Arsenal Lose Carling Cup FinalArsenal 1 (Van Persie) Birmingham City 2 (Zigic 28, Martins 89)

Obafemi Martins pounced on a calamitous Arsenal defensive mix-up two minutes from time as Birmingham City claimed their first major silverware since 1963 by winning the Carling Cup at Wembley.

Martins, on loan from Rubin Kazan, took advantage of a fatal communication breakdown between Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny to strike the late blow that clinched victory for Blues boss Alex McLeish and his men, sending their supporters into ecstasy.

The striker, on as substitute for Keith Fahey, had the simplest of chances after Koscielny attempted to clear when Szczesny came to collect Nikola Zigic's tame header to extend the north Londoners' six-year wait for a trophy.

Zigic gave Birmingham a first-half lead but Robin van Persie's spectacular volley restored parity before the interval in an enthralling Wembley final.

In contrast to the crestfallen figure of Szczesny, Birmingham were indebted to their keeper Ben Foster - penalty shoot-out hero of Manchester United's win in this competition in 2009 - for a magnificent display that rightly earned him the man-of-the match award.

Foster was outstanding throughout, denying Samir Nasri on three occasions and also saving splendidly from Andrey Arshavin and Nicklas Bendtner.

Birmingham, who also hit the woodwork through Fahey, were a model of determination and resilience as well as positive intent and their success is a tribute to the outstanding work of manager McLeish.

Defender Roger Johnson was another commanding figure and all the bravery displayed by him and his team-mates in the face of a late Arsenal onslaught was rewarded in sensational circumstances in the dying moments.

Arsenal, robbed of captain Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott through injury, never hit the heights and that moment of defensive madness means Wenger has still not laid his hands on a trophy since winning the FA Cup against Manchester United in 2005.

There was a moment of contention almost instantly when Lee Bowyer raced clear into the area and was hauled down by Szczesny for what would have been a penalty and, in all probability, a red card for the keeper.

The Gunners were relieved as the linesman's flag had already been raised - but their opponents were frustrated by the fact that the decision was incorrect.

Arsenal nearly increased Birmingham's sense of injustice when Arshavin forced Foster into a fine save on the turn as the favourites attempted to exert early authority.

Zigic's selection owed much to his obvious aerial threat to Arsenal and McLeish's decision was vindicated as the giant striker headed Birmingham into the lead after 28 minutes.

He was able to evade the attentions of a cluster of Arsenal defenders and Szczesny in the six-yard box to head home after Johnson's power in the air caused problems at a corner.

And the striker should have doubled his and Birmingham's tally as the north Londoners creaked under pressure but his control let him down at the vital moment, allowing Szczesny to block after good work by Craig Gardner.

Blues were showing discipline and enterprise in equal measure, but Arsenal produced a moment of genuine class to draw level six minutes before half-time.

Jack Wilshere rattled Foster's woodwork from the edge of the area and when Birmingham failed to clear Arshavin crossed for an airborne Van Persie to volley brilliantly beyond the reach of the keeper.

Foster was tested once more as the interval approached, blocking a swerving drive from Nasri as an thrilling first 45 minutes drew to a close.

As the Gunners gathered momentum, Tomas Rosicky was within inches of giving them the perfect start after the break but his crisp, low shot was narrowly off target.

Birmingham suffered a blow early in the second half when the influential Gardner went off injured and was replaced by Jean Beausejour - but McLeish's side brushed off the setback to almost regain the lead.

Fahey's shot carried too much power and direction for Szczesny but, as the massed ranks of Birmingham fans rose to acclaim the strike it bounced off the inside of the post and across the face of goal.

Wenger made a change midway through the half, sending on Bendtner for Van Persie, who took a heavy knock in the act of scoring Arsenal's equaliser.

Foster came to Birmingham's rescue twice in the space of seconds as time ticked away, blocking Nasri's powerful drive before clutching Bendtner's effort at the second attempt.

Arsenal had assumed command and Foster once again demonstrated his agility and quality with a diving save from Nasri as their personal duel continued.

And then, with an extra 30 minutes beckoning came that meltdown between Szczesny and Koscielny - leaving Martins to pounce and win the Carling Cup for Birmingham.

LINE UPS:

Arsenal: 53-Szczesny, 03-Sagna, 06-Koscielny, 07-Rosicky, 08-Nasri, 10-Van Persie, 17-Song, 19-Wilshere, 20-Djourou, 22-Clichy, 23-Arshavin SUBS USED: 29-Chamakh, 52-Bendtner

Birmingham City: 26-Foster, 02-Carr, 04-Bowyer, 05-Johnson, 06-Ridgewell, 07-Larsson, 08-Gardner, 12-Ferguson, 18-Fahey, 19-Zigic, 28-Jiranek SUBS USED: 10-Jerome, 17-Martins, 23-Beausejour

Arsenal Battle To Title Win Arsenal 1 (Squillaci 8) Stoke City 0

Arsenal edged past Stoke and moved to a point behind Premier League leaders Manchester United but their victory was overshadowed by injuries to Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas. Sebastien Squillaci's seventh-minute header gave Arsenal the victory but injuries to their key duo will be of concern with the League Cup final and a UEFA Champions League match against Barcelona coming up.

Fabregas came off with what appeared to be a knee complaint in the first half while Walcott was carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury after being flattened by a clumsy Dean Whitehead challenge. Much of the pre-match talk had been about how the Gunners would cope without another of their key men, Robin van Persie, who was ruled out yesterday with a hamstring injury.

Arsene Wenger chose Nicklas Bendtner to lead the attack in his absence while Fabregas, Wojciech Szczesny and Samir Nasri returned after missing Sunday's disappointing draw with Leyton Orient. Tony Pulis recalled Asmir Begovic and Whitehead while Ryan Shawcross skippered the side almost a year to the day the that he broke Aaron Ramsey's leg at the Britannia Stadium. 

