Category — Arsenal
Arsenal trash Porto 5 – 0 in Champions League
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Arsenal swept into the Champions League quarter-finals as Nicklas Bendtner silenced his critics with a hat-trick in a majestic 5-0 win against Porto on Tuesday.
Arsene Wenger’s side had trailed 2-1 from the first leg of this second round tie, but Bendtner overturned that deficit within 25 minutes of the return at the Emirates Stadium to set up a 6-2 aggregate victory.
French midfielder Samir Nasri put Arsenal in total control with a sublime solo effort in the second half and Emmanuel Eboue added a fourth before Bendtner completed his treble from the penalty spot.
It was a sweet moment of vindication for Bendtner after the Denmark striker came in for some stinging criticism for his poor finishing in Saturday’s victory over Burnley.
While Bendtner’s lack of goals had led some fans to call for him to be dropped, Wenger kept faith in the 22-year-old and got his reward as the Dane helped Arsenal keep alive their bid for a Premier League and Champions League double.
Although Porto arrived with a slender advantage, the Portuguese champions had lost their last six matches in London and, even without injured captain Cesc Fabregas, it was Arsenal who dominated from the start.
When Bacary Sagna looped a cross into the Porto penalty area, Andrey Arshavin was left unmarked at the far post and the tiny Russian’s header drew a good save from Helton.
It was a warning that Porto failed to heed as another header from Arshavin started the move that led to Arsenal’s 10th minute opener.
Arshavin was by far the smallest player on the pitch but he was still able to win a header that found Nasri and he slipped a sublime return pass back towards the Russian.
As Arshavin bore down on goal, Nuno Coelho made a despairing tackle which only succeeded in knocking the ball to Bendtner, who slid across to push his shot into the empty net.
A pair of farcical mistakes from Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski had proved decisive in the first leg at the Dragao Stadium, but it was Porto who shot themselves in the foot in the 25th minute.
Fucile had the chance to clear deep in his own half but tried to play his way out of trouble and instead gifted possession to Arshavin with a careless pass.
Arshavin escaped his markers with a clever flick and whipped over a low cross that Bendtner gleefully prodded past Helton for his seventh goal of the season.
Bendtner has never lacked confidence so his belief must have been sky-high by now and he almost completed his hat-trick with a curling strike which Helton pushed away for a corner.
By the time Abou Diaby’s header was saved by Helton, Arsenal were playing with such verve and imagination that the tie looked all but over already.
Nasri’s elegant play in midfield was more than compensating for the absence of Fabregas and the Frenchman forced a sprawling stop from Helton as Arsenal went for the kill.
Arsenal hadn’t overturned a first leg deficit when they played the return at home for over 30 years and they had a scare early in the second half when Nasri had to clear off the line from Cristian Rodriguez’s header.
But that only served to spark the Gunners back into life and Nasri extinguished Porto’s hopes with a breath-taking goal in the 63rd minute.
Taking possession wide on the right edge of the Porto penalty area, he jinked past three Porto defenders with a mesmerising dribble and unleashed a fierce strike that gave Helton no chance.
Arsenal weren’t finished there and, in the 66th minute, Arshavin sent substitute Eboue galloping clear and the defender rounded Helton before slotting home.
There was still time for one more goal as Fucile gave away a penalty with a foul on Eboue in stoppage time and Bendtner stroked in his hat-trick from the spot.
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March 10, 2010 No Comments
Kroenke increased stake in Arsenal
American tycoon Stan Kroenke has increased his stake in Arsenal to just over 20% at a cost of some £42.5million after buying 5,000 ordinary shares from fellow director Danny Fiszman.
SHAREHOLDINGS IN ARSENAL
- PD Hill-Wood (chairman) – 0.8%
- DD Fiszman – 16.1%
- Stan Kroenke – 20.5%
- KJ Friar OBE – 0.07%
- Lord Harris of Peckham – 0.08%
- Sir ‘Chips’ Keswick – 0.06%
- RCL Carr – 4.4%
- Red & White Holdings – 25%
- Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith – 15.9%
Kroenke had accepted the offer to become a non-executive director in September last year as ties with his Kroenke Sports Enterprises group were strengthened.
