Richard's Reports

Oh Rocky, Rocky. A tribute to the late David Rocastle 2 May 1967 - 31 March 2001

2017-03-30T23:25:00.004+01:00

IT seems hard to believe that it is now 16 years since we lost David Rocastle. The words 'legend' and 'superstar' are branded about far too easily these days, especially at people who have not truly earned it. But someone who certainly did deserve those accolades was the man simply known as Rocky.

So what made him so special? Well at his peak he was quiet simply the best footballer I have ever seen. Back in the late 1980's people talked about Glenn Hoddle or Paul Gascoigne, and Arsenal fans would always mention Liam Brady. But for me Rocky topped the lot.

He had everything; strength, pace, skill, vision. He could run, tackle, pass, shoot, and score goals. Wonderful, wonderful goals. But above all else he was just a down-to-earth guy who never forgot where he came from, who he represented, and how lucky he was to playing football for a living.

Rocky was born on a tough council estate in Lewisham, South-East London, on May 2 1967, and was brought up by his mother following the death of his father in 1972. After leaving school in 1983, Rocky joined Arsenal as an apprentice and I first heard about him through his exploits in the youth and reserve teams.

It was therefore no real surprise when he made his Arsenal debut in September 1985 against Newcastle United at Highbury. It was not a particularly memorable match (it finished 0-0) and it was not a particularly memorable season (we finished 7th) but Rocky shone like a beacon through the mediocrity and he became an instant hero of mine. And he was only a year older than me.

The following season saw a then 19-year-old Rocky really establish himself in the Arsenal side under new manager George Graham. He was a regular in the No. 7 shirt on the right wing as we won the Littlewoods Cup at Wembley, and he became a true Gooner legend when he scored the injury time winner in the semi final replay at White Hart Lane.

Over the next two-and-half years Rocky became one of the best young players in the country as Graham plotted the downfall of Liverpool. He was ever-present in the 1988-89 title winning season and gave us many more great memories; a wonder-strike against Middlesbrough where the ball seemed permanently stuck to his right foot as he slalomed past challenge after challenge; a 30 yard chip at Villa Park, and a great goal at Liverpool in the Littlewoods Cup. And lets not forget it was Rocky who won the free kick that led to our all-important first goal in the title decider at Anfield that May. He was voted Young Player of the Year and became a regular in the England squad.

It was a shame that injury and illness began to affect his performances just as he was reaching his peak. I recall an article in the match day programme by Graham in early 1990 saying how Rocky was out of the team as he had been suffering with breathing problems, perhaps the start of the ill health that would ultimately cost him his young life.

Following an incident at Millwall in 1989 when he swallowed his tongue, Rocky suffered a difficult 18 months and played just 16 times in the 1990-91 title winning season. Many were writing him off as it appeared his best days were already behind him, incredible when you think he was still only 24.

However the signing in September 1991 of his childhood friend, Ian Wright (the pair had grown up together on that same council estate in Lewisham), seemed to re-invigorate his career and he enjoyed a fine 1991-92 season, missing just four games. The highlight was a wonderful solo goal at Old Trafford where he chipped Peter Schmeichal from 25 yards after out-muscling both Paul Ince and Bryan Robson.

But that proved to be his last season at the club. I will never forget when I heard the news he had been sold to champions Leeds United for what seems an incredibly low fee of just £2million. Rocky WAS Arsenal and it seemed unbelievable that he would no longer be playing for us. I heard he cried when Graham told him they had accepted Leeds' offer and that tells you all you need to know about the man. He loved Arsenal; it was his club and he showed it every time he pulled on the shirt.

Unfortunately his career rapidly went downhill after that. Following two largely unsuccessful years at Elland Road, Rocky played half a season at Manchester City, where he helped them avoid relegation, before returning to London with Chelsea in 1994. His time there was blighted by injury and the highlight was helping them reach the semi final of the European Cup Winners Cup in 1995, which had they won would have seen him face former club Arsenal in the final. In the end he made less then 30 appearances in his four years at Stamford Bridge, where he also spent loan periods with both Norwich City and Hull City.

He ended his playing career in 2000 in Malaysia with a club called Sabah where he was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer that attacks the immune system. I did not even know he had been ill when the news of his death broke on the morning of a North-London derby on March 31 2001. He was just 33. It was the most emotional match I have been to and even though we beat Spurs 2-0, it meant nothing. We had lost a legend and I had lost my first football idol. The chants of 'Oh Rocky, Rocky...' were sang through tear-stained eyes that day...

I was actually lucky enough to meet Rocky once in the early 1990's. He was out of the side injured at the time and I was at the ground picking up a ticket when he emerged from the main entrance with David Hillier. Through my work in the media, I have met and spoken to many footballers over the years but this was different, this was Rocky. Although I was around 23-years-old at the time, I felt like a lost little boy as he approached me and smiled. I really wanted to say something but I was, for the first and so far only time in my life, completely star-stuck.

In the end I managed to utter some nonsense about his injury but he was only too happy to stop and chat, telling me he was on the mend and would be fit in a week or two. He then shook my hand, signed my ticket stub and he was off. Of course I now wish I had spoken to him in more depth and told him how much I idolised him but I was just a quivering wreck who could barely manage a smile and a thanks! Unfortunately this was in the days before camera-phones so I have no pictorial evidence of our meeting, but that is the moment I always look back on whenever I think of him.

Of course I am not a member of his family, I was not a personal friend of his and, apart from that one brief encounter, I never knew the man. Yet I feel a part of me died that day 16 years ago. He had been a big part of my life and contributed to so many of the greatest moments I had ever experienced.

Football may have moved on and many players have come and gone since, but Rocky will never be forgotten. We have won many trophies and enjoyed many great times but rarely does a day go by that I do not think about the great man in the No. 7 shirt.

He was from a different time; a time when players played for a love of the club and not the pay cheque. In fact he would probably have played for Arsenal for nothing. He was one of us yet one of a kind. He was simply our Rocky. RIP to a real legend.

GIROUD'S LATE GOAL SEALS ARSENAL COMEBACK

2017-01-08T15:26:00.001+00:00

PRESTON NORTH END 1 ARSENAL 2

By Ricky Butler at Deepdale

ANOTHER LATE GOAL FROM OLIVIER GIROUD COMPLETED A DRAMATIC SECOND HALF ARSENAL COMEBACK AT DEEPDALE LAST NIGHT TO BREAK PRESTON NORTH END HEARTS.

Olivier Giroud celebrates another late goal at Deepdale last night

After dominating the first half, Simon Grayson's Championship side, ahead through Callum Robinson's early goal, were left to rue a succession of missed opportunities as the Gunners finally turned the tie around.

Aaron Ramsey's equaliser right at the start of the second half, his first goal of the season, kick started a much improved Arsenal performance, although they once again left it late.

There was just a minute of normal time remaining when Giroud, scorer of a stoppage time equaliser in midweek at Bournemouth, finished from close range after a lovely back heel from Lucas Perez.

Preston manager, Grayson, was rightly proud of his team. He said: “We have got mixed emotions tonight. I am very proud of how hard they worked and the quality against a top, top team.

“We will draw the positives as much as possible and hopefully in the future we will be on the end of a victory, not a defeat.

"We stopped them playing and got on the front foot. We just didn't quite take the opportunities when they came. We have had good chances, but you need a second or third goal against a team like Arsenal.

"We warned the players to start the game quickly in the second half but we let Ramsey have room that we didn't in the first half. It was a kick in the teeth when the goal went in at the end."

Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, on the other hand, was just relieved to have seen off the potential banana skin. He said: “Someone reminded me yesterday that I have never been out in the third round in 21 years, but tonight, in the first half, it was close. Preston played with enthusiasm and quality in the first half, they were quicker than us all over.

"Maybe subconsciously we thought that it would be easier and at half-time we knew we could have been out.

"I believe that we have a togetherness and fighting spirit and that is why we have these comebacks. It was a typical cup tie with English enthusiasm and the crowd cheering on their team."

Wenger, a winner of this famous old trophy a record six times, selected a strong side even in the absence of Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez. But it was the Lilywhites, sitting 11^th in the Championship, who should have had the tie wrapped up in a stunning first half display.

Boosted by Robinson's early goal, created by a lovely pirouette from Aiden McGeady, Preston could have been three or four up by the break. Robinson saw a close range header blocked by Skrodran Mustafi, while Darren Hugill was just millimetres away from turning into an empty net Robinson's low cross.

Arsenal perhaps began to feel it may be their night after all when just before half time Robinson had a goal disallowed following minimal contact from Paul Huntington on David Ospina.

Indeed it took Wenger's men just 50 seconds after the restart to draw level. Alex Iwobi, playing in Ozil's No. 10 role, did well on the edge of the penalty area before teeing up Ramsey to drill home from 18 yards; the Welshman's first goal since last summer's Euros.

That proved to be the turning point as Arsenal dominated the second half. Giroud had a goal rightly disallowed for offside, before Mustafi brought a fine save Preston goalkeeper, Chris Maxwell, following Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's low corner.

With a replay looking more and more likely, Wenger threw on Danny Welbeck for his first appearance since a serious knee injury last May, although it was the front two who started the game that combined for the late winner.

Giroud, captain for the day in the absence of Koscielny, flicked on a long ball and Perez was first to react. His back heel from right on the goal-line was sublime and the Frenchman, a scorer in the last three matches, just managed to squeeze the ball past Maxwell at the near post via a slight deflection off substitute, Aaron Browne.

So in the battle of the Invincibles it was Arsenal who survived to fight another FA Cup day. But Preston can take a lot of positives from this performance as they bid to get back among the elite for the first time since 1961.

PRESTON NORTH END: Maxwell, Vermijl, Clarke, Huntington, Cunningham, Gallagher, Pearson, Johnson, McGeady, Hugill, Robinson. SUBS: Browne, Makienok, Horgan.

ARSENAL: Ospina, Maitland-Niles, Garbiel, Mustafi, Xhaka, Ramsey, Iwobi, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Perez, Giroud. SUBS: Welbeck, Holding, Reine-Adelaide.

REFEREE: Robert Madeley

ATTENDANCE: 22,185

1-0 to The Arsenal, part 7,049

2016-10-03T22:26:00.001+01:00

BURNLEY 0 ARSENAL 1

By Ricky Butler at Turf Moor

THERE IS NO FEELING QUITE LIKE SCORING A LAST MINUTE WINNER AWAY FROM HOME. AND WHEN IT COMES IN A MATCH THAT YOU REALLY HAVE TO WIN IT MAKES IT ALL THE MORE SWEETER.

Laurent Koscielny has developed a habit of scoring important goals for us in recent years. He grabbed crucial winners on the final day in both 2012 and 2013 to secure Champions League football, as well as the equaliser in the 2014 FA Cup Final.

But while this late scrambled effort at Turf Moor was not as significant as any of those it could prove to be the catalysis that propels our mounting title challenge.

With City losing earlier in the day at Spurs, we had a great chance to close the gap to a very manageable two points.

I was not that surprised by City's demise at White Hart Lane. I have said all along that they look vulnerable and they would come unstuck against a decent side. They were fortunate to win at United in August and conceded three at Celtic in midweek, so this was very much on the cards.

But after suffering 92 minutes of shear frustration at the hands of Burnley's massed defence it appeared that we had once again flattered to deceive. The great work in beating Chelsea last Saturday and the stylish midweek demolition of Basel had raised expectations, and they were being brought back down to earth with the usual thump.

You could see the headlines already: 'Arsenal lack the bottle for a title fight'.

But they could not have been further from the truth. We will not face many more physical encounters all season, and after a really tough week this was perhaps the last thing we needed. However, despite being dead on our feet we somehow managed to raise ourselves in the final ten minutes for a late push that ultimately brought its dramatic reward.