Clearly determined to put their shock FA Cup draw behind them, Arsenal came flying out of the blocks and rattled the Stoke woodwork with barely a minute gone. Fabregas slotted in Theo Walcott after some good work by Jack Wilshere, and the England winger beat Begovic at the far post but his shot rebounded off the woodwork and into the goalkeeper's hands. Walcott tore into the Stoke box again three minutes later after being played through by Bendtner but Begovic came out to smother the ball.

The early pressure paid off for the home side when they took the lead. Bendtner volleyed across the box from a Wilshere corner to find Squillaci, who headed home unmarked from five yards for his first league goal of the season.
Fabregas looked to be struggling with an injury and was replaced by Andrey Arshavin 14 minutes in. The Spaniard, who missed most of December with a hamstring injury, looked disappointed to have picked up a knock and will be badly missed by the Gunners if does not recover for Sunday's cup final and the Barcelona game in two weeks' time.

Arsenal remained in control but played the game at a much slower pace following their captain's departure. Arshavin, who scored the winner against Barcelona last week, skipped past his marker before drawing a good save from Begovic at his near post. Szczesny had to scramble down to his right to save John Carew's 25-yard volley with Stoke's first chance of the game at the other end.

The Stoke defence backed off as Arshavin raced at the defence and Shawcross, who had been booed with his every touch, hacked the Russian down 20 yards out. Nasri curled the resultant free-kick a couple of yards wide of Begovic's goal. Jonathan Walters entered the book for pulling back Walcott in the closing stages. The decision angered Pulis, who raged at referee Peter Walton and Wenger, who agreed with the referee's call, in the opposing technical area.

Carew was lucky to escape a booking at the start of the second half when he appeared to push over Johan Djourou after coming in late on the tackle. The away side almost equalised a minute later when Shawcross' deflected header whistled just past Szczesny's goal.

Earlier this season Wenger accused Stoke of playing like a rugby side because of their dirty tactics and he was angered by a late sliding challenge from Rory Delap on Bacary Sagna which the referee deemed not worthy of a booking. It was Pulis who was up in arms next though as a result of Gael Clichy's late sliding tackle on Jermaine Pennant, which earned the defender a yellow card.

Stoke were looking much more assured in the second period and they went close when Robert Huth headed just over the bar from a Rory Delap long throw. Arsenal then went on the attack through Arshavin, who dodged a Shawcross sliding tackle to find Walcott in the box but the 21-year-old was off-balance and mis-kicked his attempt on goal.
Walcott was bundled over by Whitehead on the edge of box in the 68th minute but referee Walton waved play on. The winger stayed on the ground, clearly in pain, clutching his ankle before being carried off to be replaced by Denilson.

Bendtner headed wide from six yards after a Wilshere corner as Arsenal looked for a killer second goal with 20 minutes left. Then Marc Wilson clattered into substitute Marouane Chamakh to earn a booking.

Pennant almost stole an equaliser in the last minute of normal time with a beautiful curling free-kick that went into Szczesny's side-netting. Wenger was infuriated to see the fourth official show there would be five minutes of injury-time but his side held the ball for almost the entire added period to ensure the Gunners held out for a crucial win.

LINE UPS

Arsenal: 53-Szczesny, 03-Sagna, 04-Fabregas, 08-Nasri, 14-Walcott, 17-Song, 18-Squillaci, 19-Wilshere, 20-Djourou, 22-Clichy, 52-Bendtner SUBS USED: 15-Denilson, 23-Arshavin 29-Chamakh

Stoke City: 01-Begovic, 04-Huth, 06-Whelan, 12-Wilson, 14-Pugh, 16-Pennant, 17-Shawcross, 18-Whitehead, 19-Walters, 22-Carew, 24-Delap SUBS USED: 10-Fuller, 28-Wilkinson

Champions Arsenal Stun BarcaArsenal 2 (Van Persie 78, Arshavin 83) Barcelona 1 (Villa 26)

Arsenal gave themselves a fighting chance of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals tonight, coming from behind to stun favourites Barcelona 2-1 in a pulsating encounter.
Two goals in the final 12 minutes from Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin clinched a dramatic victory for the Premier League side after Barcelona had taken the lead through a first-half David Villa strike.
The result means Arsenal - thrashed 6-3 on aggregate by Barcelona in last year's quarter-finals - will carry a narrow lead into Camp Nou when the two sides meet in the second leg on 8 March. The thrilling finale capped a superb encounter at the Emirates as arguably the two most stylish sides in Europe laid on a feast of attacking football.
Arsenal started brightly and tested Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes after only five minutes, when a jinking run from Theo Walcott saw the ball transferred to Cesc Fabregas on the edge of the area. The Spanish maestro flicked an exquisite pass to van Persie, whose angled half-volley from close range forced a good save from Valdes.
The threat of Lionel Messi was never far away however, and the Argentinian star drew a desperate challenge from Alex Song after only seven minutes that earned the Cameroonian a booking. Arsenal were then given a huge let-off on 15 minutes when Messi was sent racing clear after an immaculate pass from Villa. The Argentine ace committed Szczesny in goal with a magical feint and beat the Arsenal keeper with a delicate dink, but the effort rolled just wide of the post
Arsenal continued to live dangerously, and Andres Iniesta just failed to find Villa with another penetrative pass along the deck. After numerous warning signs for Arsenal, the opening goal arrived on 26 minutes.

