Newcastle 0 Arsenal 4

Once again, it looked like we have really turned a corner as far as this season is concerned.
Arsene Wenger spoke earlier in the week about how the win at Manchester City is pivotal for our season. Our performance again at St James Park lived up to his words. At a venue which remains a tough and demanding one to visit in the league, we went out on Wednesday night to claim a crucial and hard fought win to advance into the fourth round of the Carling Cup.
A freak goal opened the floodgates for us almost on the stroke of half time and in the second half, we upped the tempo and got three well-deserved goals off the boots of Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner.
Despite us fielding a mix of second stringers and fringe first teamers, we held our game together and repelled all that came our way from Newcastle. Clearly now, Wenger is hungry to lift silverware - any silverware – to end a five year drought that has sometimes threatened to undermined all the work and effort put in to bringing this side to its current level.
Another good win last night was. Another clean sheet. Another step towards silverware which helped instill great belief and confidence through the team.


Below are the ratings
*Wojniech (7/10) – After all the tantrums and hype, it actually looks like this guy has got talent. He diverted an Alan Smith rocket onto the bar in the first half and repelled everything else that came his way as Newcastle upped their tempo in the second period. Did his chances in team a lot of good and surely now, is in the frame for greater things in the team. No wonder he confronted Wenger last month after being left out of the win against Tottenham.
*Gibbs (5/10) – Was doing his usual stuff on the left flank before he picked up an unfortunate knock on the knee in a clash with Wayne Routledge. Departed the game very early.

Another good day at the office...no wonder he's smiling

*Koscielny (7/10) – Returned to the team after an injury-enforced brief absence. Did well to form an effective partnership with Djourou and saved a certain goal from Newcastle early in the game by blocking a Nile Ranger shot with the goalkeeper off his line. Stood up strongly to the lively Andy Carroll in the second half as well.
*Djourou (7/10) – Used his big build and height to an advantage on several occasions and got stuck into the rough stuff dished out by Carroll, Smith and later, Joey Barton. His game is improving with a decent and regular run in the team and baring any injuries, this will surely be a breakthrough season for him.
* Eboue (6/10) –Started the game on the right before switching to the left after the Gibbs injury. Slalomed once through the Newcastle midfield and defence in his usual lung-bursting style in the first half and should have done better with is finishing. Coped as well with all the rough stuff that Newcastle unleashed in the second half. Good, dependable game all round.
*Eastmond (6/10) – The youngster did well and held his ground in the face of often intimidating challenges by the likes of Alan Smith and Danny Guthrie. Clearly, Wenger has big plans for him and he didn’t disappoint on the night.
*Denilson (7/10) – Along with Eastmond, he played the defensive midfield role with calm and assuredness. Guided the younger Eastmond all night and provided a ready outlet for passes out of defence. Seems to be maturing at last.
*Rosicky (7/10) – Our captain for the night led by example. He was full of running and selflessness as he covered blades of grass with youthful relish. Barring anyone of those unfortunate injuries that have blighted his Arsenal career, he looks keen to repay all the faith invested in him all these past years.
*Walcott (9/10) – My man of the match. Never tired of wanting the ball. Gave the Newcastle defence a torrid and difficult time. They never could read his runs and his speed was a constant source of worry. Very much deserved the two goals he scored and with his hunger and all round improvement, he will make a huge mark this season. Already, he’s now scored six times in all games.
*Bendtner (7/10) – Looks determined to make up for all the lost time, while he was away injured. Scored another beauty just days after curling in a similar effort against Manchester City. He will give Chamakh a good fight but expect both of them to inter change the lone striker role as the season progresses.
* Vela (6/10) – The Mexican did some good stuff with lots of determined running in the first half. Was willing to take on the Newcastle defence but tired and drifted out of the game in the second half. No surprises that he was substituted.


Substitutes
*Sagna (7/10) – Was his usual combative self when he came onto replace the unfortunate Gibbs. Had his work cut out especially in the second half to keep the dangerous duo of Carroll and Guiterrez in check. Did well on the night.
*Fabegas (6/10) – The captain came on apparently to organize things as only he knows how best. Despite the brief appearance, he engineered the Bendtner goal by stealing the ball from Guthrie and providing the assist that the big Dane buried.
*Emmanuel Thomas (5/10) – Came in less than 10minutes to the end of the game and had little impact. In the short time he was on though, he displayed a few touches to give signs of greater things ahead.


So we march on to the next round of the Carling Cup and hope for a favourable draw on Saturday. This time, it ought to be a home game as we’ve played both matches in the competition so far on foreign, hostile territory. The lads did their shirts and themselves proud last night and it is beginning to look like a cup winning side already. Fingers crossed, Manchester United apart, we can walk through the rest of the field and go all the way to Wembley for glory come February.
Next up is West Ham at the Emirates and with the thoughts of West Brom very much at the back of our minds, that must be three good points in the bag on Saturday.

Manchester City 0 Arsenal 3

The joy of three....Nasri explodes with joy after scoring the opener.

