Arsenal miss chance, Wenger frustrated and criticized Rizzoli italian referee

Schalke fought back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Tuesday and stay top of Group B in the Champions League.  Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud scored inside the first 30 minutes to put Arsenal ahead. But a goal from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in first-half injury time and another from Jefferson Farfan after the break completed the comeback by the German club. The Gunners overcame a slow start to go 2-0 up through Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud only for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to pull one back on the stroke of half-time. Jefferson Farfan fired in at the far post in the second half to level and Arsenal held on for the point.

“At 2-0 you have not won the game and with the physical quality of the German team it isn't over, they have a lot of quality and they never give up, so overall I never felt that the game was over even at 2-0,” Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger said. The draw left Schalke with eight points after four matches, one ahead of Arsenal. Olympiakos has six points after winning 3-1 against Montpellier, which has one. “To get a 2-2 after 0-2 speaks for our team,” Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby said. “We showed our morale. But we could have lost at the end.”

Arsene Wenger criticised referee Nicola Rizzoli after his side lost a two-goal lead to Schalke. The Arsenal manager felt Ibrahim Afellay had fouled Theo Walcott in the build-up to the Germans' first goal and were denied a clear chance when the Italian official blew instead of playing on, with Marco Hoger falling as Lukas Podolski was clear on goal. Walcott added: 'It was a good point in the end. It would have been a fantastic victory, but Schalke are a tough side. We are just trying to win our last couple of games and that is all you can do. I just want to play - hopefully now I can get a run in the team because I feel I fully deserve it.'

Arsenal had Mannone to thank in the 51st minute when he thwarted Huntelaar in a one-on-one after Neustadter's through-pass. Schalke were throwing everything at  Arsenal and had an appeal for a penalty turned down after Per Mertesacker looked to have handled in the box.  But the Germans deservedly dragged themselves level in the 66th minute when Farfan fired home from close range, via a Thomas Vermaelen deflection, as Arsenal failed to clear Afellay's cross.  Huntelaar, Farfan and Jermaine Jones missed decent chances to give the hosts the lead their dominance warranted. And the Germans' wastefulness in front of goal was nearly punished with the final kick of the game. But it was Walcott who fluffed his lines after capitalising on defensive uncertainty as, with only Unnerstall to beat, he shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Schalke: Unnerstall, Uchida (Hoger 25), Howedes, Matip, Fuchs, Jones, Neustadter, Farfan, Holtby (Barnetta 90), Afellay, Huntelaar, Hoger (Papadopoulos 66).
Subs Not Used: Hildebrand, Moritz, Draxler, Kolasinac.
Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Arteta, Wilshere, Walcott, Cazorla (Coquelin 90), Podolski (Andre Santos 90), Giroud.
Subs Not Used: Shea, Djourou, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Chamakh.
Goals: Walcott 18, Giroud 26, Huntelaar 45, Farfan 67.
Attendance: 50,000 
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy).
Booked: Matip, Fuchs, Jones, Cazorla, Podolski.

Cazorla and Walcott conduct Arsenal's win against West Ham: 1-3

France striker Olivier Giroud scored his first Premier League goal as Arsenal came from behind to beat West Ham 3-1 in the Premier League on Saturday. Giroud, who joined in the offseason from Montpellier, netted from close range just before halftime.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also showered Cazorla with praise. 'It is a pleasure to watch him. It's a delight to see what he does on the pitch,' said Wenger. Arsenal had to come from behind to secure a win that left them in fifth place in the table, after Mohamed Diame's curling shot beat Vito Mannone to give West Ham the lead in the 21st minute. Walcott said. "He's fantastic to play with every day. He's our conductor. I don't even know what foot is his best to be honest."

Confronted by an old nemesis in the shape of a Sam Allardyce team that backed them into an awkward corner by opening the scoring, the Gunners struck the right combination of force and finesse. They remain unbeaten away and continue to play some compelling football on the road.

Theo Walcott fired a message to manager Arsene Wenger after stepping in from the cold to help Arsenal hit back and secure a valuable three points. Contract rebel Walcott scored the goal that gave Arsenal a vital lead against West Ham before Santi Cazorla netted a stunning late clincher.

