always been blessed.

Bob McNab was a double winner in 1971, Sammy Nelson won the FA Cup in 1979, Kenny Sansom captained the side to the League Cup victory in 1987. Cole, of course, has won the lot. However, the best of them all was probably a fuzzy-haired Brummy who was a late starter in league football.

 

Nigel Winterburn joined Arsenal from Wimbledon in the summer of 1987 at the age of 24. He had helped the Dons rise from Division Three (League One these days) to Division One in his four seasons at Plough Lane.

He had spent the early part of his career not getting a game at either Birmingham City or Oxford United but it was under Dave Bassett at Wimbledon that he began to build a reputation as a combative left back.

Perhaps not as technically gifted as others, Winterburn was instead a grafter who never gave less than 100%. So much so in fact, that he was voted fans player of the year in each of his four seasons at Plough Lane.

His early time at Highbury was not exactly a success. He spent six months in the reserves as under-study to the great Kenny Sansom and when he did finally get a chance in the first team, in December 1987, it was in an unfamiliar right back position.

It was in this position that he was involved in two incidents which put him in the spotlight in the early part of 1988. The first was in February in an FA Cup 5th round tie against Manchester United at Highbury. After missing the last minute penalty that sent Arsenal through 2-1, United's Brian McClair was openly mocked by Winterburn in front of the North Bank.

To this day it is unclear why he did it or what was said, but it clearly made a lasting impression on McClair and no doubt was behind the Scotsman landing several kicks in Winterburn's back during the now infamous brawl of Old Trafford two and a half years later. Perhaps this is where he earned the nickname 'Nutty Nige.'

It was another missed penalty, in April 1988, that would lead Winterburn to want to kick himself. After a series of missed spot kicks throughout the season, Arsenal had nominated Winterburn as the new penalty taker in early 1988 but they were not awarded another kick until the latter stages of the League Cup final at Wembley against Luton Town.

Leading 2-1 at the time, Winterburn knew if he scored the cup would be Arsenal's for a second year in a row, but his well struck penalty was saved by goalkeeper Andy Dibble and Luton came back to win 3-2.

However, Winterburn was build of stronger stuff and he came back better than ever. After Sansom left for Newcastle in the summer of 1988, he became the first choice left back for the start of the 1988-89 season. It was a position he would keep for the next 12 years.

As part of the famous back four alongside Tony Adams, Steve Bould and Lee Dixon, Winterburn would win 3 league titles, 2 FA Cups, 1 League Cup and 1 European Cup Winners Cup with the club. And he never let his performance levels drop.

In all he played nearly 600 times for the club, 4th in the all-time list behind David O'Leary, Adams and Dixon. The only surprise was that he won just 2 England caps, often below the likes of Tony Dorigo and Graeme Le Saux in the pecking order as under-study to Stuart Pearce.

But he was one of the first names on the team sheet at Highbury, firstly under George Graham and then Arsene Wenger. There was a brief period during the Bruce Rioch season in 1995-96 when Winterburn felt his days at Arsenal might be numbered, but the arrival of Wenger in 1996 gave his career a new lease of life.

Coming up to 33, many felt Winterburn's time at the club was coming to a end but he would be a regular in the side for the next three and a half years and helped the club to the Double in 1998.

That proved to be his last trophy success with Arsenal. By early 2000 he had lost his place to Brazilian Silvinho and at the end of the 1999-2000 season he left Highbury for West Ham.

Winterburn would play on for another two and half seasons at Upton Park before retiring in February 2003 with over 850 career appearances to his credit.

When  looking for role models, young footballers these days probably turn their attentions to Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi but they would do well to follow the example set by Winterburn.

Lacking the natural gifts of others, Winterburn showed that there is no substitute for hard work and application, and a look through his medal collection shows just what can be achieved.

I was a regular at Highbury throughout the 1990s and it was great time to follow the club. We saw some truly great players such as Dennis Bergkamp, Ian Wright, Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira. But one of my favourites would have to be Mr Consistency.

He gave us so many great memories. The crunching tackles, the unusual puffed-out-cheeks running style and some spectacular goals. The right-footed effort against Wimbledon as we closed in on the 1989 title will never be forgotten. And what about the winner at Chelsea in 1997?

