Arsene Wenger

Free scoring Arsenal, who have demolished lesser teams with their mesmeric football this season, drew a blank against Chelsea on Sunday, while their London rivals produced an emphatic three nil victory to consolidate their position at top of the Premier League.

Three nil may have been harsh and Arsenal will feel hard done by, particularly after having a ‘goal’ disallowed for a foul on Petr Cech with the score at 2-0. But realistically Chelsea showed the commitment and resilience that is required to lead the championship race and frankly never looked like losing the game at the Emirates.

Despite the obvious quality of the young Arsenal team they were easily matched and too often beaten in the midfield battle in the pouring rain at the Emirates and when they did find a way through the resistance of Chelsea’s defence kept them at arms length.

Arsene Wenger said after the game that Arsenal are not out of the title fight yet and that he was convinced that Chelsea would drop points throughout the season, something that it is difficult to argue with.

He also accused Chelsea of being too defensive and playing on the counter attack, which doesn’t quite make the same sense, although he may still have been angry at such an emphatic scoreline in his post match interview.

For me Chelsea looked a much stronger team throughout the contest, not just in defence where they generally looked solid, but all over the pitch and particularly in midfield.

There were many mistakes by both teams but Chelsea were able to rectify theirs more often on the day and looked to attack Arsenal at every chance. I seem to recall Chelsea had five shots on goal to Arsenals two.

Rather than bemoan the loss Wenger should focus himself and Arsenal on the job in hand and if the team are genuine title contenders the talking needs to be done on the pitch.

There was little sign of the flamboyant Arsenal on Sunday, Chelsea and the weather made sure of that and now it is time for the young Gunners to stand up and be counted if they are to be taken seriously.

There is still plenty of time in the title race and league leaders Chelsea will be one of the clubs hardest hit by players leaving for the Africa Nations Cup in the new year, so now is the time to respond.

The Australian club has apparently shown an interest in the player, as being their star attraction next season, according to claims by Kanu’s agent, Samuel  Okoronkwo.

Redknapp has said that if Kanu wants to go, he would not stand in his way:

“But I think talk of Australia is just a lot of cobblers, though. I think he wants to stay here. The lad seems to be happy and I don’t want him to go anywhere. He has been terrific for me.”

Kanu made his comeback for Portsmouth against Bolton last week after suffering a knee injury in Nigeria’s opening game in the African Cup of Nations, and looks set to lead the Pompey attack this weekend, with new signing Jermain Defoe cup tied.

Egypt’s 1-0 win over Cameroon kicked off an impromptu street party in Cairo, with the BBC correspondent reporting a cacophony of noise and blur of light , within minutes of the final whistle.

The partying is expected to continue for a few days, after Egypt hero Aboutrika scored the only goal in yet another pulsating game.  His goal was the 99th to be scored in the tournament, setting a new record for the Nations cup.The  competition has been commended for its excellent quality of football and entertainment throughout the tournament.

Now if only the Euro’s could continue the trend….

Cameroon reached their sixth Africa Cup of Nations final beating Ghana 1-0 in a very close game. Apart from Newcastle’s Geremi hitting the bar in the first half, Cameroon had little chance to score until substitute Alain Nkong scored the winner on 71 minutes.

In a most extraodinary incident, Cameroon defender Andre Bikey was sent off in the 90th minute for pushing a medical official to the ground who had come onto the pitch to tend to an injured player.

Junior Agogo had a chance to equalise for Ghana in the last minute when he shot a free header over the bar.

In the other semi-final, current champions Egypt played the tournament favourites Ivory Coast in a repeat of the 2006 final. But this time Egypt shocked everyone by thrashing the fancied Ivory Coast.

Ahmed Fathi put Egypt ahead in the 12th minute with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. The Ivory Coast held on until half time.

In the second half Egypt went further ahead when Amr Zaki made it 2-0 with a header. But when Kader Keita pulled a goal back a minute later with a stunning 25-yard strike, it looked like the Ivory Coast were going to make a dramatic comeback, but it wasn’t to be.
Egypt ended up winning comfortably with another two goals from Zaki and Mohamed Aboutrika, who scored the fourth goal in stoppage time.

Ghana will play Ivory Coast for the third & fourth place play-off on Saturday – 7pm UK time.

Cameroon will play Egypt in the final on Sunday – 7pm UK time.

The award should have been given to Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, but he was unable to travel to collect the award. He was told that he if he didnt  appear the rules would be changed and the award would go to the runner up.