There may have been a hint of offside about the goal (later proved to be incorrect) and a definite hint of handball (later proved correct) but it was hard to deny Arsene Wenger a win on his special day. The reception he received when he came out at the start, not just from the away end but the whole stadium, was very emotional. For all the stick he has been given I have always supported him and will be eternally grateful for all the wonderful memories he has given us.

It was somehow fitting that back in October 1996 we had played just up the road at Blackburn in Wenger's first match. Two Ian Wright goals that day secured a 2-0 victory and in many ways this was a return to the old days.

Burnley are almost the polar opposite of Arsenal in terms of style and philosophy. Sean Dyche has his side well organised, disciplined and has made them very hard to break down. Often they had ten men behind the ball and the fact they only touched the ball ten times in our penalty area in the entire 90 minutes shows what their intentions were. They reminded me a little of us in the latter years of George Graham.

But despite this, Burnley still offered a threat. Petr Cech was forced to tip a header around the post before they later hit the bar with another header, this time from the impressive Michael Keane.

At this point I think it worth giving a mention to Shkodran Mustafi. The German was apparently a panic buy but is already looking very much the real deal. Adding a physical edge to our back four, he also has pace to burn and is very strong in the air.

His partnership with Koscielny is fast developing into one of the best in the Premier League and I would go as far as to say that at the moment we appear to have the best defensive unit in the league. Since that opening day disaster against Liverpool, we have conceded just three goals in six games, with one of those a penalty and another an own goal.

But the focus was very much at the other end of the pitch as we peppered the Burnley goal in the second half, with Alexis Sanchez twice going close. First he produced a fine save from Tom Heaton down to his left before then scraping the outside of the post with a volley that had Heaton rooted to the spot.

After getting up a head of steam in the final ten minutes we appeared to have run out of ideas as the clock ticked down towards the 90 minute mark. When the 4^th official held up the board we were all expecting at least five to be added on due to the amount of time Heaton had wasted on goal kicks. In fact referee, Craig Pawson, had twice warned him about it.

But two it was and when second of those minutes was up, Santi Cazorla's speculative shot from 20 yards was deflected wide for one last corner. Indeed Pawson indicated that this would be the last action of the match. So it was now or never.

It was therefore somehow poetic justice that we not only scored in time added on to the time added on due to their time wasting, but that we scored a very un-Wenger like goal. A short corner, flicked on at the near post and turned home by our captain. Koscielny, it seems, is developing more in common with his predecessor, Tony Adams, than just his shirt number.

How many times did we see that under George Graham in the 1980s and 90s? Of course the irony was lost on many around me, all far too young to remember anything before Wenger. Yes, he really has been at the club so long that a whole generation of fans only know him as our manager!

The celebrations were far better than such a scrappy goal deserved but last minute winners are like that. And we have had a few to celebrate down the years.

I did feel a little sympathy for Burnley. They are nice club with a rich history and every single one of their players gave all they had. But sentiment goes out of the window when you have a title to win. Plus, any team who's only ambition is not to lose probably deserves all it gets.

But it isn't the 3-0 wins over Chelsea that win you the title. No. It is the scrappy 1-0's away from home when you are not at your best. That is the mark of a true champion. Of course we are only seven games into a 38 game marathon but the signs are good.

We have a different mentality this season, a toughness missing in recent years. The squad has the right balance and depth. Players such as Mesut Ozil, Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Koscielny, Nacho Monreal and Cazorla are all at their peak. Young players like Hector Bellerin and Alex Iwobi have emerged, and the new signings look to have settled in quickly.

Of course I will not carried away just yet. It is February when we usually fall apart. But something inside me tells it will be different this time.

I remember in the early part of the 1988-89 season when we hadn't won the title for 18 years. I had that same feeling then. That season ended with us winning the league in the final seconds of the final match.

It could be that close again. Three weeks ago we scrapped a win over Southampton with a very dodgy stoppage time penalty. Once is lucky, perhaps, but twice shows character and spirit. This is a team of winners. They just have another 31 games to prove it!

New season, same old problems?

2016-08-15T21:37:00.002+01:00

ARSENAL 3 LIVERPOOL 4

By Ricky Butler from the Emirates

SO A NEW SEASON BUT THE SAME OLD ARSENAL. OR IS IT?

Another summer of inactivity in the transfer market, an opening day defeat; the third in the last four seasons, and yet more unrest from the fans, it would be easy to think that nothing much has changed at the Emirates.

But apart from an awful 15 minute spell just after half time, this was by no means a bad Arsenal performance. Going forward the Gunners always looked dangerous and they certainly showed some courage to fight back from 4-1 down.

While that is nowhere near good enough for a club with title ambitions, it is certainly not the crisis it has been portrayed to be either.

In fact the first half saw Arsenal play some good football against the much-fancied Merseysiders, and they should have been at least two goals clear at the break.

Theo Walcott has suffered a lack of confidence in recent months so it did seem strange when he stepped up to take the 28^th minute penalty, won by Walcott himself after a clumsy challenge from the simply dreadful Alberto Moreno.

To be fair it was not the worst penalty in the world, and was a decent save from Simon Mignolet, but surely Alexis Sanchez or Aaron Ramsey would have been a better option?

Credit the England winger for the quality of his finish just two minutes later, however, with a goal that epitomised all that was good about Arsenal's sharp first half display. A crisp tackle from Francis Coquelin, a lovely through ball from Alex Iwobi and a lovely low finish from Walcott.

But in first half stoppage time, the whole complexion of the match changed.

Yes it was a superb free kick from Philippe Coutinho that flew into the top right-hand corner of the net, but it was the inexperience of young Premier League debutant, Rob Holding, which gave the Brazilian the opportunity to beat Petr Cech from 25 yards.

The former Bolton youngster was too eager, too hasty and needlessly pulled Courinho to the floor. But no one could have foreseen what was to come in the opening period of the second half.

With a centre back pairing with a combined age of just 41 while the leader of the back four rested his weary limbs in the stand, Arsenal simply fell apart.

The quality of the goals from Adam Lallana, Coutinho and Saido Mane should not disguise what would have been poor defending had it been seen on Hackney Marshes on a Sunday morning.

4-1 could easily have 5 or 6 as Liverpool sliced through the inexperienced Arsenal back line at will. But with the home fans turning on their team, the Gunners, inspired by the introduction from the bench of Santi Cazorla, surprisingly recovered to set up a grandstand finale.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had performed well in pre-season and perhaps deserved a start here, scored a marvellous solo effort before Calum Chambers, who had been at fault for at least two of the Liverpool goals, glanced home a free kick from Cazorla.

Three Englishmen on the score-sheet for Arsenal? A rare event indeed.

With the best part of 15 minutes still to play, the Gunners had plenty of time to salvage something from what had been another difficult opening day. But a fifth Liverpool goal looked far more likely in the end as Arsene Wenger's men left massive gaps at the back.

Wenger, approaching 20 years in the hot seat, must have been feeling the heat at the final whistle as the boos rang out around the half empty stadium. To later admit that his team were not prepared for the opening Premier League match will not sit well with supporters who have long been calling for his head.

Liverpool certainly looked prepared as did many of the other title challengers over the first weekend.

So while other clubs have spent millions on reinforcements this summer, Wenger has only brought in teenager Holding and Swiss international, Granit Xhaka, who looked unremarkable from the bench here.

But with key players like Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscienly, Olivier Giroud and Jack Wilshere all set to return it is far too early to right off Arsenal just yet.

They showed enough here to suggest that with a more experienced back four a title challenge is not beyond them. And history tends to suggest that defeat in the opening home match is often the recipe for success here in N5.

Five times from the last seven that Arsenal have lost their opening home match they have gone on to lift a trophy, including two league titles.

Not many at the Emirates yesterday would bet on a repeat come May, but as Leicester showed last season; anything is possible.

Same old Arsenal? Perhaps. But only time will tell.

It happened again...another trophy-less season but optimism for the future?

2016-05-25T17:54:00.001+01:00

SO FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW WE FINISHED THE SEASON WITH A 4-0 WIN OVER ASTON VILLA.

But while last year it saw us lift the FA Cup at Wembley for the second year in a row, this time it merely secured second-place in the Premier League.

The difference between second and third is negligible. Both qualify directly for the group stage of the Champions League. But when the difference is finishing above or below your greatest rivals it means so much more.

This season more than any other, Spurs really believed this was their year. Until just over a week before the end of the season they still harbored ambitions of winning the title. So finishing above us for the first time in 21 years was a given, especially with us in apparent crisis. So much so that they had already been celebrating for the previous two months.

But we have been here before. When Spurs fall it is usually spectacularly. With four games to go they were five points above us. They had a comfortable looking run in as well with home games against mid-table WBA and Southampton, coupled with trips to Chelsea and Newcastle.

With a far superior goal difference they only needed six points to guarantee them the holy grail of finishing above us, and that was assuming we won all our games, which I didn't expect that we would.

But after drawing with WBA and Chelsea, and then losing at home to Southampton; Spurs having led in all three games, we managed to close the gap to just two points going into the final day. We faced already-relegated Aston Villa while they travelled to already-relegated Newcastle.

In a repeat of 2006, Spurs only needed a draw. That was the day of Lasagne-gate at West Ham, although in reality it was simply a bug that had ravaged the squad. They lost 2-1 and we pinched fourth place by beating Wigan in the final game at Highbury.

Then three years ago we were at St. James's Park on the final day needing to equal Spurs' result at home to Sunderland to pip them to the final Champions League spot. We won 1-0. It had happened again. Third time lucky? To be honest I fully expected Spurs to get the point they needed and had long resigned myself to the fact that we would finish third.

But to lose 5-1 against a side that was already relegated and were reduced to ten men with more than half an hour still to play, that is taking bottling to a whole new level.

To be honest we were less than impressive against Villa, hanging on to an early 1-0 lead for long spells. You wouldn't have been surprised if we'd conceded a late equaliser, like we had recently against Palace, and let Spurs off the hook. But once the news began to filter through that it was 3-1 to Newcastle, then 4-1 and 5-1, we could relax and the goals flowed. 4-0. Again. Lovely.

Many fans still feel it has been a disappointing season and in many ways it has been. But back in August we would have been more than happy finishing above City, Chelsea, United, Liverpool and Spurs. But Leicester had the season of a lifetime and no one could compete with that. In the end we came the closest.

The biggest disappointment, for me, was the FA Cup. With a very average United side beating a very poor Palace side in the final this was a real opportunity to create history. Three in a row.

The quarter final defeat at the hands of Watford was easily the worst result of the season, especially as it was so avoidable. Even after going 2-0 down we had more than enough chances to have turned it around.

So in the end our season came down a Danny Welbeck miss in stoppage time. If that had gone in we would have won the replay, beaten Palace in the semis and you'd have had to fancy our chances against United in the final.

The League Cup was once again a source of frustration. With a half decent side out against Sheffield Wednesday instead of the bunch of kids selected, we would have won and who knows where it may have taken us? I would have certainly backed us to beat either City or Liverpool so that was another opportunity missed.

I'm not even going to talk about the Champions League. English clubs are not on the same level as the big four in Europe at the moment so we were never going to win it. At least we could take heart from two decent performances against Barca where poor only defending let us down.

But in the end we finished with a ten match unbeaten run in the league. In fact since getting thumped 4-0 at Southampton on Boxing Day we lost just three times in the league. No one except Leicester lost fewer matches over the same period.

With some transfer business conducted early I am optimistic that we can go one better next season. We need a striker and a centre back to complement our new midfield dynamo and then we'll be set.

City have Pep and United, Jose. Liverpool will be stronger now Klopp has settled in and Spurs will be a force again. But we have nothing to fear. We are not far away. If it is set to be Wenger's last season then it would be fitting that he goes out in style? A fourth Premier League title in a third different decade would be a hell of a way to go.

