Arsenal v Wolverhampton W. | Matches

Arsenal V
FC Barcelona
31ST MAR 2010

Saturday 3rd April
Kick off: 15:00
Emirates Stadium

Arsenal
1 – 0
Wolverhampton W.

FC Barcelona V
Arsenal
6TH APR 2010

HIGHLIGHTS

CLASSIC WATCH NOW
Arsenal 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (April 3, 2010)

Live Text isn't live anymore, this is a record of the match events.

90

REMINDER: Stay online NOW for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
90

A MASSIVE RESULT FOR ARSENAL: They tried everything and another late goal has done the trick. Great cross from Sagna, great header from Bendtner. Arsenal are three behind Chelsea, one behind United and I need to go and sit down somewhere quiet.
90

FULL-TIME: It doesn't matter! Arsenal 1 Wolves 0! The title dream is alive and kicking!
90

DENILSON SHOULD HAVE MADE IT TWO: Arsenal break, it's four against two and Denilson's shot is blocked.
90

IN THE 'NICK' OF TIME! Sagna crossed, Bendtner headed past Hahnemann. Simple as you like
90

YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!! BENDTNER HAS DONE IT!!!!
90

GOAL! - Nicklas Bendtner 1 : 0 GOAL!!!! ARSENAL 1 WOLVES 0
90

WENGER FUMING: And still Arsenal cannot find a way through.
90

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
90

WAS THAT THE CHANCE? It would appear so. Walcott really should have done better.
90

YET ANOTHER CORNER TO ARSENAL: Sagna trots over to take it. It comes out to Nasri, he finds Walcott but the shot is horribly scuffed wide.
90

HAHNEMANN CLAIMS AGAIN: Rosicky digs out the cross but the Wolves keeper's handling has been impeccable today
90

FIVE MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME: We'd rather have 10 but that's not too shabby. Everybody in the Wolves half.
90

VERMAELEN MISTAKE: He concedes a throw with a miskick and this looks like being the day that Arsenal's title dream died.
89

ATTENDANCE: 60,067. And most of them are desperate for an Arsenal goal. We have a minute plus stoppages.
88

CORNER TO ARSENAL: Sagna takes this one... it's headed away. It comes to Denilson but his shot flies wide
87

WALCOTT GETS TO THE BYLINE... he crosses, it loops up... and Hahnemann claims. More frustration and time ticks inexorably on.
85

VERMAELEN WINS A THROW... and he takes it long himself. Wolves hack it clear, another throw.
84

NASRI SHOOTS... but the shot is blocked. Wolves defending desperately and in numbers. No space at all on the edge of the box.
84

SIX MINUTES TO GO: Arsenal will be five behind Chelsea if they only manage a draw. That's how important these next six minutes are.
83

Substitution SUB: Wolves take off Jarvis and bring on Stephen Ward
83

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
81

ARSENAL CAMPED IN WOLVES' HALF: But still no way through. They need a bit of magic, or some luck, or at the very least a decent cross.
79

Substitution SUB: Eduardo is replaced by Carlos Vela
79

CORNER TO WOLVES: In it comes, header down... and Rosicky off the line! He was stationed on the post and just as well.
77

ROSICKY SO CLOSE! Walcott inside to Nasri, then to Rosicky, he tries to clip it over Hahnemann but the keeper stretches to claim well.
76

FREE-KICK TO ARSENAL: Rosicky fires it into the box, Silvestre heads wide. The agony goes on.
75

WALCOTT RUNS IN TROUBLE AGAIN: He started the game like a train but Wolves have kept Theo a bit quieter in the second half.
73

BENDTNER HEADER... saved just under the bar by Hahnemann. Good nod, good handling.
72

HOW MANY LATE GOALS HAVE WE SCORED THIS SEASON? Answer: a lot. And we'll need to do it all again.
71

Substitution SUB: Here comes Nasri. He replaces Song - a bit more invention now in and around the Wolves box.
70

