City of Manchester Stadium

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2ND

Kick Off 19.45 (GMT)

MAN CITY 3 v 0 ARSENAL FC

Carlos Tevez , Shaun Wright Phillips , Vladimir Weiss

TEAM LINE UPS:

Manchester City:

Given, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Barry, Ireland, Wright-Phillips (Weiss 77), Tevez (Kompany 74), Bellamy, Adebayor.

Unused subs:

Taylor, Onuoha, Johnson, Santa Cruz, Robinho.

Bookings:

Bellamy (83)

Arsenal:

Fabianski, Eboue, Silvestre, Song, Traore, Rosicky, Eastmond (Watt 68), Ramsey, Vela, Merida, Wilshere.

Unused subs:

Mannone, Bartley, Coquelin, Frimpong, Gilbert, Randall.

Bookings:

Traore (37), Eastmond (38), Silvestre (57), Wilshere (76), Song (78), Ramsey (81

Referee- C J Foy (Merseyside)

FIRST HALF

Mark Hughes picked a thoroughly frustrated and full strength Manchester City side after a run of seven straight Premier League defeats. Arsene Wenger on the other hand stayed with the young Arsenal side that had made its way impressively to the Quarters.

City were out of the traps quicker than Vanessa Phelps at a free buffet and Arsenals young guns struggled to gain any sort of foothold in the game.

If it hadn’t been for the linesman’s flag and the ill-timed runs of Craig Bellamy the Citizens could have finished the game inside the first twenty minutes.

It was like an experienced pro bull rushing the talented but naïve hotshot as the Blues pressed high up the pitch pressuring the Arsenal midfield into giving the ball away far too cheaply.

What didn’t help was the fact that the Gunner’s back line was defending higher up than a Posh Spice mini-skirt.

Carlos Tevez and Shaun Wright-Phillips were the chief tormentors as they bamboozled the Gunners with their pace, directness and work ethic.

Time and time again Wright Phillips had the beating of the isolated Traore and it wasn’t long before the young fullback received a yellow for his troubles.

The Blues had chances through Bellamy, Tevez and Shaun Wright Phillips and Vela put the bar over the bar for Arsenal before the referee brought the first half to a goalless end.

SECOND HALF

The second period began at breakneck speed and it was’nt long before the home side took the lead. After good work by Bellamy on the left , Rosicky was pressured into losing the ball. The grateful Tevez cut in from the left wing, beat two defenders and smashed the ball into the net of the bar. Fabianski was this time helpless and it was a quality goal to open up the game.

If the first goal was quality then the second was world class, as Wright Phillips cut in from the right to fire a laser-guided missile into the top left hand corner. It was a wonderful goal and it broke he hearts of the young guns of Arsenal.

The score line could and should have been more after a couple more chances from Bellamy went astray and City were perhaps guilty of not putting a gloss on the final score.

Then Bellamy cut in between two Arsenal defenders and raced into the penalty area before squaring a perfect pass to the onrushing Weiss to smash into the net. It was a debut goal for the young Slovakian who has impressed every time he has been given the opportunity this year.

There was still time for Arsenal to equalize, after all this is City we are talking about, u they were saved by the woodwork after Mareda had beaten Given for the first time in the match.

The whistle was blown to put the young gun out of their misery and Hughes went to shake Wenger’s hand only that find that the Frenchman had childishly already left the dugout. Maybe it was something about the six yellow cards his team had surprisingly received. Far from impressed,the Blues boss waved him down the tunnel much to the delight of the watching Citizens.

A first Semi-Final for City in twenty-eight years is something to shout about, but another golden opportunity to win some silverware for the talented North Londoners is not. When will they learn?

MAN OF THE MATCH: SHAUN WRIGHT PHILLIPS- Quite literally a pain in the Arse!

City of Manchester Stadium

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2ND

Kick Off 19.45 (GMT)

A young enthusiastic Arsenal teams goes into this last eight tie with Billionaires Manchester City with nothing prove and everything to gain.

Whilst it is a tournament that has little prestige it is a domestic trophy that both teams know will be their best chance of glory this term.

City go into this match on the back of seven league consecutive wins in a league campaign that is threatening to go off the rails and putting severe pressure on boss Mark Hughes.

