Manchester achieve league and cup doubleUnited win 19th title while City bag the FA Cup

They will be partying in the streets of Manchester tonight as both United and City claimed the Premier League and FA Cup titles today.
Earlier in the day Manchester United were at Ewood Park against struggling Blackburn Rovers. United needed a point to secure a record breaking 19th Premier League title. Blackburn needed something out of the game if they wanted to secure Premier League football and escape the relegation fight.
The game started badly for Tomasz Kuszczak and in the 20th minute gifted Blackburn the lead. A Brett Emerton cross wasn't gathered cleanly by the duputising goalkeeper and the ball found Martin Olsson who fired the ball across the goal for Emerton to put it in the back of the net.
For ten minutes after the goal United looked shaky as Blackburn threatened to double their lead but as half time arrived the home side were only one goal to the good and as United only needed a point, destiny was still in their hands.
In the second half Blackburn again had a chance to double their lead and were unlucky not to do so in the 65th minute. Again Emerton caused problems and his cross found Olsson and his header hit the post. After that Manchester United found their game and started to cause problems then in the 73rd minute Hernandez ran towards goal and although he miscontrolled the ball Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson brought the Mexican down and the referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot.
Wayne Rooney, who almost left United in January, put the ball on the spot and sent Robinson the wrong way.
It seemed after that both sides were happy with a point and when the ref called time it was party time for the Red Devils.

With United claiming the Premier League title Manchester City had their chance to win their first title for 35 years with a win against Stoke City and they dominated from the first minute. Mario Balotelli, so often criticised was inspirational in all he did and David Silva was finding some form and with returning captain Carlos Tevez pulling the strings it looked like City would win at a canter but Stoke were battling and wasn't giving up but they just couldn't find a way past the City defence, in fact in the 34th minute City had a chance to take the lead. Mario Balotelli's shot was blocked by Sorenson in goal and the ball found the little Spaniard and all he could do was hit the ball over from 8 yards.
At half time it remained 0-0 and Stoke was still in the game but City were still dominating and even though the Stoke supporters tried to rally their troops they couldn't get into the game and in the 74th minute the goal City had deserved arrived on 74 minutes. Silva released Balotelli in the area and when his shot was deflected it fell invitingly into the path of Toure who gave Sorensen no chance with a thunderous finish.
In a typical Italian way Roberto Mancini got his players to protect the lead and although Stoke out the pressure on at the end City were never in trouble and when the referee blew the whistle it ended a fantastic week for Manchester City. They guarantee Champions League football on Tuesday and today claimed the FA Cup. The only guarantee after this is this will not the the last bit of silverware the Citizens will win.

Unofficial Champions Arsenal Exit FA CupManchester United 2 (Fabio 28, Rooney 49) Arsenal 0

Two weeks ago Arsene Wengers side had the chance of winning the quadruple.  Now, after defeats to Birmingham City, Barcelona and now Manchester United all Arsene Wengers team have to fight for is the Official Premier League title.

It all looked to rosy for the Gunners a couple of weeks backj, playing there famous attractive football they were brushing teams aside at ease but since the Carling Cup Final its all gone a bit, well, wrong really.

The defensive mix-up between Koscielny and Szcz ... Sx.... the keeper cost them their first cup of the season and they were outclassed by a much superior Barcelona who I feel would've knocked Arsenal out even if RVP hadn't been sent off but I felt they could beat a Manchester United side that fielded SEVEN defenders.

The beginning of the match would've given Arsenal fans a lot of hope playing some decent football but it was United that opened the scoring. Arsenal pushed forward but United won the ball and hit the Gunners on the counter attack.  A lovely floated ball from Rooney found Hernandez who's header was parried by the returning Almunia but the ball only went as far as Fabio, or was it Raphael, no definately Fabio who slid in and put the ball into the roof of the net.

Arsenal were still attacking and if it weren't for the heroics of veteran goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar maybe the score line would've been different but at half time United were leading 1-0.

The second half couldn't have started better for United.  Antonio Valencia made his return after a long absense recovering from a broken leg.  Again it was an Arsenal attack that led to United extedning their lead.  Koscielny twice denied by the outstanding van der Sar was out of position and as United attacked Hernandez shot was again blocked but Wayne Rooney, who is getting back to his best, was there to nod home.

From here I felt the game was over.

With Arsenal trying to get back into the game they left spaces at the back and United tried to get the third.  They almost did with eight minutes remianing, Hernandez shot was blocked by a combination of Sagna and Djourou. Djourou stayed on the floor for over five minutes where he recieved oxygen and was stretchered off.  Later it was discovered the defenders season was over suffering a dislocated shoulder.