Drogba has now said  that he does not want to be considered as a future candidate for the award. The ceremony took place two days before Ivory Coast’s quarter final game against Guinea amid preperations for the game.

An Ivory Coast spokesman has suggested that the Confederation of African Football had “brought itself into disrepute” by its handling of the situation.

After a slow, evenly matched first 20 minutes the Ivory Coast took control of the game. Kader Keita put the Elephants ahead in the first half. But it wasn’t until 20 minutes from the end that Guinea heads dropped and the Ivory Coast scored four more. Chelsea’s Didier Drogba made it 2-0, followed by two goals form Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou, before Bakary Kone’s 20-yard thunderbolt completed the rout.

Guinea were always going to be second favourites here, especially as they were missing suspended captain Pascal Feindouno and the influential former Celtic centreback Bobo Balde.

The Ivory Coast will now play either Egypt (which would be a repeat of the previous final in 2006) or Angola in the semi-finals; and remian favourites to win the Africa Cup of Nations 2008.

The final is to be held on 10th February.

Nigeria took the lead in the first half when Everton’s Yakubu was brought down inside the penalty area and slotted home the penalty with a cool finish. But deep into added time at the end of the first half, Michael Essien equalises with a great header.

The second half was as frantic and exciting as the first, with both Ghana and Nigeria having chances to take the lead. At one point the Ghana goalkeeper Kingston came rushing out of his area to clear the danger by heading the ball clear. But it dropped straight to Yakubu who without delay lobbed the ball straight back over Kingston’s head from about 45 yards out. The Ghana goalkeeper sprinted back to his goal and just managed to push the ball over the bar.

Michael Essien took over the captaincy when John Mensah was sent off for a cynical professional foul, kicking the heels of Odemwingie as the Nigerian rushed towards the penalty box.

Ghana was down to ten men but it didn’t show. Chelsea’s Michael Essien and Portsmouth’s Sulley Muntari was winning the midfield battle for Ghana as Nigeria and Chelsea’s Jon Obi Mikel didn’t have much influence on the game at all.

Ghana finished the stronger and won the game with a late winner by Nottingham Forest’s Junior Agogo.

Ghana will now face either Cameroon or Tunisia back in Accra on Thursday.

The quarter finals are to be played on Sunday and Monday, with the most mouth-watering tie being the host nation Ghana up against Nigeria. It’s the Black Stars against the Super Eagles.

Nigeria midfielder Seyi Olofinjana has described the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Ghana on Sunday as “a revenge mission”.

Last year Ghana beat Nigeria 4-1 in a friendly match played in London.  The victory was their first over Nigeria in 15 years.

Olofinjana, who plays for Wolves in the English Championship, was in the Nigeria team that night.

“It’s a perfect opportunity to right the wrongs of last year,” he said.

The remaining Africa Cup of Nations 2008 games are: 

Sunday, 03 February 2008

Ghana v Nigeria, Quarter Final, 17:00

Ivory Coast v Guinea, Quarter Final, 20:30

Monday, 04 February 2008

Egypt v Angola, Quarter Final, 17:00

Tunisia v Cameroon, Quarter Final, 20:30

Thursday, 07 February 2008

Winner Q/F 1 v Winner Q/F 4, Semi-Final,

Winner Q/F 2 v Winner Q/F 3, Semi-Final,

Saturday, 09 February 2008

Loser SF1 v Loser SF2, 3rd and 4th Place Play-Offs,

Sunday, 10 February 2008

Winner SF1 v Winner SF2, Final,

Two goals from Eto’o took his tally to 16 goals and breaks the Ivory Coast’s Laurent Pokou’s record of 14 goals set way back in 1970.

Cameroon qualify as runners up to the current Africa Nations Cup holders, Egypt who go through as Group Cwinners after a 1-1 draw with Zambia.

Tonight’s final games in Group D will complete the group stages as Senegal play South Africa, while Tunisia take on Angola.

Tunisia and Angola go into the final game both on four points knowing a draw would see them both go through with five points.

South Africa and Senegal face each other in their final game needing a win to stand any chance of progressing to the knockout stages.

Both games kick off at 5pm UK time tonight.

Chelsea’s Didier Drogba was among the goalscorers as the Ivory Coast, who had already qualified, defeated Mali 3-0 with another comfortable and very convincing win. The Ivory Coast will play Guinea for a place in the semi finals.

Tonight its the deciding matches to see who qualifies with Egypt from Group C. Cameroon and Zambia are both on three points. Cameroon play Sudan and start in second place on goal difference, while Zambia play the current champions Egypt.

Both games kick off at 5pm UK time.