Another eye-of-the-needle pass from Messi sent Villa racing clear and he drilled a low shot beneath Szczesny. Arsenal's players appealed for offside as boos rang out around the Emirates, but Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli remained unmoved.
With Barcelona dominating possession, Arsenal's most promising moments of the half came on the counter-attack, where Walcott's pace regularly unnerved the visitors' defence. The England international was at the heart of a lightning break on 29 minutes that ended with van Persie slicing his shot wide. Arsenal breathed another sigh of relief on 38 minutes when Messi had the ball in the net, only to be adjudged fractionally offside.
A frenetic start to the second half saw both sides struggle to create clear chances, although Arsenal were grateful when Laurent Koscielny - magnificent throughout - just managed to knock Pedro Rodriguez off-balance as he went clear on goal on 57 minutes.
Arsenal continued to look for openings on the break however, and a sweeping move ended in a booking for Gerard Pique, who tripped Samir Nasri. The booking rules the Barça centre-back out of the second leg.
Just when it seemed Arsenal's labours were to be in vain, van Persie conjured a goal out of nothing on 78 minutes. Gael Clichy flicked a ball over the top and van Persie went clear wide on the left. Nothing seemed on but the Dutchman spotted daylight between Valdes and the Barcelona goalkeeper's near post and thundered home a rasping low shot.
With Barcelona suddenly rocking, Arsenal pressed home their advantage, and seven minutes from time their persistence paid off. Another counter-attack saw Nasri burst clear down the right. The Frenchman checked and weighed his options before picking out Arshavin, who had replaced Song, and the diminutive Russian swept in a majestic winner.


LINE-UPS


Arsenal: 53-Szczesny, 04-Fabregas, 06-Koscielny, 08-Nasri, 10-Van Persie, 14-Walcott, 17-Song, 19-Wilshere, 20-Djourou, 22-Clichy, 27-Eboue SUBS USED: 23-Arshavin, 52-Bendtner
Barcelona: 01-Valdes, 02-Daniel, 03-Pique, 06-Xavi, 07-Villa, 08-Iniesta, 10-Messi, 16-Busquets, 17-Pedrito, 19-Maxwell, 22-Abidal SUBS USED: 15-Keita, 21-Adriano Correia

Arsenal Slaughter The Wolves Arsenal 2 (Van Persie 16, 56) Wolves 0

Wolverhampton Wanderers somehow avoided a landslide as Arsenal banished memories of Newcastle's comeback last week with a comprehensive 2-0 victory in the Premier League at the Emirates. Robin Van Persie scored both goals, the first an athletic volleyed effort, and having surrendered a four-goal lead at St James' Park, the Gunners never looked like losing their way this time.

Relegation candidates Wolves, meanwhile, may just be happy not to have conceded more after the hosts somehow failed to add to their tally despite numerous chances. Having been deployed in the anchor role for England in midweek, Jack Wilshere almost immediately set about showing his attacking credentials.

One nice touch set up an early Arsenal break and then, with three minutes gone, he left Jamie O'Hara for dead as he surged toward the Wolves box. Christophe Berra tripped him just outside the area to set up a promising free-kick for Van Persie, but he shot well over. The Dutchman's radar was even further off moments later when he screwed Alex Song's pass well wide from 20 yards.

With 16 minutes gone Arsenal scored the opener, Cesc Fabregas floating a cross in from the right channel and Van Persie executing a wonderful volley from a horizontal position. Andrey Arshavin should have made it 2-0 four minutes later but fluffed his shot after Wayne Hennessey misread a Van Persie corner.

Wolves seemed most troublesome from corners, Berra and Ronald Zubar both winning headers but failing to test Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal. The visitors seemed increasingly nervy though, Hennessey suffering from a lack of communication with his defenders and Wilshere coasting into the box uncontested.

Wolves somehow avoided going further behind twice in the space of seconds as Arsenal exerted more pressure. Wilshere freed Arshavin with a glorious long pass before the Russian left Zubar on his backside as he pivoted and cut across to Van Persie. His shot was saved brilliantly by Hennessey only for the loose ball to reach Fabregas, whose low drive ricocheted off the retreating Richard Stearman on the line.

An offside flag, as well as a modest finish, denied Arshavin after fine work by Walcott and despite being just one behind, Wolves looked shellshocked. Referee Chris Foy turned down a penalty appeal from Arshavin and Hennessey saved well from Van Persie at his near post seconds before the interval to leave Wolves, improbably, still in the game.

Wilshere continued to show his class as the second period started, easing past a handful of Wolves players in the penalty area and laying the ball off to the supporting Walcott for what looked a certain goal. Walcott contrived to send his shot wide and looked almost as shocked as his team-mates not be celebrating a second.

Hennessey was playing his part too, saving smartly with his foot after Nenad Milijas looked as if he might turn Walcott's cross over his own line. By now the game was being played almost exclusively in Wolves' final third, with Arshavin and Walcott causing endless problems on the wings.

Finally, with 56 minutes on the clock, Van Persie made it 2-0. Fabregas was the creator with a perfectly-weighted pass from the deep leaving Walcott and Van Persie with a two on one against Berra. The England winger did his job, rolling the ball to his team-mate who slotted home his 10th league goal of the season.

The chances continued, first Fabregas and then Van Persie going close.Walcott had more energy than even the Wolves substitutes and drew a foul from replacement striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake after 72 minutes. With Barcelona awaiting on Wednesday, Arsene Wenger used the break in play to withdraw Arshavin and Van Persie, with the superb Wilshere following soon after.

Arsenal's tempo slowed from then and they had a hairy moment off an 82nd-minute corner when Szczesny was forced to palm a looping ball over the bar. Walcott probably deserved a goal and was unlucky to see a late effort smothered by the brave Hennessey following a neat one-two with Marouane Chamakh.

