Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool: Gunners fight back saves dreadful defence

Walcott celebrates Arsenal's equaliser

By Peter Wells (@boxingpeter): Last night's game was not for the fan of efficient defending as there was little of that on hand during Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Liverpool. The away side sacrificed a 2-0 lead in the matter of minutes and were lucky not to throw it all away as Arsenal had numerous chances to win the game.

Neither set of fans were pleased with the result. Arsenal fans were rightly angry at the efforts shown by their defenders while Liverpool supporters were fuming that they let slip a 2 goal lead in such a crucial game.

Liverpool started the game in control, holding onto the ball well before they were gifted a goal by some of the worst defending I have ever seen. After a ball was played back to Sturridge inside the area, Szczesny made a good stop, but with numerous Arsenal players in the penalty area, they failed to clear as Ramsey could only nudge the ball in Luis Suarez's direction. Suarez shot took a deflection, finding its way into the Arsenal goal. Arsenal's defence looked stunned, maybe at their own appalling defending.

The dream start for Liverpool was nearly dashed straight away at the other end as Theo Walcott found himself one-on-one with Pepe Reina, only for the Spaniard to pull out a good save to deny the England striker. Arsenal continued to pile on the pressure, Podolski finding all kinds of room on the left, before Giroud struck inches wide.

Liverpool were still very dangerous, as Suarez demonstrated when he fed a wonderful ball to Daniel Sturridge, who dragged his shot agonizingly wide. It was a let off for Arsenal as they nearly gifted Liverpool another from a goal kick when the ball was passed back to Szczesny, who had Sturridge right on his tail.

Arsenal had more chances in the half, as on 18 minutes, Theo Walcott found himself in all kinds of space following a corner, but his curling effort from the edge of the box was well saved by Reina. Gerrard then came close to putting the ball past his own keeper as he blocked Podolski's cross out for a corner.

Arsenal remained in control, but lacked urgency, and quality, as Walcott failed to control a dinked ball over Liverpool's defence.

More sloppy defending gave Liverpool another opportunity, as Mertesacker gifted the ball to Suarez who won a corner. From the resulting corner, Agger had a header cleared off the line by Podolski. The sloppiness continued for Arsenal who constantly gave position back to Liverpool, who failed to punish the Gunners further.

Gibbs was replaced by Andre Santos on 36 minutes after a hamstring injury, before Liverpool were given one more chance by Arsenal before the break but Henderson's chip over Szczesny landed on the roof of the net.

Arsenal came out in the 2nd period still lacking in invention, and Liverpool who had 10 men behind the ball, were looking comfortable. Although Arsenal came close when an amazing Cazorla cross was headed inches over by Theo Walcott at the back post.

Arsenal were punished for that miss 5 minutes later when Jordan Henderson walked through a hapless Arsenal defence before tucking past Szczesny to make it 2-0. It was a brilliant solo effort, but you could easily say that Henderson could have circled the Arsenal back four for 10 minutes and he still wouldn't have been dispossessed.

Arsenal's offence then woke up while Liverpool's defence dropped off. A Wilshire free-kick was met by the head of Giroud, who powered Arsenal back into the game, just 5 minutes after it had looked all over.

2 minutes later and the Gunners were level as Walcott was through on goal and easily beat Reina from a tight angle. The goalkeeper didn't move and Liverpool had suddenly surrendered their commanding lead.

Walcott was then inches away from making it 3-2 with his effort from outside the area.

As we entered the final 10 minutes it was end to end football as Arsenal countered brilliantly only for no one to get on the end of Cazorla's ball across the six yard box. Liverpool were attacking but not creating any chances while Arsenal were quickly up the other end and Giroud saw his powerful strike tipped wide by Reina. Giroud got his head to the corner but failed to get over the ball, sending it high over the bar.

The chance of the game then came to Olivier Giroud, but the striker just couldn't get any contact on Podolski's ball into the six yard box. Suarez then had one final chance to win it, but Szczesny came to the rescue making a good save to deny the South American.

All in all it was nothing short of entertaining, and there's no doubt both teams gave everything to find a winner in the final minutes of the game. A draw though is a fair result but one neither side can see as a positive result.

