Arsenal vs. Aston Villa: FA Cup 4th-Round Live Blog, Goals, Commentary
By on January 28, 2012
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Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
The present is a wild time in North London.
The transfer deadline is looming on Tuesday, and Arsenal have lost three straight league matches. Meanwhile, the manager is being forced to defend himself, the captain is being forced to explain himself and important players are being forced to stay on the sideline (though others are coming back).
Oh, and no biggie, but on Sunday there's a major cup tie.
Arsenal host Aston Villa in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. Eastern, and we'll be live blogging from 10:45.
True to form in this wacky Arsenal season, Sunday's game means good news and bad news for the Gunners.
The good news is that Arsene Wenger's teams have lost just once in 33 home FA Cup ties. But the bad news is that last time Wenger and Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish dueled in a cup tie, McLeish was the manager of Birmingham City.
Will Sunday's match produce the same drama? There's only one way to find out.
***
Goals
Richard Dunne (AV)—33'
Darren Bent (AV)—45'+1'
Robin Van Persie (Arsenal)—54' (pen), 61' (pen)
Theo Walcott (Arsenal)—56'
Paul Gilham/Getty Images
Paul Gilham/Getty Images
Full time: 3-2
There's the final whistle! Arsenal pull off the comeback and win 3-2!
It's a great victory for Arsenal, one that will ease the pressure on Wenger and give the fans something to cheer about for a change.
Arsenal looked buried at halftime but turned it around with a blistering 16 minutes early in the second half. Amazing game, amazing comeback, and an amazing day for Arsenal.
By the way, we predicted 3-2 as the final score. Just sayin'.
90+3: 3-2
Henry slips behind the Villa defense but his indecision loses him the ball in the box.
One more minute.
90+2: 3-2
Arsenal continue to waste time. Almost everyone is back.
90th minute: 3-2
Four minutes of stoppage time. Arsenal Nation holds its collective breath.
89th minute: Arsenal substitutions
Sagna and Henry enter the match. Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain leave it.
88th minute: 3-2
Arsenal play the ball through the midfield aimlessly. Henry and Sagna are warming up on the sideline.
87th minute: 3-2
Walcott and Coquelin combine on the right side. Arsenal win a corner.
They might want to start thinking about wasting some time now. Right on call, Van Persie takes forever to play the corner.
85th minute: 3-2
Five minutes and stoppage time left. We get the distinct impression there's another twist left in this one.
Bannan plays a free kick into the box, and Arsenal defend well. Fabianski collects easily and starts a counter, which comes to nothing.
84th minute: 3-2
Bannan plays a beautiful pass to Robbie Keane, who is whistled for offside.
That was a tight decision. Alex McLeish goes nuts on the sideline.
82nd minute: Villa sub
Barry Bannan replaces Stillyan Petrov.
We're not sure about that move. Petrov is aging, and he might be tired. But he's an important player for Villa.
That could really affect Villa's comeback effort.
80th minute: 3-2
Koscielny pulls back Bent and earns a yellow card for his cynicism.
The free kick is headed on and nearly falls to Robbie Keane. Again, Arsenal struggle with a high ball into their box.
Stunning, we know.
78th minute: OOOOOooooh!
Villa work the short corner again. Arsenal seem to shut it down, but a late cross is headed on by Clark.
Fabianski saves, but that's yet more evidence that Arsenal struggle with high balls into their box.
78th minute: 3-2
Villa win a corner. Arsenal must concentrate.
75th minute: 3-2
Walcott tries unsuccessfully to beat a fullback on the flank. It didn't work, but he's been a new man in this second half.
Funny how things can change so quickly.
73rd minute: ARSENAL CHANCE!
Walcott races to the end line and cross for Van Persie, who curls a gorgeous right-footed shot a bit high and wide.
Had that been his left foot, the score would be 4-2.
72nd minute: Villa sub
Villa also make a change. Gabriel Agbonlahor leaves the pitch. Gary Gardner enters.
71st minute: 3-2
Arsenal surprise their fans and probably themselves by successfully defending the corner.
Time for a sub. Mikel Arteta replaces Tomas Rosicky.
Nice move from Wenger.
70th minute: 3-2
Where is the Arsenal defense? Petrov springs the offside trap and takes a point-blank shot. Fabianski saves but Villa win a corner.
That's bad news for Arsenal.
68th minute: 3-2
Walcott stings Given's hands with a rasping shot. Suddenly, Theo seems to have his confidence back.
For that matter, so do Arsenal as a whole.
66th minute: 3-2
Arsenal attack again. Nothing comes of it, but in this match, it seems like anything can happen.
Interesting tidbit from Opta:
2 - Arsenal last came from two goals down at half time at home to win in December 2001 vs Aston Villa (10 defeats since). Repeat?
62nd minute: 3-2
Arsenal must keep pushing. With their defense in disarray, attacking is probably their best option.
The only danger, of course, is Villa's counter-attacking.
61st minute: GOAL! ARSENAL!
Van Persie takes another penalty, and this one is even better!
After going low and left last time, he goes high and right the second time.
Unbelievable scenes at the Emirates. Arsenal have overturned a two-goal deficit and taken the lead in 16 second-half minutes.
60th minute: PENALTY!
Bent fouls Koscielny in the box, and Arsenal have another penalty!
What next?
60th minute: 2-2
Whew! Have you settled in yet? If you went to the restroom, you might have missed it.
Arsenal are level, the mood around the Emirates is suddenly buoyant, and we have a magical FA Cup tie on our hands.
Thirty minutes to go. This one could go either way, but you have to fancy Arsenal right now.
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