It was easy to take Winterburn for granted. He was just always there. He rarely had an outstanding game - I cannot remember him getting man of the match award for example - but he never had a poor game either. He was a 7 out 10 every week without fail.

I may be biased as I grew up watching him, but if I had to select my favourite English player of all time it would probably be the fuzzy-haired Brummie.

Nutty Nige, I salute you.

Renaissance man Bendtner tames the Tigers

ARSENAL 2 HULL CITY 0
By Ricky Butler at The Emirates


GOALS at the start of each half from renaissance man Nicklas Bendtner and Mesut Ozil at the Emirates last night saw Arsenal maintain their four point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

There had been groans of discontent before kick off when the Danish striker's name was announced in the line up - his first Premier League start for the club since March 2011 - but he wasted no time in making his mark, heading home a delicious cross from Carl Jenkinson after just 90 seconds.

"It was a fantastic feeling," said a delighted Bendtner on the goal. "I think my celebration was a show of that."

That set up Wenger's side for a comfortable night against Steve Bruce's newly promoted Tigers, who had beaten Liverpool at the weekend, and the Gunners should have been out of sight before the break.

Hull, who became first team to come from behind to win at the Emirates back in 2008, rarely threatened a repeat and the only surprise was that it was still only 1-0 as the sides went off at half time.

Aaron Ramsey looked determined to add to his 13 goals this season with several efforts, one of which brought a terrific save from Hull goalkeeper Alan McGregor, while Laurent Koscielny, Ozil and Bendtner all came close.

But any nerves were eased within two minutes of the restart. Nacho Monreal, another making his first Premier League start of the season, just managed to keep the ball in down the left and Ramsey fed Ozil with a delightful pass which the little German stroked past McGregor with the minimum of fuss.

Wenger had made five changes to the side which had won at Cardiff on Saturday. As well as Bendtner - in for the rested Olivier Giroud - and Monreal, Jenkinson replaced the injured Bacary Sagna at right back, while in midfield Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini came in for Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta.

Despite the changes, however, Arsenal got off to the perfect start. A lovely interchange of passes down the right between Ramsey and Rosicky released Jenkinson and the full back's cross was powerfully dispatched by the head of the returning Dane.

"It's been difficult for the players who have not been in the team because we have had such great form," said Bendtner. "But everyone who comes in just takes it in his stride and goes with it."

After the second goal, another well worked move finished off in style from record signing Ozil, Arsenal could relax. Santi Cazorla, Ramsey and Bendtner could all have added to the scoring but the clean sheet was the most pleasing aspect for Wenger, the fourth in a row and a seventh in the last nine matches.

"This is the basis, the foundation of the team," said the Arsenal boss. "You know once you are 1-0 up you can rely on the defence. That gives you the confidence to relax and go forward."

Speaking of the defensive improvement this season, Wenger said: "I believe individually the players have improved and collectively they have improved as they know each other much better. The confidence and the results help as well.

"We were serious tonight, had great technical quality and our combinations were fantastic. The only regret you have is that maybe we were not clinical enough in front of goal."

With many critics believing Arsenal do not have enough strength in depth to win the title, Wenger was able to bring on Wilshere, Arteta and Theo Walcott in the closing stages and still has Lukas Podoloski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to come back from injury.

"It is difficult to leave players out who deserve to play but the attitude and togetherness of the squad is great," said the Frenchman.

With another big week ahead - Everton visiting the Emirates on Sunday before trips to Napoli and Manchester City - Wenger will need all the players at his disposal.

"Yes, we have a massive week ahead but I am confident we will do well. We will take it step by step and focus on Everton first then see what we can do in Naples."

ARSENAL - Szczesny 7, Jenkinson 7, Mertersacker 7, Koscielny 7, Monreal 7, Flamini 8, Ramsey 7 (Arteta 80 7), Cazorla 7, Ozil 8, Rosicky 7 (Wilshere 73 7), BENDTNER 9 (Walcott 73 7).