Wenger had used up his three substitutes so Arsenal for the second game running finished with 10 men.  Now the game was over.

Verdict on the game: Very entertaining.  I can see why Ferguson wants Van der Sar to stay for another season at United.  Even though he is now 40 he showed today he is still the best keeper in the Premier League, maybe even Europe.

United head into the semi-finals, where they were joined today by Bolton Wanderers, looking forward to maybe another treble while Arsenal can concentrate on their Premier League ambitions (as well as keeping the more important unofficial title!!)

United fans, do you think you can repeat the feat of 1999, and Arsenal fans, do you think Wenger will get that ellusive trophy or will it be another year of what if's and maybe, let me know by emailing us at jaymoe26@gmail.com or twitter #jamiemason76

Line Ups:

Manchester United: 01-Van der Sar, 03-Evra, 06-Brown, 10-Rooney, 12-Smalling, 14-Hernandez, 15-Vidic, 20-Fabio Da Silva, 21-Rafael Da Silva, 22-O'Shea, 28-Gibson SUBS USED: 11-Giggs, 18-Scholes, 25-Valencia

Arsenal: 01-Almunia, 02-Diaby, 03-Sagna, 06-Koscielny, 08-Nasri, 10-Van Persie, 15-Denilson, 19-Wilshere, 20-Djourou, 23-Arshavin, 28-Gibbs SUBS USED: 07-Rosicky, 16-Ramsey, 29-Chamakh

Arsenal Ease To Replay Win Arsenal 5 (Chamakh 7, Bendtner 30, 43pen, 62, Clichy 75) Leyton Orient 0

Nicklas Bendtner's classy hat-trick booked an enticing FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester United as Arsenal swatted aside Leyton Orient.

Marouane Chamakh slotted an early opener before Bendtner's superb header, then a curling finish, put Arsenal's second-string in command.

Bendtner's cool third came from the penalty spot after Kieran Gibbs was tripped by Alex Revell in the box.

Substitute Gael Clichy then lashed in low with 15 minutes remaining.

League One Orient were routinely swept aside in this fifth-round replay, but Arsenal's crushing disappointment from Sunday's failure to collect their first trophy since 2005 - after losing the Carling Cup final to Birmingham - was hard to hide at a muted Emirates Stadium.

The hosts initially looked like they lacked a spring in their step, but fears of further agony evaporated in the seventh minute with a goal of typical Arsenal quality.

Irish debutant Conor Henderson - another ball-playing midfielder - probed for a gap through the back-line and the 19-year-old's deflected pass was pounced on by Tomas Rosicky, who sped to the byeline to clip a square ball through the legs of Charlie Daniels across the box.

Moroccan striker Chamakh held his position to coolly side-foot the ball through the legs of Terrell Forbes from eight yards out, right into the corner of the net, for his first goal since the end of November.

Orient hit back soon after as Ignasi Miquel's poor headed clearance fell for Ben Chorley.

But his full-blooded volley was blocked by a crouching team-mate in front of Manuel Almunia, who nevertheless had it covered.

Their best chance came when pacy Daniels twisted and turned down the left wing to whip in a dangerous low cross.

Yet Revell misjudged his promising position in the area to put his point-blank snapshot wide from only six yards out.

Bendtner had appeared marginally uninterested, but that changed during the course of an sparkling 20-minute spell from the Danish forward before half-time.

His first goal, in the 27th-minute, was a superb effort as he leapt high to outmuscle Daniels before guiding a looping header past the reach of O's keeper Jamie Jones from a floated Gibbs cross.

With that, Arsene Wenger's team took complete control.

The second from Bendtner was even better that the first. Pouncing on a loose ball, he stalked into the area while teasing the ball just in front of Andrew Whing to find a gap before curling a low shot perfectly past Jones into the far corner.

The hosts remained in second gear after the break although Orient, with impressive Daniels a constant outlet down the right, did at least show a sense of adventure.

Abou Diaby should have added Arsenal's fourth in the 50th minute after he danced round a host of defenders on a charge towards goal.

But, after a fine one-two with Chamakh set him free inside the box, he dragged his low shot just wide.

It finally came in the 62nd minute when Gibbs shimmied his way into the area only to be felled by Revell, who looked uncomfortable defending.

Bendtner's penalty finish was true and unerring as he completed his hat-trick before being taken off, though not before nearly gifting a goal to the east Londoners as he dallied while covering at right-back.