TEAM NEWS

Arsene Wenger has already stated that his first XI will not be picked tonight, instead continuing with the blooding of his talented young Gunnerers. Vela, Ramsey, Wilshere, Eastmond, Merida and Bartley will all be givn te chance to shine along with experienced fringe players Senderos, Eboue and Silvestre.

Manchester City are back to full strength after Robinho came back against Hull City. Gareth Barry is carrying a groin injury but is expected to return along side Argentinian fullback Pablo Zabaleta.

Referee- C J Foy (Merseyside)

VERDICT

Arsenal will be looking to prove everything to their boss and themselves in an attempt to win what the senior side can’t, but an experienced and battle-hardened Manchester City have far more to lose than their professional reputations and will let it all hang out. Whatever happens it will prove to be an enthralling match as both sides like to play football and score goals.

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Betting Tip

Eduardo to score first 7/1 BETFAIR

City to win

So another qualification journey has ended causing heart ache for many, elation for a few and a downright sense of loathing from the rest.

Yes the world cup is one of the highlights of the football calender, the Holy Grail of national pride and showcase for the world’s best talent.

Every four years that illogical sense of optimism and refreshes itself like a new weekend after that four day hangover. We can win it this time… Its coming home and all that stuff.

And winning it we can this time for sure with a fully fit first XI and a world class coach, why not? If we do manage that glorious feat the streets will be full of nurses kissing AWOL serviceman and that wave of patriotism that accompanies such occasions will well and truly be in full flow.

But lets just take a step back from reality for a moment and look at what the World Cup means for the rest of the world’s nations.

In the qualifying rounds, it is humiliating at best for footballing’s minnows. Luxembourg’s goals against tally must look like my Barclay’s student bank account ten years ago and their players can hardly look forward to such occasions.

The play-offs yet again broke millions of hearts as some favourites failed to make it through, some underdogs pulled it out of the bag and some just plain old CHEATED to crawl their bloated and arrogant nation’s undeserved bodies over the finish line. C’est la vie!

And it is great to see Spartan Greece pull off a shock win in Kiev reducing Sheva to tears(actually I felt sorry for him) and them beat Portugal twice after what they did to us to lift the Euro. Yet for every fairy tale there is a despicable piece of foul play that leaves the bitterest taste in the mouth of the recipients.

I’m not just talking about Mr Va Va Voom’s handball, denying the brave Southern Irish a fair crack at reaching the world cup. Even if it was despicable and Platini should look into his Fair Play mirror and expel them from the tournament. What are the chances of that though?

Since 1966, England alone can cringe back at a myriad of heart break and unforgettable disappointment. Think Charlton replaced by Colin Bell and cue the Franz Beckenbaur show in 1970.

Think cheating South American hobbit on steroids, mix in some white powder and a hand with no remorse and then add it to a world cup semi final and you have 1986.

Think 1990 and even Euro 96 and you have penalty shoot-outs ripping the heart and sole out of an entire nation’s hopes and a rekindled hate for all that is German in the world.

1966 itself was controversial for everyone except us as we won the damn thing. A ball that didn’t cross the line must have been the decision that put the Krauts off their beer and Frankfurters for another four years at least. Maybe it was the catalyst to them wanting to beat so much over then next twenty years.

Of course this tournament is not just about England for every Brazil their is and El Salvador and for every Pele there’s a Escobar.

The qualifying campaign for the 1970 world cup between El Salvador and Honduras, settled by a ridiculous penalty, caused so much grief between the two countries that they actually went to war over the game(amongst other reasons). Now going to war to gain Middle Eastern resources might not be the noblest of causes, bit that is just wrong. It is another example of how football effects national pride though.

Everyone over the age of twenty will remember the name Andres Escobar who was infamously gunned down in his native Columbia after committing the cardinal sin of scoring an own goal at the 1994 finals. Bad losers to say the least? Well one things for sure, these are not the principals the world cup was founded on.

So let’s just hope its England that will be lifting the Jules Rimet come next summer as if it isn’t, there are sixty five million plus English that are going to be face down in a bar or pub crying into the night around the world. Even worse we might just be going to war with the Germans again if history repeats itself.

I’d much prefer to have a go at the French and show the Paddies that we do care more for them (more than the Frogs anyway) And you never know maybe that most bloated of frogs Platini will be caught up in the cross fire killing two birds with one stone. I’m sure many wouldn’t be complaining if that happened.