‘Ju’ debuts as Arsenal rallies in League Cup

Arsenal’s Park Chu Young, right, challenges Shrewsbury Town’s Jermaine Grandison during their English League Cup match at the Emirates in London on Tuesday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

LONDON - Arsenal avoided a humiliating third-round exit from the League Cup against Shrewsbury as the troubled Gunners came from behind to win 3-1, while Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 victory over old rivals Leeds on Tuesday.

The Gunners’ game marked the debut of summer signing Park Chu-young, who prefers to be called “Ju.”

After Saturday’s 4-3 defeat at Blackburn condemned Arsenal to its worst start to a season for 58 years, chief executive Ivan Gazidis chose to publicly express the club’s support for boss Arsene Wenger.

But even Arsenal’s loyal board may have started to doubt Wenger when League Two outfit Shrewsbury took a shock lead through James Collins at the Emirates.

Wenger has never hidden his distaste for the League Cup, yet he could hardly afford such a shocking defeat so soon after that incredible 8-2 loss at Old Trafford.

So the Frenchman, who made 11 changes, must have breathed a sigh of relief as goals from Kieran Gibbs, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Yossi Benayoun sent Arsenal, beaten by Birmingham in last year’s final, into the fourth round.

Arsenal were in hot water early on as Mark Wright fired against a post before Shrewsbury went ahead when Collins powered home a header from Marvin Morgan’s cross in the 16th minute.

The turning point came when Reuben Hazel missed a golden opportunity to increase Shrewsbury’s advantage.

Arsenal equalized moments later through Gibbs’ header and young winger Oxlade-Chamberlain put the hosts ahead with a long-range shot that trickled past Shrewsbury goalkeeper Ben Smith.

That settled Arsenal’s nerves and a first goal for on-loan Chelsea midfielder Benayoun killed the tie.

At Elland Road, Michael Owen bagged a brace as United gained a measure of revenge for its shock FA Cup defeat against Leeds last year with a routine win.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team were left with red faces after Leeds, then languishng in League One, won 1-0 in the FA Cup third round at Old Trafford in January 2010.

But there was no repeat of that shock scoreline this time as Owen’s double and a Ryan Giggs goal secured an emphatic success on United’s first visit to Elland Road for eight years.

However, reports of fighting between rival fans outside the ground marred the occasion.

Ferguson made 11 changes after Sunday’s 3-1 win over Chelsea and United were in front after 15 minutes when Owen converted Park Ji-Sung’s pass.

Owen produced another cool finish for his second goal from Mame Diouf’s cross in the 32nd minute and Giggs put the result beyond doubt with a fine individual effort on the stroke of half-time.

Stoke beat Tottenham 7-6 on penalties after a dour 0-0 draw at the Britannia Stadium.

Thomas Sorensen was the hero for Stoke as the Danish goalkeeper saved a spot-kick from Massimo Luongo to end an epic shoot-out.

Newcastle left it late to go through with a 4-3 win at Nottingham Forest thanks to a goal from Fabricio Coloccini in the last minute of extra-time.

Forest had earlier come from behind three times with Robbie Findley, Matt Derbyshire and Marcus Tudgay cancelling out Peter Lovenkrands’ double and Danny Simpson’s 93rd-minute strike.

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish won cup with Birmingham last season, but he won’t be going back to Wembley as Bolton won 2-0 at Villa Park.

Chris Eagles put Bolton ahead with a long-range blast in the 54th minute and Gael Kakuta’s strike handed McLeish the first defeat of his Villa reign.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy made eight changes from the team beaten by QPR on Saturday, but his stand-ins still thrashed Millwall 5-0 at Molineux thanks to goals from David Edwards, Adam Hammill, George Elokobi, James Spray and Adlene Guedioura.

Blackburn built on the momentum from Saturday’s win over Arsenal as Steve Kean’s team beat League One strugglers Leyton Orient 3-2.

AFP

한글 관련 기사 [일간스포츠]

데뷔전 박주영, 응원가가 떴다

박주영 응원가가 떴다.

아스널 팬들은 21일(한국시간) 에미레이트 스타디움에서 열린 쉬루즈버리타운과 칼링컵 32강 경기에서 박주영 응원가를 불렀다. 팬들은 박주영이 공을 잡을 때마다 "슈팅! 그리고 골! 박주영~ 박주영~(Shoot! and Score! Park Ju Young~ Park Ju Young~)"이란 가사의 응원가를 합창했다. 짧은 가사를 구호처럼 계속 반복해서 부르는 응원가다. 골을 넣어달라는 팬들의 염원이 담겨있다.

전반 41분 박주영이 첫 슈팅이 나왔을 때에는 아쉬운 듯 탄성이 흘렀고, 이내 박수가 쏟아졌다. 박주영은 후반 27분 미야이치 료와 교체돼 경기장을 나왔다. 팬들은 박주영이 나올 때도 따뜻한 박수로 데뷔전을 축하해줬다.

잉글랜드 팬들의 응원가는 자극적이기로 유명하다. 박지성의 응원가 가사에도 '개고기'가 들어가있다. 그러나 아스널 팬이 부른 박주영 응원가는 점잖은 편이다. 런던 크로이든에 산다는 아스널 팬 다니엘 넬리(31) 씨는 "박주영이 본인의 기량을 완전히 발휘하지 못해 아쉽다. 그러나 이제 시작일 뿐이고 더 나이질 것이다.

남아공 월드컵에서 뽑은 프리킥 골을 꼭 보여줄 것이라 믿는다. 팬들도 이런 기대 속에서 박주영 응원가를 만들었을 것"이라고 말했다.