Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes he was tight in taking a gamble on the fitness of skipper Cesc Fabregas during the 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
The Spaniard had been out with a hamstring problem, and was given a spot on the bench with a view to being brought on only as a last ditch measure.
The score line remained goalless until the Frenchman decided to bring on Fabregas, who then went on to bag a brace and secure the three points for the Gunners – albeit in costly circumstances – as the Gunners No.4 could miss a further few weeks of action if tests prove his 27-minute cameo has aggravated his injury.
“I feel that I did the right thing, and would do it again,” Wenger said, according to the Press Association.
“Had we been 1-0 up I would not have done it, but at the end of the day you do what you think will win the game.
“Aston Villa are a team which makes you nervy because you can be dominant and lose the game.
“You could think ‘we were dominant and did not take advantage of it, so let’s be cautious’ – or you gamble a bit try to push it further and score. That is what I did.”
Following the victory, Arsenal are now four points behind league leaders Chelsea, albeit with a game in hand.
]]>Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas came off the bench to inspire his side to a victory over Aston Villa.
Fabregas picked himself up after being fouled by Richard Dunne and curled in a 25-yard free-kick with aplomb.
The goal came after Villa keeper Brad Friedel had denied William Gallas from point-blank range and kept out an Andrey Arshavin shot.
A first-time finish from Fabregas after a Theo Walcott pass and an Abou Diaby strike wrapped up the win for Arsenal.
Fabregas had started as a substitute because of a hamstring problem and was brought on after 57 minutes to give his side extra impetus in beating a stubborn Villa side.
The move paid off for manager Arsene Wenger but he will be concerned that his skipper aggravated his injury in sprinting on to Walcott’s ideally weighted pass and had to be replaced on 84 minutes.
However, the victory moved the Gunners to within four points of Premier League leaders Chelsea with a game in hand over their London rivals.
Villa had already beaten Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United so far this season to show encouraging signs that they are mentally tougher and have a stronger squad to avoid the same collapse as last season in the chase for a top four place.
Their credentials for another top four assault were under the microscope at the Emirates and they were found wanting ahead of another stern test of their resolve and depth when they play Liverpool on Tuesday.
Prior to the introduction of Fabregas, the game had proved an intriguing and tight contest after Arsenal missed the chance to take an early lead with Villa caught cold.
Diaby forced his way past Stephen Warnock and laid the ball to Eduardo, who turned Dunne for a clear sight of goal only to strike a tame effort straight at keeper Friedel.
Denilson powered a 25-yard shot over the Villa goal but the visitors had heeded the warning signs and quickly raised their game.
Villa adopted the same strategy which helped them impressively beat the Gunners at the Emirates last season as they soaked up pressure and played on the counter-attack.
The pace of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor, the midfield energy of James Milner and aerial strength of Emile Heskey was key to Villa’s tactics.
But a wary Arsenal were wise to the Villa ploy and a Young strike looping over the bar after a deflection off Alexandre Song was a rare threat on their goal.
Villa’s defence was aiming for a fifth clean sheet and looked sturdy enough before they had some scares as Arsenal upped their intensity and urgency as they started to dominate.
Gallas came close for the home side when he tried to turn in an Eduardo knock-down but Friedel blocked and Carlos Cuellar cleared and Friedel again foiled Arsenal by saving an Arshavin shot.
Villa finally buckled when Dunne fouled Fabregas, who rewarded Arsenal’s pressure when he sent a free-kick over the Villa wall and into the top corner.
Armand Tarore’s sweeping pass found Walcott on the right flank and he set up Fabregas for the second as Villa found Arsenal too hot to handle.
And Diaby added the gloss to the win when he ran at a retreating Villa defence and found the bottom corner with a precise strike past the despairing dive of Friedel.
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Cesc Fabregas fired the winning goal to maintain Arsenal’s unbeaten start to their pre-season campaign.
The Arsenal skipper made an immediate impact on his return after playing for Spain in the Confederations Cup in South Africa.
William Gallas and new boy Thomas Vermaelen impressed too, forming a solid defensive partnership.
Fabregas scored after nine minutes, taking the ball around Hannover keeper Robert Enke before sliding it home.
In a sign he may be joining the Emirates exodus, Emmanuel Eboue threw his shirt and boots to the fans afterwards.
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Real Madrid are not interested in signing Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal, according to the club’s sporting director Miguel Pardeza.
The Spanish giants insist they will not bid for the Arsenal playmaker even if they fail in their quest to land Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso.
Real have consistently been linked with a move for Fabregas but it seems former club Barcelona are favourites to snare him if he does leave the Emirates.
“He is a great player, there’s no doubt about that. But at this moment he is not an target for Real Madrid. The club are working on other alternatives,” he said.
Pardeza also confirmed negotiations with Liverpool over Alonso had reached an impasse, but that they still hadn’t given up hope of resolving the situation.
