Arsenal 1-1 Everton: Gerard Deulofeu denies Gunners with late stunner
Gerard Deulofeu stopped Arsenal moving seven points clear at the top of the table after his stylish strike canceled out Mesut Ozil’s late effort.
The German must’ve thought he had snatched the points when he opened the scoring on 80 minutes, turning turned home from close range after Theo Walcott’s header at the back post trickled all the way across the Toffees’ box.
But substitute Deulofeu hit back with a sensational strike four minutes later, when he lashed past Wojciech Szczesny after carving out an inch of space for himself just outside the six-yard area.
Everton had Tim Howard to thank for saving them from what would’ve been a thoroughly undeserved first-half sucker punch from Arsenal.
After dominating the opening 40 minutes, the visitors could’ve found themselves 2-0 down in the final five minutes of a pulsating first-half.
The Toffees were by far the better team during the opening proceedings but couldn’t carve out a notable chance on goal, and Arsenal should have made them pay on 26 minutes when Santi Cazorla slid a tantalising ball across the six-yard box, which Kieran Gibbs just failed to turn in.
The Gunners again found a way through after soaking up another prolonged period of pressure, when Aaron Ramsey slipped in Giroud on 42 minutes, but the Frenchman’s shot was kept out at close-range from Howard.
Giroud returned the favour two minutes later by playing through the Welshman after a clever dummy, but Howard was again quick off his line to keep the scores level.
The Gunners started the second-half as they finished the first, and again carved out a huge chance when Jack Wilshere’s cut-back from Ozil’s cross found Cazorla unmakred six-yards out, but the Spaniard couldn’t generate any power on his header and Howard comfortably claimed.
Steve Pienaar forced Szczesny into his first save of the match after 53 minutes, with a fierce drive from 20-yards, which was well palmed away by the Pole.
A mix-up in the Arsenal defence then allowed the impressive Ross Barkley a free lash at goal from the edge of the box, but the 20-year-old shot straight down the throat of Szczesny, who beat the ball clear.
Arsenal made a triple substitution, with Walcott, Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini all coming on, and it was the Frenchman who nearly found the breakthrough, but couldn’t direct his drive on target when the ball broke to him just inside the box.
Ozil’s goal late on was quickly followed by Deulofeu’s, but both sides still had chances to claim all three points, with Szczesny first called into action to save at the feet of Romelu Lukaku before Giroud’s half-volley from 25-yards came crashing back off Howards upright deep into injury-time.
Teams:
Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud.
Subs: Vermaelen, Walcott, Monreal, Fabianski, Bendtner, Flamini, Rosicky.
Everton: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Oviedo, McCarthy, Barry, Mirallas, Barkley, Pienaar, Lukaku.
Subs: Robles, Heitinga, Jelavic, Naismith, Osman, Stones, Deulofeu.
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)
Fulham Vs Aston Villa 2-0
Dimitar Berbatov brushed off talk of a January exit to end Fulham's six-game Barclays Premier League losing streak as the Cottagers saw off Aston Villa 2-0.
Berbatov laid on Fulham's first, Steve Sidwell's third league goal of the campaign - before coolly side-footing a penalty he helped secure.
The spot-kick finish was just Berbatov's second league goal in 13 appearances this term, and it secured Rene Meulensteen's first win in sole charge.
Fighting back: Goals from Dimitar Berbatov (left) and Steve Sidwell gave Fulham three valuable points
MATCH FACTS
Fulham (4-3-3): Stekelenburg 6; Riether 6, Hughes 6, Senderos 7, Riise 6; Sidwell 7, Parker 7, Karagounis 7 (Kasami 73, 6); Dejagah 7, Berbatov 8, Kacaniklic 7 (Duff 77).
Subs not used: Stockdale, Zverotic, Richardson, Ruiz, Christensen
Manager: Rene Meulensteen 7
Goals: Sidwell 21, Berbatov 30 (pen)
Aston Villa: Guzan 6; Bacuna 4, Herd 6 (Lowton 81), Clark 5, Baker 6; El Ahmadi 5 (Tonev 46, 6), Westwood 6, Delph 6; Weimann 6 (Albrighton 81), Agbonlahor 5, Benteke 6.
Subs not used: Steer, Helenius, Bowery, Sylla
Booked: Delph, Herd
Manager: Paul Lambert 5
Ref: Mike Dean 4
Att: 22,288
Man of the Match: Dimitar Berbatov
*Player ratings from Riath Al-Samarrai at Craven Cottage
Should Berbatov sustain the form shown in the first half here, new boss Meulensteen's chances of dragging Fulham clear of relegation danger will increase dramatically.
Berbatov's astute pass sent Alexander Kaciniklic haring clear, and he lured Leandro Bacuna into a robust challenge that brought the penalty.
It was a shocking mistake from the Villa full-back that condemned Paul Lambert's men to a miserable 2-0 half-time deficit.
The Midlanders were never able to find their stride, eventually suffering their first defeat in six league matches.
Before this clash Lambert's men held the second-best run of Premier League form behind Everton.
Now they are left to rue the continued indifferent form of striker Christian Benteke, whose barren run stretched to nine games.
Fulham recorded their first clean sheet since the 1-0 Stoke victory on October 5, holding out under what precious second-half pressure Villa could muster.
Wherever Berbatov ends up by February, he proved his short-term Fulham commitment at least in an engaging first half.
Both focal point and defence opener, this was the former Manchester United striker at his best.
Just eight minutes in he nodded in a smart header that Brad Guzan had to touch on to the bar.
Just eight minutes in he nodded in a smart header that Brad Guzan had to touch on to the bar.
Berbatov had fallen as though pole-axed moments earlier, rightly unsuccessful in a penalty shout.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2520256/Fulham-2-Aston-Villa-0--match-report-Steve-Sidwell-Dimitar-Berbatov-inspire-home-win.html#ixzz2muS4rqcc
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