HULL CITY - McGregor 8, Meyler 6, Chester 6, Bruce, 6, Elmohamedy 6, Huddlestone 5, Figueroa 7, Livermore 6, Brady 6 (Rosenior 58 6), Sagbo 5 (Nagy 73 6), Graham 5 (Boyd 58 5).

REFEREE - Andre Mariner 7.

ATTENDANCE: 60,017

Willington - The Redemption

SO it finished in a draw. I guess that was the way it was always meant to be. But football was the real winner on the day and that was the best result we could have hoped for.

It was quite simply a great game of football. Ironically, given the hype surrounding it, it was like a boxing match. Two teams standing toe-to-toe, trading blows, ultimately decided on a split points decision.

But it was not just on the pitch where credit was due. The Willington fans travelled south in great numbers to support their team and it led to one of the best atmospheres ever witnessed at a Northern League Division Two match.

The chants and banter between both sets of fans was terrific and it was all done in the best possible taste. No animosity at all and a friendly drink in the bar afterwards.

To be honest, I was not sure what to expect. I knew some Willington fans still looked on me as public enemy number one, and with very good reason, so I thought it best to keep a low profile.

I had a nice chat with the Willington secretary Geoff Siddle in the clubhouse before the match but I thought it best to keep a distance from the fans so as not to cause any unnecessary bad feeling.

To be fair most were fine. Yes, I did get the odd dirty look thrown in my direction, understandable really, but some came over to say hello and there was no hint of trouble.

The game itself certainly lived up to all the pre-match hype. It looked like being a long day for me when the visitors scored first after just 16 minutes but it was an open game as expected so it was clear that would not be the only goal.

It developed into an absorbing contest, the type you cannot take your eyes off for a second. It seemed something was always happening. And Town scored twice before the break to make that half time cuppa taste a little bit sweeter.

The second half was just as exciting and the atmosphere, which had been bubbling all afternoon, reached a crescendo when Willington scored twice in a minute midway through the half. They couldn't beat us again, could they?

For a long period it looked as though they would. But Town are nothing if not resilient and there are few better feelings in football than a last minute equaliser. It was not a goal of any real beauty; forced home from a yard by the shoulder of Kokesy - redemption after his red card at their place in the cup - but the celebrations were certainly of supermodel proportions.

We could even have nicked it at the death too but I think the draw was probably the only fitting result on the day. Both sets of fans deserved to have something to cheer about at the end.

I have to say I was very dismissive of the Willington team after that FA Vase meeting in September. I thought they were a poor side that day and was upset that we had managed to lose to them, even with 9 men. But what a turn around. Despite having pretty much the same group of players they looked a completely different side.

In David (or is it Adam?) Pinkney and Corey Nicholson they had two of the outstanding performers on the day. In fact young Nicholson is the best right back that I have seen this season, our own Banksy apart of course.

Then you have the Willington fans. They are a passionate bunch. They want their team to win and we can all relate to that. But I let one idiot; not even a Willington fan as it turned out, cloud my judgement on the people and the place as a whole after our last meeting, and that was completely wrong.

It was during the second half, with Willington 3-2 ahead, that it really hit home to me. Their fans were cheering on their team and I saw exactly how much it meant to them. All they wanted was to see their boys win.

I took a few minutes for reflection. The sweeping comments I made were not fair. I wanted to approach the vocal section of the Willington fans and tell them personally but we had a game to win and I soon became far too absorbed in that.

Unfortunately I was unable to do so afterwards either. I am always busy immediately after a home game; phoning in the result to the league, recording a match report for BBC Radio York and doing the post-match interviews. So I am doing it now. Somehow it seems appropriate this way.

So a day I was both excited about and dreading at the same time turned out it to be one of the best days I have ever witnessed at football. Faith restored.

Of course there will always be some residents of Willington who will never forgive me. But I hope that this weekend has shown we are not that much different, them and I. We all love our team and want to see them win.

But on the day, football was the real winner. The Northern League is one big football community and I would like to think that the part of that community that was separated in the aftermath of my last blog piece has now been re-joined.

Perhaps a stronger bond between the clubs has been formed. I certainly hope so.

