Arsenal brush aside Villarreal to set up United showdown
Arsenal turned on the style to crush 10-man Villarreal 3-0 in the
Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday and set up an
all-English semi-final showdown against Manchester United.
After spluttering through much of the season, Arsene Wenger's side
are coming good at just the right time and their 4-1 aggregate victory
was deserved reward for a ruthless performance.
Theo Walcott gave Arsenal the perfect start at the Emirates Stadium
with a superb chip before Togo forward Emmanuel Adebayor struck to put
the Gunners in control after half-time.
Robin van Persie's penalty underlined Arsenal's superiority and
Sebastian Eguren's red card for complaining about the spot-kick only
compounded Villarreal's misery.
The north Londoners will now face reigning European champions United
in a mouth-watering last four clash after Sir Alex Ferguson's side
eliminated Porto.
Wenger said: "We sent out a very offensive team and we played in a
convincing way. I was very impressed with the quality and speed of our
game.
"Villarreal have a good technical level but we gave them problems
they didn't like. We were very explosive on the counter-attack. "It is a
test to play United next but a challenge you relish and we are excited
about that."
Villarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini said: "They were better than us.
The second goal made it very difficult to come back, although we still
had a chance.
"I am disappointed. We wanted to get through to the semi-finals but
they were better than us even before the sending off, so we have no
complaints."
Adebayor's stunning bicycle kick in Spain last week had given Arsenal
a priceless away goal and Wenger's players knew a 0-0 draw would be
enough to send them through. It was just as well Wenger hadn't planned a
rearguard action as Arsenal were without an entire back-four - William
Gallas, Gael Clichy and Johan Djourou were all injured while Bacary
Sagna pulled out late with a virus - as well as first choice keeper
Manuel Almunia.
From the first minute they attacked.
Walcott surged away down the right and, after Adebayor just failed to
reach his low cross, van Persie's header looped over.
Walcott's next contribution in the 10th minute was even more
effective.
When Cesc Fabregas flicked a backheel towards the England winger,
Diego Godin should have cleared, but he completely missed the ball.
Walcott took full advantage as advanced into the penalty area before
lofting a sublime chip over Diego Lopez.
Arsenal were desperately close to going further ahead when van
Persie's free-kick was parried by Lopez. Adebayor headed the rebound
goalwards, only for Gonzalo Rodriguez to clear off the line.
Walcott continued terrorising Villarreal's defence with his searing
pace, but neither van Persie or Adebayor could convert a pair of teasing
crosses.
Pellegrini's team still only needed a goal to get back in the tie
but, with influential Spain midfielder Marcos Senna injured and former
Gunners winger Robert Pires lacking his old spark, they found it hard to
generate any momentum.
Inspired by the imperious Fabregas, Arsenal kept pressing and
Adebayor delivered the knockout blow on the hour.
Fabregas won a header in midfield that fell for van Persie and the
Dutch forward sliced open Villarreal's defence with a perfect pass to
Adebayor, who kept his footing to slide a fine finish into the far
corner.
Adebayor and his team-mates sprinted to the corner flag for a spot of
synchronised dancing, while Wenger indulged in an eccentric
fist-clenched celebration of his own.
It wasn't long before Wenger was on his feet again. In the 69th
minute, Godin launched into a lunging tackle on Walcott, making contact
with the ball just as he clattered into the winger.
Wolfgang Stark immediately awarded a penalty to the fury of
Villarreal's players, who surrounded the German referee. Stark lost his
temper with their protests and sent off Eguren.
Van Persie wasn't fazed by the fuss and calmly drove his penalty past
Lopez to put the result beyond doubt.
With Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea in mind, Wenger was
even able to take off Walcott, van Persie and Adebayor in the closing
stages. It was that kind of match for the revitalised Gunners. LONDON,
Thursday, AFP |