English FA Cup 2011/2012

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Penampilan semula Henry

LONDON – Pengurus Arsenal, Arsene Wenger mengesahkan Thierry Henry bakal diturunkan pada aksi pusingan ketiga Piala FA menentang Leeds United awal pagi esok.

Penyerang Perancis itu akan membuat penampilan ‘kedua’ selepas menyertai skuad The Gunners pada tahun 1999.

Henry didaftarkan tepat pada masanya untuk perlawanan di Stadium Emirates itu meskipun Wenger tidak pasti adakah pemain berusia 34 tahun itu akan bermain sepenuh masa pada perlawanan menentang kelab Kejuaraan Liga itu atau sebagai pemain simpanan, sekali gus melebarkan rekod jaringan ke-226 bersama Arsenal.

Penyerang New York Red Bulls itu dijangka diberi sambutan yang meriah oleh para penyokong Arsenal sepanjang enam minggu setengah berada bersama pasukan itu.

“Ia mengambil sedikit masa untuk melengkapkan kertas kerja tetapi akhirnya ia dapat diselesaikan,” kata Wenger.

“Dia (Henry) akan bermain pada perlawanan menentang Leeds tetapi saya belum membuat keputusan mengenai apa yang akan saya lakukan.” – AFP

 

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Liverpool hadapi Man. United

LONDON - Liverpool diundi bertemu Manchester United pada aksi pusingan keempat kempen Piala FA.

Pertemuan tersebut pasti mengimbas kembali insiden yang berlaku selepas penyerang Liverpool, Luis Suarez menghamburkan kata-kata berunsur perkauman kepada tonggak pertahanan United, Patrice Evra dalam saingan Liga Perdana England pada Oktober lalu.

Bagaimanapun, Suarez sudah didapati bersalah dan dikenakan hukuman penggantungan sebanyak lapan perlawanan serta dijangka terlepas aksi yang bakal berlangsung di Anfield itu.

Sebagai rekod, pertemuan antara Liverpool dengan United adalah yang pertama buat kedua-dua pasukan selepas insiden yang mencetuskan kontroversi tersebut.

Bagi skuad The Reds, ia merupakan peluang terbaik buat mereka untuk membalas dendam di atas kekalahan kepada United yang menyingkirkan mereka pada kempen musim lalu.

"Berdepan Liverpool... pasti ia merupakan suatu perlawanan yang menarik untuk kempen Piala FA kali ini.

"Buat peminat-peminat United, mari kita sama-sama saksikan dan berilah sokongan kepada kami," kata tonggak pertahanan United, Rio Ferdinand di laman sosial Twitternya.

Sementara itu, perancang Liverpool, Charlie Adam dalam catatannya di laman Twitter berkata: "Ia merupakan satu undian yang menarik apabila berdepan United di laman sendiri."

Liverpool mara ke pusingan keempat selepas membelasah Oldham Athletic 5-1 (Jumaat lalu), manakala United menewaskan musuh sejiran, Manchester City 3-2 pada aksi pusingan ketiga kelmarin.

Dalam pada itu, satu lagi perlawanan yang dijangka menjadi tumpuan sekiranya Queens Park Rangers (QPR) berjaya menewaskan Milton Keynes Dons kerana mereka akan berdepan Chelsea yang terlebih dahulu menyingkirkan Portsmouth 4-0 pada aksi pusingan ketiga kelmarin.

Ketika ini, kapten skuad The Blues, John Terry masih lagi disiasat selepas didakwa mengeluarkan kata-kata penghinaan terhadap tonggak pertahanan QPR, Anton Ferdinand. - AFP

 

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Liverpool hadapi Man. United

cant wait till that moment!

 

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Arsenal 1-0 Leeds United: Thierry Henry scores off bench on Gunners return

Second-half substitute Thierry Henry netted on his return to the Emirates to send a sluggish Arsenal side into the FA Cup fourth round against a resilient Leeds United outfit.

The on-loan New York Red Bulls attacker scored with only his fifth touch since coming on midway through the second period to set up a home clash against fellow Premier League side Aston Villa in the next round.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger handed a number of fringe players the chance to impress with talented youngsters Ignasi Miquel, Francis Coquelin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all named in a strong looking starting lineup.

As for the visitors, on-loan Tottenham winger Andros Townsend was given the chance to impress against his parent club’s bitter local rivals, while manager Simon Grayson opted for Argentine striker Luciano Becchio to lead the line.

The home side started the match brightly, bossing possession against their Championship opponents, with Russia international Andrey Arshavin squandering a couple of presentable chances early on.

Former Sevilla man Sebastien Squillaci came close to breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute. Mikel Arteta played in a wicked set piece which the French defender met with his head, but failed to test Andy Lonergan in the Leeds goal.

Leeds finally posed a threat midway through the first half after Arsenal failed to clear a free kick. Mika Vayrynen picked up the loose ball before driving to the by-line. His attempted cross deflected nicely into the path of Becchio who could only smash his close-range effort over.

Wenger’s defensive injury problems took another turn for the worse after Coquelin picked up an apparent hamstring injury and was subsequently replaced by debutant Nico Yennaris.

Despite continuing to dominate possession Arsenal failed to create another chance and the two sides headed into the half-time interval all square after failing to hit the target.

Arsenal opened the second period with greater urgency and finally managed to work Lonergan. Oxlade-Chamberlain surged down the left-hand side before cutting his cross back to Marouane Chamakh. The Moroccan then laid the ball off to Arteta who forced Lonergan into a smart save.

