Arsenal 3 – 0 Aston Villa
English Premier League News : Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas came off the bench to inspire his side to a victory over Aston Villa.
Fabregas picked himself up after being fouled by Richard Dunne and curled in a 25-yard free-kick with aplomb.
The goal came after Villa keeper Brad Friedel had denied William Gallas from point-blank range and kept out an Andrey Arshavin shot.
A first-time finish from Fabregas after a Theo Walcott pass and an Abou Diaby strike wrapped up the win for Arsenal.
Fabregas had started as a substitute because of a hamstring problem and was brought on after 57 minutes to give his side extra impetus in beating a stubborn Villa side.
The move paid off for manager Arsene Wenger but he will be concerned that his skipper aggravated his injury in sprinting on to Walcott’s ideally weighted pass and had to be replaced on 84 minutes.
However, the victory moved the Gunners to within four points of Premier League leaders Chelsea with a game in hand over their London rivals.
Villa had already beaten Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United so far this season to show encouraging signs that they are mentally tougher and have a stronger squad to avoid the same collapse as last season in the chase for a top four place.
Their credentials for another top four assault were under the microscope at the Emirates and they were found wanting ahead of another stern test of their resolve and depth when they play Liverpool on Tuesday.
Prior to the introduction of Fabregas, the game had proved an intriguing and tight contest after Arsenal missed the chance to take an early lead with Villa caught cold.
Diaby forced his way past Stephen Warnock and laid the ball to Eduardo, who turned Dunne for a clear sight of goal only to strike a tame effort straight at keeper Friedel.
Denilson powered a 25-yard shot over the Villa goal but the visitors had heeded the warning signs and quickly raised their game.
Villa adopted the same strategy which helped them impressively beat the Gunners at the Emirates last season as they soaked up pressure and played on the counter-attack.
The pace of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor, the midfield energy of James Milner and aerial strength of Emile Heskey was key to Villa’s tactics.
But a wary Arsenal were wise to the Villa ploy and a Young strike looping over the bar after a deflection off Alexandre Song was a rare threat on their goal.
Villa’s defence was aiming for a fifth clean sheet and looked sturdy enough before they had some scares as Arsenal upped their intensity and urgency as they started to dominate.
Gallas came close for the home side when he tried to turn in an Eduardo knock-down but Friedel blocked and Carlos Cuellar cleared and Friedel again foiled Arsenal by saving an Arshavin shot.
Villa finally buckled when Dunne fouled Fabregas, who rewarded Arsenal’s pressure when he sent a free-kick over the Villa wall and into the top corner.
Armand Tarore’s sweeping pass found Walcott on the right flank and he set up Fabregas for the second as Villa found Arsenal too hot to handle.
And Diaby added the gloss to the win when he ran at a retreating Villa defence and found the bottom corner with a precise strike past the despairing dive of Friedel.
Source: English Premier League News at BBC Sports.
O’Neill talks up Old Firm switch
English Premier League News : O’Neill talks up Old Firm switch
Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill says the English Premier League would benefit from the inclusion of his former club Celtic and rivals Rangers.
The proposal to create a two-tier Premier League could be discussed at the league’s AGM in June.
And O’Neill, who left Celtic in 2005 after five years in charge, said the Old Firm would be a hit in England.
“My personal thought is that Celtic and Rangers would enhance the Premier League,” he told Villa’s website.
Last week BBC Scotland learned Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has proposed allowing the Old Firm clubs to move to England as part of a two-tier Premier League of 18 teams each.
The idea would have to overcome a number of obstacles if it was to come to fruition, and Uefa’s director of communications William Gaillard told BBC Scotland the matter would be something to be decided between the leagues and associations involved.
O’Neill believes the Glasgow clubs would grow if they were given the green light to play in England.
I’m not sure about Rangers but I know Celtic’s capacity could go from 60,000 to 80,000 overnight – without a doubt
“Glasgow is a phenomenal football city – Celtic house 60,000 and Rangers house 50,000,” he told Villa’s website.
“I’m not sure about Rangers but I know Celtic’s capacity could go from 60,000 to 80,000 overnight – without a doubt.
“When I was manager of Celtic a number of years ago, there was some talk of both teams joining the Premier League in some capacity.
“There was mention of them being put in the Championship too, or maybe even lower down than that, and then making them work their way up through promotion.”
He added: “If forced to do that, they would eventually get to the top and end up as monumental players in the Premier League.”
O’Neill said he was aware sceptics would be against the move, but he believed the clubs would enhance the competition in England.
“I suppose Belgian teams could then ask to join the Dutch league and Dutch teams could then request to join the Bundesliga,” he went on.
“All of those points would have to be considered. But if you’re asking for a personal opinion, I think Celtic and Rangers joining would enhance the Barclays Premier League and make us all strive to get better.
“I certainly support the idea. But, then again, I could be a voice in the wilderness.”
Source: English Premier League News, Aston Villa Football Club News at BBC Sport
Aston Villa up to fourth after win at Tottenham
Premier League News: Aston Villa up to fourth after win at Tottenham
London (dpa) – Aston Villa moved up to fourth in the English Premier League after they won 2-1 Monday at bottom side Tottenham Hotspur.
Nigel Reo-Coker and Ashley Young put the visitors up 2-0, and Darren Bent’s late goal was no more than a consolation.