Walcott, who started on the bench yet again but came on to provide another example of why he yearns for a striking role, played a critical part in the comeback. Giroud's deft assist set the fleet-footed attacker bearing down on goal.

Spaniard Cazorla capped a superb individual performance and finally silenced the West Ham crowd by sending a stunning 25-yard shot into the top corner with seven minutes remaining. Arsenal's victory shoved the abusive chants aimed at Wenger back down the throats of a section of West Ham fans and there was a sense of justice that the Frenchman was able to celebrate at the final whistle.

Allardyce was left frustrated. "The second goal was a killer because we were in a fantastic position to score at that stage. Because we picked up the wrong pass, we've opened ourselves up and they've severely punished us on the break," he conceded.

credits to: http://www.onenewspage.co.uk/n/Sports/74rh5jev1/Santi-Cazorla-conducts-Arsenal-win-at-West.htm

Arsenal's forward Giroud breaks his duck as Coventry trashed in Cup, and helps silence the doubters

Olivier Giroud, maligned by some after his £12 million move from Montpellier, scored his first Arsenal goal, set up another and missed a penalty as Coventry City were thrashed 6-1 at the Emirates.

Olivier Giroud ended his goal drought at 354 minutes as Arsenal destroyed Coventry and Arsene Wenger predicted more will follow from his £12million striker. Giroud, signed from Montpellier in the summer to fill the void left by Robin van Persie, failed to score in his first six appearances. Arsenal fans enjoyed a rare old night at the Emirates on Wednesday as the Gunners eased into the fourth round of the League Cup with a 6-1 thrashing of Coventry.

'It was in everybody's mind that the sooner he gets it the better,' said Wenger. 'It was in his mind more than our minds. It's positive that he has scored. It was a good finish. He's a good finisher. I believe he is looking for confidence and that goal will help him. I expect him to score now in the Premier League.'

Arsenal were still far too strong for League One strugglers Coventry and further goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andrey Arshavin, Ignasi Miquel and Theo Walcott, who struck twice, emphasised the hosts' superiority. Callum Ball pulled one back but  Miquel restored Arsenal’s four-goal  advantage near the end and Walcott rounded off the win with his second.

Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong was introduced from the bench with 15 minutes to go, making his return from a long-term knee injury sustained when on-loan at Wolves last season. The recently appointed Coventry manager, Mark Robins, wanted to please some 8,000 of his club's followers rather than have his men skulk in their own half. It was Arsenal, of course, who relished the match. There was particular satisfaction over those Walcott goals, although the unease continues as to whether he might leave the club as a free agent next summer.

"You have to give us time to sort it out," said Wenger. "We are always in touch with Theo's representatives." The manager also knows, though, that a range of resources is apparent. "I expect Giroud to take that into the Premier League," he observed of his new striker's finish. Change was in the air. Arsenal's 19-year-old Nico Yennaris had, for instance, been the club's mascot when the team faced Coventry in 2000. This was just his second start under Wenger. The goalkeeper Damián Martínez and defender Martin Angha made their Arsenal debuts. Even so, it was the experience of Andrey Arshavin that was particularly prominent.

Walcott, in the final year of his contract, milked the crowd’s reaction at the end. Wenger reiterated that he wanted Walcott to stay but added that the 23 year-old would have to wait to be given his chance as a striker. “I’m not against it at all but at the moment there is a big competition up front. His time will come for that,” Wenger said. But Walcott does not want to wait. Both his goals came as he ran in from the wing – on either side – to strike angled shots past goalkeeper Joe Murphy.

Let us not forget Andrei Arshavin, either. Granted a free transfer at the end of the summer the Russian has hung around, unwanted. However, he was praised by Wenger before this League Cup tie and was rewarded with a start and a goal. Arsenal gave youth its head with starts for Nico Yennaris – a mascot against Coventry a dozen years ago – and Martin Angha while Serge ­Gnabry was introduced from the bench. For the victors there must now be confidence flooding through them. It has already been a sound beginning to the campaign. If this sort of relish and impact is to continue, Walcott may find cause to stay where he is.

credits to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2209005/Arsenal-6-Coventry-1-match-report-Olivier-Giroud-scores-Theo-Walcott-hits-two.html