So instead of spending the season wishing for Wenger to leave lets get behind him one last time. Leicester have shown you can live the dream if you believe in it enough. So do you believe enough? Do you???

GOALLESS AT THE COLLIERY

2016-03-25T14:17:00.003+00:00

EBAC NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
EASINGTON COLLIERY 0 NORTHALLERTON TOWN 0
By Ricky Butler. Additional reporting from Connor Lamb and Andy Heywood

THERE WERE NO GOALS AND PRECIOUS LITTLE EXCITEMENT AT WELFARE PARK LAST NIGHT AS TWO OF THE DIVISION'S IN-FORM SIDES, EASINGTON COLLIERY AND NORTHALLERTON TOWN, CANCELLED EACH OTHER OUT.

Easington, back in the Ebac Northern League this season after a three year absence, had seen their eight-match unbeaten run brought to an end at struggling Esh Winning over the weekend, while EA Cup finalists Town arrived on the back of a good run of only one defeat in their previous ten matches.

But after a bright start in which Easington's Shaun Smith saw a cross cut out by Town defender, Daniel Jones, the match developed into a dour, midfield battle with chances at either end few and far between.

The hosts did much of the early pressing and in the 15th minute, Luke Page lifted a good ball into the penalty area but Jones headed clear again.

Meanwhile, Town were slowly settling into the match and Aaron Ramsbottom's high ball into the penalty area was well dealt with by home goalkeeper, Kyle Donaldson, under pressure from Elliot McGlade.

Northallerton were now just shading proceedings and they came close to opening the scoring midway through the first half. A free-kick from 25 yards by Ramsbottom curled over the Easington wall but Donaldson punched the ball behind for a corner.

Colliery responded with Stephen Bogie looking to thread the ball through to Joe Kerridge but Town goalkeeper Michael Thackeray rushed out to clear the danger.

Although no real chances were being created, both sides were busy, probing for the breakthrough. A mazy run from Page saw him dart from one edge of the penalty area to the other but his shot was blocked. Then, at the other end, Damon Reaks knocked the ball wide to Ramsbottom, who's low cross was cleared.

That summed up much of the first half where good approach play from both sides was let down by a poor final ball.

Looking to shake things up during the interval, Town manager, Darren Trotter, replaced Reaks with Daniel Ballantyne, but the pattern of the match did not really change in the second half.

Easington however, did begin to look a lot more dangerous and six minutes after the restart they twice came close to edging in front. Firstly, a deep cross from Liam Hodgson fell just wide of the far post, while Page then started a promising Easington move which saw Hodgson tee-up Aidan Heywood, but his curling effort just missed the target.

Approaching the hour-mark the hosts again came close to breaking the deadlock. Reece Kenney hit a long-range drive which forced Thackeray into a diving save but the former Billingham Town goalkeeper could only palm the ball to Kerridge, who saw his effort deflected behind for a corner.

With 64 minutes on the clock, Easington made their first change as Bogie gave way for Bryan Norton, while a minute later, an Easington free-kick led to a game of head tennis inside the Town penalty area before the away side eventually cleared.

Northallerton then made a second change as McGlade was replaced by Jack Dalton, while at the same time, Easington made what turned out to be a final substitution of the night as Peter Jones came on for Kenney.

With eighteen minutes left, Town's Mark Hemingway lifted a free-kick into the penalty area which Donaldson easily claimed, while the Easington goalkeeper then did just enough to deal with Stuart Owens' dangerous set-piece delivery.

The home side had the chance to grab the lead in the 77th minute when Smith played in Kerridge but he could only fire straight at the ‘keeper. Then, less than a minute later, Kerridge found himself in a promising position once again following a pass from Heywood, but despite looking ill-at-ease, the Northallerton defence somehow managed to clear the danger.

With time running out, the visitors made a tactical change as Hemingway and Ballantyne switched wings, and in the final few seconds it almost paid dividends. Donaldson failed to cleanly collect a Ballantyne cross but the Easington goalkeeper quickly recovered to deny Town what would have been a very late winner.

The draw does neither side any favours as Town remain in sixth place, 12 points off a possible promotion place, with Easington one place and two points worse off.

Next up for Town is a trip to Willington on Saturday while Easington host Thornaby. Both games kick off at 3pm.

EASINGTON COLLIERY: Donaldson, Hodgson, Varga, Pearson (c), O’Brien, Kenney, Heywood, Page, Kerridge, Boyle, Smith. Subs: Nesbit, Martin, Maughan, Norton, Jones.

NORTHALLERTON TOWN: Thackeray, Johnson, Hemingway, Keogh, Jones, Knox, Reaks, Owens (c), Ramsbottom, McGlade, McLachlan. Subs: Ballantyne, Calvert, Dalton, Foley, Farrell.

REFEREE: Darren Wylam.

ATTENDANCE: 102

Barca defeat and TV schedules - Reasons to be cheerful (part 54)

2016-03-17T14:47:00.002+00:00

By Ricky Butler

SO ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING European exit. Once again we paid the price for a poor first leg result, although there is certainly no shame in losing to this Barcelona side.

At least we showed some character in the Nou Camp. It was actually a decent performance. Yes, Barca, 2-0 up from that first leg at the Emirates, were already on the beach but there was still a lot of positives to take on the night.

Alex Iwobi, 19, proved again that he is set for a big future while Mohamed Elneny had his best game yet in an Arsenal shirt. Arsene Wenger has had his critics in recent months but he has once again unearthed two real gems.

Elsewhere it was a familiar story as we paid the price for some poor defending and a failure to take our chances. We needed to score first and we had several chances to do just that; Alexis Sanchez' header which glanced just wide being the best.

Once we went behind in the 18^th minute to a well taken goal from Neymar, just moments after David Ospina had produced an incredible save to deny Lionel Messi, we played with more freedom and should have had a penalty before the break when Iwobi was clipped by Javier Mascherano. With the Nigerian teenager clean through on goal, a red card may well have followed for the Spaniard.

However, history shows us that English sides never get any big decisions in the Nou Camp so we should not have been surprised when the Russian official waved away our appeals.

Elneny's superb strike early in the second half, which had Messi or Neymar scored would have been talked about for weeks, briefly raised our hopes. Danny Welbeck, again showing what a terrific player he is, had a great chance to bring us to within one goal of going through. But Mascherano, who perhaps should not still have been on the field, got across make to make a crucial block.

The danger was always a Barca counter-attack and midway through the second half that was exactly what happened. Luis Suarez' volley appeared to come off his shin but it flew in off the underside of the crossbar and that was that. Game over.

Sanchez' free kick did force a great save from Marc-Andre de Stegen, who then did well to keep out Olivier Giroud's follow up, and Welbeck hit the crossbar, but on the night that was the difference; Barca took their chances, and in the closing stages they added an undeserved third.

Again our defending left a lot to be desired but it was a tidy finish from an otherwise disappointing Messi. 3-1 on the night, 5-1 on aggregate. We perhaps deserved better over the two legs but with a front three of MSN, Barca are pretty much unstoppable. Last year we went out out a team who we should have beaten, this time we can have very few complaints.

So where now for Wenger? Saturday's trip to Everton is now even more important. Nothing less than victory will do.

Off track slightly but it is great that the TV companies have helped by making it a lunchtime kick off after a Wednesday night away match in Europe. Not that we should be surprised as they never take into the account the players or the fans when it comes to rescheduling games. Unless it is Manchester United or Chelsea. Have either of them ever faced such a schedule at this point in a title race?

Surely from an audience point of view it would have been in BT Sports best interests to have two fresh teams playing. What will inevitably happen now is Arsenal will have to try to get the job done early on, making the second half a non-event. Cue millions of viewers switching off.

But enough of all that. Nothing less than three points will do and the only positive is that we have a very good record at Goodison Park. Everton have their own problems, especially at home, and they will more focused on the FA Cup, so expect a very cagey, error-ridden match.

If we can take the positives from the Nou Camp I still feel we still have a chance to claw back Spurs and Leicester City. A small chance, perhaps, but a chance nonetheless. Despite evidence to the contrary in recent weeks, we do have some very good players and if they can get that spark back maybe we can salvage something from the wreckage of the season.

Wenger has another year left on his contract and I'd like him to see it through regardless or what happens over the final nine matches. The problems are more to do with the ownership of the club, and getting a new manager in would not alter that. The club have to change their whole philosophy or we will have to accept that the top 4 and the odd cup run will be the limit of our ambitions for the foreseeable future.

Of course things could be much, much worse, but we are The Arsenal. We have a rich history and we should be challenging for honours. The frustrating thing is we are so close; maybe just three or four players away from matching the likes of Barca and Bayern Munich.

So a season that promised so much is now just 90 minutes away from being over. Victory at Goodison could ignite a run-in to defy all the odds but I am not convinced it will happen. The Barca match will have taken its toll and I expect a tired Arsenal to limp to defeat, Lukaku perhaps proving the difference.

Ten-men Gunners keep title chances alive

2016-03-06T20:05:00.000+00:00

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 ARSENAL 2

by Richard Butler

WHAT A DIFFERENCE a few days makes. They say a week is a long time in politics but in football it is even longer.

After shocking performances over the previous six days against Manchester United and Swansea City which lacked the necessary spirit and character of an Arsenal side, this draw at White Hart Lane epitomised everything that The Arsenal is all about.

1-0 up and cruising at the home of their neighbours, it all looked to be going wrong early in the second half when Francis Coquelin was shown a second yellow card for a nonsensical challenge on Harry Kane. The two Spurs' goal which followed in space of less than two minutes appeared to not only seal this result but also end once and for all the Gunners title challenge.

But from out nowhere this much criticised Arsenal side dug deep to draw level, and in the end they might even have snatched all three points. Football, eh? Bloody hell!!

Wenger was understandably delighted with the point but also disappointed it was not more. He said: “It was vital for us [to get something] today. We come out of the match with regrets as I couldn't see how we would drop points when we were 1-0 up and 11 against 11.

“After the shock of going down to ten men and then down 2-1 and we have shown a great response again to all the people who doubt our character.”

Spurs' boss, Mauricio Pochettino, felt his side had thrown it away. He said: “I think yes it is [a missed opportunity]. We feel disappointed for the last ten or fifteen minutes but we need to recognise too that the effort from our players was fantastic.

“I think we played much better than Arsenal and we created more chances. We tried to push and score the third goal but we took risks and unluckily for us they scored for 2-2.”

This was billed as the biggest North London derby in history and the day the power shift was meant to finally move from N5 to N17.

But Wenger's side had not read the script. Despite a nervy start in which David Ospina, in for the injured Petr Cech for his first Premier League appearance of the season, produced a smart save to deny Eric Lamela, Arsenal grew into the match.

And just before half time, they grabbed an unlikely lead with a goal of real beauty. Danny Welbeck did well down the left and when his low cross found Hector Bellerin, the Spaniard's pass was neatly back-heeled into the net by Aaron Ramsey.

The Welshman has been criticised in recent weeks for a series of poor performances in a central midfield role, and his selection on the right here ahead of midweek goalscorer, Joel Campbell, was a shock. But he does have goals in him and this moment perfectly illustrated what he brings to this team.

But when Coquelin, impressive up until then, sliced down Kane on the near touchline just ten minutes into the second half to receive a second yellow card from referee Michael Oliver, it looked all over for Wenger's men.

Indeed within five minutes, Toby Alderweireld had fired Spurs level from a corner poorly defended by Arsenal, and when Kane then curled home a delicious second after a mistake from the otherwise outstanding Per Mertersacker, it sent Pochettino's side to the top of the Premier League table.