The win moved Villa onto seven points, ahead of Hull City on goal difference, while Spurs have now made their worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
“I thought it was sensational,” Villa manager Martin O’Neill said.
“The first-half performance was unbelievable. We can attack, can score goals and are a delight to watch when on form like that. In the second half we got a bit tired, but we deserved to win the game. I thought we were exceptional.”
Villa needed just four minutes to go ahead as a Gabriel Agbonlahor cross made its way through to Reo-Coker, who put the ball home.
Young widened the lead nine minutes into the second half when Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes made a shocking mistake to let the shot slip under his body.
Bent scored three minutes from time, but his goal was too little, too late, and assistant manager Gus Poyet admitted that Spurs had been second-best throughout.
“We came here to try to put on a good performance,” Poyet said.
“We started quite brightly, and the first shot was a goal against. I thought we tried hard – there is nothing to complain about the players’ attitude.”
Source: Football Club, English Premier League news at Bangkokpost.com
Brad Friedel – Goalkeeper – Aston Villa F.C.
Brad Friedel – Goalkeeper – Aston Villa F.C.
Bradley Howard “Brad” Friedel (born May 18, 1971 in Lakewood, Ohio) is an American international football (soccer) goalkeeper who plays for Aston Villa in the Premier League. He played 82 games for the United States national team between 1992 and 2005, and represented his country at three FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Personal information
Full name : Bradley Howard Friedel
Date of birth : May 18, 1971 (1971-05-18) (age 37)
Place of birth : Lakewood, Ohio, U.S.
Height : 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position : Goalkeeper
Premier League Club : Aston Villa Football Club
Aston Villa Football Club
On 18 July 2008, it was revealed by Blackburn Rovers that Friedel had asked permission to speak to Aston Villa if an offer was accepted, with both Aston Villa and Manchester City reportedly interested in signing the American shotstopper. On 23 July 2008 Blackburn announced that the club had accepted a transfer bid for Friedel, thought to be in the region of £2.5m, subject to the club themselves having a bid accepted for a replacement goalkeeper. On 25 July it was confirmed that Aston Villa were holding talks with Brad Friedel. On 26 July it was confirmed he had signed a 3 year contract with Aston Villa. Friedel was unveiled at half time during Aston Villa’s Intertoto Cup match against Odense BK. On 2nd August Friedel made his uncompetitive debut against Reading F.C. at the Madejski Stadium. Just 10 minutes in the hosts were awarded a penalty which Friedel then saved. His competitive debut came in the UEFA Cup Second Qualifying Round, First Leg against Hafnarfjordur away from home. Villa won the match 4-1. Friedel played his first Premiership match for Aston Villa on 17 August 2008, the first match for Aston Villa in the season 2008/09, which Villa won 4-2 at home.
Source: For more information on Brad Friedel, Goalkeeper of Aston Villa, English Barclays Premier League Football Club, visit wikipedia.org
Martin O’Neill – Aston Villa F.C. Manager
Martin Hugh Michael O’Neill, OBE, (born March 1, 1952 in Kilrea, Northern Ireland) is a former Northern Ireland national football team captain who has previously managed Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City and Celtic and is currently manager of Aston Villa. O’Neill is perhaps best known for his time as Celtic manager between 2000 and 2005 when he led the club to three Scottish Premier League titles and the 2003 UEFA Cup Final in Seville.
Personal information
Full name : Martin Hugh Michael O’Neill
Date of birth : March 1, 1952 (1952-03-01) (age 56)
Place of birth : Kilrea, Northern Ireland
Playing position : Midfielder (retired)
Club information : Aston Villa
League : English Barclays Premier League Football Club
Aston Villa
O’Neill was introduced as the Aston Villa manager at a press conference on August 4, 2006. At the press conference he stated “It’s absolutely fantastic to be back and with a club such as this. This is a fantastic challenge. I am well aware of the history of this football club. Trying to restore it to its days of former glory seems a long way away – but why not try? It is nearly 25 years since they won the European Cup but that is the dream.”
Villa’s form improved substantially following O’Neill’s appointment. They had the longest unbeaten start of any Premiership side in 2006-07 (9 games), not losing a league game until 28 October.
Villa suffered a mid-season slump but recovered late in the season, winning their three away games in April under O’Neill’s guidance, to end the season how it began with a run of 9 unbeaten fixtures. For this O’Neill scooped the Barclays Manager of the Month for April.
.[3] Aston Villa’s owner Randy Lerner said that he would not stop O’Neill from leaving Villa if offered the job of England manager, because he respects that it is a very prestigious position.[3] O’Neill later dismissed the reports, calling them “unfair speculation”.[4]
The 2007-08 season was a fantastic season for O’Neill and Aston Villa as they just missed out on a UEFA Cup spot on the final day of the season and qualified for the InterToto Cup by finshing 6th. They also scored 71 goals, (Villa’s best ever tally in the Premier League and best tally since winning the title in 1981), gained 60 points which was Villa’s highest points tally since the 1996-97 season, were the 3rd highest goalscorers and were praised for their well-organised, counter-attacking football something in which O’Neill got Leicester City and Celtic playing in his previous jobs
Source: For more information on Martin O’Neill, Aston Villa Manager, English Barclays Premier League Football Club, visit wikipedia.org