Man of the Match: Theo Walcott - This has to go to a player in the offence and although Suarez had a very good game, Theo offered a threat all night long and as proven by his goal, and the chances he had, Liverpool couldn't handle him.

ARSENAL 2
GIROUD 65
WALCOTT 67

LIVERPOOL 2
SUAREZ 5
HENDERSON 60

Newcastle add to Villa misery; QPR hold Man City to goalless draw

By Peter Wells (@boxingpeter): While Newcastle United jumped 4 points clear of relegation, Aston Villa were staring at the horrifying task of turning their fortunes around before it is too late. A spirited second half performance was not enough to save Aston Villa from facing yet another defeat - they haven't won since they defeated Liverpool, mid December.

Newcastle outclassed Villa all over the pitch in the first 45 minutes, and were more than good value for their 2-0 half time lead at a disgusted Villa Park. On 19 minutes new signing Moussa Sissoko played a wonderful through ball to Papiss Cisse, who coolly slotted past the on rushing Brad Guzan. Charles N'Zogbia showed the home faithful there was indeed some life in the Villa team, when he struck the crossbar. But it was Newcastle who struck the back of the net next on 31 minutes through Yohan Cabaye who finished wonderfully giving Guzan no chance.

The half time whistle was met by a chorus of boos as Paul Lambert lead his team to the changing room. Whatever Lambert said at half time, it sure worked as Aston Villa came out looking like a totally different team. Weimann and Agbonlahor also helped rejuvenate the Villa side. Weimann forced Krul to save well before Gabby won Aston Villa a penalty on 49 minutes. Benteke stepped up and converted, giving Villa a chance of a 2nd half comeback.

But despite Newcastle offering next to nothing in the 2nd period, they were able to hold off Lambert's men. So it was another terrible night for all Aston Villa fans, but Lambert can take plenty of positives from the 2nd half display. Unfortunately only playing for one half of football is not enough to survive in the Premier League.

While Aston Villa are slipping down into the drop zone, QPR are starting to claw their way out. After a humiliating home defeat to League One, MK Dons, Harry Redknapp's men more than made up for it by holding the champions, Man City to a 0-0 draw.

City dominated but failed to find a way past the remarkable Julio Cesar, who on multiple occasions denied Roberto Mancini's side from taking the lead. Rangers had few chances on the break, but it was City who controlled the game but the goals they scored for fun last season, were just not there last night.

Swansea were also held to a 0-0 draw at Sunderland, in a game where Swansea dominated the first half but failed to take any of their chances. The 2nd half was closer but the best of the opportunities still fell to Swansea, but both teams will be satisfied with the point.

In the final Tuesday game, Wigan came from 2-0 down to earn a point at Stoke. On 23 minutes Ryan Shawcross converted from close range before Peter Crouch doubled Stoke's advantage on 48 minutes.

Within two minutes the Latics were back in the game when James McArthur side-footed home. Then on 61 minutes, Franco Di Santo stunned the home crowd when he tapped home from 6 yards out. The draw helped lift Wigan out of the drop zone although a shock win for Reading at home to Chelsea will drop them back in.

Tonight's key game, will be Arsenal taking on a Liverpool side coming off the back of an embarrassing 3-2 defeat to League One Oldham.

Tuesday 29th January: Aston Villa 1-2 Newcastle; QPR 0-0 Man City; Stoke 2-2 Wigan; Sunderland 0-0 Swansea

Wednesday 30th January: Arsenal v Liverpool; Everton v West Brom; Norwich v Tottenham; Fulham v West Ham; Man Utd v Southampton; Reading v Chelsea

FA Cup 'Magic' returns with weekend of upsets

Luton Town celebrate after shocking Premiership Norwich City

By Peter Wells (@boxingpeter): 'Nothing is as good as in the old days'. This phrase is used for almost every sport known to man. Maybe no more so than football. Sometimes its the players, other times the rules, but each year we here "The FA Cup is nothing like the old days". Year after year the fans of the underdogs and neutrals sit and hope to witness the upsets that we here about so often "in the old days". Yet this weekend there was no mention of the "old days", as the magic of the FA Cup returned to the 21st century.