The remainder of the Arsenal board who were subject to the ‘lockdown agreement’ gave their consent to the transaction, which was set at a price of £8,500 per share.
Fiszman is now left with some 10,025 shares, around 16.1% of the total capital of Arsenal’s parent holding company.
The diamond dealer, however, maintains he has no intentions of off-loading any more of his stake in the Gunners.
“I am pleased that Stan Kroenke has made a further substantial commitment to the club by acquiring approximately a third of my holding,” Fiszman said.
“Stan’s long-term commitment to sport in general and football in particular has been well documented.
“I am therefore delighted that he has shown this desire to deepen his ties with Arsenal.
“I will of course continue to work for Arsenal with the best interests of the club at heart and have no intention of selling any more of my shareholding.”
Kroenke firmly believes the club is heading in the right direction under the current set-up.
“After having been invited to join the board last year I am delighted to be able to increase my shareholding in Arsenal,” he said.
“I will continue to work closely with my board colleagues to maintain the stable environment in which the club operates and to preserve the self-sustaining business model enjoyed by the club.”
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood added: “Stan Kroenke has proved to be a valuable member of the board and I am pleased that he has demonstrated further commitment to the club by adding to his shareholding.
“Danny Fiszman remains a driving influence on the board and is fully committed to the club’s long term future.”
Arsenal’s other overseas investor is Uzbekistan metals magnate Alisher Usmanov – whose Red & White Holdings group bought into Arsenal when he paid former vice-chairman David Dein around £75million for his 14.65% holding.
In February, Red & White increased their stake to 25%. Were that to reached 30%, then, under financial regulations, a formal takeover approach would have to be launched.
Meanwhile, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith could be ready to listen to offers for some of her 15.9% holding, after she left the Arsenal board in December.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis maintains it is “business as usual” at the Premier League club.
He said: “On a day-to-day level, it has absolutely no impact at all.
“It is a transaction between two board members, both of whom believe in the self-sustaining philosophy of the club.”
Gazidis added in an interview with Arsenal TV Online: “On the business side, we remain doing business just as we were yesterday.
“I remain focused on the business side, and on the playing side it is the same.
“Arsene Wenger and the players remain focused on the end of this season – we are in three important competitions and making some progress. We are hoping for a good end to the season.”
The Arsenal Supporters Trust hold 3% of shares through their members, but represent a collective of small shareholders who have about 12%.
In a statement, the AST welcomed Kroenke’s further investment and paid tribute to Fiszman.
“The fact that Stan Kroenke is already a member of the board at Arsenal should ensure that this change does not create any instability,” the statement read.
“The AST has met with Stan Kroenke and visited his operations in Colorado. We were supportive of him joining the board and welcome the sporting and commercial expertise he brings to the club.
“If a sale had to take place we are reassured that it is to Stan.”
The statement continued: We admire the work that Danny undertook in creating the Emirates and are pleased that he has said he intends to continue as a significant shareholder and playing a role in the future of Arsenal.
“The AST have asked to meet with Danny Fiszman to discuss with him how he envisages the club moving forward.”
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March 30, 2009 No Comments
Stylish Arsenal reach FA Cup quarter-finals
Arsenal eased into the FA Cup quarter-finals as sublime goals from Carlos Vela and Eduardo set up a 3-0 win over Burnley in the fifth round on Sunday.
Arsene Wenger’s side will play Hull at home in the last eight after Vela struck with a gorgeous chip, Eduardo volleyed home a brilliant second and Emmanuel Eboue [...]
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March 9, 2009 No Comments
Wenger buoyed by returning stars for ”final sprint”
Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha believes Everton can repeat their 1995 heroics and derail Sir Alex Ferguson’s quadruple bid.
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March 9, 2009 No Comments
Wenger happy with ‘conscientious’ Arsenal
Arsene Wenger praised his Arsenal players after they eased past Burnley 3-0 in the FA Cup fifth round.
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March 9, 2009 No Comments