WOLVES FRESHENING THINGS UP: They should have a fair bit of chasing to do in the last 20 minutes. And that's all Arsenal have left to get the three points they so desperately need.
69

Substitution SUB: Doyle replaced by Keogh
69

Substitution SUB: Jones replaced by Edwards
68

GREAT CHANCE ROSICKY! He ghosts into the box but Hahnemann makes a fine save to deny the man who was down and seemingly badly hurt moments ago.
67

THAT WAS A NASTY ONE: Thankfully Rosicky is back on his feet and hobbling around. It's 10 against 10 for a bit but this should be one-way traffic now.
65

Red Card STRAIGHT RED CARD! Karl Henry, the Wolves captain no less, is off for a reckless lunge at Rosicky.
64

Substitution SUB: Here comes Bendtner. Eboue the man to go off.
64

Yellow Card YELLOW CARD: Jarvis goes in the book for a bad foul on Sagna
63

WOLVES FREE-KICK: Jones to Henry and he shoots straight at Almunia. Phew.
62

ARSENAL BREAK... Rosicky finds Walcott and the ball is nicked away from him.
61

WOLVES PRESSURE: Two decent crosses from Matthew Jarvis - Campbell clears the first and the second flies across the six-yard box. Nervy times these for Arsenal.
59

ROSICKY SHOOTS! But Hahnemann gets down well to grab the ball with Eduardo sniffing around for scraps
58

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
57

CROWD GETTING A BIT RESTLESS: And still the three big guns warm up.
54

EDUARDO GOES CLOSE! Eboue crosses, the first header goes up in the air, Eduardo meets the second ball and skews it wide.
52

CORNER TO ARSENAL: The pressure is starting to crank up. Walcott again involved. Rosicky goes over to take it... it's half-cleared, Walcott dribbles back towards the area... but again nothing comes of it.
51

AAAAAGGGGGGHHH! Theo gets into another fine position on the right but can't find the right cross or pass. We need Final Ball-cott and quickly. Alex Song has a pop... but that's well wide.
49

DIABY AND NASRI ALSO WARMING UP: Not a bad bench to turn to for that elusive breakthrough, eh?
48

BANG ON CUE... Nicklas Bendtner jogs along the touchline. I reckon we'll see the big man in about 15 minutes.
47

IN IT COMES... but headed clear. Silvestre beats his man and crosses but there's no one there to turn it in!
47

CONCERN ETCHED OVER WENGER'S FACE: He's in close-up on the big screen and the boss is desperate for his players to deliver. They have a corner...
Kick Off WOLVES GET US BACK UNDERWAY: And the next 45 minutes can be filed under 'crucial', 'vital' and 'crucially vital'
45

The teams are coming out... and Alex Song is there too. So hopefully he's not as bad as he looked. Right then - COME ON ARSENAL!
45

Bad news: Alex Song was holding his groin as he walked (slowly) off the pitch. Don't be surprised if we don't see him in the second half.
45

A frustrating first 45 for Arsenal. Walcott turned Wolves inside out for much of it but his final ball was lacking and Marcus Hahnemann made a few very decent stops. Diaby, Nasri and Bendtner are on the bench - we may well see them if the breakthrough doesn't come soon
Half Time HALF-TIME: Arsenal 0 Wolves 0
45

POOR FROM EBOUE! Arsenal break down the right, Song picks out Manu and he panics, playing an early ball which just goes straight to Hahnemann. What a waste.
45

CORNER TO WOLVES: Sagna concedes it and he seems to be limping too. Bit of a worry that. At least the corner comes to nothing.
45

THREE MINUTES OF STOPPAGES: It's gone very quiet here at the Emirates though. Bendtner, Nasri and Diaby might be needed after the break.
44

GOOD PUNCH ALMUNIA! That was a decent delivery and Manuel bangs it clear at his near post. Wolves win it back though and they are ending the half strongly.
43

IT'S ALL GETTING A BIT FRAUGHT: Walcott is clambered all over by a Wolves player, Campbell and Doyle go down in a heap. And now Wolves have a corner.
41