With so much written about Arsenal's supposed lack of character and spirit there appeared to be no way back. But perhaps aided by a home side who appeared to not quite be able to believe the position they now found themselves in, the ten men drew level with fourteen minutes left.

Again Bellerin created the opportunity with a lovely ball into the area and Alexis Sanchez, another to have been off the boil in recent matches, whipped a first-time shot across Hugo Lloris into the far corner of the net to send the travelling fans behind the goal into ecstasy.

In fact Wenger's men, character and spirit very much to the fore, almost won it in stoppage time. Ramsey, who had covered every blade of grass, made one last lung-bursting run into the penalty area but just as he looked set to fire home, Kevin Wimmer got across to deflect his effort over the top.

So a draw; a result that does not really help either side. Leicester City, who won at Watford, have increased their lead at the top to five points with just nine games remaining. Arsenal are a further three adrift.

Of course nothing is decided yet. In this of all seasons it is impossible to predict what twists and turns lie ahead. But you certainly get the feeling that this was a big chance missed for Spurs. It is over twenty years since they last finished above their neighbours in the Premier League. A win here would have given them a six point advantage. Low on confidence and down to ten men, Arsenal was there for the taking.

This is potentially the best chance either of these two sides will get to win the title but on this evidence neither look capable of doing so.

Spurs' problems seem to be tiredness from a long season, not helped by a small squad and a run in the Europa League, and an over-reliance on Kane. The 22-year old Englishman has undoubted talent: 51 goals in his last 91 appearances demonstrates that.

But he also wastes plenty of opportunities for his team with a shoot on sight policy, often refusing to pass to a better positioned team mate if he thinks there is a minuscule chance of him scoring. When it comes off, as it did spectacularly here, everything appears rosy. But all too often good moves break down with a poor shot from a tight angle when a pass would have been the better option.

Arsenal, on the other hand, can take a lot of encouragement from this spirited comeback. A good result against Spurs often leads to a strong run in, and they will certainly need one if they are to haul back the leaders.

With more attacking options than any of their title rivals, Manchester City excluded, it would be foolish to bet against the Gunners. But they will possibly need seven wins from their last nine matches, a big ask when you consider the fact that they have failed to win more than three in a row since October.

So in a season with not one outstanding side, this title is literally anyone's. Good for the neutral, perhaps, but possibly not good for the game in this country as a whole. Not that either of these two North London rivals will care about that should they lift the trophy in May.

Another home defeat to Swansea; the point of no return?

2016-03-03T11:43:00.000+00:00

ARSENAL 1 SWANSEA CITY 2

By Ricky Butler

WHEN A TEAM is battling for the title the minimum you expect is to see a bit fighting spirit on the pitch. But this meek surrender to a weakened Swansea City side was painful to watch.

You could point to the fact that we hit the woodwork three times. Or that Mesut Ozil was fouled in the build up to the Swans' first goal. Or that Ashley Williams' winner was offside. But none of that can disguise the fact that this performance was nowhere near good enough.

After a bright start which had seen the recalled Joel Campbell give us an early lead, we completely fell apart after the Swansea equaliser. The players seem to lack not only confidence but also direction.

I actually think the problem is that Arsene Wenger has them believing that they are better than they actually are. So when things don't go well and we get turned over by poor sides like Swansea, the players are looking around wondering what the hell is going on.

Aaron Ramsey is case in point. Apart from half a season back at the start of 2013-14, the guy has been poor since his dreadful injury yet Wenger insists on picking him every week. Clearly this sends out the message that he must be doing okay.

Yes, Ramsey has lots of energy and covers an incredible amount of ground. He can make some great, late runs into the box. But he can't do the basics such as pass to a team-mate, tackle or shoot. He wants to play centrally yet when he has done so he looks out of his depth and gives the ball away more than any other player.

We have missed Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere, there is no doubt about that. Both can carry the ball in midfield, drive us forward, something neither Ramsey nor Francis Coquelin are capable of doing. New signing Mohammed Elneny could fulfil that role yet Wenger rarely uses him.

Alexis Sanchez is another to be suffering at the moment. In fact bar a run of five or six games in the autumn, he has been poor all season. This match summed up his recent problems. A simple first half chance and he completely missed his kick. This is a world class player and not for the first time in recent games, he fails to connect with the ball.

Wenger has said he is just coming back from injury and needs time to regain his sharpness, yet he has played several games now and appears to getting progressively worse with each one.

I have always supported the manager despite the evidence piling up against him. But even I am struggling now. The decision to take off Campbell last night, easily our best player, was baffling. Wenger said he was looking tired having not played a for a while. But that's only because you have failed to pick him, Wenger, despite the poor form of Alexis and Theo Walcott.

In his 70 minutes against Swansea, the Costa Rican had more influence on the match than either Sanchez or Walcott have had in the last 10 put together.

Danny Welbeck, a scorer in his two league matches since returning from injury, started on the bench. Why? Surely he needs game time, like Alexis, to get back to full match fitness.

It is just baffling.

The frustrating thing is we were playing so well before Christmas. We had the best record in the calendar year of 2015. Most wins, most points, most goals scored. But the 4-0 defeat at Southampton on Boxing Day seems to have derailed our season, just like the heavy defeat at Liverpool did two years ago.

Our home form has not been great either. From the opening day defeat against West Ham we have rarely hit the heights at Emirates. We have scored just 19 league goals at home, less than Newcastle United. On just two occasions have we scored more than twice in a match at home.

In all fairness we could play this game against Swansea 10 times and we'd win nine. If either Sanchez or Olivier Giroud had scored in the first half instead of hitting the woodwork, we would have won comfortably. But as soon as we conceded the confidence ebbed away.

So when we went 2-1 down with a little over fifteen minutes to play, instead of rising to the challenge and throwing everything at Swansea, we retreated into our shell. Players who earlier in the season where giving their all to ensure we got the result were scared to take a chance.

No balls were put into the box for Giroud to attack. Too many square passes and no movement. This was not the performance of a team who believes they can win the title. It was the performance of a team lacking leadership and direction.

Successful teams, and by successful I mean teams that win titles, roll up their sleeves up when things go against them. Playing poorly we can all accept. But giving up? No way.

And so on to Spurs. Knowing us, we will probably go there and win, giving us all false hope again. But I won't be fooled. I said back in 2013 that I believed this group would win the title by 2016. I honestly thought they would. I felt they were growing together as a squad and with the additions of Ozil, Sanchez and Petr Cech, we had the world class players we had been lacking.

Back-to-back FA Cup wins convinced me even more that this would be our year. The collapse of Chelsea and Manchester City merely strengthened that belief. But I have now conceded defeat. I was wrong. For all their ability, and despite recent performances they do have plenty of ability, they will never have the mental toughness required to win the title. And for that Wenger must take the blame.

So as much as it pains me to say it, it is now time for change. I love Wenger and really hope that he can go out on a high. He deserves that. A record third straight FA Cup win would be a great way to go. 20 years that has seen some unimaginable highs should not end with the whimper of another failed title challenge.

I am old enough to remember the demise of George Graham. This current situation reminds me of that. A team drifting along going nowhere fast. A manager running out of ideas. It was said Graham went due to the 'bung' he received but that was merely an excuse to get rid of a manager who had gone stale.

We were all upset for a while but we supported the club and soon we were rewarded with the genius that was Wenger. We have now come full circle and I have no doubt we will be rewarded again.

Wenger, your players have let you down but you must take responsibility. The same mistakes are being made, week in, week out, season after season. A fresh approach is needed. I'm sorry it has come to this but, bye bye, Arsene, and thanks for the memories. The King is dead, long live the King...

Hope still springs eternal

2016-02-29T15:44:00.001+00:00

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

2016-02-24T00:06:00.001+00:00

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

2016-02-15T11:52:00.003+00:00

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

2016-02-10T12:23:00.001+00:00

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

Stoke City 0 - 0 Arsenal

2016-01-18T18:09:00.001+00:00

By Richard Butler

STOKE AWAY. Two words that install fear into every Arsenal fan. How can one team and one ground have caused us so many sleepless nights over the years?

Of course this is not the same physical, long ball Stoke team of the Tony Pulis era. But while they play much better football these days under Mark Hughes, the presence of Ryan Shawcross in the team means events from the past will never quite be forgotten.

But the improved spectacle now being offered at the Britannia is wasted on these home fans. They are stuck in a 1980s time-warp. The sick chanting and booing aimed at Aaron Ramsey, who's only crime is to have had his leg shattered by that thug Shawcross, showed the Stoke fans for what they really are; uneducated morons.

This was not Ramsey's best game of the season, in the circumstances how could it have been, but the way he has fought back from such an horrendous, career threatening injury deserves respect. The guy has developed into one of the best box-to-box midfielders in European football and has, of course, scored the winning goal in an FA Cup final.

This summer he will playing for Wales in the European Championships, the first time his country has qualified for a major tournament since 1958, and it was the performances of Ramsey that went a long way to helping them achieve that goal.

Shawcross, on the other hand, is stealing a living as a professional footballer. He has been described as an old fashioned centre half. Basically this means he would not look out of place in local, park football. But I have seen much better players than him playing in Sunday League.

Apparently the main reason for the Stoke fans hostility towards Ramsey was his refusal to accept a written apology sent to him by Shawcross in the aftermath of that 'tackle' in 2010. But by accepting the apology it would have been condoling that kind of behaviour on the pitch.

And it is not like Shawcross has learnt from it. Over the years I have still seen him flying into tackles and injuring other players with his recklessness. So, Stoke fans, if you really want to boo anyone, boo Shawcross. The guy is a disgrace. But then again you deserve each other.

But I digress...

Coming just four days after a tough trip to Liverpool, and missing the creative genius of Mesut Ozil, this was always going to be a big ask.

In the past we would have capitulated. Indeed the corresponding fixture here just over a year ago saw us 3-0 down at half time. But this team has a tougher, more resilient look to it these days. And in the final reckoning this could well go down as a very good point.

Lets remember that Manchester City were blown away here a few weeks ago. Chelsea and Manchester United were also beaten, while Leicester were held to a draw. None of the big sides ever find it easy here.

So in sub-zero temperatures and with a hostile home crowd this was all about standing up and being counted. It was a test we passed with flying colours.

In fact had it not been for two great saves by Stoke goalkeeper, Jack Butland, either side of the break, both to deny Olivier Giroud, we would have got the result we wanted.

The first chance, just before half time, was the big one. In a game like this the first goal is vital, and had we gone in front at that stage there is no doubt we would have gone on to win.

As has been the case in recent weeks the chance was created by Joel Campbell. Needing someone to step up in the absence of Alexis Sanchez, the Costa Rican has done just that with a series of top quality performances.

But when his lovely defence-splitting pass had sent Giroud clear, the Stoke goalkeeper was out quickly to deny the Frenchman. Cue the same old 'Arsenal need a world class striker' cliché.

But Giroud did very little wrong. He opened up his body well as Butland came out and was simply denied but a very good save. We could have spent £90 million on another striker in the transfer window but there is no guarantee that they would have scored in that same situation.

Giroud's second half header was also unlucky. Again Butland showed his international pedigree with a smart save down to his left. Sometimes you just have to praise the goalkeeper. On another day both chances would have gone in and Giroud would have been the hero. But that is the life of a striker.

Talking about goalkeepers. The £10m Arsene Wenger invested in Petr Cech last summer might just prove to be the best £10m ever spent. You do not realise the importance of a world class goalkeeper until you actually have one. And Cech is still one of the best in the business.

His double save in the second half not only ensured we left here with a point but also showed his value to this team. Without Ozil, Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck, we lacked the creativity to win the game. But without Cech we would have lost it. And in the final analysis that could prove to be the difference between finishing first and second in such a tight title race.