MK Dons, Luton, Leeds, Oldham all added themselves into the history books of FA Cup upsets. Brentford were so nearly added to that list, but will have to complete their mission at Stamford Bridge. And who, except Chelsea fans, won't be rooting for the League One side to cause maybe the upset of the round.

Blue Square Bet Premier side Luton Town are the new Cinderella story of the FA Cup after becoming the first ever non-league side to knock a top-flight team out of the FA Cup since Sutton Utd defeated Coventry City in 1989. The hero of the day was Scott Rendell, who came off the bench to poke home fellow substitute O'Donnell's delicious cross on the 80th minute. Norwich City didn't have enough time to find an equaliser and where the unfortunate victims of one of the greatest FA Cup upsets of all time.



MK Dons celebrate their 4th goal in a 4-2 victory against QPR

Norwich aren't Luton's only high flying victims this FA Cup though, as Wolverhampton Wanderers were also felled by one-goal-to-nil in the 3rd round. Next up is Championship side Millwall, and Luton have no desire to stop the upsetting just yet.

Luton were not the only team on Saturday upsetting Premier League sides on their own turf, as MK Dons demolished QPR in quite remarkable fashion. Traore flicked past his own keeper after just 4 minutes before Ryan Lowe, Ryan Harley and Darren Potter put the visiting League One side 4-0 up. Jay Bothroyd and Fabio's late consolation goals were not enough to spare QPR the embarrassment of the humiliating defeat.

Luton and MK Dons were then joined on Sunday by Leeds Utd and Oldham. Leeds, cheered on by a boisterous crowd took the lead at home to Tottenham Hotspur after 15 minutes when Luke Varney found the back of the net after some poor Spurs defending. AVB found his side 2-0 down when Ross McCormack scored a screamer on 50 minutes. Clint Dempsey soon halved the deficit on 58 minutes but the Leeds defence held strong to knock out the Champions League chasing team.

Oldham players and fans celebrate a quite incredible evening

To conclude the amazing weekend, League One strugglers Oldham Athletic gave their fans a memorable night in what has thus far been a pretty forgettable season. Liverpool's poor defence couldn't stop Matt Smith from powering home twice in the first half. Luis Suarez scored a magnificent individual goal in between Smith's heroics. Early in the 2nd half, loanee Reece Wabara powered a quite brilliant header past Brad Jones, who had a bad game to say the least. Oldham amazingly had chances to make it 4-1 as Coates and Skrtel struggled to cope with Oldham's offence. Joe Allen's deflected shot gave Liverpool hope, but only Steven Gerrard came close to saving Liverpool.

Brentford will have one more shot at adding their name to the list of underdog victors, when they travel to Stamford Bridge after coming so close to beating Chelsea after leading twice. Fernando Toress of all people got the decisive equaliser with 7 minutes to go.

In other results in this years FA Cup 4th round, Millwall caused a mild upset against struggling Aston Villa 2-1. Brighton were resilient in a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal, while League Two Aldershot were seconds away from earning a home replay against Middlesbrough, when the Championship side snatched a heartbreaking goal to win 2-1. Manchester City repeated their 2011 FA Cup final victory over Stoke, winning 1-0, while the red side of Manchester dominated Fulham 4-1. Reading proved too much for Sheffield United winning 4-0, and Blackburn were also too hot for Derby to handle, winning 3-0. Macclessfield succumbed to an early Wigan penalty 1-0, while Hull were shocked by struggling Barnsley at home 1-0. Everton were pushed hard by Bolton, but forced out a 2-1 victory and finally Leicester and Huddersfield will meet again after a 1-1 draw.

So, you could call it a good old fashioned FA Cup weekend. Or you could just face the fact that the FA Cup still has its magic, and fairy tales are still being written in the modern game.

FA Cup 5th round draw: Arsenal v Blackburn; Huddersfield/Leicester v Wigan; Luton v Millwall; Man City v Leeds Utd; Man Utd v Reading; MK Dons v Barnsley; Middlesbrough v Chelsea/Brentford; Oldham v Everton