Line-Ups:

Arsenal: 53-Szczesny, 03-Sagna, 04-Fabregas, 06-Koscielny, 10-Van Persie, 14-Walcott, 17-Song, 19-Wilshere, 20-Djourou, 22-Clichy, 23-Arshavin SUBS USED: 15-Denilson, 29-Chamakh, 52-Bendtner

Wolves: 13-Hennessey, 03-Elokobi, 05-Stearman, 08-Henry, 16-Berra, 17-Jarvis, 19-Hammill, 20-Milijas, 23-Zubar, 24-O'Hara, 29-Doyle SUBS USED: 09-Ebanks-Blake, 10-Fletcher, 32-Foley

Todays Other Scores:

Birmingham City 1-0 Stoke City: BC-Zigic

Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Newcastle United

Blackpool 1-1 Aston Villa: BP-Grandin: AV-Agbonlahor

Liverpool 1-1 Wigan Athletic: LI-Meireles; WA-Gohouri

Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City: MU-Nani, Rooney; MC-Silva

Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur: SU-Gyan; TH-Dawson, Kranjcar

West Brom 3-3 West Ham United: WBA-Dorrans, Thomas, Reid (og); WH-Ba (2), Cole

Arsenal Grab Draw From Jaws Of Victory

Cheik Tiote's first goal in English football secured a remarkable point for Newcastle United as they fought back from 4-0 to draw 4-4 down against ten-man Arsenal.
The Ivory Coast international pegged back the Gunners with a stunning 87th-minute volley after Joey Barton had scored twice from the penalty spot either side of Leon Best's fourth goal of the season.
Alan Pardew's men were in complete disarray as the Gunners raced into a 4-0 lead at St James' Park within the opening 26 minutes. Goals from Theo Walcott, Johan Djourou and a Robin van Persie double looked to have wrapped up the points and allowed Arsenal to keep the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester United.
But after midfielder Abou Diaby had been sent off for furiously pushing Barton to the ground after a no-holds-barred 48th-minute challenge, Newcastle, roared on by a crowd of 51,561, pulled off the most unlikely of recoveries.
Life for Newcastle without Andy Carroll had got off to a bad start at Fulham on Wednesday evening, and the mood inside St James' was decidedly ugly by the time ten chaotic minutes had elapsed. Arsenal were breathtaking as their pace and movement left the men in black and white at times bewildered.
However, they met little resistance as a Newcastle side which had won 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium in November showed few signs of producing a similarly dogged display on their own pitch, even with combative midfielder Tiote restored to the side after his three-match ban.
The worry before kick-off had been that, without Carroll, now at Liverpool, and the injured Shola Ameobi, the ball would not stick in the final third of the field and that would invite pressure on to Newcastle's back four. In the event, neither Carroll nor Ameobi would have made a significant difference as their side saw too little of the ball to worry the Gunners.
They did not see it at all in amid a red and white blizzard as Arsenal had the game under control before they had broken sweat. Walcott had scored twice in a 4-0 Carling Cup victory on Tyneside in October, and he needed only 42 seconds to increase his tally as he ran on to Andrey Arshavin's pass and slid the ball past Steve Harper with Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson trailing in his wake.
There were less than three minutes on the clock when Djourou was inexplicably allowed to meet an Arshavin free-kick seven yards out, and his header flew in off the underside of the crossbar. When Van Persie fired home a third goal from Walcott's cross in the tenth minute, a packed house settled down for what looked certain to be an agonising remaining 80 minutes.
The first chorus of disapproval aimed at owner Mike Ashley rang around St James' Park as the game restarted. Wenger's men were simply irresistible, with Cesc Fabregas and Diaby dominating in the middle of the pitch to allow Arshavin, Walcott and Jack Wilshere to repeatedly run at the shell-shocked Newcastle defence.
Arsenal increased their lead with 26 minutes gone when Van Persie headed Bacary Sagna's cross home, and it came as a surprise that the scoreline remained at 4-0 when the half-time whistle handed the Magpies brief respite. Van Persie might have done better after running on to Williamson's weak header and shooting wide, and Harper managed to turn the Dutchman's shot against the post in injury time.
But the cracks started to appear after Diaby over-reacted to Barton's rugged challenge and pushed him to the ground to earn an inevitable red card. Newcastle took the Frenchman's untimely departure as their cue to step up a gear, and they got their reward after 68 minutes when, after Koscielny had brought down Best inside the box, Barton converted from the penalty spot to at least give the more optimistic members of the Toon Army some hope.
Alarm bells started ringing for the Gunners when Best struck from close range with 15 minutes remaining, and when Barton drilled home a second penalty with seven minutes to play, a point was there for the taking. Tiote saved the best for last when he lashed an 87th-minute left-footed volley into the bottom left corner to complete a remarkable repair job. Kevin Nolan might even have won the game for Newcastle in injury time, but that was a little too much to ask.

LINE UPS

Newcastle United: 01-Harper, 02-Coloccini, 03-Jose Enrique, 04-Nolan, 06-Williamson, 07-Barton, 11-Lovenkrands, 12-Simpson, 18-Gutierrez, 20-Best, 24-Tiote SUBS USED: 08-Guthrie, 30-Ranger
Arsenal: 53-Szczesny, 02-Diaby, 03-Sagna, 04-Fabregas, 06-Koscielny, 10-Van Persie, 14-Walcott, 19-Wilshere, 20-Djourou, 22-Clichy, 23-Arshavin SUBS USED: 07-Rosicky, 18-Squillaci, 27-Eboue

Todays Other Results:
Aston Villa 2-2 Fulham: AV-Pantsil (og), Walker; FU-Johnson, Dempsey
Everton 5-3 Blackpool: EV-Saha (4), Beckford; BP-Baptiste, Puncheon, Adam
Manchester City 3-0 West Brom: MC-Tevez (3)
Stoke City 3-2 Sunderland: SC-Huth (2), Carew; SU-Richardson, Gyan
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Bolton Wanderers: TH-Van der Vaart, Kranjcar; BW-Sturridge
Wigan Athletic 4-3 Blackburn Rovers: WA-McCarthy (2), Rodallega, Watson; BR-Roberts, Samba, Dunn (pen)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Manchester United: WW-Elokobi, Doyle; MU-Nani

New Unofficial Champions Crowned At The Emirates Arsenal 2 (Arshavin 70, Koscielny 75) Everton 1 (Saha 24)

We have NEW Unofficial Premier League Champions as Arsenal come from behind to beat Everton 2-1 at Emirates Stadium and also keep within striking distance of Premier League leaders Manchester United.