CORNER TO ARSENAL: Eboue wins this one and he will take it from the left...poor punch Hahnemann but Walcott can't return it into the box
40

MORE ARSENAL PRESSURE: But that final ball is elusive. Rosicky and Song swap passes about three times but Wolves eventually shut the door.
37

CORNER TO ARSENAL: Walcott wins it off Elokobi. Sagna is going to take it, rather strangely. It comes back to him, he picks out Silvestre... and he shoots straight at Hahnemann. Good chance that.
36

EBOUE ON THE CHARGE: He finds Silvestre on the overlap but the cross is headed away. It's getting a bit frustrating now. Patience is a virtue though, and all that
34

ANOTHER SHOT, ANOTHER MISS: This time it's Denilson after a lay-off from Rosicky. Walcott again initiated the move, he really is the key for Arsenal here
33

ROSICKY FINDS SPACE FOR A SHOT... but he blasts over from the edge of the box. Wasteful.
32

HERE COMES SOL! The big man strides forward, plays a terrible pass to Walcott, chases the ball down, gets a block in, earns a massive ovation. Fans love to see that.
30

GOOD ARSENAL PRESSURE: Slick passing, Rosicky finds Walcott, he slaps it across goal and wide. That was neither cross or shot - more a 'crot'
29

RARE WOLVES ATTACK: They work it well down the right but Silvestre ushers the ball over the line for a goal-kick.
27

WENGER GETTING ANXIOUS: The boss is on the edge of his technical area delivering instructions. He knows that the longer this goes on, the more midweek fatigue could play a part. Arsenal could do with a goal to reward their dominance.
26

CORNER TO ARSENAL: Rosicky swings it over but Wolves clear. It comes to Vermaelen, he tries a ludicrous scissors kick and is penalised for a high boot.
25

SONG IS FOULED: Oh, there's a bit of afters too involving Doyle. The ref gives it some whistle and has a word. No cards.
23

WALCOTT GOES CLOSE: The corner is half-cleared to Theo who hammers it goalwards from 20 yards. Straight at Hahnemann though. Arsenal in control here but still nothing to show for it.
23

LOVELY TURN! Eduardo at his best there, then he works it to Walcott, shot blocked, cross deflected over for a corner.
21

...EDUARDO TAPS IT TO VERMAELEN... and he lamps it over the bar. High, wide and not handsome at all.
20

EDUARDO HAS HIS SHIRT PULLED... and that is a free-kick to the Arsenal just outside the box. Very interesting...
19

QUITE A FEW STOPPAGES: And they have broken up the flow. Elokobi now down injured, he hobbles about for a bit and comes back on.
16

MORE GREAT PLAY FROM WALCOTT: Another run, a good pass inside for Sagna and he goes crunching into a challenge with Hahnemann. Ouch. Both men need treatment but will be OK.
15

THEO AGAIN... he races down the right for the umpteenth time and crosses... but Hahnemann claims with Eduardo lurking.
13

SAGNA DENIED BY HAHNEMANN! Walcott again does damage and he finds Sagna in the area. The right back is eight yards out and hits it first time but the Wolves keeper makes another good stop. Arsenal are finding plenty of gaps in the Wolves defence
12

OH EDUARDO! He should have done better there. Lightning break led by that man Walcott, he finds Rosicky, he cuts it back, Eduardo has to take a touch to control but he scuffs his shot off target.
10

MANCIENNE TRIES HIS LUCK... and that whistles just wide of Almunia's goal. Good effort.
8

WOLVES HAVE A FREE-KICK: And that is straight from the training ground... of a pub side. Absolute rubbish and straight out of play.
7

SPURS ARE LOSING! One-nil down at Sunderland. That race for fourth place eh? Glad we're not in it.
6

OOOOH! GREAT SAVE! Walcott bewilders Wolves, Eduardo connects with his cross and Hahnemann makes a fine reflex save. The corner comes to nothing but Theo has made a big statement of intent there.
5

