Arsenal Eliminate Tottenham From FA Cup

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The Premier League took a back seat to the FA Cup this weekend and the biggest matchup of round three was easy the Arsenal-Tottenham London Derby.  Arsenal continue to lead the Premier League while Tottenham sit just eight points behind the leaders in sixth place.

Arsenal had to shuffle their starting eleven some with Giroud, Gibbs, and Ramsey unavailable.  Today Walcott got the start at center forward for the Gunners and did well in his preferred position, although he did not score.  Instead it was Santi Cazorla who put Arsenal in front thanks to the setup by Serge Gnabry in the first-half.  Gnabry made a good run into the box with the ball and played Cazorla behind Tottenham's defense with a through-pass.  Cazorla went for power and hit the shot first-touch to beat keeper Lloris at the far-post (31').

Tottenham created a few chances with Soldado and Adebayor in the attack, but overall Arsenal was outplaying the Hotspurs.  Arsenal added another goal in the second-half when defender Danny Rose was caught in possession and lost the ball to Rosicky.  The ball was stolen right at the midfield line and Rosicky had no one except keeper Lloris between him and the goal.  Lloris was forced off his line and Rosicky finished with a chip-shot over the keeper coming out to make a play (62').

Following the second goal, Tottenham had lost all motivation and went out quietly.  The Hotspurs can focus on the league now and host Crystal Palace in the next fixture.  Arsenal advance to the next round of the FA Cup with the win today and will hope for a more favorable matchup, perhaps against a non-Premier League club.  Their next ELP match will be a road test against Aston Villa.

Arsenal Keep Winning, Beat Southampton

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The English Premier League returned this weekend after a week off for World Cup Qualifiers.  League leader Arsenal hosted a surprising third-place Southampton at the Emirates Stadium in London.  Earlier Liverpool and Everton ended the Merseyside Derby in a 3-3 draw giving Southampton a chance to take second place with a win.  However it was Arsenal that would take three points and stretch their lead in the table.

Southampton were pressing high up the pitch to pressure Arsenal's defense with their keeper often coming out to play sweeper.  On one occasion in the first-half keeper Artur Boruc was caught trying to do too much and had the ball stolen off him by Olivier Giroud.  Boruc had two chances to clear the ball, but instead he twice cut the ball back to his other foot and the Arsenal striker picked his pocket and scored easily (22').

Arsenal created more chances overall, but offsides were a problem for Giroud and Mesut Özil throughout the match.  Southampton struggled to create chances but saw good things from Jay Rodriguez and substitute Osvaldo, though the two could not find the equalizer.

Late in the match another mistake by the Southampton defense ensured Arsenal's victory.  José Fonte was caught pulling the jersey of Per Mertesacker during an Arsenal corner-kick.  Fonte was given a yellow card for the offense and a Penalty was awarded.  Giroud scored from the spot for his second goal of the match (86').

Arsenal remain the team to beat in the Premier League who sit on a four point cushion over Liverpool.  Up next the Gunners host Marseille in a Champions League matchup before playing Cardiff next weekend in Wales.  Southampton have another tough test ahead as they travel to Stanford Bridge to play Chelsea.

Arsenal's Ramsey Nets Two in Win Over Sunderland

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The Premier League returns after taking a week off to fit in all the World Cup Qualifiers around the globe.  Arsenal travelled to Sunderland today and were able to debut their latest signing.  German International and former Real Madrid midfielder, Mesut Özil started for the Gunners and seemed to mesh perfectly with his new club.

In the early moments of the match, Özil set up Giroud in the box for a goal.  Defender Gibbs played a long ball out of the back that Özil trapped well before laying across the face of goal.  Giroud made a good near-post run and scored with his first touch, sliding the shot past the keeper (11').

Jozy Altidore played less than twenty minutes for the United Stated in their qualifying matches, but was in the starting line-up today for Sunderland.  His chances were limited as Arsenal controlled a vast majority of possession, but he looked fit and had one good shot from distance that was saved by keeper Szczesny.

Sunderland made a change at half-time taking Vaughan out for Craig Gardner who proved to be an improvement.  A penalty was awarded to Sunderland when defender Koscielny missed his tackle in the box, and Gardner scored from the spot to tie the game (48').  Arsenal took the lead back though when Aaron Ramsey scored with a very well struck volley.  Rightback Jenkinson picked him out in the box with a cross and Ramsey blasted his volley past keeper Westwood (67').

Moments later Sunderland had a chance to again equalize when Jozy Altidore got tangled up with Bacary Sagna.  Altidore broke away from Sagna, who was holding him back, and put the ball in the Arsenal net.  However, the referee called the foul on Sagna before the goal was scored and Sunderland only got a free-kick instead of a goal.

Aaron Ramsey then scored a third goal for Arsenal to seal the deal when Giroud slotted a through-ball for his run into the box.  Ramsey did well to slip through defenders and score his second goal of the match (76').

Though it is still early in the season, Arsenal may have found the perfect player to put them back at the top of the Premier League in Mesut Özil.  One the other side, American Jozy Altidore is making his second run in the Premier League and has a chance to help a good club as well as take the next step as an elite striker.