One sour note was the withdrawal of Rosicky, who suffered concussion after a heavy collision.

The 75th minute coup de grace was inevitable as injury-hit Arsenal, who host Sunderland in the Premier League before facing Barcelona away in the Champions League, pushed forward in waves.

Emmanuel Eboue's testing ball across the box evaded O's defenders. Chamakh dummied and the ball just eluded substitute Jack Wilshere, but French left-back Clichy ran on to it like a stream train to propel a powerful low finish just inside the far post past overworked Jones.

LINE UPS:

Arsenal: 01-Almunia, 02-Diaby, 07-Rosicky, 15-Denilson, 18-Squillaci, 27-Eboue, 28-Gibbs, 29-Chamakh, 44-Henderson, 48-Miquel, 52-Bendtner SUBS USED: 08-Nasri, 19-Wilshere, 22-Clichy

Leyton Orient: 01-Jones, 03-Whing, 04-Chorley, 06-Forbes, 07-Cox, 08-Dawson, 09-McGleish, 11-Revell, 13-Daniels, 17-Crowe, 25-Carroll SUBS USED: 16-Spring, 18-Tehoue, 27-M'Poku

Everton Get Reading In The Cup

FA Cup Fifth Round draw was made today and if the Unofficial Premier League Champions Everton manage to beat Chelsea in the Fourth Round replay then they know they will be hosting Championship side Reading in the last 16.
Everton were almost victorious against Chelsea in the original tie only for Soloman Kalou to net the equalizer and  take the tie to a replay which will be held at Stamford Bridge on February 19th, the day of the fifth round ties.

The ties of the round though are at Old Trafford where Manchester United will host non-league side Crawley Town whilst Arsenal travel to Brisbane Road to face League One Leyton Orient.

Fifth Round Draw In Full:

Birmingham City v Sheffield Wednesday
Everton/Chelsea v Reading
Fulham v Bolton Wanderers/Wigan Athletic
Leyton Orient v Arsenal
Manchester City/Notts County v Aston Villa
Manchester United v Crawley Town
Stoke City v Brighton & Hove Albion
West Ham United v Burnley

Everton Denied Cup Win By Kalou Everton 1 (Saha 62) Chelsea (Kalou 75)

Substitute Salomon Kalou rescued Chelsea with a late equaliser as Carlo Ancelotti's side stayed on course to win the FA Cup for a third successive season in a 1-1 draw with Everton today.
French striker Louis Saha looked to have earned the hosts a famous fourth round victory at Goodison Park when he brought a dull tie to life with a 62nd-minute header. But Kalou kept his composure to finish well in the 75th minute and force a replay that keeps alive lacklustre Chelsea's season.
Chelsea, who are trying to sign Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, had arrived on Merseyside with an exceptional FA Cup record. Since suffering a surprise sixth round exit at Barnsley in March 2008, the London club have embarked on a 14-match unbeaten run in the famous competition. Thanks to Kalou, that is now 15 unbeaten.

Trailing leaders Manchester United in the Premier League and with Barcelona favourites to win the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup once again represents Chelsea's most realistic hope of silverware this season. But despite starting with eight players who played in last season's win over Portsmouth in the final at Wembley, Chelsea struggled to stamp their authority on proceedings.
Their travelling fans had to wait until the 31st minute to see Everton keeper Tim Howard make a save, the United States international doing well to keep out Nicolas Anelka's effort after the Frenchman was sent clear by Ramires. By then Everton had twice tested Petr Cech through Jack Rodwell and then Diniyar Bilyaletdinov's firm header.
Yet chances were few and far between on an afternoon when Chelsea fans taunted Everton's Merseyside neighbours Liverpool with chants of "Torres, Torres give us a wave" and "Fernando Torres Chelsea's No 9". Chelsea could certainly have done with Torres's cutting edge at Goodison. Florent Malouda forced Howard into a 35th-minute save with a powerful left-foot drive but there was little threat from Didier Drogba during a first half to forget.
Everton upped the tempo after the interval, Saha denied by a fine block by Ramires before Cech tipped Marouane Fellaini's 56th-minute header over the bar. But Saha was not to be denied and, after Leighton Baines had delivered a fine corner, the former Manchester United striker powered an unstoppable header beyond Cech.
However, Everton's lead lasted just 13 minutes as Kalou levelled things up three minutes after coming on with a precision finish on the back of a swift break.