So despite only two points out of a possible six over the last week or so it is hard to feel too disappointed. The frustration is over the late goal conceded at Anfield as four points would have been an exceptional return from two such tough away games.

But two is by no means a disaster. We are still top and have played two home games less than City. With their away form even more shaky than ours, that could just prove crucial in the final reckoning.

It was suggested that we may have better winning at Anfield and losing here as three points is better than two. But I believe not losing either game will be far more important in the long run. Avoiding defeat at Stoke is also a sign that this group have grown together this season.

With some key players due to return imminently things are looking good. Beat Chelsea at the Emirates next Sunday and that momentum could well propel us over the line.

And who knows, in May we may well look back on Stoke away as the game that won us the title!

Liverpool 3 - 3 Arsenal

2016-01-14T14:07:00.001+00:00

By Richard Butler

TWO POINTS dropped or one point gained? That is the question following this exciting draw at Anfield last night.

Of course it is disappointing when you concede a last minute equaliser. But over the 90 minutes there is no doubt that a draw was the most we deserved.

Two years ago we arrived at Anfield sitting on top of the league and were favourites to lift the title. But after a poor start that day we were blown away, 5-1. That result was the start of a mid-season collapse that saw us drop out of the title race. A couple of weeks later we lost 6-0 at Chelsea. After the opening twenty minutes last night, I feared a repeat was on the cards.

But this Arsenal side are made of sterner stuff. Not only did we twice draw level before half time, and all this despite not playing particularity well, but early in the second half we even managed to get our noses in front.

At that stage it looked as though we would go on to take a very important three points. But the longer the game wore on the more likely a Liverpool equaliser became, and although disappointing, it was not really a shock when Joe Allen scored in the final minute. It had been coming.

It is strange how often there is a late goal when we play Liverpool at Anfield. Of course none is more famous than the one Mickey Thomas scored in 1989, but in recent years there have been several.

We lost to an injury time goal in 2004; in the 4-4 draw in 2009 both sides scored in the last minute; in 2012 Robin van Persie scored a late winner; while last year Liverpool equalised in the 97^th minute. So we should have known what to expect.

Many fans were bemoaning the substitutions but hindsight is a wonderful thing. If we'd kept a more attacking line up searching for the 4^th goal and conceded, Arsene Wenger would have criticized for not shutting up shop.

He made defensive substitutions in a bid to shore things up and he gets accused of sitting back and inviting pressure. Unless we win every single game it seems some people will never be satisfied.

But it is hard to criticize anyone last night. It was simply one of the games of the season. From first minute to last it was played at a high tempo and was more like a basketball match. Real end-to-end stuff with a strange mixture of Champions League attacking coupled with Sunday League defending.

It led to an exciting game but possibly explains why English clubs have had such a poor recent record in the Champions League.

So while it has to be looked on as two points dropped, I prefer to look at the positives. Manchester City were held at home by Everton, Spurs lost and we are still top of the table with one game less for the others to catch us.

And what about the performance of Olivier Giroud. He gave a master-class in centre forward play. Okay so he missed an open goal in the first half, just after he had made it 2-2, but he did what all great strikers do; he made up for it with a goal of real quality.

The turn and finish to put us 3-2 ahead was the touch of a genius. Roberto Firmino, who had scored twice early on for Liverpool, tried a similar thing just before the break, but his effort hit the top of the crossbar. Giroud showed him how it should be done.

Of course we needed a fourth goal. I always felt we had gone in front too early. We were stuck in a dilemma; go for the killer goal or hold on to what we had. And once Christian Benteke came on I feared the worst. Not because he is particularly good or that he has ever done much against us in the past, but because it gave Liverpool an outlet.

So it was no real surprise when the big Belgium created the late equaliser, heading down for Allen to score.

If I am being over-critical I would say Petr Cech was slow reacting and should have pushed it around the post. But the guy has saved us so many times this season that that would be extremely harsh. So instead I will blame the wet pitch which added pace to the ball. And Hector Bellerin who was obscuring his view.

But despite the late drama many positives came from the performance. Aaron Ramsey once again showed how much more effective he is playing centrally. In the absence of Santi Cazorla, the Welshman has scored four times in 10 matches. From the same position, Cazorla has not scored in open play for more than a year.

The way he took his goal last night; the third man run into the area and instant finish, is what we miss when he is stuck out wide. As good as Cazorla has been I would like to see him pushed wide on his return, possibly in place of the off form Theo Walcott.

In fact since we lost Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Alexis Sanchez to injury in November we have won seven out of nine matches in all competitions and lost just once. The squad, it seems, is far stronger than it was given credit for.

The emergence of Joel Campbell has been a major feature of those matches. Again last night he was magnificent. Adding creativity to work rate, his performances have meant that we have hardly missed Sanchez at all. In fact now that Sanchez is fit again it would actually be a risk to drop Campbell.

His two assists at Anfield showed exactly what he brings to the team. And rarely can a player have given so much for the cause. Giroud was awarded man of the match but Campbell was surely not far behind.

So another potentially tough away game is out of the way. But its straight on to another this weekend with the trip to Stoke City. It is extremely harsh of the fixture computer to give us these two away matches back-to-back in the same week, while City have two at home, but that is the way it is.

While traditionally we have struggled at Stoke, I am confident this time will be different. We now have a mental strength in the squad sadly lacking in previous years and we have the quality to get the result we need.

Often when we have been poor defensively this season we have really tightened up in the next match. I can see a much more cagey affair at the Britannia with us nicking it 1-0. Four points from these two away matches would be a great return and set us up nicely for the title run in.

So back to the question posed at the start: two points dropped or one point gained? I guess only time will tell.

Garde down!

2015-12-14T17:11:00.002+00:00

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

ASTON VILLA 0 ARSENAL 2

By Ricky Butler at Villa Park

ASTON VILLA is one of the biggest names in English football. A club rich in history and traditional; Villa Park one of last remaining classic English football stadiums.

It therefore gives me no pleasure at all in watching them struggle like this, especially as they have a former Gooner, Remi Garde, in charge.

Of course I was delighted to see us win this game 2-0 and reclaim our place at the top of the Premier League table but it was with a slightly heavy heart.

This has always been one of my favourite away games. Since my first visit to this famous old stadium back in 1982 I have always enjoyed the trips here.

But having watched us pick up our easiest three points of the season so far, I couldn't help but think this could be my last visit here for some considerable time.

The Championship is now full of big clubs who were once at the very top of English football: Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County, Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers, to name but a few.

Relegation for Villa, and on this showing that looks inevitable, would see them join that list and you have to fear for their future. The Championship is possibly the hardest league to get out of and despite their reputation, Villa would by no means be certain of bouncing straight back up.

It seems hard to believe that our last visit here, 15 months ago, saw Villa top the table with a large, expectant crowd filling the stadium. Our 3-0 win that day probably contributed to their subsequent brush with relegation and to rub salt into the wounds we then thrashed them 4-0 at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

But despite being unbeaten here in our last 16 league visits, I have to say I was a little apprehensive about our chances this time. We have a habit of dropping points after a European away match and we had given an awful lot in Anthems in midweek.

With a squad stretched to the limit there was not even any scope to rest anyone so it was the same XI that started in Greece which took the field here.

There was no doubt we needed a fast start. The longer it stayed at 0-0 the harder it would be for us to find a breakthrough as the legs would inevitably become heavy. But thankfully it was the pantomime villain, former Spurs full back Alan Hutton, who provided us with just that.

Mathieu Flamini released Theo Walcott down the left and after getting the wrong side of the Villa defender, the winger was pulled down for what looked like a blatant penalty.

At first referee Kevin Friend appeared to wave away our appeals but he then changed his mind, presumably on the word of his assistant, and pointed to the spot. It was the correct decision.

Olivier Giroud, the midweek hat-trick hero, stepped up and confidently tucked away his 50^th Premier League for the club, only the 7^th player to reach that particular milestone.

The celebrations in the away end were so vigorous that my mobile phone, tucked away in my pocket, was smashed in the process. The dangers of an away goal when you are chasing the title!!

A one goal lead had not been sufficient in our previous two away games, at West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City, but this Villa side are not bottom without good reason, and aside from the lively Scott Sinclair, they never really looked like finding a way back.

And when we scored a second, seven minutes before the break, the result was sealed. The move started with a great tackle from Aaron Ramsey just outside our penalty area and when the ball found its way to Walcott, he sent Mesut Ozil clear.

One-on-one with Brad Guzan, the German could easily have scored himself but he continued his incredible run of assists with a simple square ball for Ramsey to tap home. 2-0. Game over.

Credit to Villa for a much improved second half display, although much of that was down to us looking leggy and settling for what we had.

Needing a clean sheet to equal the Premier League record, held by ex-Villa stopper David James, Petr Cech had a fairly comfortable afternoon against the least potent attack in the Premier League.

Prior to kick off I had feared the presence of Rudi Gestede, given our inability to defend set-pieces and his strength in the air, but he failed to receive a decent cross all afternoon and looked uninterested for much of the contest.

The nearest Villa came to a consolation was a thrilling late run by substitute Adama Traore which would have been a goal of the season contender had he not fired into the side netting after bursting past four, albeit half-hearted, challenges.

Despite being top of the table the mood in the away end at the end was somewhat subdued. There is incredibly still a feeling of 'Wenger out' among a section of the support, and even Giroud, in his current rich vein of form, has his critics. It appears there is no pleasing some people.

The problem seems to lie in the fact that many of today's fans cannot remember anything before the millennium. Throughout this match a group of lads in front of us were singing songs from the 1980s and 90s and they were met with blank looks from many around us.

The modern football fan expects instant success and believes everything they are told on Sky Sports and the BBC. No one in the media, expect possibly Thierry Henry and Ian Wright, expect us to win the title this season so many fans also believe we can't, despite the evidence to the contrary every week in front of their eyes.

But enough of our problems. Villa are a club in real crisis. Speaking to several of their fans on the walk back to the car you certainly get the impression that they have accepted their fate.

Personally, I feel that with the addition of a decent striker in January they would have a chance as they certainly have the spirit. Garde is an intelligent coach and has the ability to turn it around but he needs to build his own team. Currently too many of these players are not giving him enough.

Having been original members of both the Football League and the Premier League it would a real shame to lose a club like Aston Villa. But football is not based on sentiment alone.

We needed the points ourselves and were extremely efficient in getting them. Manchester City drew 0-0 here a few weeks ago so this was a big three points for us. Not our greatest, most fluent performance, perhaps, but a vital win nonetheless.

Next up is a potential title decider against City on Monday week. Alexis Snachez may be fit to return and what a boost that would be at such a crucial part of the season.

No Greek tragedy for Arsenal

2015-12-10T16:58:00.002+00:00

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH DAY SIX

Olympiacos 0 Arsenal 3

By Ricky Butler

IT WAS billed as mission impossible for Arsenal in Athens last night but that did not prove to be the case as Arsene Wenger's side once again made it through to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Olivier Giroud may have grabbed the headlines with his first hat-trick for the club but it was the character and spirit of the team that really shone through on a memorable night for the North Londoners.

This Arsenal side has often been accused of lacking mental strength and the ability to dig deep when it really matters. But last night in the intimidating atmosphere of the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, the Gunners showed they are up for the battles that lay ahead.

This will now join an impressive list of away results in the Champions League for Arsene Wenger's side. While lacking the glamour of wins at places like Madrid, Milan, Munich and Rome, last night in the ancient city of Athens, Arsenal produced a performance as good as anything that had preceded it.

After two defeats from their opening two group games, Arsenal looked to have left themselves with to much to do if they were to make it through to the last 16 for a 16^th year in a row. But after an unexpected 2-0 home win over Bayern Munich, the German champions only defeat in all competitions this season, the stage was set for a shoot-out in the Greek capital.

