Cole does tap dance
From David Harrison at Villa Park
ASHLEY COLE put 10 controversial days behind him with a stunning goal as Arsenal turned on the style.
The England full-back produced a cracker to lead a Gunners backlash last night.
And the sensational strike showed his off-the-field actions have had no effect on his game.
The News of the World exclusively revealed last week that Cole had been tapped up by Premiership leaders Chelsea.
And Arsenal had been further rocked by Tuesday's title-wrecking 4-2 defeat against Manchester United at Highbury.
But if Aston Villa thought the defending champs were there for the taking, they were wrong. The Midlanders were hit by a first-half barrage which left them reeling.
The impact of that loss to United had an immediate effect on Gunners boss Arsene Wenger's team selection.
Out went keeper Manuel Almunia who was replaced by Jens Lehmann after an absence of 10 league games.
There was also a recall for midfielder Edu.
Repair
Wenger had indicated he would not pick the Brazilian as long as he was still involved in his contract dispute.
But the Arsenal chief clearly felt drastic action was required to repair the damage. It produced a stunning response from his team.
Though Villa's defence was flimsy to say the least, there was something irresistible about the quality, pace and precision of the visitors' attacks.
Arsenal were so rampant they ended the game as a contest inside 28 minutes with goals from Freddie Ljungberg, Thierry Henry and Cole.
It threatened to become an embarrassment for the home side who caved in alarmingly.
As early as the fourth minute, Henry missed a golden chance of notching his first goal since Boxing Day — a bleak run of seven matches without finding the scoresheet.
Villa keeper Thomas Sorensen could not hold on to Dennis Bergkamp's swerving shot and it spilled directly into the path of the onrushing Henry.
But the Frenchman displayed all the hesitation of a striker who was lacking confidence in front of goal and he shot against the sprawling body of Sorensen.
There was another escape for Villa in the eighth minute when Bergkamp delivered a ball from the right which eventually found its way to the unmarked Patrick Vieira, who had the goal at his mercy eight yards out.
The Arsenal skipper was almost too deliberate in trying to finish it off and fired his attempt over the crossbar.
Edu had settled superbly back into the Gunners midfield and he played a significant part in giving them a 10th-minute lead.
His through pass caused a moment of panic for Villa defender Olof Mellberg who failed to make his clearance, leaving Ljungberg with the simple task of lifting his shot over Sorensen and into the net.
Lehmann twice had to show his handling skills and judgment as Villa attempted to respond — but the German was equal to the task. First, he held on to a deflected cross from Juan Pablo Angel and almost immediately had to come off his line to snatch the ball away from the same Villa striker.
But the decisive action was all happening in the Villa goalmouth and Edu smashed a 13th-minute effort from Reyes' pass against the inside of the post.
But the relief was only temporary for the punch-drunk Villa defence and Henry eventually ended his goal drought in the 14th minute with a typical piece of opportunism.
Vieira slid a pass through the Villa backline and his fellow Frenchmen timed his run to perfection to beat the offside trap before sliding it wide of Sorensen and into the net. Eric Djemba-Djemba, Villa's new £1.35million signing from United, was left in a daze by the dominance of the Arsenal side.
But the Cameroon international did manage to get in a 20-yard shot which was deflected behind for a corner.
Arsenal's third goal was breathtaking in its build-up and execution.
Henry was the architect, leaving Villa defenders Jlloyd Samuel and Mellberg for dead.
He switched the point of attack to Bergkamp on the opposite flank who played the ball first time into the path of the overlapping Cole.
The England full-back showed his class as he smashed a fierce volley into the far corner of the net.
That had Villa fans leaving their seats with barely half an hour of the match completed.
Those that remained launched into an immediate chant of ‘Doug Ellis out' in a clear reference to the chairman's refusal to loosen the purse strings for manager David O'Leary.
There was almost further despair for the home side and, if Arsenal's finishing had been as clinical as normal, the match would have turned into a rout.
Vision
In the 42nd minute, Reyes displayed superb vision and passing accuracy to pick out a forward run by Vieira.
But, instead of lobbing the ball over the stranded Sorensen, the skipper brought it down and curved his shot a couple of inches wide.
There was an even more alarming scare on the stroke of half-time after Lehmann's great throw sparked another incisive move.
It released Reyes down the left and the Spaniard's cross presented Henry with the kind of chance he would normally convert with his eyes shut.
But, this time, he volleyed his effort into the ground and it went wide of the left-hand upright.
There was no let up in Arsenal's pursuit of goals at the start of the second half.
Reyes made swift progress down the left but his final attempt to find Ljungberg was poor and another chance went begging.
Bergkamp's contribution was magnificent and he deserved a goal for his creativity.
But it was Villa who provided the only strike of the second half in the 74th minute. Nolberto Solano released Ulises De la Cruz down the right and the full-back's cross was turned in at the near post by Angel.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий