F.A. Premiership 2009/2010

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در هفته نهم ليگ برتر

تقابل دو تيم سرخ در اولدترافورد


تيم فوتبال منچستريونايتد در ادامه ديدارهاي هفته نهم ليگ برتر انگليس با ليورپول ديدار مي*كند.



به نقل از سايت رسمي مسابقات، منچستري ها در ورزشگاه اولدترافورد با ليورپول ديدار مي*كنند. اين بازي به لحاظ تقابل دو تيم سرخ*پوش فوتبال انگليس و قدمت رقابت*هاي اين دو با يكديگر از گذشته، باعث جلب توجه بسياري در فوتبال انگليس و حتي جهان خواهد شد.
در ادامه اين بازي*ها ميدلزبورو با نبوكاسل يونايتد ديدار دارد؛ اما آرسنال درخانه ريدينگ حضور مي*يابند.
برنامه ديگر مسابقات به شرح زير است:
بلكبرن- بولتون
تانتهام- وستهام

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پاي شوچنكو و بالاك به گل باز شد


در ادامه مسابقات هفته نهم ليگ برتر انگليس تيم فوتبال چلسي توانست دو بريك از سد پورتسموث عبور كند.



به نقل ازسايت رسمي مسابقات، در اين بازي تيم چلسي به لطف گل هاي آندري شوچنكو و ميشائيل بالاك برتري مقابل پورتسموث را بدست آورد.
دراين بازي بعد از مدتها انتظار پاي شوچنكو به گل بالاخره باز شد و وي توانست براي تيمش گل بزند.بالاك نيز توانست اولين گل خود را در ليگ برتر به ثمررساند.
سايرنتايج ليگ برتر به اين شرح است :
ويگان 4- منچسترسيتي صفر
اورتون 2- شيفيلديونايتد صفر
چارلتون صفر- واتفورد صفر
آستون ويلا يك - فولهام يك
انتهاي پيام/.
جدول رده بندي :
1-چلسي 22 امتياز
2-منچستريونايتد 19امتياز
3-بولتون 17 امتياز
4-پورتسموث 16 امتياز
5-اورتون 15 امتياز

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هفته نهم ليگ برتر انگليس

آرسنال 4 گل زد، منچستر دو گل


تيم فوتبال آرسنال انگليس در هفته نهم ليگ برتر
(Premiere League)
تلافي ناكامي در ليگ قهرمانان اروپا را با 4 گل جبران كرد.



به نقل از سايت رسمي اين مسابقات، آرسنال در حالي كه ميهمان ريدينگ بود، با گل هاي تيري هانري (1و70 پنالتي)، آلكساندر هلب (39) وروبين ون پرسي (50 ) به چهار گل براي كسب يك پيروزي ارزشمند رسيد.
در همين حال منچستريونايتد در ديدار برابر ليورپول با ارائه بازي برتر به برد دو بر صفر نائل شد.
براي شاگردان سرآلگس فرگوسن پل اسكولز (39) و ريوفرديناند (66) گل زدند.
در حال حاضر منچستر يونايتد با 22 امتياز در صدر جدول قرار دارد و بعد از آن تيم هاي چلسي و بولتون واندرز با 22 و20 امتياز در رده دوم و سوم جدول قرار گرفته*اند.
ساير نتايج بدست آمده به شرح زير است:
تانتهام يك - وستهام صفر
ميدلزبورو يك - نيوكاسل يونايتدصفر
بلاكبرن صفر- بولتون يك

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جدول گلزنان ليگ فوتبال انگليس (ليگ برتر)


نوانكو كانو، مهاجم نيجريه*اي تيم فوتبال پورتسموت انگليس در صدر جدول بهترين گلزنان ليگ برتر انگليس قرار گرفته است.



به نقل از سايت رسمي مسابقات، كانو كه زماني در آرسنال توپ مي زد، اكنون با 7 گل زده درصدر بهترين گلزنان اين ليگ قرار گرفته است.
فهرست بهترين گلزنان ليگ برتر انگليس تا پايان هفته دهم به اين شرح است:
7گل:
كانو (پورتسموت)
6 گل:
لمپارد (چلسي) و جانسون (اورتون)
5 گل:
زامورا (وستهام)، مك كارتي (بلكبرن)،كاهيل (اورتون)، بنت (چارلتون)، روني (منچستريونايتد)، هانري (آرسنال) و دروگوبا (چلسي)

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در هفته يازدهم ليگ برتر

منچستر از صدرنشيني دفاع كرد


تيم فوتبال منچستر يونايتد از عنوان صدرنشيني خود در هفته يازدهم ليگ برتر به زيباترين شكل دفاع كرد.



به نقل از سايت رسمي مسابقات، تيم تحت رهبري سر آلكس فرگوسن توانست در اين هفته پورتسموت را كه در رده چهارم قرار داشت، سه بر صفر شكست داده تا به رقابت هيجان انگيز خود با آبي*هاي چلسي ادامه دهد.
منچستر كه در خانه برابر تماشاگران خويش در اولدترافورد بازي كرد، به اولين گل بازي خيلي زود در دقيقه 3 رسيد. در اين هنگام لوئيس ساها از روي نقطه پنالتي، منچستر را پيش انداخت تا با گل دقيقه 10 كريستانو رونالدو، اين تيم بيش از پيش اميدوار به كسب نتيجه دلخواه در ميدان برابر پورتسموت شود.
با زدن اين دو گل زود هنگام، منچستر يونايتد به خوبي نشان داد پس از باخت عجيب يك بر صفر مقابل كپنهاگ دانمارك در ليگ قهرمانان اروپا، به مواقع از خواب غفلت برخاسته است.
منچستر به اين ترتيب در دقيقه 66 سومين گل خود را از سوي نمانيا ويديچ به ثمر رساند.
ليورپول از سوي ديرك كوويت، بازيكن هلندي خود در دقايق 14 و 73 به پنجمين پيروزي فصل مقابل ريدينگ دست يافت. قهرمان اروپا در سال 2005 با كسب اين پيروزي قدم محكمي در راه فرار از بحران برداشت.

* نتايج مسابقات اين هفته به شرح زير است:
فولهام يك- اورتون صفر
واتفورد 2- ميدلزبورو صفر
منچستر يونايتد 3- پورتسموت صفر
ليورپول 2- ريدينگ صفر
چارلتون يك- منچسترسيتي صفر
بولتون صفر- ويگان آتلتيك يك
نيوكاسل يونايتد صفر- شيفيلد يونايتد يك

* جدول رده*بندي
منچستر يونايتد 28 امتياز
چلسي 25 امتياز
بولتون واندرز 20 امتياز
پورستموت 19 امتياز
آرسنال 18 امتياز

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در هفته سيزدهم ليگ انگليس

منچستر برتري خود را بر چلسي حفظ مي*كند


بازي*هاي فوتبال هفته سيزدهم ليگ برتر انگليس در روز شنبه با هشت ديدار آغاز مي*شود.



به نقل سايت رسمي مسابقات، منچستريونايتد در اين روز راهي سفر مي*شود تا با شيفيلديونايتد ديدار كند.
منچستر هفته قبل با تك گل لوئيس ساها در جدال با بلكبرن رووز برنده شد تا با 31 امتياز در صدر جدول، جلوتر از چلسي گام بر مي*دارد. سر آلكس فرگوسن به عنوان مربي قديمي منچستر همراه شاگردانش مايل است اين برتري را حفظ كند و در صورت امكان از اين رقيب فاصله گيرد. به همين دليل نقشه پيروزي بر ميزبان را كشيده است.
رقيب سرخ*هاي اولدترافورد يعني چلسي در شهر لندن مقابل يك همشهري قديمي به اسم وستهام مي*ايستد.
آرسنال با آرسن ونگر، سرمربي فرانسوي در ورزشگاه الامارات بازي دشواري را مقابل نيوكاسل يونايتد تجربه مي*كند.

* برنامه ديدارها به شرح زير است:
منچسترسيتي- فولهام
شيفيلديونايتد- منچستريونايتد
ريدينگ- چارلتون
پورتسموت- واتفورد
اورتون- بولتون
چلسي- وستهام
آرسنال- نيوكاسل
ميدلزبورو- ليورپول

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پس از انتقال به منچستريونايند

لارسن: بهترين بازي*هايم را در اولدترافورد انجام مي*دهم


مهاجم سوئدي پس از انتقال به منچستريونايتد گفت: مي*خواهم در سال*هاي پاياني دوران فعاليتم، بهترين بازي*هايم را انجام دهم.



به نقل از فوتبال انگليس، هنريك لارسن به تازگي با عقد قراردادي 3 ماه هلسينبورگ را ترك كرد و به طور قرضي به منچستريونايتد پيوست.

مهاجم 35 ساله سوئدي از حضورش در اولدترافورد ابراز رضايت كرد و گفت: سر الكس فرگوسن با انجام گفت و گويي از من خواست براي چند ماه براي منچستر بازي كنم و با توجه به خواسته سرمربي يونايتدها، با عقد قراردادي به عضويت تيم انگليسي درآمدم.

وي افزود: از حضور در تيم بزرگي چون منچستريونايتد راضي هستم و مي خواهم بازي هاي خوبي را انجام دهم.

بازيكن سابق بارسلونا عنوان كرد: از اولين مسابقه نمي توانم براي منچستر بازي كنم؛ اما دوست دارم بهترين بازي ها را در پايان دوران فعاليتم انجام دهم.

وي ادامه داد: علاوه بر خود، خانواده ام نيز از حضور در اولدترافورد رضايت دارند و به خوبي قرارداد جديدم را پذيرفته اند.

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نيوكاسل خواهان شوچنكو است


مسئولين تيم فوتبال نيوكاسل به شدت خواهان جذب مهاجم اوكرايني چلسي هستند.



آندري شوچنكو با توجه به عدم روزهاي پر فوغ در تيم چلسي، شايعات زيادي مبني بر احتمال جدايي وي منتشر مي*شود.

منابع آگاه از باشگاه نيوكاسل در اين زمينه اظهار داشتند كه صحبت*هاي مقدماتي با وي آغاز شده و مردان جيمز پارك به طور جدي خواهان شوا هستند.

نشريه سان در اين زمينه نوشت: پيشنهاد مسئولين نيوكاسل براي خريد مهاجم 30 ساله بسيار ايده*آل است و در صورت توافق، هر دو تيم سود خوبي را كسب خواهند كرد.

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English Premier League 2006/07

MANCHESTER CITY 0 WATFORD 0

Goalkeepers Richard Lee of Watford and City's Nicky Weaver put in top class performances to leave the game goalless. Weaver made some fine early saves before Lee, standing in for the injured Ben Foster, saved the visitors on two occasions.
Lee parried Joey Barton's curling free kick after 65 minutes and then immediately tipped a close range Bernardo Corradi shot round the post before denying the Italian again in the 86th.
City had a late penalty appeal turned down after Corradi appeared to be bundled over by Jay DeMerit.
The result saw mid-table City move up a place and left Watford one from bottom.
- - - -
Played Sunday:
EVERTON 2 WEST HAM UNITED 0
Everton moved up to seventh place after an entertaining victory at Goodison Park.
Midfielder Leon Osman broke the deadlock early in the second half, chesting a high ball down on the edge of the box and sending a looping shot into the top corner.
Teenager James Vaughan sealed the points in stoppage time, the substitute scoring with a crisp low finish after an incisive pass from Lee Carsley.
West Ham stay 17th, one place and one point above the drop zone.
- - - -
Played Saturday:
ARSENAL 3 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0
Arsenal swept to a resounding win, albeit one helped by a controversial penalty, that should settle their nerves after consecutive defeats at Bolton and Fulham.
Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor opened the scoring in the 20th minute, evading Tottenham's offside trap to fire past Paul Robinson. Gilberto then converted a controversial 42nd minute penalty, harshly awarded for Pascal Chimbonda's tackle on Tomas Rosicky, and then scored another in the 72nd minute after Robin van Persie was tripped from behind by Jermaine Jenas.

- - - -
BLACKBURN ROVERS 2 FULHAM 0
Days after beating Arsenal, Fulham slumped to a sobering defeat by Mark Hughes's men at Ewood Park.
Democratic Republic of Congo forward Shabani Nonda lobbed Fulham keeper Jans Lastuvka in the sixth minute and his South African strike partner Benni McCarthy struck the second in the 24th minute with a deflected shot.
- - - -
MIDDLESBROUGH 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher extended United's lead at the top to six points by scoring the winner at the Riverside.
French striker Louis Saha, who missed a late penalty in a costly Champions League defeat at Celtic on Nov. 21 made no mistake from the spot in the 19th minute. The penalty was generously awarded after Cristiano Ronaldo went down as Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer came out to block.
Boro nearly levelled immediately with a header onto the post by Portuguese defender Abel Xavier. James Morrison did equalise with a crisp half-volley in the 66th minute, after a wayward headed clearance by Argentine Gabriel Heinze, but it stayed all square for just two minutes.
Ronaldo went on a mazy run before laying the ball back for Giggs, whose chipped cross was headed into the corner by Fletcher.
- - - -
PORTSMOUTH 2 ASTON VILLA 2
Two goals from Portsmouth's Matthew Taylor looked to have turned this match around after Villa's Gareth Barry converted and then conceded a penalty at Fratton Park.
Villa went in front in the 37th minute when Pompey keeper David James clipped wingback Gabriel Agbonlahor in the area and Barry converted the spot kick. Portsmouth levelled in the 52nd minute through Taylor after good work by striker Benjani Mwaruwari.
Taylor then put Pompey in front from the spot in the 80th minute after a hand-ball by Barry, but Villa clawed back a point when Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel pounced on a poor clearance by Sol Campbell. A frustrated Portsmouth finished with 10 men after a late red card for Pedro Mendes.
- - - -
READING 1 BOLTON WANDERERS 0
Reading ground out another victory that moves them up to sixth in the table after absorbing plenty of second half pressure from Sam Allardyce's side.
Ireland striker Kevin Doyle got the winner in the 33rd minute, heading in his eighth goal of the season, from a cross by John Oster. Steve Coppell's men were put to the sword in the closing stages but held out for a fourth league win on the trot that puts the promoted club in the race for European football next season.

- - - -
SHEFFIELD UNITED 2 CHARLTON 1
United had to come from behind for a dramatic late victory in a relegation dogfight that lifted Neil Warnock's side out of the drop zone.
Andy Reid gave Charlton a 17th minute lead, following up from Darren Ambrose's parried effort, but United levelled with a Chris Morgan header from a corner. They snatched victory with a Keith Gillespie piledriver from outside the area in the 88th minute, to the delight of the Bramall Lane faithful.
- - - -
WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 LIVERPOOL 4
A day after manager Liverpool Rafael Benitez said he hoped to see the best of Craig Bellamy, having been cleared of assault charges by a Cardiff court, the Welsh forward scored two and made another in a rout at the JJB Stadium.
Bellamy finished off a long deflected ball from John Arne Riise and repeated the feat with a Steven Gerrard through ball inside 26 minutes. He unselfishly laid the ball on for Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt to make it 3-0 and there was still time before the break for Wigan's Lee McCulloch to score an own goal. Liverpool cruised through the second half to register their first away league win of the season.

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Manchester United beat Manchester City 3-1 Saturday to extend its Premier League lead to nine points.

Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha and Cristiano Ronaldo scored for United, which won for the 14th time in 17 games and has 44 points. With Chelsea playing Sunday at Arsenal, the Red Devils opened a healthy lead over the defending champion. Chelsea has 35 points but has played two fewer games.

"I will be supporting the Gunners (Arsenal) for a change," said United manager Alex Ferguson, who has had a fierce rivalry with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. "We can relax and watch the game on TV tomorrow. They are two great sides, but hopefully we will be in an even better position tomorrow evening."

Saturday's other results were: Portsmouth 2, Everton 0; Bolton 4, West Ham 0; Tottenham 5, Charlton 1; Liverpool 4, Fulham 0; Newcastle 3, Blackburn 1; Middlesbrough 1, Wigan 1; Watford 0, Reading 0.

It was a day of mixed results for American goalkeepers. Marcus Hahnemann made a standout save on a shot by Al Bangura in Reading's 0-0 tie at Watford. Tim Howard and Brad Friedel, however, were caught out of position.

Howard, on loan to Everton from Manchester United, was caught off his line and unable to stop Portsmouth defender Matthew Taylor from lobbing a 45-yard shot over his head for his team's first goal.

Friedel left his area and went upfield during injury time to try and help Blackburn score from a series of corner kicks with his team 2-1 down at home to Newcastle. But the Magpies managed to clear the ball and he was well behind the play when Obafemi Martins shot into an empty net from 30 yards for his second goal.

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Manchester United extended its lead at the top of the Barclays Premiership standings to nine points after a 3-1 victory over Manchester City on Saturday.

The Red Devils went ahead, 2-0, behind goals by Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha and looked set to cruise to victory.


However, Hatem Trabelsi's inspired effort 18 minutes from time meant a nervy spell for United before Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the win and send it nine points clear of Chelsea.

City was reduced to 10 men after Bernardo Corradi was sent off for his second yellow card after diving.

Liverpool claimed its seventh home win of the season with a 4-0 victory over Fulham.

The Reds were dominant but could not find the breakthrough until Steven Gerrard's 54th-minute penalty.

Gerrard followed up to convert his own penalty after Jan Lustavka pushed out his spot-kick following Ian Pearce's blatant handball in the 54th minute.

Carragher then converted Gerrard's corner after 60 minutes before Garcia found himself unmarked 12 yards out and planted a powerful header into the net.

In the final minute, Mark Gonzalez sent a 25-yard free-kick into the bottom corner.

Portsmouth moved into third following a 2-0 victory over Everton at Fratton Park thanks to two stunning goals.

Matthew Taylor collected the ball on the halfway line before unleashing a left-footed volley which went over keeper Tim Howard from around 45 yards out in the 15th minute.

Kanu put Pompey further ahead with a second stunning volley from just inside the area to set up a two-goal lead at the break.

Everton rallied in the second half with David James pulling off a stunning save from Joseph Yobo.

Tottenham cruised to a 5-1 victory over Charlton at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham went ahead through Dimitar Berbatov when Aaron Lennon dinked the ball through and Teemu Tainio put the Spurs further ahead in the 33rd minute.

Charlton pulled one back when Michael Dawson touched the ball past his own keeper two minutes from halftime.

Berbatov's knock-down was converted by Steed Malbranque in the 55th minute before Defoe hit an unstoppable shot past Scott Carson.

Berbatov took advantage of some good fortune to get his second.

Obafemi Martins scored twice as Newcastle claimed a 3-1 win at 10-men Blackburn.

However, its satisfaction was tempered by an injury to Emre, who was carried off after being caught by Morten-Gamst Pedersen.

Martins put the Magpies ahead with an unstoppable shot in the 32nd minute and Steven Taylor scored three minutes later. Henchoz was then controversially given a straight red card after bringing down Martins by the touchline.

Blackburn pulled one back with a unstoppable 30-yard shot from Morten Gamst Pedersen shortly after halftime.

Martins then got his second in the final minute after Newcastle broke from a Rovers corner and converted from 30 yards out after Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel was stranded in the United area.

Middlesbrough failed to move away from the relegation zone after sharing a 1-1 draw with Wigan at the Riverside.

Wigan went ahead through Henri Camara's well-taken penalty in the 24th minute after Emanuel Pogatetz's needless challenge on Paul Scharner.

***kland was replaced by Mike Pollitt after being taken to hospital at halftime. Yakubu levelled after 67 minutes following good work from the returning Mark Viduka and James Morrison.

The game between Watford and Reading ended goalless after a dour encounter at Vicarage Road.

The first half produced little excitement with neither keeper busy for the majority of the half although the Royals were on top.

However, the second half started brightly with Darius Henderson putting a header over the bar following Ashley Young's cross.

Bolton moved into fifth with an emphatic 4-0 victory over struggling West Ham. The outcome saw Bolton settle in just one point behind Portsmouth and Liverpool but left the Hammers in dire trouble occupying the third relegation spot.

Kevin Davies opened the scoring when he got on the end of a cross by El-Hadji Diouf and hammered home from six yards in the 17th minute.

Gary Speed, making a record 500th Premier League appearance, swung in a corner which Ivan Campo headed on before Davies reacted instantly to knock it past Robert Green to make it 2-0.

Diouf finally got on the scoresheet in the 77th minute, converting from close range before Nicolas Anelka completed the rout with a low shot a minute later.

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LONDON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Arsenal dealt Chelsea's title hopes a blow by holding the champions to a pulsating 1-1 draw on Sunday that boosted the chances of Premier League leaders Manchester United.

Arsenal's French midfielder Mathieu Flamini looked to have rifled in a 78th minute matchwinner, only for Chelsea's Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien to smash home a stunning 30-metre piledriver in the 86th minute at Stamford Bridge.

The real winners on the day were United, who beat Manchester City 3-1 on Saturday and are now eight points ahead of second-placed Chelsea after playing a game more.

United lead with 44 points from 17 games, Chelsea have 36 from 16, followed by Portsmouth and Liverpool on 28. Arsenal moved up to sixth on 26 points from 16 games.

Though the result was a setback for Jose Mourinho's side, they came desperately close to suffering a first home league defeat since February 2004, when they lost to Arsenal.

However, they could also have snatched victory in injury time when Essien and Frank Lampard both hit the woodwork.

"We were losing at home with five minutes to go and had an incredible reaction and should have won it," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports.

Arsenal, who had lost their last three away league games, packed their midfield in an effort to combat the physical presence of the champions.

Chelsea left back Ashley Cole, facing his old club for the first time since an acrimonious August transfer, was booed by Arsenal fans and cheered loudly by the home crowd every time he touched the ball.

LITTLE RESTRAINT

Arsenal, though entertaining going forward, had let-offs when Frank Lampard struck a post and Essien had an effort cleared off the line by Cesc Fabregas.

Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann and Didier Drogba were booked after an almost comical shoving match, while Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho tried to add more bite by sending on wingers Arjen Robben and Shaun Wright-Phillips for Geremi and Shevchenko.

Robben and Lampard nearly made Arsenal's Swiss defender Philippe Senderos pay for a wayward crossfield pass, forcing Lehmann into a series of desperate blocks.

But Arsenal struck against the run of play, after a patient build-up, Alexandr Hleb squared for Flamini, whose shot from the edge of the box which Hilario got a hand to but could not stop.

The lead lasted only eight minutes though. Lampard laid the ball off in midfield for Essien and instead of hoisting the ball into the area, he smashed it first time into the top left corner past a helpless Lehmann.

Injury time produced more drama as Essien, from point-blank range, struck the underside of the bar and Lampard hit the post after Lehmann spilled the ball into his path.

Mourinho accepted that Arsenal were the better side in the first half but said he was surprised by their negative approach.

"Everyone saw who tried to win the game," he said. "I accept the draw but it was a bit of a surprise that a team 15 points behind the leader came here not to win, to go for the draw, it's almost saying we don't want to win the Premiership. "We had a lot of chances, even in the first half when we didn't play well. We had big chances before they scored, we then showed a good emotional reaction, got an unbelievable goal, and then had great chances in the last minute."

Asked how United manager Alex Ferguson would have greeted the result he said: "I think he must be happy now, he can say we've dropped two points but if he thinks it's over he is in trouble."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger defended his tactics. "We came here with a very young team and played some good football," he said.

"We had a very young defence and I wanted to give them a bit of protection today against a team who have a lot of physical strength through the middle.

"We tried to win the game and nearly did that. I knew the final part of the game would be difficult for us physically but when you get so close to winning of course you want to keep it going.

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Arsenal striker Thierry Henry is struggling with a hamstring injury and unlikely to play again this year, his manager Arsene Wenger said on Tuesday.

"Thierry has started his rehabilitation," Wenger said on the club's Web site (www.arsenal.com). "He is still not completely free from his hamstring (injury) so he starts again.

Asked if the France forward was out until after Christmas, Wenger added: "Realistically, certainly yes. I would not want to set a time on it. We will take the needed time."


Henry's fitness has been in question since he played in a Premier League match at Fulham on Nov. 29, which was his last appearance for almost a month.

"We hope we can slowly build him up and make him competitive again," said Wenger. "The neck problem is sorted out. He had a sciatic nerve problem and a hamstring problem. And (the hamstring) is the most troubling for him now."

Sixth-placed Arsenal visit Wigan Athletic in the Premier League on Wednesday with defender Kolo Toure back in the squad after a one-match ban ruled him out of Sunday's 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

"We have Kolo back," said Wenger. "But he's the only one from Sunday. (William) Gallas is still out, Henry is out but (Tomas) Rosicky looks very, very promising and has a small, small chance for the weekend. Gallas too, maybe."

France defender Gallas has struggled with a thigh injury and Czech midfielder Rosicky has had a hamstring problem.

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Didier Drogba showed Chelsea will not give up the Premiership title without a fight as his late goal clinched a 1-0 win against Newcastle.

Jose Mourinho's side are now five points behind leaders Manchester United and should have renewed belief they can overhaul Sir Alex Ferguson's side after this hard-fought victory.

Chelsea can heap more pressure on United if they win at Everton on Sunday as their match takes place before Ferguson's team visit West Ham later the same day.

The champions were well below their best for long periods against resilient Newcastle and had to wait until 16 minutes from full-time before Drogba finally made the breakthrough at Stamford Bridge.

It took a fine combination from two men Mourinho had left on the bench to win the match as Andriy Shevchenko set up Drogba for his 15th goal this season.

Shevchenko has endured a miserable time since his 30 million pounds pre-season move from AC Milan and it was hard to avoid the suspicion that Mourinho had finally lost patience with the Ukraine striker when his name appeared among the substitutes.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had described Shevchenko as a broken-down Ferrari earlier this week but the forward was running smoothly enough during his cameo appearance.

Salomon Kalou created an early chance for Shaun Wright-Phillips with a flick from Geremi's throw, but the Chelsea winger completely miscued his shot from no more than six yards.

Kalou looked determined to seize his chance and the Ivory Coast forward's surging run past three defenders set up Frank Lampard for a long range strike.

Newcastle have been ravaged by an injury crisis that left them without 13 senior players for the trip to London, but Glenn Roeder's threadbare side almost snatched the lead in the 16th minute.

Obafemi Martins hassled Ricardo Carvalho into conceding a corner and James Milner's delivery was headed onto the crossbar by French midfielder Antoine Sibierski.

Newcastle's Giuseppe Rossi is on-loan from Manchester United and the tiny striker almost did his Old Trafford team-mates a huge favour with a fierce effort that was just off-target in the 35th minute.

Chelsea were uncharacteristically subdued and it took 40 minutes before Shay Given was forced to make a save, and even then the Newcastle captain easily held Lampard's shot.

Mourinho rang the changes at half-time, with Claude Makelele and Drogba introduced as he tried to shake his team out of their lethargy.

The substitutions nearly reaped an instant reward as Drogba flashed a header wide from Arjen Robben's cross.

Given had to use his legs to alertly block Robben's low inswinging free-kick on the hour, but that was a rare sight of goal for the champions.

With the gap to United in danger of widening to a formidable margin, Mourinho's last throw of the dice was to send on Shevchenko with 25 minutes to go.

His gamble paid off in spectacular fashion as Shevchenko helped Chelsea end Newcastle's defiant rearguard action in the 74th minute.

Robben picked out Shevchenko's run into the penalty area and the Ukrainian's cross was perfectly-weighted for Drogba to turn past Given from close range.

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Emmanuel Adebayor hit a dramatic late winner as Arsenal moved into the Premiership's top three after a 1-0 win at Wigan Athletic.

Arsene Wenger's frustrating domestic season looked set to continue as the mid-table Wigan looked good value for a point.

But Togo striker Adebayor - who hit the last minute winner to sink leaders Manchester United earlier in the season - showed great composure to beat keeper Chris ***kland in the 88th minute after a fine pass by substitute Cesc Fabregas.

Adebayor's fifth goal of the campaign saw Arsenal, who started the evening in sixth spot, move three places up the table although Wenger's side still have a lot of catching up to do if they overhaul United at the summit.

They are still 15 points adrift of the top although this victory will lift confidence after a bad run away from home.

Arsenal arrived at the JJB Stadium looking to end a dreadful run of form on the road. The London club had managed just one point out of the last 12 available away from the Emirates Stadium since crushing 4-0 win at Reading on October 22.

Their first-half performance against a mid-table Wigan side summed up their recent struggles as they struggled to cope with the homse side's physical style.

This was Arsenal's 12th game in six weeks and with a meeting with third-placed Portsmouth awaiting on Saturday, Wenger made four changes to the side which delivered a blow to Chelsea's title ambitions three days earlier.

Swiss defender Philippe Senderos, Dutch striker Robin van Persie, Belarus international Alexander Hleb and Spanish teenager Fabregas - who all started the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge - were rested while 17 year-old Theo Walcott was handed a rare start.

In his side's previous home game to Liverpool, Paul Jewell had watched in despair as his side conceded four first-half goals yet he cut a satisfied look as he trooped off down the tunnel after his side frustrated the visitors an even first 45 minutes which badly lacked flair and craft.

Without seven-goal French striker Thierry Henry, who is sidelined until the New Year with a damaged hamstring, Arsenal struggled to carve open a resolute home defence.

Indeed Wigan keeper Chris ***kland, who had been cleared to play shortly before kick-off after spending Saturday night in hospital with concussion, did not have a serious save to make until the 49th minute.

The England keeper spread himself to block Julio Baptista's powerful effort after the hosts had spurned a great opportunity to break the deadlock a minute earlier.

Senegal striker Henri Camara's defence-splitting pass left Emile Heskey with only the keeper to beat.

But the former Liverpool and England international, back in the side after serving a one-match suspension, was thwarted by Jens Lehmann who had spotted the danger and had come rushing off his line to make a vital save.

The second-half was a much more entertaining contest with Arsenal looking dangerous on the break while Wigan continued to look for a winner right up to the last kick.

Despite his tender years, Walcott impressed and the teenager looked to have teed-up the winner for Adebayor after a powerful 57th minute run. But Adebayor failed to connect as another chance went begging.

Wenger sent on van Persie and Fabregas for the final 15 minutes yet it was Wigan who almost snatched the points.

Josip Skoko forced Lehmann to fling himself across his line to beat away the Australian midfielder's stinging effort with Camara - five goals in his previous nine outings - unable to put the rebound in the net.

Then with two minutes remaining Adebayor had the final say to deny the hard-working hosts.