Theo Walcott warned Tottenham Hotspur that Arsenal were primed to overtake them in third place and snatch the final automatic Champions League qualification spot, after helping his team to a dramatic injury-time home win over Newcastle United.
The England winger crossed for Thomas Vermaelen to give Arsenal a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium in the fifth minute of stoppage time, which was the prompt for wild celebrations and a bust-up on the field in the prickly heat of the moment.
The Arsenal captain, Robin van Persie, clashed with the Newcastle goalkeeper, Tim Krul, having had a running battle with his fellow Dutchman throughout the match. Both players were booked and Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, admitted his relief that the cards were not red. It was the victory, though, that represented the drama. Arsenal have now won five straight Premier League games, the last four of them having come from behind, which is a competition record. Three of those wins have come courtesy of goals in the 90th minute or injury time. Tottenham, who have hit poor form, can feel Arsenal's breath on their necks. They are now only one point clear in third.
"Tottenham have got to be watching over their shoulders now," Walcott said. "With the squad of players we've got – and we've got a lot of players coming back to fitness now – we believe that we can go much further. It's been an up-and-down season but it's the way you finish that's the most important thing."
Vermaelen added: "We showed the mentality of fighters. It's the fourth time we've come back from 1-0 down. In the second half we were pushing and pushing. We knew we had to be patient and in the end we would score a goal and that's what happened." Wenger suggested that the flashpoint between Van Persie and Krul had stemmed from "history" between the pair from Holland. Van Persie had grown more and more angry at what he felt had been time-wasting by the goalkeeper from late in the first half and he had strong words for Krul after Vermaelen had scored. Players from both sides converged and Van Persie and Krul were kept apart in the tunnel, where a member of Newcastle's backroom staff had to be stopped from confronting Arsenal's captain.
"Why is Tim Krul crying as well?" Jack Wilshere, Arsenal's injured midfielder tweeted. "Obviously don't know about RVP'S temper! Don't mess with the captain!"
Wenger said: "Is it history from Holland or is it just today's story ... I don't know. They both looked a bit nervous. I have not spoken to Robin yet. I will find out but I am happy it stayed yellow and did not become red. He is absolutely committed and he gave everything again tonight. He got us a quick equaliser. But the whole team played very well and Walcott also had an exceptional performance."
Wenger felt that Arsenal's recent run had served to prove some of the critics wrong and he delighted in praising the mental strength of his players who, he suggested, simply refused to accept anything less than victory.
"That is the best response to something that has been questioned sometimes this season," he said. "I believe that shows we have quality, we have spirit, which I have never questioned. It was a relentless effort again tonight from the first to the last minute. Certainly the fact we have done it before helped us.
"The atmosphere is great within the squad and tonight it was exceptional in the dressing room because the pleasure is even more intense when you win in the final minute of the game where you have given everything.
"It shows that as much as two defeats are quicksand, the positive recent history of a team has a very positive influence and the positive vibes make everyone stronger."
Newcastle's woes in the south of England this season continued. They had already lost heavily at Tottenham, Fulham and Norwich in the Premier League and exited the FA Cup at Brighton & Hove Albion.
"To lose in the last minute like that was galling," said the manager Alan Pardew. "Unfortunately we had no legs left to see it through. We ran out of steam. But I cannot fault our lads for effort and commitment."
SUMBER : http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/13/theo-walcott-arsenal
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Theo Walcott Peringatkan Tottenham bahwa Arsenal siap Menyalip
Theo Walcott memperingatkan Tottenham Hotspur bahwa Arsenal siap untuk menyalip mereka di tempat ketiga dan otamatis lolos ke final kualifikasi liaga, setelah memenangan pertandingan dramais atas Newcasle United.
Pemain sayap tinman Inggris ini memberi umpan untuk Thomas Vermalen untuk memberikan kemenangan bagi arsenal 2-1 di Emirates stadium pada 5 menit sebelum pertandingan berakhir.