Louis Saha had put the visitors ahead on 24 minutes when he slotted home, despite being offside. However, the Gunners turned the game around through substitute Andrey Arshavin and Laurent Koscielny's header.

The Gunners made some ten changes from the side which had laboured to a 2-1 win over Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup on Sunday. And it was Everton - who have lost only six games, but find themselves in the lower half of the table because of some 12 draws - who started brightly.

With Diniyar Bilyaletdinov offering support to both Saha in attack and then making up the numbers in midfield, it was easy to see why David Moyes' men are hard to beat. Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere was in the referee's book after just five minutes when he clattered through the back of Mikel Arteta, which would set a trend for the evening.

Everton continued to make all the running during the opening exchanges. Arsenal finally got some passing together as Bacary Sagna was played in down the right, only to be chopped down by Sylvain Distin, who was immediately shown a yellow card by referee Lee Mason.

Koscielny glanced a header through the six-yard box from a corner, before Cesc Fabregas then dragged a shot wide after a clever backheel from Robin van Persie. The Gunners were now on top, but just lacked a decisive pass when in the final third. Theo Walcott broke into the right side of the penalty area, but Tim Howard stood up well at the near post.

Everton, though, were ahead on 24 minutes in controversial fashion. Saha was offside when Seamus Coleman chipped the ball through, but it spun off Koscielny's boot as he attempted to clear, falling to the Frenchman, who slotted a low effort past Wojciech Szczesny.

Despite the protests of the Arsenal players, and consultation with his assistant Stephen Child on the far side, referee Mason allowed the goal to stand. Arsenal felt more than a sense of injustice and centre-half Koscielny almost made amends when inches away from converting a corner with a diving header at the far post.

The frustration for the home fans continued after Fabregas burst into the Everton box only to drag his shot wide. Van Persie then did brilliantly to collect a high, angled pass on his chest, but it would not drop and he could only loop the ball over.

Arsenal made a change at the restart, with Abou Diaby replacing Alex Song, who appeared to pick up an injury towards the end of the first half. Rosicky spun away from his marker and charged forwards, but then dragged a 20-yard strike wide. The home side continued to press, Diaby powering a header over the bar.


Arteta then went into the book after tripping Fabregas as the Arsenal captain set off on a quick break. There was then a confrontation when Van Persie went in on the Spaniard, and was also shown a yellow card. With 28 minutes left, Tomas Rosicky was replaced by Arshavin and Everton then sent Leon Osman on for Bilyaletdinov.


Diaby cut inside from the left and set himself, but then drilled his 20-yard shot wide. Arsenal were finally level when Arshavin slotted home after Rodwell's back header from Fabregas' chip fell to him in the six-yard box. Osman tripped Walcott in full flow, and became the seventh man in Mason's notebook.


Van Persie sent the resulting free-kick towards the top right angle, which Howard did brilliantly to tip over. Arsenal, though, were not to be denied and turned the game around when Koscielny headed home from the resulting corner on 75 minutes. Rodwell glanced a header wide at the far post, but it was Arsenal who closed out the match and collected what could be three crucial points in the title race.

Line Ups:

Arsenal: 53-Szczesny, 03-Sagna, 04-Fabregas, 06-Koscielny, 07-Rosicky, 10-Van Persie, 14-Walcott, 17-Song, 19-Wilshere, 20-Djourou, 22-Clichy SUBS USED: 02-Diaby, 23-Arshavin, 52-Bendtner
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: 06-Jagielka, 21-Osman, 28-Anichebe

Todays Other Scores:

Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa: MU-Rooney (2), Vidic; AV-Bent
Sunderland 2-4 Chelsea: SU-Bardsley, Richardson; CH-Lampard (pen), Kalou, Terry, Anelka
West Brom 2-2 Wigan Athletic- WBA-Odemwingie, Fortune; WA-N'Zogbia, Watson

1 In 5 Out For Everton

Now the dust has settled on the furore that was the January Transfer Window its time to see how the current Unofficial Premier League champions, Everton fared.

Only one player joined the Toffee's during the window and that was on the last day when David Moyes signed Apostolos Vellios from Greek side Iraklis Thessaloniki for a nominal fee (believed to be £250,000).  The 19 year old striker has scored 7 goals in 14 appearances for the Greek U19 side and has an amazing strike rate at club level where he has scored 19 goals in 22 appearances.  He has signed a contract until 2014 but the chances of him breaking into the first team this season are pretty slim.

Making way at Goodison Park included Steven Pienaar. It was no surprise to see the South African midfielder leave as he was out of contract in the summer and the £3m bid by Tottenham seemed like good business to turn down.  He has since played 1 league game for Spurs and also played in Tottenham's 4-0 loss in the FA Cup against Fulham last Sunday.
The other players to leave are Joao Silva (to Uniao de Leiria), Kieran Agard (Kilmarnock), Zac Thompson (Leeds United) and The Yak.  Yakubu joined Leicester on loan early into the transfer window until the end of the season and has so far made 2 league appearances scoring 2 goals and if he carries on the decent form and fitness he has shown so far then he will be back in David Moyes starting eleven come the beginning of the 2011/12 season.

One last bit of news to come from Everton came in the last couple of hours of the window where Tottenham Hotspur made a cheeky bid (believed to be £500,000) to take captain Phil Neville to White Hart Lane, an offer which was laughed at by David Moyes.

Fernando Torres Signs For Chelsea Fee: £48m

The transfer that started the money merry-go-round today, Fernando Torres to Chelsea, has been completed just before the transfer deadline.
The fee is believed to be in the region of £45m-£50m and becomes Chelsea's record signing, beating the previous record held by Andriy Shevchenko
If all goes well Torres could make his debut next Sunday at Stamford Bridge and ironically the opponents then will be LIVERPOOL
El Nino has had an up and down season so far.  He was part of the Spanish World Cup winning side but back at Liverpool Torres has been carrying injuries and has also had a loss of form.  People have wondered whether the loss of form was down to Torres wanting out at Anfield but now he has gone the Chelsea faithful will be hoping Torres finds the form that made him one of the most feared strikers in world football.


