Football: Barclays Premier League - Arsenal 1, Stoke City 0
Published: 24 February, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT
Walcott set to miss final
THEO Walcott has been ruled out of Sunday’s Carling Cup final after picking up an ankle injury against Stoke last night (Wednesday).
Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas could also miss the Wembley showdown against Birmingham with another hamstring injury.
Sebastien Squillaci proved the unlikely hero against Stoke as Arsenal moved to within a point of leaders Manchester United with a battling 1-0 win at the Emirates. It proved a costly victory, however, with Fabregas limping out of the action after only 14 minutes, and Walcott being stretchered off midway through the second half after tangling with Dean Whitehead.
After a bruising night, manager Arsene Wenger said: “Theo is definitely out with an ankle strain, and we will assess Cesc’s hamstring injury tomorrow. Cesc is very upset, and I’m very upset, but it’s just part of the game.”
Arsenal had made a scintillating start and were unlucky not to be in front within two minutes. Clever play from Jack Wilshere led to Fabregas sliding the ball into Walcott, whose controlled shot hit the inside of the post before rebounding safely in to the arms of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
What proved to be the winning goal came after just eight minutes when Stoke failed to clear Wilshere’s corner. Nicklas Bendtner controlled the ball before floating it back into the box for Squillaci to stoop and head home.
Wenger added: “It is a result that proves a team is hungry for success. We have matured as a team certainly because we won a game with less creativity.”