Needing to better the 3-2 win Olympiacos enjoyed at the Emirates in October, Arsenal looked understandably nervous at the start. And had the hosts scored in this period it would surely have been game over.

But Wenger's men soon settled down, and after the impressive Joel Campbell had set up Mathieu Flamini to hit the bar midway through the first half, Arsenal made the vital 28^th minute breakthrough.

The success of this team has been built around the world class talent of Mesut Ozil, and the club's record signing once again displayed his worth with a wonderful pass inside the full back to release Aaron Ramsey down the left.

The Welshman's first time cross was perfect for the late-arriving Giroud, who's trademark near post header somehow escaped the grasp of Olympiacos' goalkeeper Roberto to squeeze into the net.

With the previously vociferous home fans now all but silenced, the Gunners looked to gain the initiative. And just three minutes into the second period they doubled their advantage.

Again Campbell was at the heart of it, showing great touch and vision to dissect the home defence with a reverse pass which Giroud did not have to break stride to dispatch past Roberto with an instant left-foot finish.

A goal from the Greeks would still have denied Arsenal, but as he has so often done this season, Petr Cech flung himself to his right to tip over a 20-yard drive from Pajtim Kasami.

That proved to be the host's last chance of clinching the Group F runners-up spot as within five minutes it was game over. Nacho Monreal's goal-bound shot struck the arm of defender Omar Elabdellaoui and Giroud completed his first Arsenal hat-trick from the penalty spot.

The French striker seems to attract a lot of unwarranted criticism but this was his 13^th goal of the season, and his 71^st in just 157 Gunners appearances.

While over the last three or four transfer windows many have been calling for Wenger to splash millions on a new striker, there are very few available forwards who boast such an impressive strike rate.

Players like Deigo Costa and Romelu Lukaku are widely praised in the media but Giroud is arguably even better than both.

Aside from his goals, the Frenchman offers so much more. While he may lack that extra yard of pace, his hold up play, touch and movement are exemplary. And as he showed last night, he can produce it when it really matters.

The good news continued for Gunners fans with the return to the starting line up of Theo Walcott after six weeks out with a calf injury.

Employed in a wide position in Athens, Walcott offers the team something extra, and with Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck all out injured, the return of the Englishman could not be better timed.

Of course no one will fancy Arsenal to go much further in this competition as they could face either Barcelona or Real Madrid in the last 16, and a possible re-match with Bayern later on, but having overcome all the odds to make it through the group stage anything is now possible.

Comparisons were made with Liverpool's victory over the Greeks in 2004 when they also had seemed dead and buried in the group stage, and they went on to lift the trophy that season.

Perhaps that is beyond this Arsenal side when you look at who they will have to get past, but with players due to return from injury by the time the knock-out stages resumes in February, they could prove to be the dark horses of the competition.

Before all that, however, Arsenal face a very different challenge when they travel to Premier League basement boys Aston Villa on Sunday. Now managed by former Gunner and friend of Wenger, Remi Garde, it will be a game they are expected to win.

Previously this season they have struggled on the back of a European away trip: losing at Chelsea after Zagreb and drawing with Spurs after Munich, but this a match where nothing less than three points will suffice.

Following a difficult November, Wenger's side now look back to their best and with confidence restored, a place at the top of the Premier League could await come Sunday evening.

All quite on the Weston front - part 76 - The Wilson edition

2015-11-07T21:59:00.002+00:00

EBAC NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
DARLINGTON RA 5 ESH WINNING 1
By Ricky Butler at Brinkburn Road

DARLINGTON RA are my local football club. Lacking the glamour of the likes of nearby Newcastle United and Sunderland, or even Darlington FC themselves, the RA play at Level 10 in the football pyramid.

The club are actually the highest placed side currently playing in the town of Darlington, at least until Darlington FC finally get their move to Blackwell Meadows sorted, and the crowd this season has been boosted by the regular appearances of Eddie Copland and Damian Wheelhouse, joined on this occasion by Paul Stewart.

They may not have much money for fancy new signings and play at a Brinkburn Road ground that has seen better days, but the club represent all that is great about local, non-league football. A friendly welcome, a clubhouse with Sky Sports and a team who are doing remarkably well.

Not a lot can be taken from this comfortable win over struggling Esh Winning (rarely can the word Winning have been used so ironically) but a place in the top six of the Northern League second division, sponsored by Ebac, is some achievement for a club of such meager resources.

With star man Harvey Saunders now departed for the big bucks of Bishop Auckland, the goal-scoring responsibilities lay at the very capable feet of Jim Wilson. His second half hat-trick here, each goal better than the one which preceded it, demonstrated the talent to be found in this little part of County Durham.

At the back, Northern League veteran Mikey Weston is your typical old-fashioned centre half. Strong and powerful in the area, Weston has this season, his first at Brinkburn Road, developed a good partnership at the back with Jacob Wood. But it was the recently returning Liam Brown who stood out at the heart of the RA back four here with a commanding performance.

Strikers of better quality than Esh's Ben Clarke and Brain Harrison will struggle this season to get past the partnership of Weston and Brown, which sounds like a firm of local solicitors or undertakers.

The visitors, starting the day second bottom but keen to impress a new manager, played well enough on a bog of a pitch, only deemed playable after heavy rain by the hard work of the RA players, and twice could have gone in front in the early stages; Brown demonstrating all his defensive qualities with a spectacular goal-line clearance to deny Clarke, before Nathan Graham hit the bar.

But once the Railwaymen went in front midway through the first half there was only going to be one winner. The opener was a scruffy affair; Rob Moncur's mis-hit shot from 20 yards touched home by that man Brown, but this was a rare moment of scrappy play from what was a very enjoyable match.

The second goal, just before the break, was a thing of real beauty and worthy of a bigger audience than the 76 people who had turned down the chance to go Christmas shopping on a damp November afternoon. Not many a defence can stop a well timed, third man run from midfield and Sam England provided just that to finish off a lovely RA move down the Esh right.

But the second half was all about the Wilson Brothers, another name that conjures up images of solicitors or undertakers. With his club captain, Nathan, running the show in midfield, striker Jim showed that there is life after Saunders. His first goal was a move started by a great tackle in the centre circle from Stephen Cheeseman and finished off in great style by Wilson; cutting in from the left to bend the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.

Esh briefly threatened to make a game of it when Graham, their outstanding player on the day, chipped RA 'keeper Phil Pentony from 25 yards, another goal worthy of a wider audience, but Wilson was far from finished just yet.

The RA forward made it 4-1 with a cool, close range effort before the pass of the match from Moncur gave Wilson the chance of his hat-trick, a chance he never looked like missing. 5-1. Game over.

There was certainly enough evidence here to suggest that the Railwaymen could mount a serious challenge from promotion. With mega-bucks South Shields seemingly having the title all but sewn up, the RA are certainly in the mix for one of the other two remaining promotion spots with the likes of Chester-le-Street, Ryhope, Billingham Synthonia and Easington Colliery .

But no one here is getting carried away just yet. It is a long, hard season and the RA do have a tendency of coming down with the Christmas decorations. However, you sense a real buzz about the place this year and if they can keep hold of the likes of Wilson and England then anything is possible.

Next up for the Railwaymen is a trip to Thornaby next weekend before a real six-pointer against Billingham Synthonia here in a fortnight. Now that is one not to be missed...

Wednesday away on a Tuesday? No wonder we were confused

2015-10-28T12:39:00.001+00:00

I HAVE SEEN some dire Arsenal performances over the last 34 years but the one at Hillsborough last night certainly takes some beating.

The early injuries to first the Ox and then Theo left us woefully short of creativity and in the end the youngsters from the Academy were unable to match the hunger and desire of the Wednesday players.

Not that I should have been surprised. Prior to this Capital One Cup tie I had seen Arsenal play at Hillsborough on eight occasions since the mid 1980s and seen us score just once, a header from Steve Bould in a 1-1 draw back in November 1991!!

But this is one of the last remaining classic English football stadiums. Of course the mere mention of its name brings back images of that horrific day in April 1989, but this is one of few stadiums left in this country with any real character.

And when it is full, as it was last night, what an atmosphere is created. Everyone goes on about 'You'll Never Walk Alone' but that just sends you to sleep. Here, the pre-match, 'Hi Ho, Sheffield Wednesday' is a real sight to behold and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. No wonder they have not lost here since February.

And the poor Arsenal youngsters just could not cope. Yes, if the Ox had not been forced off inside five minutes and his replacement, Theo, not followed him to the treatment table fifteen minutes later, it may have been a different story.

But take nothing away from Wednesday, they were nothing short of magnificent from start to finish. Forget the fact that despite an experienced back four and goalkeeper we gifted them all three goals, the Championship side fully deserved their victory.

Hopefully this will be the springboard for them to get back to where they belong. This is certainly one of the biggest clubs in the country and one that deserves to be back in the Premier League. While small clubs with awful stadiums like Bournemouth, QPR, Wigan, Blackpool and Spurs have all enjoyed spells in the top flight in recent years, poor Wednesday have had to suffer the depths of League One.

In fact my last visit here was for a match in the third tier against the mighty Dagenham and Redbridge in 2010. Of course my team didn't score that day either, losing 2-0!

But back to 2015 and an away day that will not live long in the memory. The travelling fans, some 5,000 who had made the trip up the M1, did not stop singing in the second half and certainly deserved better than this.

However, after the early injuries it soon became clear that we were probably not going to see us score. Lacking any creativity in midfield poor Giroud may as well have stayed at home such was the scant service he was provided with. At least he will be well rested for Saturday.

The opening goal was a classic counter attack. Some good work down the left and a lovely pull back was dispatched past Petr Cech by Ross Wallace. But it was the second goal, five minutes before the break, that did for us.

Caught out by a short corner, we never looked likely to deal with the cross and a simple header from Lucas Joao left us with a mountain to climb.

I am not sure what Wenger said at half time but the team were back out early for the second half. 'Maybe we will be up for it,' I thought. But no. Within six minutes we had conceded again thanks to some more sloppy defending from a set piece, and that was that.

At 3-0 down I just wanted to see us score on this ground. Not too much to ask after a wait of almost 24 years!! But the nearest we came was a Mertersaker header which was saved by the Wednesday 'keeper and a late effort from Joel Campbell which curled just wide of the post.

In the overall scheme of things this is not a defeat that we should be too concerned about. In fact being out of this competition may well do us a favour, and if we have won the Premier League come May no one will even give it a seconds thought.

But the performance was a little worrying. If these are the best lads we currently have coming through from our Academy then we really are in trouble. But worse than that was the display of the senior players.

You would imagine that those who are not playing regularly in the Premier League, such as Debuchy, Gibbs, Chambers and Flamini, would have been keen to impress. But the phrase 'going through the motions' pretty much sums up their performances and that quite frankly is unacceptable.

And while we are on the subject, what the hell has happened to Debuchy? When he first arrived from Newcastle last summer, the French right back looked a terrific player. But since his injury and subsequent loss of his place to the excellent Bellerin, he has been nothing short of abysmal.

Last night he did not look like an international footballer. In fact he barely looked like he had even played the game before. You could have dragged anyone from the crowd last night, except me as I had played 5-a-side at lunchtime and was knackered, and they would have done a better job. Not sure how much he is being paid but the guy is cheating a living if this is the best he can produce. Wenger, sort it out!!

The only real positive on the night was the performance of young substitute Kyrstian Bielik who looked a decent player when he came on. Much is expected of him and on this evidence he could well fulfill that promise.

And the less said about the weird kit the better. Why on earth did we not play in red and white as we have done on previous visits here??

So the quadruple dream is over. To be honest I'd have settled for the treble anyway.