Everton: 24-Howard, 03-Baines, 05-Heitinga, 07-Bilyaletdinov, 08-Saha, 10-Arteta, 15-Distin, 18-Neville, 23-Coleman, 25-Fellaini, 26-Rodwell SUBS USED: 16-Beckford
Chelsea: 01-Cech, 02-Ivanovic, 03-Cole, 05-Essien, 07-Ramires, 08-Lampard, 11-Drogba, 15-Malouda, 17-Bosingwa, 26-Terry, 39-Anelka SUBS USED: 12-Obi Mikel, 21-Kalou

Unofficial Champions In FA Cup actionScunthorpe 1 (Collins 46) Everton 5 (Saha 4, Beckford 33, Coleman 58, Fellaini 73, Baines 83)

Everton stated their determination to win the FA Cup by powering into the fourth round with an emphatic 5-1 win over Championship strugglers Scunthorpe.

Louis Saha and Jermaine Beckford got the Merseysiders off to a flying start at Glanford Park before Seamus Coleman, Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines made sure of victory.

Scunthorpe were completely outplayed aside from a brief spell at the start of the second half when Michael Collins threatened to spark a comeback with a superb strike.

There was a large media presence at the match but Everton were in no mood to surrender to the potential upset that may have been anticipated.

Scunthorpe went into the game on the back of seven defeats in eight games and having lost their last six at home.

Defeat would have been a huge embarrassment for David Moyes and his side but he showed in his selection of a strong team that he had no intention of letting that happen.

Everton displayed no sign of nerves and took control early on.

Coleman went straight onto the attack and sent over a cross in the first minute which Joe Murphy had to push over the bar.

The visitors maintained the pressure and claimed the lead after just four minutes through the resurgent Saha.

The Frenchman, who scored his first Premier League goal in 11 months against Tottenham on Wednesday, found space on the edge of the box and hit a low left-foot shot past Murphy.

Former Scunthorpe striker Beckford had a chance to add a second when he broke through moments later but Rob Jones managed to get a foot in as he prepared to shoot.

Beckford was similarly denied another opportunity by Andrew Wright and Fellaini blazed over as the Toffees dictated the pace.

Scunthorpe did get an opening as Chris Dagnall headed wide and Martyn Woolford then shot straight at Tim Howard from distance.

They were rare opportunities and Beckford looked certain to add a second for Everton after being played through by Coleman but Murphy produced a fine save.

Leon Osman also had a glorious chance as Baines picked him out in front of goal but the midfielder's close-range effort was deflected wide.

It came as no surprise when Everton doubled their lead after 33 minutes.

Osman was the provider from out wide, the stand-in captain whipping in a cross for Beckford to glance in at the near post.

It was a sweet moment for the striker, who helped the Iron to the League One title during a loan spell four years ago.

Saha almost claimed a third on the stroke of half-time as Murphy tipped over a firm header from a Baines cross.

It seemed a case of how many Everton could score but the Iron returned for the second period a side transformed.

Within seconds of the restart the underdogs had pulled themselves back into the game with a stunning goal from Collins.

The midfielder outpaced Sylvain Distin as he raced onto a long ball from Josh Collins and unleashed a ferocious strike from the edge of the area which flew past Howard.

Everton were caught cold and Scunthorpe poured forward in search of another opening.

Dagnall fired wide from distance and Distin cut out a dangerous cross from Eddie Nolan with a firm header.

Yet just as the hosts were threatening one of the great cup fightbacks, Everton snuffed out the revival with a third goal.

Beckford beat Wright on the left and sent over a cross for Coleman to powerfully head home his fifth of the season.

That appeared to take the sting out of the contest and Coleman volleyed over as Everton reasserted their superiority.

Fellaini made certain of Everton's presence in the fourth round with the fourth goal after 73 minutes.

The Belgian was given time on the edge of the box and took a couple of touches before firing a left-foot shot across goal and beyond the reach of Murphy.

Baines put the gloss on the victory late on as he eased past tiring defenders and clipped a fine shot into the top corner from the corner of the area.

Line Ups:

Scunthorpe United: 01-Murphy, 02-Wright, 05-Jones, 07-Woolford, 08-O'Connor, 09-Dagnall, 14-Forte, 15-Mirfin, 16-Wright, 18-Collins, 21-Nolan SUBS USED: 04-Togwell, 12-Raynes, 24-Godden

Everton: 24-Howard, 02-Hibbert, 03-Baines, 05-Heitinga, 07-Bilyaletdinov, 08-Saha, 15-Distin, 16-Beckford, 21-Osman, 23-Coleman, 25-Fellaini SUBS USED: 19-Magaye Gueye, 26-Rodwell, 28-Anichebe