We inflicted the heaviest home defeat on Manchester City since January 2007, and what a win it was. What an impact it also made on our league position.We rocketted up to second spot, reining in Chelsea and leapfrogging Man City and Man Utd in the process. It may or may not be an indication where we’ll end up at the end of the season but it surely put us in the mix for a real title challenge now.Things got off to a dramatic start in this heavyweight clash in the 5th minute, when Derdyck Boyata upended Marouane Chamakh. The City defender rightly got his marching orders and 15minutes later, we went ahead after a cute one-two between Arshavin and Nasri. The Frenchman ghosted past a static Gareth Barry to shoot us ahead.
Some inspiring goalkeeping by a reborn Lukasz Fabianski kept us in the game and in the 60th minute, Alex Song blasted the second goal off a pass from Fabregas.Third goal sealed it up through Nicklas Bendtner’s first of the season in the 88th minute and that was that.It was a landmark win and one we truly deserved inspite of the ten-men we played against. Our range of passing and movement flummoxed Man City most of the time and helped us impose our style and authority on the game. A good win this one and one that surely, surely now makes us serious contenders for the title. On a weekend when all our rivals won, it put us in a vitally good position to stand up and be counted in the coming weeks.
That West Brom defeat now looks so far, far away.


Below are the ratings.
• Fabianski (7/10) – Often, I had to rub my eyes to be sure it is the much-maligned Pole between the sticks for us. He did himself and the team proud with how he repelled all that came his way. His smart, low save in the 3rd minute from David Silva was the first of a series of fine stops and he excelled for all of 90 minutes. Surely now, Almunia has to be afraid of his chances for the Number One shirt. Lukasz seems to get better with every game and confidence must now be sky high for him. The clean sheet must be a welcome one for him as well.
• Clichy (6/10) – Was skinned a couple of times by the marauding Micah Richards but he also gave as good as he got. Supported Arshavin very well from the left and got forward at every opportunity.
• Squillaci (6/10) – The third game in a row between him and Djourou and the mutual understanding helped the duo. He dealt with the threat of the dangerous Carlos Tevez and also his replacement, Adebayor.
• Djourou (7/10) – Another reborn player. He looked the part and played it very well. Good and authoritative in the air and seems to be finally fulfilling his long-held potential. Picked up a booking but was unpertubed as he dished out tackles all afternoon. His growing confidence from regular games was also apparent.
• Sagna (7/10) – He was just his usual no-nonsense self. Helped to smother the threat of the elusive Silva and ran his guts out on the right, linking with Nasri and later Walcott.
• Song (7/10) – He clearly fancies himself as an attacking midfielder now, with two goals in successive games. Did all that was asked of him in breaking up City’s game and never allowed their midfield to click. He outshone his more-illustrious opponent, Yaya Toure and capped it up with that cracker of a goal that sealed it for us. One of his best performances for us.
• Nasri (8/10) – My man of the match, though by a whisker. He was involved in everything we did and definitely now, he has found his groove in the team. The goal he scored apart, our little Frenchman never stopped moving. Never stopped probing. Never stopped looking for the ball and releasing it. He also gave the assist that led to Bendtner’s goal. A virtuoso outing for a multi-talented player. Better still, he is now suddenly our leading scorer.
• Fabregas (7/10) – In the absence of the much-improved Fabregas, there were fears that we would lose some spark in the middle. Fabregas put such fears to rest as he took over from where he stopped before that injury against Sunderland, last month. He, like Nasri, pestered the City defence endlessly. His passes were unreadable and drew the foul that cost Boyata a dismissal. He also drew a foul from Kompany which led to a penalty that he took and was saved. Nonetheless, our skipper had a huge impact as always.
• Arshavin (6/10) – Its almost becoming the norm now, but apart from the assist to Nasri for the first goal; the Russian was very anonymous. He doesn’t look happy playing and if the truth be told, something seems to be going on behind closed doors. Time will surely tell concerning his form.
• Chamakh (7/10) – He also had a quite game but credit must go to him for the skilful way he operates in and around the box. He seems to have the uncanning ability to attract fouls that either lead to penalties or cautions or even dismissals. And that is no ordinary gift.

Substitutes
• Rosicky (5/10) – Didn’t do much. Didn’t have to after coming on with us two goals up.
• Bendtner (6/10) – Reminded us all what we had missed in his absence with a well-taken goal for the third strike. Displayed maturity to stay onside for the through ball from Nasri before scoring. At least now, we have an alternative outlet for the striking position if needed.
• Walcott (5/10) – Also came in when the game and points were already sewn up. Still showed hunger and was full of running as ever. Must be chomping at the bits now for a starting spot sooner or later.


This was a good win indeed and one that was also much needed. It's three wins on the trot now and you truly cannot ask for anything more from the lads. Next up, we go up North again for the Carling Cup meeting with Newcastle on Wednesday. Expect a much-changed side but one packed with experience as already hinted to by Wenger.