Footgolf - the Infoserve Open 2015

2015-10-05T21:56:00.000+01:00

COMBINING TWO of your favorite things can often be the recipe for disaster. Tea and gravy, for example? So whoever thought of combining football with golf was clearly off his rocker. Or was he??

This weekend I experienced the new phenomenon of Footgolf for the first time and I have to say it was an unparalleled success.

The idea is simple. Basically, you kick a football from tee to hole in the least amount of kicks possible. In other words it is golf but without the clubs and with a larger ball!!

To experience it at its best you really need a large group of you, preferably most of which will have little or no footballing or golfing ability. Being proficient at either sport is not going to help you here, I'm afraid!

So on Friday afternoon, the work gang and myself made our way to Knotty Hill Golf Centre, near Sedgefield, for the first annual Infoserve Open! Entrants on the tee were Mikey Weston, Pete Ironside, Eddie Copland, Darren Cronin, Damo Wheelhouse, Nicky Taylor and myself.

Pre-tournament favourite was obviously footballing superstar Mikey, although the fact he was unable to head the ball was clearly going to count against him. Me, I fancied Pete to do well. When he has his competitive head on he takes some stopping.

The outsider was clearly Nicky, although she certainly came dressed for the part; looking every inch the golf pro in a cool black tracksuit combo!!

The first hole was a simple par three so inevitably we all struggled to get below a 6!! Mikey's tee shot ended up in the trees to the right, quickly followed by Eddie, so it was Pete who grabbed an early lead with a steady 5.

The next two or three holes were fairly straightforward as we all got into the swing of it, mostly scoring between 4 and 7. Although Eddie's 12 at the second left him with some work to do. I was handily placed in the top three at this stage and was confident of a strong late run to the finish.

The fifth hole, however, changed everything. Situated half way up a hill the size of Roseberry Topping, the scenario was clear. Miss with your putt and the ball would roll further away from the hole than when you started!!

No one scored well here although there was no excuse for my atrocious effort!! In my defence my 6th shot had hit the pin and bounced out while my seventh then rolled around the edge of the hole before disappearing back down the hill. But after about an hour I finally managed to sink it on shot 22 to ironic cheers from the gallery!!

It was now becoming a three horse race between Mikey, Pete and surprise leader Toe-punt Darren. Darren ended up in the bunker on the next hole but recovered well for a good 4, while Mikey and Pete kept in touch with a 5 each. So the final three holes would decide the winner!

My concern was trying to avoid the wooden spoon but barring a late collapse of Biblical proportions from Eddie and Nicky, this was an honour which was looking unavoidable! Just as well my ego is small enough to allow it. I mean can you imagine the face on Damo, Pete or Eddie if they had finished last??!!

The final hole was a monster par 5 which suited Mikey and his massive defensive clearances. Needing to score lower than Darren and Pete to secure the prize, a tidy 5 was enough to give him the gold medal.

In the end Darren held off the challenge of Pete to finish second, while Damo finished in a very satisfying fourth. At the other end of the table, Eddie held off Nicky to claim fifth while I finished last thanks to that nightmare hole on the hill!! Even now, four days later, I am still waking up in a cold sweat seeing my ball rolling slowly back down the slope for the 15th time!!

So all-in-all a very enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours on a sunny, autumnal evening. The banter was flowing and the game itself is actually really good fun.

However, next time I will come prepared. Mikey, you have been warned...that title will be mine!!!

Not so quiet on the Weston front!

2015-09-28T20:55:00.001+01:00

EBAC NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
DARLINGTON RA 3 HEBBURN TOWN 0
By Ricky Butler at Brinkburn Road

TEN YEARS AGO this week, Darlington RA returned to the Northern League and this proved to be the perfect way to celebrate that particular anniversary.

After the disappointment of seeing their hero, Mikey Weston, left on the bench for the midweek cup defeat to Jarrow Roofing, the Infoserve gang voted with their feet this time; preferring to stay in the pub or go shopping than make the weekly pilgrimage to Brinkburn Road.

And just to prove why he shouldn't have been left out of the Jarrow match, Mikey not only marked Hebburn danger-man, the giant Channon North, out of the match but also scored with a trademark header to seal this victory. (Please note, this paragraph was written by Mr Weston himself!!!)

Mikey Weston; on the mark for Darlington RA

In the unusually warm autumnal sunshine, the first half was a mundane affair with neither side creating very much. With the absence of young Shane Campbell in the crowd, disappointingly no longer an Infoserver either, there was literally nothing to get excited about as the meager crowd slopped off for some much needed half time refreshment.

However, it all kicked off in the second half. On the hour a routine free kick to Hebburn ended with the RA's Joe Peel being shown a straight red card for an apparent elbow on a visiting player. It looked no more than a case of handbags but the referee saw it differently and the hosts were down to ten men.

But when the going gets tough, the tough get going and just seven minutes later the RA went in front with a fine strike from Darren Kokes. Anyone who has followed my blogs over the last few years will remember Kokesy from his Northallerton days. A wholehearted, unselfish player, Kokesy's work often goes unrewarded so it was great to see him get on the score-sheet for the first time this season.

Darren Kokes opened the scoring

Despite their one man disadvantage, the RA doubled their lead soon after with what is fast becoming a regular occurrence in these parts; a wonder goal from young Harvey Saunders. Without wishing to sound like his agent, I have to say the lad is a talent. This goal; cutting in from the right before firing in at the near post, once again illustrated why he will be playing at a much higher level before too long. Of course I would be happy to take an agents fee when he does join Newcastle United...

The North-East's next big thing; young Harvey Saunders

But the highlight was still to come. With just over ten minutes left, Infoserve's very own Mikey Weston, rose like a salmon at the far post to head home the third. He now claims to have scored over 200 goals in his football career but if you take out all of the ones he has scored on Football Manager you are only left with about 10. Even so, not bad for a fat lad who plays at the back!!!

So the equilibrium was restored. Mikey was back in the side, the RA won and the sun was shining. All in all a very good Saturday. Next up for the RA is a midweek trip to Heaton Stannington before Hall Road Rangers visit in the FA Vase next weekend. Rumour has it that the Infoserve gang are due to return for that one...

All quiet on the Weston front - Part two

2015-09-23T00:27:00.002+01:00

BROOKS MILESON LEAGUE CUP FIRST ROUND
DARLINGTON RA 1 JARROW ROOFING 2
By Ricky Butler at Brinkburn Road

IN WHAT is fast becoming the weekly Infoserve night out, I once again found myself at Brinkburn Road to watch Darlington RA face Jarrow Roofing in the Northern League Brooks Mileson League Cup.

Accompanied once again by work colleagues, Eddie, Damo, Shane and, adding some much needed glamour; Nicky, this week we were joined by Gauchy and Nicky's two children; meaning that between us we made up more than half of the crowd!

With most of us there to watch another Infoserve legend, Mikey Weston, you can imagine the disappointment when we discovered he was only starting on the bench. In fact most of the team which had performed so well against Hartlepool last week were 'rested,' including young striker Harvey Saunders.

Jarrow have come a long way in a short space of time, largely due to the financial input of manager Richie McLoughlin. Now plying their trade in Division One, the visitors from Tyneside started this tie as clear favorites, perhaps explaining the RA team selection.

The first half went very much with the form book. Jarrow were the better team and fully deserved their 2-0 half time lead. The first goal was a great strike from Adam Rundle, cutting in from the left before drilling an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net.

The general view from around us however, was that Mikey would have 'smashed him' before he had the chance to score. And judging by his foul mood at work all day, I'd say that may well have been the case!!

The second goal was a gift by RA goalkeeper Rob Gustard. At first deciding to come for a long ball, the stopper then made the fatal mistake of changing his mind, allowing John Campbell to beat him and roll the ball into the empty net.

To try and liven up a rather drab first half Shane was tempted to do a streak and even stripped down to his boxer shorts before thinking better of it. Being a chilly night he decided it would probably do him little favours, even though most of Darlington has already seen all he has to offer!!!

Late out for the second half, the RA certainly upped their game after the restart. The introduction of Saunders, who had originally been named in the starting line up but then withdrawn due to an 'injury,' certainly looked fit and gave the hosts some much needed impetus.

But the longer the half wore on the more we were resigning ourselves to the fact that this week we would not be seeing Mikey miss headers or score own goals. When the third and final substitution was made with fifteen minutes left we knew our night was ruined before it had really begun.

In the end the RA did pull a goal back, a fine header from substitute Jordan Hanratty, but it was too little too late. So a night that had promised so much ended in disappointment, both for the RA and the Infoserve crew who sloped off to the bar to drawn their sorrows.

In the overall scheme of things defeat in a competition they had little chance of winning may not be the end of the world for RA manager Warren Moncur. But then again he does not have to sit next to Mikey at work tomorrow. The words bear and sore head spring to mind.

Still there is another match on Saturday as the RA celebrate 10 years since their first ever Northern League home match with the visit of Hebburn Town. With both Mikey and young Harvey expected to be in the starting line up, another Infoserve day out may well be on the agenda.

All quiet on the Weston front

2015-09-17T23:00:00.001+01:00

DURHAM CHALLENGE CUP

DARLINGTON RA 2 HARTLEPOOL UNITED 4

By Ricky Butler at Brinkburn Road

FOR ONCE I was not at a Northern League ground to film a match but to just simply enjoy the football on offer. And there was much to enjoy.

The RA are a much changed side from the last time I saw them play just over a year ago. In fact the only players I recognised were Darren Kokes and Mike Colman from my days at Northallerton, and my work colleague, Mikey Weston.

To say Mikey is a no-nonsense defender would be an understatement. This guy was born to defend! Ironically the last time I saw him play was for Willington in the match that will be forever remembered for my infamous report!

Thankfully there was no such drama this time, although the game had been hyped up ever since the draw was made.

Well when I say hyped up what I basically mean is Shane from work running around telling everyone how great it was going to be!

Such a frenzy was created over social media that not only did the club employ a local security company to ensure the night ran smoothly but the BBC selected the match to be featured on a new series on grass-roots football. The local police even took down the RA website and Facebook page as a precaution!

But in the end the night passed off without a hitch, bar a flare thrown onto the pitch in the second half. The anticipated gate of 2,000 failed to materialise, although the crowd of over 300 was much needed for a club like the RA who do not have the cash of many of their Northern League rivals.

In truth I had only really come to watch Mikey. He sits next to me at work and having to suffer his horrendous banter every day this was my chance for revenge. Or so I thought.

But despite coming up against lads half his age, the big fella coped admirably. In fact I would go as far as to say he bossed it! The only ammunition I had for the following morning at the office was a late header which he put over the bar and even that was clutching at straws!

However, it was not just about a certain Mr Weston. Up front for the RA was a young lad called Harvey Saunders who completely stole the show. The way he took his second half goal showed the touch and composure that many of the Hartlepool U18 players would have benefited from.

The RA actually took an early lead when Saunders was fouled just outside the penalty area and Jim Wilson curled a wonderful free kick into the top corner. In fact the hosts were the better side in the opening period with the pace of Saunders and Wilson a constant threat.

But the young Hartlepool team looked much more dangerous after the break. They were level with a slightly dubious penalty (according to Mikey!) and then took the lead with a swift counter attack.

The RA were not unduly concerned and equalised soon after with an exquisite goal from Saunders. His first touch was to kill the ball dead and then when it broke to him in the area, he dummied the keeper before slotting into the empty net. And all this while carrying a hamstring injury that forced him off soon after. No wonder so many professional clubs are looking at him.

But almost immediately Hartlepool regained the lead with a superb strike from a tight angle before adding a fourth on the break. That was not quite the end of the drama as Kokes fired wide from a good position before Weston's late header ended up halfway down Brinkburn Road.

So all in all a good night's football. A thoroughly entertaining game which I am sure will make great viewing on BBC 3 later this year.