Kapten Arsenal, Robin Van Persie berselisih dengan kiper Newcastle yaitu Kim Krul yang berasal juga dari belanda, kedua pemain itu telah diberikan sangsi, dan Arsen Wenger selaku manager Arsenal merasa lega karna tidak ada kartu merah, kemenangan itu penuh drama. Arsenal kini menang berturut turut sebanyak 5 kali dipremier league, dari 4 pertandingan yang meraka jalani 3 diantaranya menang karna gol dimenit ke 90 atau di injury time.
Setelah memukul Tottenham, Arsenal bisa bernafas lega, karna meraka hanya berselisih 1 poin di urutan ketiga.
"Tottenham sudah mengawasi kami sekarang," kata Walcott. "Dengan skuad pemain kita punya - dan kami punya banyak pemain datang kembali ke kebugaran sekarang - kima percaya bahwa kita dapat menjauh dari musim naik-turun tapi itu cara kita untuk menyelesaikannya. itulah hal yang paling penting.
Vermaelen menambahkan: "Kami menunjukkan mentalitas pejuang Ini keempat kalinya kami kalah di babak pertama 1-0. Di babak kedua kami terus menekan. Kami tahu bahwa kami harus bersabar dan pada akhirnya kita akan mencetak gol. dan itulah yang terjadi. " Wenger menyarankan bahwa titik nyala antara Van Persie dan Krul berasal dari "sejarah" antara rekan dari Belanda.
Van Persie semakin marah padanya, karna ia rasa bahwa Krul telah membuang-buang waktu di akhir babak pertama dan ia megatakan kata-kata yang kasar pada Krul setelah Vermaelen mencetak gol. Pemain dari kedua belah pihak berkumpul dan Van Persie dan Krul dipisahkan di dalam terowongan, di mana staff Newcastle harus dihentikan dari dihadapan kapten Arsenal.
"Mengapa Tim Krul menangis juga?" Jack Wilshere, gelandang Arsenal . "Jelas ia tidak tahu tentang emosi RVP'S Jangan! Main-main dengan kapten!"
Wenger mengatakan: "Apakah sejarah dari Belanda atau itu hanya cerita hari ini ... saya tidak tahu Mereka berdua tampak sedikit gugup saya belum berbicara dengan Robin namun saya akan mencari tahu tapi saya senang karna itu kartu kuning... dan tidak menjadi merah Dia benar-benar berkomitmen dan dia memberikan segalanya lagi malam ini. Dia menyamakan kedudukan dengan cepat..
Seluruh tim bermain sangat bagus dan Walcott juga memiliki kinerja yang luar biasa.
Wenger merasa bahwa jangka waktu Arsenal telah melayani dan membuktikan beberapa kritikus salah dan ia senang dalam memuji kekuatan mental para pemainnya yang, ia sarankan, tidak menolak dan menerima sesuatu yang kurang dari kemenangan.
"Itu adalah respon terbaik untuk sesuatu yang telah kadang dipertanyakan dimusim ini," katanya. "Saya percaya bahwa kami memiliki kualitas, kami memiliki semangat, saya tidak pernah mempertanyakan Itu . upaya tak kenal lelah malam ini dari pertama sampai menit terakhir.. Tentu saja takdir telah kita lakukan sebelum membantu kami.
Suasana di dalam skuad dan malam itu luar biasa di ruang ganti karena kesenangan bahkan lebih kuat ketika Anda menang di menit akhir dari permainan di mana Anda telah memberikan segalanya.
"Ini menunjukkan bahwa sebanyak dua kekalahan adalah pasir hisap, sejarah baru-baru positif dari tim memiliki pengaruh yang sangat positif dan getaran positif membuat semua orang kuat.
Kesengsaraan Newcastle di selatan Inggris musim ini terus berlanjut. Mereka telah kehilangan kemenangan di Tottenham, Fulham dan Norwich di Liga Premier dan keluar dari Piala FA di Brighton & Hove Albion.
"Penurunkan pada menit terakhir seperti yang menyakitkan," kata manajer Alan Pardew. "Sayangnya kami tidak memiliki kaki kiri untuk melihatnya melalui Kami kehabisan uap.. Tapi aku tidak bisa menyalahkan pemain pemuda untuk usaha dan komitmen.
SUMBER : http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/13/theo-walcott-arsenal
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