Fernando Torres career:


2001-2007 - Atletico Madrid - 214 apps (82 goals)
2007-2011 - Liverpool - 102 apps (65 goals)

Andy Carroll Signs For Liverpool Fee: £35m

WorldwideFootball  can confirm Andy Carroll has become Liverpool's record transfer after he joined from Newcastle United for around £35m.
With Fernando Torres heading south to Chelsea, manager Kenny Dalglish decided Carroll was the man to fill the Spanish strikers boots.
Carroll has adapted to life in the Premier League scoring 11 goals so far this season and was also called up to the England squad and scored against Belarus in September.
Carroll has had off field problems this season but on the pitch Carroll has shown he is a prolific striker and a move to Liverpool will only enhance his growing reputation.
The 22 year old has signed a five year contract and has been given the number 9 shirt.  Although he has been suffering with injury its not known whether he could make his debut away to Chelsea at the weekend.


Andy Carrolls career:


2006-2011 - Newcastle United - 80 apps (31 goals)
2007-2008 - Preston North End (loan) - 11 apps (1 goal)

Eidur Gudjohnsen Signs For Fulham Fee: Loan

Fulham have completed the signing of former Chelsea, Barcelona and Monaco striker Eidur Gudjohnsen from Premier League side Stoke City.
It was thought Gudjohnsen was going to be heading to Holland and Ajax but Fulham manager Mark Hughes has managed to get in and sign the 32 year old on loan until the end of the season.
Since signing for Stoke in August Gudjohnsen has only managed 4 appearances for the Potters where he has struggled with form and fitness but the Icelandic marksmen will be hoping to show Mark Hughes he still has the ability to score at Premier League level.


Eidur Gudjohnsens career:


1995 - Valur Reykjavik - 17 apps (7 goals)
1995-1997 - PSV - 13 apps (3 goals)
1998 - KR Reykjavik - 6 apps
1998-2000 - Bolton Wanderers - 55 apps (18 goals)
2000-2006 - Chelsea - 186 apps (54 goals)
2006-2009 - Barcelona - 72 apps (10 goals)
2009-2010 - Monaco - 9 apps
2010 - Tottenham Hotspur (loan) - 11 apps (1 goal)
2010 - Stoke City - 4 apps

Daniel Sturridge Joins Bolton Wanderers Fee: Loan

Bolton Wanderers have completed the loan signing of 21 year old Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge until the end of the season.
With Fernando Torres due to sign for Chelsea today manager Carlo Ancelotti thinks its best for the youngster to gain Premier League experience with Owen Coyle's side.
Last season Bolton took Arsenal's Jack Wilshere on loan and since then the midfielder hasn't look back so the striker will hope the luck will rub of onto him.
Since joining Chelsea in 2009 from Manchester City Sturridge has failed to make an impact scoring one goal in 26 appearances for the Pensioners.
Should Sturridge do well during this loan spell it is unsure whether Sturridge will want to make the move permanent or try his luck back at Stamford Bridge.


Daniel Sturridges career:


2006-2009 - Manchester City - 21 apps (5 goals)
2009 - Chelsea - 26 apps (1 goal)

Luis Suarez Completes Liverpool Move Fee: £23m

Luis Suarez has finally completed his move to Liverpool today for a fee of £23m.
The deal was done on Friday but it couldn't be completed until all the paper work was done but he has now been handed the number seven shirt and has signed a contract that will run until 2016.
The prolific marksmen, capped 38 times by Uruguay could well spearhead the Anfield attack if the news of Fernando Torres' departure is confirmed.
Suarez made headlines for all the wrong reasons during the 2010 World Cup when he handled the ball on the line during the quarter-final match against Ghana.  Ghana missed the resulting penalty and were knocked out but his 81 goals in 110 appearances for Ajax in the last 4 years has made him one of the most sought after players in world football.


Luis Suarez career:


2005-2006 - Nacional - 27 apps (10 goals)
2006-2007 - Groningen - 29 apps (10 goals)
2007-2011 - Ajax - 110 apps (81 goals)

Mauro Formica Signs For Blackburn Rovers Fee: Undisclosed

Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean has made his fourth signing of the transfer window today, signing the highly rated 22 year old Mauro Formica from Argentine side Newell's Old Boys
The attacking midfielder has signed three and a half year contract and follows Roque Santa Cruz, Jermaine Jones and Ruben Rochina into Ewood Park.
The Argentine U17 midfielder has made 86 appearances for Old Boys scoring 20 goals in the last five years but is deemed as one of the best players from the Argentine League.
Steve Kean has only been in charge at Rovers since December taking over from Sam Allardyce and shown during this transfer window he was determined to put his own stamp on the squad and has had the backing of new owners Venkys.


Mauro Formicas career:


2006-2011 - Newell's Old Boys - 86 apps (20 goals)

James Beattie Joins Blackpool Fee: Loan

WorldwideFootball can reveal England striker James Beattie has joined the Blackpool revolution signing on loan today from Scottish giants Rangers.
The striker, capped 5 times by England joined Rangers in the summer of 2010 and made his debut in their opening SPL match against Kilmarnock but since then Beattie has only managed a further 6 appearances and is still waiting for his first goal for the Glasgow giants.
Beattie is Blackpool's second signing of the day following in the footsteps of Irishman Andy Reid and is the third signing for the Tangerines in the January transfer window.