Having been a long standing supporter of Northern League football, and a former RA player myself (albeit for the Vets team) I have now vowed to pay a visit to Brinkburn Road far more regularly this season, if only so I will be there to see Mikey fall over the ball or score an own goal!!

On the evidence of this 90 minutes however, I may be waiting a long time...

Cech mate as Arsenal draw another home blank

2015-08-25T20:17:00.000+01:00

ARSENAL 0 LIVERPOOL 0

By Ricky Butler at Emirates Stadium

SO IN THE END IT WAS A GAME OF TWO HALVES AND A TALE OF TWO GOALKEEPERS.

In a first period dominated by the Merseysiders, Arsenal stopper Petr Cech produced two world class saves to deny Christian Benteke and Phillipe Coutinho. But after the break, as Arsenal got on top, it was Simon Mignolet 's turn to shine; denying Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

So nil-nil but certainly not the bore draw the scoreline suggests.

While Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool dominated the opening period it was largely down to the ineptitude of Arsenal's play. Rarely has an Arsene Wenger side miss-placed as many passes as they did in the opening 45 minutes last night at the Emirates.

Poor Callum Chambers was the chief culprit. The 20-year old defender, in as a late replacement for flu victim Per Mertesaker, looked like a Sunday league player suddenly thrust into the Premier League limelight in a first half performance as poor as any seen at this magnificent stadium.

Looking ill-at-ease from the start, Chambers would have cost his side at least three goals had it not been for the inspirational performances of Cech and centre-back partner Gabriel.

One save from Cech, to deny Benteke from point blank range, was as good anything he has produced in a glorious career. Although when he later tipped Coutinho's curling effort onto the post; that was arguably an even better stop.

Cech denies Benteke a certain goal

And in between, Brazilian defender Gabriel got Chambers off the hook again with a wonderful block to deny James Milner, after the former Southampton youngster had gifted the visitors possession on the edge of his own penalty area.

Yet for all Liverpool's dominance it was Arsenal who should have been ahead at half time. Just eight minutes had elapsed when Ramsey finished off a lovely pass from Santi Cazorla. But for the second Monday night in a row the linesman flag came to Liverpool's rescue when TV replays suggested that Ramsey was clearly onside.

But whatever Wenger said at half time, and he is not noted for his hair-dryer, it certainly did the trick. Right from the off the Gunners carried the fight to their visitors but they ran into a well drilled defensive unit who are yet to concede a goal this season. And when they did manage to breach the black-shirted Liverpool wall, Mignolet stood firm.

The Belgium goalkeeper turned away a close-range, scuffed shot from Giroud before doing even better to keep out Ramsey's deflected effort and a late pile-driver from substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Arsenal became more and more desperate as the clock ticked down, throwing on speedsters Theo Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain, but it proved to be in vain as honours finished even; the right result on the night.

Wenger, understandably, was disappointed with the disallowed goal. He said: “We scored a regular goal that was disallowed, I don't believe I can do something about it.

"At the end of the day, the referee cancelled out a regular goal. Like it or don't like it, it is a fact. We had chances, but we couldn't finish them off.

"When you play at home and don't win, people always find problems. It is not the result or the complete performance, but we came back in the second half."

Rodgers was delighted with his sides display. He said: “I thought we were very good. First half, Petr Cech was the man of the match. Second half, we were always a threat going forward. The players worked ever so hard."

Petr Cech and Benteke embrace at the final whistle

It may be very early days but on this evidence neither side looks like potential champions. Wenger's team are struggling at home, failing to score here for the fifth time in their last six outings, while Liverpool are also lacking a cutting edge, despite the presence of new signing Benteke; just one goal from open play in three games this season says it all.

With a week remaining of the transfer window it would not be a surprise to see both managers adding to their squad. Arsenal desperately need a centre-half and a goal-poacher, while Liverpool need more support for Benteke and someone in midfield to compliment the creative skills of Coutinho.

Arsenal – Cech 9, Bellerín 6, Chambers 5, Gabriel 7, Monreal 8, Coquelin 8 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 7), Cazorla 8, Ramsey 7, Ozil 7, Sanchez 6, Giroud 6 (Walcott 6).

Liverpool – Mignolet 8, Clyne 7, Lovren 7, Skrtel 8, Gomez 7, Milner 7, Lucas 8 (Rossiter 6), Can 8, Firmino 7 (Ibe 6), Coutinho 8 (Moreno 6), Benteke 7.

Referee: M. Oliver 6

MAN OF MATCH - Petr Cech (Arsenal) - After a shaky start to his Arsenal career, the former Chelsea man looked back to his best to deny Liverpool all three points.

A draw is as good as a win...sometimes. An away day at Old Trafford

2015-05-22T16:18:00.001+01:00

MAN. UNITED AWAY. For every football fan it is one of the highlights of the season. And even though we have rarely got a result there over the years, it still remains my favourite away trip.

Matches between the sides these days may lack the passion and importance of the days of Keane and Vieira but when the fixture list first came out last summer and this was down as the last away match, I felt we could be set for something very special.

In the end all that was a stake was the booby prize of avoiding the Champions League play-off. A win would guarantee us third place while even a defeat would not be a disaster with two potentially winnable home games to come.

For young Emerson this was to be his fourth trip to the Theatre of Dreams. As the previous three had finished in 0-2, 2-8 and 0-1 defeats, he was hoping it would be a case of fourth time lucky.

'Don't worry, Son,' I said. 'I have only seen win here three times in about 35 years!'

When visiting Old Trafford we always park in the Lowry Outlet Centre at Salford Quays, opposite Media City. Apart from being just a 10 minute walk from the ground, if you spend a fiver in the shopping centre you get four hours free parking. Much better than the £10 some of the car parks charge. So after a Burger King lunch, we headed for the ground.

Emerson soaking up the atmosphere at Old Trafford

Having seen us go off the boil since the FA Cup semi final victory over Reading; drawing two blanks in the three games since, Emerson and I were not confident of a victory. I felt it had 0-0 written all over it but Emerson, always the optimist, predicted there would be goals.

'2-1 to us,' he said. 'Just like in the FA Cup.'

Unfortunately we had been unable to attend that memorable FA Cup success due to the BBC switching it to a Monday night. Handy for them with their studio literally over the road but not so good for an 11-year old with school the next day.

Whatever you think about Manchester United as a club, and I personally detest everything about them, you have to say that watching football at Old Trafford is an absolute privilege. It is like a theatre or a cathedral and is one of the few classic stadiums left in world football.

Even though they have packed the seats in the away end so closely together that if everyone actually sat down you would literally be sitting on your neighbours lap, it has an air of grandeur about the place. Steeped in history, you can feel how special it is from the minute the stadium comes into view.

It does take you back to the old days of Highbury. That was also a classic old stadium where the history of the club just poured from every corner. And as much as love the comfort of the Emirates, it lacks the mystique of the old place and the club is all the poorer for it.

Many football fans criticise the atmosphere at Old Trafford but I have always found it to be electric, even for a game lacking in the dramas of the past.

As is usually the case here, we were poor in the first half and failed to even muster a shot on goal. Phil Jones' headed tackle on Oliver Giroud summed up our lacklustre attacking display. Meanwhile poor Hector Bellerin was being given the run around by Ashley Young, no less; surely the nadir in any footballers career.

When the goal finally arrived it was no surprise that it came from our right hand-side. Young skipped past the Spanish full back again and Ander Herrera was left unmarked to volley past David Ospina. Having been fairly quite until then, belying my earlier claims about the atmosphere, the United fans suddenly came to life.

To be fair I was relieved to be only 1-0 down at the break and as Emerson and I went for a half time cuppa, we both felt we would play better in the second half.

'We only ever play well in one half,' said Emerson, with far more perception than many of our fans seem to possess.

Father and son at the match

It did not appear as though as he would right in the early stages however as we were once again offering very little but we suddenly flicked the switch. Giroud nodded the ball on for Alexis Sanchez but the Chilean, who had been anonymous until then, volleyed into the upper tier.

That seemed to give us some belief and led to an exciting second half. Around the hour mark things appeared to be going our way as Arsene Wenger, usually reluctant to make changes so early, threw on Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott. Not for Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil as seemed likely, but for Bellerin and Santi Cazorla.

At the same time United goalkeeper David De Gea, who's incredible performances this season have kept Louis van Gaal in his job, had to go off, being replaced by Victor Valdes for his Premier League debut.

'We'll definitely score now,' was Emerson's confident response.

Walcott has never really convinced many Arsenal fans but Emerson and I have always loved him. If nothing else, his pace gets you up off your seat and we were sure he would make an impact on what was his 299^th appearance for the club.

His first action however was to be pushed off the ball by United substitute Tyler Blackett. This led to a guy behind me immediately getting on his back.

'Give him a chance, mate,' I said. 'He has hardly played for a year. Let him get into the game.'

Wilshere was having no such trouble, and with Ramsey now moved centrally, we started to gain control of the midfield.

Chances came and went, mainly through Giroud's lack of sharpness in front of goal. He is another player who always seems to get stick. Many feel he is not the sort of striker that will win you titles and while it is fair to say he has not been at his best in recent weeks, even here his hold up play was exemplary.

What he needs is someone with a bit of pace alongside him. A Walcott or a Sanchez. The Chilean has been employed in a wide-left position in recent months and has become far too predictable; constantly cutting inside onto his right foot.

It is no surprise that many of Sanchez' goals this season came before Christmas when he was playing through the middle in Giroud's absence. Playing the two as a pair may just bring out the best in both of them. But Wenger knows best and apart from in recent weeks, we have not been struggling in the goals department.

There is no better feeling than scoring a late equaliser, especially if it is at your end and against one of your bitter rivals. So even though it was not for the biggest prizes on offer, when Walcott's deflected cross went in off Blackett to bring us level, the away end went ballistic!!

Emerson disappeared under a sea of happy fans while I found myself hugging Baso, the fan who always comes to games dressed in a half-and-half home and away kit! Moments like this are the reason why we travel to away games. Sheer unbridled joy!

And in the end we could even have won it. Seconds after the goal, Giroud fired into the side netting following a flowing move involving Wilshere, Ramsey and Ozil. Some in the away end thought it was in which led to the typical mocking from the United fans but I think they were just relived it hadn't gone in.

Speaking of relief, there was just as much in the away end in stoppage time when Robin van Persie, who was booed mercifully by the travelling Gooners from the moment he came on, fired over the top from a good position.

I cannot for the life of me understand why the Arsenal fans persist on singing that disgusting song about him. Yes, he left us for one of our rivals but you know what, good luck to him. He got himself a title medal and after eight years loyal service to us we should not begrudge him that.

Personally I still admire the man and will never forget the great things he produced in an Arsenal shirt. During his final season with us he was one of the best players in the world and it is still a pleasure to watch him play. Even more so when he misses chances like this against us. So cheers, Robin.

So a draw, third place virtually in the bag and Emerson finally seeing his losing streak here brought to an end. Overall it was one of more enjoyable trips here in the recent years. A bit better than the 8-2 at least, and a draw when you have been behind feels almost as good as a win. Almost.

Of course the negative, Wenger out morons will be out in force moaning that we will now finish on less points than last season, even though we will have conceded far less goals, got better results against the top sides and finished one place higher. Not to mention a second consecutive FA Cup final on the horizon.

This squad is on the verge of great things. With the addition of a defensive midfielder, a fox-in-the-box striker and another central defender, we will be much closer next season. Who knows, we may even win the thing.

But for now we can look back on another decent if not outstanding season and look forward to Wembley in two weeks time. After a nine year wait for some glory these are the good times and we should all be enjoying them. Judging by Emerson's sing-along in the car all the way home, he certainly is.

Now repeat after me, 'Alexis Sanchez baby, Alexis Sanchez oohhhh...'