Last time I called Willington the land that time forgot but I am singing to a different tune this time. Redemption Song. Amen to that.

Unbeaten runs and Old Trafford - a match made in hell

ONE thing you can guarantee about being an Arsenal fan is that if you travel to Old Trafford with a long unbeaten record to defend you will inevitably lose. It has happened in 1987, 2004 and now in 2013.

Usually it is a controversial penalty or a harsh red card, the type of which only befalls an away side at Old Trafford. Often it has been the result of being bullied off the park. But this one had none of the above ingredients although the end result was still the same; an unfortunate defeat.

I stupidly believed that with Fergie no longer at the helm, the curse would be broken. But no. Apparently it goes much deeper than that. The virus which had swept through the squad, robbing us of the services of Mertesacker and Rosicky -  both outstanding in midweek in Dortmund - showed there was an even darker force at work.

My previous visit to Salford had been for the 8-2 in August 2011 so the exorcising of demons was the order of the day. And I was confident too. Our recent form coupled with United's shaky start under Moyes meant I felt we would never have a better chance of winning here.

Perhaps we deserved little from the first half performance; as poor as we have played all season. But let's get it right, United were no better. Szczesny did not have a save to make and the goal, when it arrived, was a simple set piece inevitably scored by van Persie.

I must have been the only one in the away end not too upset that Robin had scored. Right from the start I have never joined in with the 'She said no...' chants and I have never wished any ill on the man. I respected his decision to leave and his title medal certainly justifies it.

My pre-match wish had been to see us win, obviously, but also to see van Persie score. In fact just seeing him play again live - having missed both meetings last season - was a privilege. Whatever you think about him now the guy was an Arsenal legend and is still a world class footballer.

I was not too concerned at half time. I knew we would play better in the second half and so we did. Right from the start we showed the urgency so sadly lacking before and the game was played out almost entirely in their half.

But something was missing. Ozil was off the pace, Ramsey not firing. Giroud lacked support. Despite that, we still should have come away with something.

The introduction of Jack on the hour at last gave us someone willing to run at defenders and slowly the chances came. Ozil fired into the side netting while two quality deliveries from Sagna on the right should have brought the equaliser - Gibbs and Bendtner both unable to get anything on the ball inside the 6-yard box when any touch would have seen us level.

Inevitably they had one or two opportunities on the break; Rooney firing wide after doing well to create space on the edge of the box and Smalling completely missing a far post header, but again Szczesny was virtually unemployed (unusual for a Pole in Manchester).

So while not the result we were hoping for, this defeat at Old Trafford did not hurt nearly as much as most of the others. I left with a weird sense of pride at having seen us dominate a half of football here. Not even in the glory days of Vieira and Henry did we manage that.

Despite a tough week and a weakened squad due to illness we gave a good account of ourselves. On another day we might even have won. United mustered just 2 efforts at goal. I wonder when the last time that happened at Old Trafford.

A week or so ago many were predicting three defeats, so to have come out of it with 2 wins and a narrow defeat is a good effort. We have faced strikers of the quality of Suarez, Lewandoski, Rooney and van Persie and conceded just one goal; not bad for a side who cannot defend.

On top of that we need to remember that the international break will see some key players return from injury; Walcott, Podolski, Ox. Imagine if any of those had been fit to come off the bench yesterday?

So it is not a time to panic. We are still top of the league and look like staying there for the foreseeable future. It is never nice losing, especially against them, but did we honestly expect any other outcome? After all we never win here, especially on the back of a long unbeaten run.

Now we must hope that unlike in 1987 and 2004, defeat here does not lead to a collapse. I do not believe it will as we appear to have a strong inner belief about us now, but I guess only time will tell.

Ramsey on target again as Arsenal scale the Yellow Wall

BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0 ARSENAL 1
By Ricky Butler at Westfalenstadion


AARON RAMSEY'S second half header silenced the Yellow Wall as Arsenal secured a famous Champions League victory in Dortmund last night.

Having been beaten by Jurgen Klopp's side at the Emirates two weeks ago, the Gunners knew they needed a result at the Westfalenstadion to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last 16.