James Beattie's career:


1995-1998 - Blackburn Rovers - 4 apps
1998-2005 - Southampton - 204 apps (68 goals)
2005-2007 - Everton - 76 apps (13 goals)
2007-2009 - Sheffield United - 62 apps (34 goals)
2009-2010 - Stoke City - 38 apps (9 goals)
2010 - Rangers - 7 apps

Stephen Ireland Joins Newcastle United Fee: Loan

WorldwideFootball can reveal Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Ireland has joined Newcastle United on loan for the rest of the season with a view to a permanent deal in the summer.
The 24 year old only joined Villa from Manchester City in the summer as a make weight in the James Milner deal but he hasn't managed to feature much for Villa and rumour had it Celtic were going to make an approach and take him to Celtic Park on loan but Alan Pardew has decided to make a bid which has been accepted by Randy Lerner and Gerard Houllier.
In December Villa manager Houllier stated Ireland was free to leave if the right bid come along and during Ireland's short stint at Villa his professionalism has been questioned by the manager so its no surprise to see Ireland depart for pastures new.


Stephen Irelands career:


2005-2010 - Manchester City - 138 apps (16 goals)
2010 - Aston Villa - 10 apps

Michael Bradley Joins Aston Villa

WorldwideFootball understands Aston Villa have made their fourth signing of the transfer window capturing the signature of USA international midfielder Michael Bradley on loan until the end of the season.
Bradleys Dad, Bob, was linked with the managers role when Martin O'Neill left Villa Park in August, that didn't materialize but his son has decided to make the switch.
The 23 year old joins from German side Borussia Monchengladbach and could go into the side tomorrow as Aston Villa travel to Old Trafford for a Premier League clash against Manchester United.
Although Bradley was suspended by Borussia manager Michael Frontzeck in the 2009/10 season for arguing he was still a regular for "Die Fohlen". This season Bradley had made 19 appearances for Monchengladbach scoring three goals but Bradley feels it is time to find a club in the Premier League and Aston Villa have decided to take the punt.
He follows in the footsteps of Jean Makoun, Kyle Walker and Darren Bent as the new arrivals keep on coming at Villa Park.

Michael Bradleys career:

2004-2006 - MetroStars - 30 apps (1 goal)
2006-2008 - Heerenveen - 57 apps (16 goals)
2008 - Borussia Monchengladbach - 76 apps (10 goals)

Ruben Rochina Signs For Blackburn Rovers Fee: Undisclosed

Spanish U19 international Ruben Rochina has swapped the Camp Nou for Ewood Park today when he joined Blackburn Rovers today.
The 19 year old, yet to make an appearance for Barcelona has signed a contract that will tie him to Rovers until 2015.
Rochina becomes the third players to join Blackburn during the transfer window following in the footsteps of Jermaine Jones and Roque Santa Cruz

Obafemi Martins Joins Birmingham Fee: Loan

Nigerian international striker Obafemi Martins has returned to the Premier League today joining Birmingham City on loan until the end of the season.

The 26 year old made his name at Newcastle United where he made 88 appearances for the Magpies between 2006 and 2009 before a £9m transfer took him to Germany and Wolfsburg.

Martins adapted to the Bundelsiga straight away and made 16 appearances scoring 6 goals in just under a year.  Form that made Rubin Kazan spend £17m for him in July 2010.

Martins could be on the bench on Wednesday when Birmingham host Manchester City due to the Russian Premier League being in its close season and Martins not being match fit but this signing will only improve Birmingham City this season.  Whether Martins could be playing for a permanent deal in the summer is as yet unknown.

Obafemi Martins career:

2002-2006 - Internazionale - 85 apps (28 goals)

2006-2009 - Newcastle United - 88 apps (28 goals)

2009-2010 - VFL Wolfsburg - 16 apps (6 goals)

2010 - Rubin Kazan - 12 apps (2 goals)

Andy Reid Joins Blackpool Fee: Undisclosed

WorldwideFootball understands Republic Of Ireland midfielder Andy Reid has joined Blackpool today from Sunderland for a fee believed to be around £1m.

The 28 year old, capped 27 times by his country has yet to play for the Black Cats this season and is hoping the move will kickstart a career that seems to have stalled over the last 2 years.

Reid was allowed to join Sheffield United in October 2010 for a months loan where he made 9 appearances for the Blades but a permanent move didn't materialise.

What isn't known at the moment is whether Reid is a replacement for Charlie Adam who is wanted by Liverpool or bought to play along side the club captain. Reid could in fact make his debut on Wednesday when the Tangerines play West Ham in their Premier League.

Andy Reid's career:

2000-2005 - Nottingham Forest - 144 apps (21 goals)

2005-2006 - Tottenham Hotspur - 26 apps (1 goal)

2006-2008 - Charlton Athletic - 38 apps (8 goals)

2008-2011 - Sunderland - 68 apps (4 goals)

2010 - Sheffield United (loan) - 9 apps (2 goals)

Rohan Ricketts Move To Germany Called Off

With all the deals going on in Europe at the moment you have to feel for former Tottenham midfielder Rohan Ricketts.

The 28 year old midfielder flew out to Germany and trained with Fortuna Dussledorf on Friday ahead of a free transfer.  The deal was expected to be concluded today but Ricketts has been told the deal now won't be completed as the club no longer have the finances to pay his wages so the whole trip was a waste of time.

Speaking on Talksport today the former England U21 International said "I'm now stuck, I had a call from a couple of clubs in Turkey but now they can't happen because of the transfer deadline, this trip was a waste of time from the start and now it looks like I won't be able to sign for anyone"

Ricketts has been without a club since being released from Moldovan club Dacia Chisinau after the club were relegated in November and was hoping the move to Dusseldorf would be a move to get his career back on track.