ALL A BIT QUIET HERE: As you might expect, the atmosphere is not quite as impressive as Wednesday night
3

FIRST RUN FOR WALCOTT: It starts well enough, he has the beating of Berra, but Theo miskicks as he tries to cross.
2

EARLY STOPPAGE... while a Wolves player gets treatment, and the visitors have a free kick... headed away and Eduardo finds Eboue, marauding down the left. His crossfield ball evades Walcott though
Kick Off AND THEY'RE OFF: Arsenal attacking the south end in what is now hazy sunshine here in North London
Quite a few empty seats in the Upper Tier but we should be just about at capacity once the game kicks off. Wolves players in a huddle, Arsenal boys jumping up and down, ready for the off.
It's all about tempo today and whether Arsenal can sustain a level to stretch Wolves after their midweek exertions. Walcott is obviously a key man and he can book his place in the Nou Camp side with an influential display today.
And there's Cesc Fabregas, on crutches, taking his seat just behind the subs bench. Can we win this League without him? I think we're about to find out.
Here come the players... Theo, swigging from a bottle. Gatorade I think, not bourbon.
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Elvis Presley: 'And when you smile the world is brighter, you touch my hand an I'm a king...'
So here's the plan: get an early goal, get another just after half-time and kill off the game without needing to call on Diaby, Nasri or Bendtner. Plan B: no breakthrough for an hour, then bring on the big guns. Plan C... actually, there is no Plan C.
I'm in position in the press box. The sprinklers are sprinkling, the fans are trooping in, the sun is trying desperately to peek through a cloud and Kasabian's 'Club Foot' is blaring out over the PA.
Just in case you hadn't noticed, Chelsea have beaten Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford. All of which means Arsenal will be three points adrift of the Blues and one behind United IF they beat Wolves. And that's not a small 'if'. Wolves are in decent nick, are fresh after a week off and will fancy their chances against a weakened Arsenal side.
Just 10 minutes to kick-off then and our MatchDay Show is rolling along nicely. Bit of Wenger press conference, bit of exclusive Wenger interview and then a lot of Dan Roebuck and Kenny Sansom, calling the shots and fielding your e-mails. That address again: www.arsenal.com/studio
The answer to my earlier questions is a resounding YES. Arsene Wenger makes SEVEN changes to the side which lined up against Barcelona. Three are enforced while Nasri, Clichy, Bendtner and Diaby drop to the bench. In come Campbell, Silvestre, Denilson, Rosicky, Walcott, Eboue and Eduardo.
Arsenal team: Almunia, Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Silvestre, Song, Denilson, Rosicky, Walcott, Eboue, Eduardo. Subs: Fabianski, Clichy, Diaby, Nasri, Eastmond, Bendtner, Vela
The team news will be along shortly. Wonder if Fabregas will be risked? Only joking, of course - the skipper is out for the rest of the domestic season and we'll have to do without Gallas and Arshavin too. Would you rest any key players ahead of the trip to Barcelona? Let us know at www.arsenal.com/studio
I'm Chris Harris, your text commentator for today, and quite frankly I'm just coming back down to earth after that incredible Champions League tie with Barcelona. There's rather less glamour about today's game but it's no less important - three points are an absolute must for Arsenal
Dan Roebuck and larger-than-life Arsenal legend Kenny Sansom are your commentary team for today so get your e-mails in NOW via the website at www.arsenal.com/studio. They will deal with your comments during the match. Don't forget to stay online after the final whistle to have your say in the post-match show too.
Our MatchDay Show begins at 2.30pm (UK time) with highlights of that pulsating draw with Barcelona, the key moments from Arsene Wenger's pre-match press conference, an exclusive chat with the boss and an insight into our opponents.
Watching Manchester United v Chelsea? Yes, me too. But that's just a side dish. The main course will be served right here at Emirates Stadium - so welcome to Arsenal TV Online for live coverage of Arsenal v Wolves.