“Madrid must not discard an option until it’s totally gone. Now there is an insurmountable financial barrier, but it’s something that could change. We’re looking for alternatives, although there aren’t many.”
Madrid have already spent close to £200million on four new signings – Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol – this summer but are still looking to add a couple more players as they seek a return to winning ways after ending last season empty-handed.
Two of those new arrivals, Ronaldo and Benzema, were part of the Madrid squad that started pre-season training today.
Also taking to the pitches at Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground this morning were new coach Manuel Pellegrini, who replaced Juande Ramos in June after five seasons at Villarreal, as well as Ezequiel Garay and Alvaro Negredo.
Centre-back Garay was signed from Racing Santander last summer but remained on loan at the Cantabrian club, while highly-rated striker Negredo has spent the last two seasons on loan at Almeria.
A selection of youth team players were amongst the 29 players who trained today, while Mohamadou Diarra and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who both missed most of last season with injury, also took part in the session.
However, the club’s other two big summer signings to date, Kaka and Albiol, along with Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Javi Garcia and Dani Parejo were all absent as they are still holidaying due to their international commitments this summer.
On Monday, Madrid will travel to Ireland for a training camp that lasts until July 22.
Once Madrid complete that trip, during which they will face Shamrock Rovers in a friendly, the team return to the Spanish capital to take part in the Peace Cup from July 26 to August 2, after which they are scheduled to head to North America for matches in Toronto and DC United on August 7 and 9.
Madrid have also organised a match against Borussia Dortmund on August 19, before facing AC Milan in the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy on August 25 ahead of the start of the new Primera Division season.
Madrid’s season will open with a home game against Deportivo La Coruna.
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Barca are hoping to reduce the fee for Cesc Fabregas, by throwing the unwanted pair into the mix.
Barcelona could use a former Arsenal midfielder in their bid to prise Cesc Fabregas away from The Emirates.
Arsenal are rumoured to want around €46million for Fabregas, and the Blaugrana are now looking for ways to get around paying such a vast sum.
According to The Daily Mail, Barca are set to offer Aliaksandr Hleb in part exchange. The Belorussian international hardly got a look in during his first season at the Camp Nou, and despite stating his intention to stay and fight for a place, would be tempted by the chance to return to more familiar surroundings.
However, whether Arsene Wenger would be willing to bring Hleb back is another matter.
Apparently Barcelona are also considering throwing Eidur Gudjohnsen into the mix, as the Icelandic international looks set on a move to England.
THE stars will be out in stripes for Arsenal this season.
Today the club reveals its third kit for 2009-10 and it’s a return to the white away shirt.
But a major difference to last term is a redcurrant pinstripe and white polo collar and cuffs.
On the back of the shirt is a panel of horizontal stripes, while engineered into the side seam is a small red label featuring two Arsenal cannons either side of the club motto.
The shorts for this third choice strip are anthracite grey with a redcurrant stripe along the side.
A graphic showing an Arsenal cannon is on the back of the waistband, while the draw cords feature Arsenal’s name on the tips.
The look is completed with white socks, again featuring a vertical redcurrant pinstripe pattern with an anthracite stripe on the top band and Arsenal printed on the calf.
Spain 2 – 0 South Africa
Spain set a world record of 15 consecutive international wins after beating South Africa 2-0 to reach the Confederations Cup semis.
South Africa also reached the last four and had chances but Teko Modise and Bernard Parker were too hurried.
Itumeleng Khune saved David Villa’s 51st-minute penalty, but a minute later the Valencia man scored.
Villa’s precise volley was too good for Khune and Fernando Llorente added a second from close range.
Spain’s win also ensured Vicente del Bosque’s side equalled Brazil’s all-time record of 35 matches unbeaten.
The game in Bloemfontein offered a contrast in styles, with Spain relying on a short-passing game and plenty of possession, while South Africa looked to hit their European opponents with speed on the counterattack.
Spain had the better of the first-half chances, with Albert Riera testing Khune with a thundering long-range free-kick.
Khune also did well to deny Fernando Torres with a one-handed save, while Villa might have done better with a couple of headers.
South Africa started to cause Spain real problems, but were hindered by a lack of composure when they glimpsed a sight of Pepe Reina’s goal.
Having survived Spain’s early onslaught, Parker sliced wide after good work from Everton’s Steven Pienaar.
Parker and Pienaar then combined to set up Modise, who scuffed his shot wide.
Having matched Spain in the first half, South Africa found themselves chasing the game following a frenetic passage of play early in the second half.
Mokoena’s late challenge on Fabregas gave away a penalty, but Khune produced a superb save to beat away Villa’s powerful shot and then got up quickly to smother Carlos Puyol’s effort from the rebound.
But within a minute Villa had atoned for his penalty miss, controlling a floated pass and volleying past Khune, although South Africa defenders appealed, claiming the Valencia forward had used his arm to cushion the ball.
Substitute Llorente sealed the win in the 72 minute when he slid the ball past Khune after South Africa failed to clear a free-kick.
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