Rosicky Double Dumps Holders Out
Liverpool 1 – 3 Arsenal – January 6th 2007
Arsenal came out of a heavyweight clash in the FA Cup yesterday on top as they not only broke Liverpool’s domestic dominance at Anfield but knocked last season’s competition winners out at the first stage to continue their own excellent recent FA Cup record.
The Premiership giants, who have been involved in five of the last six cup finals themselves severed up and excellent and entertaining contest on a cold night in Liverpool. Having been drawn against each other, both sides were well aware of the confidence boost that victory could bring and with both struggling for form in the Premiership it was an excellent chance to begin a run to secure a Champions League Place.
The crowd as ever were excellent but despite that the game did not really offer anything in the first twenty or so minutes. Arsenal came with a clear game plan to frustrate their hosts and the midfield between Alonso and Gerrard of Liverpool and Gilberto and Flamini of Arsenal provided a stalemate which meant that the game was even as a contest from minute one.
The game sparked to life however when Liverpool had a penalty claim turned down by the referee following a challenge on the Spaniard Alonso. Receiving the ball at the edge of the area the midfielder flicked the ball over the legs of Gilberto and with the ball well gone he was caught by the trailing leg of his opponent. The referee however waved away claims for a spot kick and booked Alonso for a deliberate act of deception.
Liverpool seemed aggrieved by the decision and a number of pretty fouls from both sides ensued which slowed the game down even more. Arsenal however were suited by the slow tempo and in typical fashion encouraged Liverpool to come and attack them. After a move down the left hand side broke down, the Gunners broke in typically robust fashion with Rosicky finding Hleb down the left hand side before the Belarus midfielder cut back on his weaker foot and slotted a pass to the Czech midfielder who had found space on the edge of the area. With a sweeping, curling shot Rosicky chipped Dudek and gave his side the lead at a crucial time of the game.
Shell-shocked by the Arsenal goal, Liverpool came at the Gunners again but as yet another passing play failed to penetrate the Arsenal defense, Gilberto broke with the ball before finding Henry who played the ball in front of Rosicky to see if he could repeat the trick from moments earlier. This time the Czech star drove at the Liverpool defense and after beating three men he managed to get a shot off which bounced past the despairing hands of the goalkeeper.
After a first half, that was a real non event until the goals, Liverpool came out far more determined in the second period and made the break through with a goal from Dirk Kuyt. With a series of high balls played into the area, Arsenal suddenly came under pressure and Peter Crouch was able to make his way onto a corner for the Dutchman Kuyt to get in front of the keeper and not the ball past Almunia who tried to clear with a punch.
The reds could not build on their pressure and Senderos and Toure stood firm at the back despite the increasing pressure from the midfield and forwards of Liverpool. Their hard work was rewarded however when Henry scored a glorious third just ten minutes from the end. Breaking onto a loose ball just inside the Liverpool half, the player just returning from injury nicked the ball from Carragher before coming inside Agger and slotting the ball past the keeper to make the game safe and continue Arsenal’s hunt for another trip to the FA Cup Final.
Liverpool must now concentrate on Europe’s Premier competition as well as hope they can gain revenge over the Gunners in a Carling Cup tie in midweek.
The crowd as ever were excellent but despite that the game did not really offer anything in the first twenty or so minutes. Arsenal came with a clear game plan to frustrate their hosts and the midfield between Alonso and Gerrard of Liverpool and Gilberto and Flamini of Arsenal provided a stalemate which meant that the game was even as a contest from minute one.
The game sparked to life however when Liverpool had a penalty claim turned down by the referee following a challenge on the Spaniard Alonso. Receiving the ball at the edge of the area the midfielder flicked the ball over the legs of Gilberto and with the ball well gone he was caught by the trailing leg of his opponent. The referee however waved away claims for a spot kick and booked Alonso for a deliberate act of deception.
Liverpool seemed aggrieved by the decision and a number of pretty fouls from both sides ensued which slowed the game down even more. Arsenal however were suited by the slow tempo and in typical fashion encouraged Liverpool to come and attack them. After a move down the left hand side broke down, the Gunners broke in typically robust fashion with Rosicky finding Hleb down the left hand side before the Belarus midfielder cut back on his weaker foot and slotted a pass to the Czech midfielder who had found space on the edge of the area. With a sweeping, curling shot Rosicky chipped Dudek and gave his side the lead at a crucial time of the game.
Shell-shocked by the Arsenal goal, Liverpool came at the Gunners again but as yet another passing play failed to penetrate the Arsenal defense, Gilberto broke with the ball before finding Henry who played the ball in front of Rosicky to see if he could repeat the trick from moments earlier. This time the Czech star drove at the Liverpool defense and after beating three men he managed to get a shot off which bounced past the despairing hands of the goalkeeper.
After a first half, that was a real non event until the goals, Liverpool came out far more determined in the second period and made the break through with a goal from Dirk Kuyt. With a series of high balls played into the area, Arsenal suddenly came under pressure and Peter Crouch was able to make his way onto a corner for the Dutchman Kuyt to get in front of the keeper and not the ball past Almunia who tried to clear with a punch.
The reds could not build on their pressure and Senderos and Toure stood firm at the back despite the increasing pressure from the midfield and forwards of Liverpool. Their hard work was rewarded however when Henry scored a glorious third just ten minutes from the end. Breaking onto a loose ball just inside the Liverpool half, the player just returning from injury nicked the ball from Carragher before coming inside Agger and slotting the ball past the keeper to make the game safe and continue Arsenal’s hunt for another trip to the FA Cup Final.
Liverpool must now concentrate on Europe’s Premier competition as well as hope they can gain revenge over the Gunners in a Carling Cup tie in midweek.