With less than 25 minutes remaining, Henry made his much-anticipated comeback as Wenger decided to add the Frenchman and Theo Walcott into the mix as he strived for the win, with the former Barcelona forward's arrival sparking the previously reserved home supporters into a frenzy.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 77th minute with Henry capping a dream return to action for the club which helped to turn him into a world star. Alex Song played the ball through to the striker, who took his time before bending a trademark finish past the hapless Lonergan.

Leeds almost managed to strike back instantly through a Ross McCormack header which the previously untested Wojciech Szczęsny did well to hold onto. The visitors continued to push for a goal and Szczesny was again called into action by a stinging effort by former Chelsea man Mikael Forssell.

With his side safely into the next round, Henry will be hoping his goalscoring cameo will be enough to force himself into contention for a starting berth for the Gunners' Premier League trip to Swansea at the weekend.

 

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cant wait till that moment!

perlawanan yg sentiasa d tggu2 kedua2 fans

 

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Arsene Wenger reveals Arsenal can extend Thierry Henry loan deal

Arsene Wenger revealed that it is possible for Arsenal to extend Thierry Henry’s loan spell to eight weeks after the club record scorer’s fairytale comeback on Monday night.

Wenger described Henry’s return, in which he came off the bench to score an exquisite goal in Arsenal’s 1-0 FA Cup win over Leeds United, as “like a dream”.

Asked about the possibility of extending Henry’s loan from MLS club New York Red Bulls, Wenger said: “He has six-and-a-half weeks and we have not envisaged more. We can go to eight weeks but not longer.”

This opens up the possibility that Henry could be available for the north London derby against Tottenham on February 26, a match that he was previously not expected to be available for.

Wenger explained that Robin van Persie, who was rested on Monday night, will return for the league match against Swansea on Sunday but has not ruled out the possibility of the two forwards playing together.

He said: “Robin will be back against Swansea. Will Thierry start or not? I don’t know. I haven’t decided that.

“He can play behind or in front of Robin or on the flank. Robin can play on the flank. I don’t know what I will do.”

Nevertheless, Wenger was thrilled with Henry’s match-winning contribution in his first Arsenal match for five years.

“He was already a legend and tonight he added a little bit more,” the manager said. “In training he was sharp and ready to play. I would not put him on the pitch if he wasn't ready. That would be unfair.

“He had some pressure, he's a proud guy, he didn't want to disappoint people... it was a kind of comeback. He knew he would be compared to what he has done before. That’s what champions are about. They say they have no pressure but they want to be seen to do well.

“He has seen it all, he has done it all, we knew if we could find him he would be dangerous. It was like a dream when he scored. It was a story you would tell a young kid when you want to tell them a story about football. It’s not often like that in our game.

“Straight away with his runs he made them defend a bit deeper. He has a presence, his movement gave them a problem. When he got in that position I thought the angle was too narrow but the finish was special.”

Wenger also revealed that Francis Coquelin is set to be out for a “few weeks” with the hamstring injury he sustained in the first half.

 

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PEMAIN QPR (kiri) meraikan kejayaan mereka melangkah ke pusingan keempat Piala FA​

QPR terus lebarkan langkah

LONDON - Queen Park Rangers (QPR) nyaris diaibkan dengan kelab Kejuaraan Liga, Milton Keynes Dons apabila menang tipis 1-0 pada aksi ulangan pusingan ketiga Piala FA awal pagi semalam.

QPR menjaringkan gol pada minit-minit terakhir, sekali gus berjaya mencatat kemenangan pertama di bawah bimbingan pengurus baharu, Mark Hughes.

Gol tunggal di gelanggang sendiri itu hadir menerusi pemain pertahanan Wales, Danny Gabbidon dan kini, QPR bakal bertemu Chelsea pada pusingan keempat.

"Ia adalah satu permainan yang sangat sukar," kata Gabbidon.

"Kami memerlukan sedikit nasib."

Ia akan menjadi pertemuan pertama antara QPR dan Chelsea sejak aksi pada 23 Oktober lalu yang dicemari dengan insiden perkauman.

Kapten skuad The Blues, John Terry mencetuskan kontroversi selepas didakwa melemparkan kata-kata kesat kepada Anton Ferdinand.

Meskipun QPR menangi 1-0, Terry menafikan dakwaan tersebut tetapi tetap didakwa dan pemain pertahanan England itu dilaporkan perlu hadir di mahkamah pada 1 Februari ini.

Sementara itu, Bolton Wanderers yang kembali bangkit menewaskan Macclesfield Town 2-0, sekali gus layak bersama 32 pasukan ke pusingan keempat Piala FA.

Gol pertama dijaringkan menerusi penyerang, Kevin Davies sementara pemain sayap Bulgaria, Martin Petrov meledak gol kedua untuk Bolton.

Dengan kejayaan itu, Bolton akan bertemu dengan Swansea City pada pusingan keempat 28 Januari ini.

- Agensi

 

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FA Cup Stats: Red alert at Anfield as Atkinson takes charge

 

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FuLL Time ResuLT

FT Sunderland 1 - 1 Middlesbrough

16' [0 - 1] B. Robson
59' [1 - 1] F. Campbell

 

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59' Arsenal [2 - 2] Aston Villa
33' [0 - 1] R. Dunne
44' R. Dunne
45' [0 - 2] D. Bent
54' [1 - 2] R.v. Persie (pen.)
56' [2 - 2] T. Walcott