Ricketts has also had spells in Hungary and Canada but made his name when he made his debut for Tottenham Hotspur in 2002

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

Robbie Keane In West Ham Switch Fee: Loan

WorldwideFootball can reveal Tottenham striker Robbie Keane has crossed the Olympic Stadium divide and joined West Ham United on loan and should the Hammers stay in the Premier League then he will join permanently on a two year deal.
Keane, who is Republic of Irelands leading marksmen has struggled to get games this year making 7 appearances (5 as sub) and althought he has remained in Giovanni Trappatoni's national side Keane was warned he would lose his place iif he wasn't playing first team football.
West Ham have been long time admirers of Robbie Keane, they were interested in signing him when he was playing in Italy for Internazionale but instead he headed to Elland Road and joined Leds United but ten years later they have finally got their man!!
Keane could make his debut next Wednesday when West Ham head north to play Ian Holloways Blackpool but Hammers supporters everywhere will be hoping the man who has been prolific in the Premier League can score the goals to ensure Premier League football next season.


Robbie Keane's career:


1997-1999 - Wolverhampton Wanderers - 74 apps (24 goals)
1999-2000 - Coventry City - 31 apps (12 goals)
2000-2001 - Internazionale - 14 apps (3 goals)
2001 - Leeds United (loan) - 18 apps (9 goals)
2001-2002 - Leeds United - 28 apps (4 goals)
2002-2008 - Tottenham Hotspur - 197 apps (80 goals)
2008-2009 - Liverpool - 19 apps (5 goals)
2009 - Tottenham Hotspur - 41 apps (11 goals)
2010 - Celtic (loan) - 16 apps (12 goals)

Jamie O'Hara Join Wolves Fee: Loan

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O'Hara has joined Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan until the end of the season.
The midfielder has been at Tottenham for 6 years but has yet to cement a place in the heart of the midfield and has previously had loan spell at Chesterfield, Millwall and Portsmouth where he was influential in their making the FA Cup Final in 2010 a season which also saw him crowned Pompey's player of the year.
Since returning to Tottenham for the 2010/11 season O'Hara has undergone surgery on his back and has yet to make a single appearance for Spurs this season.
The 24 year old, capped 7 times for England at Under 21 level knows he has to kickstart his career again and hopefully getting games under his belt will being him to the attention of his boss Harry Redknapp and try and get a place in the 25 man squad for the beginning of the 2011/12 season.


Jamie O'Hara's career:


2005 - Tottenham Hotspur - 34 apps (3 goals)
2006 - Chesterfield (loan) - 19 apps (5 goals)
2007 - Millwall (loan) - 14 apps (2 goals)
2009-2010 - Portsmouth (loan) - 26 apps (2 goals)

Japan - Kings Of Asia Australia 0 Japan 1 (Lee 110) (AFTER EXTRA TIME)

Japan became the first team to win the AFC Asian Cup four times as Tadanari Lee's goal in the second period of extra time clinched a 1-0 victory over Australia at Khalifa Stadium.

Lee struck after 108 minutes of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ final when he volleyed home Yuto Nagatomo's left-wing cross.

Australia, though, had their chances to claim a maiden continental triumph and will reflect on Harry Kewell's second-half miss when one-on-one with Japan keeper Eiji Kawashima as particularly crucial.

The Socceroos had the game's first opportunity when following a slick move, Carl Valeri fed Matt McKay but he sliced wide of the far post.

Mark Schwarzer then almost presented Japan with the opener when he tried to prevent the ball going behind for a corner but only succeeded in kicking it straight to Nagatomo but the defender's long-range effort sailed over the bar with David Carney scrambling back to cover.

McKay's neat backheel released Brett Holman down the right but nobody could get on the end of the winger's fizzing low cross before Japan keeper Eiji Kawashima did well to push Kewell's close-range header away in the 18th minute after Tim Cahill had met Carney's corner on the far side of the box.

Kewell then guided Luke Wilkshire's cross from the right over the bar before the striker was off target from a narrow angle when he latched on to Cahill's knockdown from Neill's diagonal ball just after the half-hour mark.

Ryoichi Maeda was presented with a sight of goal nine minutes before the interval after Yasuhito Endo had laid-off Keisuke Honda's incisive pass into the forward's path but he fired over from just outside the box as the first-half ended goalless.

Australia came agonisingly close to taking the lead two minutes after the break when, after Kawashima misjudged Wilkshire's cross, the ball hit the bar and then Cahill but bounced up into Maya Yoshida's chest on the line as Japan cleared.

Kewell lashed over from inside the six-yard box before Japan almost broke the deadlock in the 65th minute when Nagatomo created a yard of space before delivering a beautiful left-foot cross that Shinji Okazaki glanced just the wrong side of the post with Schwarzer rooted to the spot.

Kewell then spurned the best chance of the game six minutes later when he latched onto a long ball and raced clear on goal but Kawashima denied him with an outstretched right leg.

The Japan keeper was alert to save at Kewell's feet after Yasuyuki Konno under-hit a backpass and Carney saw a shot inside the box deflected over the bar late on as normal time ended goalless.

Australia had two opportunities in quick succession in the first period of extra time. First, McKay played in Kewell but the ball broke to Brett Emerton, who curled a left-foot shot just wide.

Substitute Robbie Kruse then almost made an immediate impact but his header from Emerton's cross was clawed away by a desperate Kawashima from under the bar.

The winning goal finally came after 108 minutes when Nagatomo surged down the left and his cross picked out Lee unmarked eight yards from goal. The substitute waited for the ball to drop before executing a left-foot volley that gave Schwarzer no chance as it found the back of the net

The Australian keeper then held Endo's free-kick before Carney struck a set-piece into the wall from just outside the area as Japan clung on for a famous victory.


Australia: 01-Schwarzer, 02-Neill, 03-Carney, 04-Cahill, 06-Ognenovski, 08-Wilkshire, 10-Kewell, 14-Holman, 15-Jedinak, 16-Valeri, 17-McKay SUBS USED: 07-Emerton, 22-Kilkenny, 23-Kruse
Japan: 01-Kawashima, 04-Konno, 05-Nagatomo, 06-Uchida, 07-Endo, 09-Okazaki, 11-Maeda, 14-Fujimoto, 17-Hasebe, 18-Honda, 22-Yoshida SUBS USED: 02-Inoha, 03-Iwamasa, 19-Lee

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