And cometh the hour, cometh the man as it was once again Ramsey who was in the right place at the right time to keep Arsenal on top of Group F.

To put this result into context, Dortmund had won all eight of their previous home matches in what has been their best ever start to a Bundesliga season. They certainly looked impressive in the victory in London a fortnight earlier but Wenger's men, it seemed, had learnt their lesson.

And it did not go unnoticed by Dortmund chief Klopp, who acknowledged the quality of Arsenal's performance. He said: "Yes, they could win it - as long as they don't play Bayern Munich. They are young, healthy and good technicians. They won a clever game."

The North-Londoners had set out to contain the Germans from the start. In fact so concerned were they with they with their defensive duties, Arsenal failed to muster a single shot on goal during the first half.

They rode their luck at times, too. Defender Neven Subotic fired an early chance wide from close range while Henrikh Mkhitaryan, scorer at the Emirates, ought to have repeated the trick when presented with an even better chance midway through the first half. But with only Wojciech Szczesny to beat, he missed the target from 18 yards.

The Dortmund pressure intensified at the start of the second period. The Arsenal goalkeeper dived full-length to keep out a Marco Rues header, while the same man then saw a close range effort ruled out for offside.

Arsenal started to believe it might just be their night when the Germans had a second goal ruled out by the assistant's flag soon after - this one from Marcel Schmelzer - and so it proved.

There were 61 minutes on the clock when Tomas Rosicky worked hard to push the ball out to Mesut Ozil on the right. The Gunners record signing, born just down the road in Gelsenkirchen, stood up a cross to the far post which Olivier Giroud nodded into the path of the late arriving Ramsey.

The Welshman, with 10 goals already this season, was not about to pass up such an opportunity and his diving header nestled into the bottom corner of the net to send the 3,300 travelling Gooners behind the goal into ecstasy.

Suddenly the shackles were off and Ramsey was denied a second by a sprawling save from Roman Weidenfeller before Per Metersacker, immaculate at the back once again, headed onto the roof of the net.

The inevitable late Dortmund surge failed to bring any reward, although they felt they should have had a penalty at the death when Robert Lewandowski threw himself theatrically to ground under challenge from Mertersacker as he attempted an acrobatic finish. But Arsenal deserved their slice of luck.

Wenger, understandably, was delighted. He said: "We had a united, focused performance, especially defensively.

"It was a question of being focused and intelligent, and to wait for the moment to create openings in their defence.

"We had a difficult period at start of second half, but after we scored I felt we could have scored a second goal and we were less under pressure," he added.

"Overall it's a huge win here. If you look at the results they have made at home in the Champions League, not many teams have achieved that.

"Dortmund are especially dangerous when you lose the ball, and to counter that, you need maturity. If you have a very young team tonight you would be overrun and lose that game by a very high score. We look more stable defensively."

"I have a lot of respect for Dortmund because they are a very good side. Unfortunately this group is a very strong group, and one of the big teams will have to pay a heavy price. I hope it will not be us."

Despite now having to win their last two matches to qualify, Klopp remained upbeat. He said: “It is a very strong group and the positive news is that two wins and we will qualify.

"We created much more today up front but they scored with their first chance of the match and we could not come back. This defeat could have been avoided. It's definitely going to get exciting from now on.”

Arsenal could book their place in the last 16 with victory over Marseille at the Emirates in three weeks time. Meanwhile, Dortmund host Napoli, who beat the French side 3-2 last night to join Arsenal on nine points, knowing they cannot afford any more slip-ups.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND - Weidenfeller, Großkreutz, Schmelzer, Bender (Hofmann - 75' ), Subotic, Papastathopoulos, Blaszczykowski (Aubameyang - 74' ), Sahin, Lewandowski, Mkhitaryan, Reus (Schieber - 86' ).

ARSENAL - Szczesny, Sagna, Gibbs, Arteta, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Rosicky (Vermaelen - 91' ), Ramsey, Giroud (Bendtner - 90' ), Özil, Cazorla (Monreal - 75' ).

REFEREE -  B Kuipers (Neth). 

ATTENDANCE: 65,829.