The Korea Herald

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Arsenal fall to Blackburn 4-3

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Published : Sept. 18, 2011 - 18:51

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LONDON (AP) ― Arsenal’s poor start to the English season worsened Saturday with a 4-3 loss to Blackburn despite leading twice in the first half. Elsewhere in the Premier League, all three promoted clubs won on the same day for the first time since February 2007.

Ayegbeni Yakubu scored twice in his debut and Arsenal’s hapless defense allowed two own-goals in Blackburn’s first victory of the season. Arsenal has just four points from five games, with one of its losses an 8-2 rout at first-place Manchester United.

“It is terrible, it is just not good enough,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “Of course, we are very frustrated. The spirit in the team is quite willing but, if you look at the number of goals we have conceded, that is not good enough.”

Welsh club Swansea scored its first goals as a Premier League club in beating West Bromwich Albion 3-0, while fellow newcomer Queens Park Rangers won 3-0 victory at Wolverhampton. Norwich completed the trio of wins for the promoted clubs, with Anthony Pilkington and Bradley Johnson getting first-half goals in a 2-1 win at Bolton.

In other matches, Newcastle recovered to draw 1-1 at Aston Villa to preserve both teams’ unbeaten starts. Everton scored two late goals to beat Wigan 3-1. United plays Chelsea on Sunday.
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (right) celebrates his goal with teammate Francesc Fabregas. (AP-Yonhap News) Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (right) celebrates his goal with teammate Francesc Fabregas. (AP-Yonhap News)

Spain

Lionel Messi scored a hat trick and set up two more goals as Barcelona rebounded from two straight draws with an 8-0 rout of Osasuna in the Spanish league.

Barcelona was up 5-0 by halftime on two goals by Messi, goals by Cesc Fabregas and David Villa and an own-goal by Osasuna defender Roversio.

Messi is tied with Valencia’s Roberto Soldado as the league’s leading scorer with five goals each ― one more than Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

Elsewhere, Soldado gave first-place Valencia a 1-0 win at Sporting Gijon, and promoted side Granada beat Villarreal 1-0 for its first win in Spain’s first division in 35 years.

Malaga edged Mallorca 1-0, and Sevilla downed Real Sociedad 1-0.

Madrid and Real Betis can draw even with Valencia with wins on Sunday.

Italy

Inter Milan and Roma did little to relieve the pressure on their coaches with a 0-0 draw. Both teams remained winless this season, and time could be running out for Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini and Roma counterpart Luis Enrique.

Inter was booed off the field at the San Siro after a game where both sides produced numerous chances, but also appeared disorganized at times.

Cagliari took the early lead in Serie A with a 2-1 win over newly promoted Novara. Thiago Ribeiro gave Cagliari the lead with a header in the 38th minute and Joaquin Larrivey doubled the lead in the 86th with a deflection off a shot from Daniele Conti. Takayuki Morimoto scored for Novara in the 88th with a lob from outside the penalty area.

Having opened with a 2-1 win at Roma last weekend, Cagliari has a maximum six points. Novara, back in the top division for the first time in 55 years, has one point.

On Sunday, defending champion AC Milan visits Napoli, and Juventus looks to maintain its strong start at Siena.

Germany

Lukas Podolski scored two goals and set up another, leading Cologne to a 4-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

Podolski assisted on Milivoje Novakovic’s goal in the 44th minute before adding his own in the 47th and 54th. Simon Rolfes cut the lead in the 70th.

Leverkusen striker Andre Schuerrle was sent off in injury time, before Mato Jajalo completed the scoring with Podolski again instrumental.

Igor de Camargo scored in the 66th minute for Borussia Moenchengladbach in a 1-0 win at last-place Hamburger SV.

Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese was sent off in a 1-1 draw at Nuremberg, and Wolfsburg also had a keeper sent off in a 3-1 loss at Hoffenheim. Hertha Berlin drew 2-2 with Augsburg and Kaiserslautern rallied to beat Mainz 3-1.

France

Montpellier squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Brest, missing an opportunity to build its lead in the French league.

Santiago Gentiletti tied the score in the 88th minute with a header for Brest, which had trailed 2-0 at halftime.

Montpellier took the lead in the 19th minute when Brest goalkeeper Steeve Elana parried a free kick from Marco Estrada, but Olivier Giroud followed up with a score. Giroud doubled the lead in the 41st by heading in a cross from Henri Bedimo, before Eden Ben Basat pulled a goal back for Brest in the 70th.

The draw allowed Toulouse to draw level on points with Montpellier by rallying from two goals down to beat Bordeaux 3-2 with an injury-time winner.

Scotland

Motherwell lost 3-0 at home to St. Johnstone, missing a chance to close the gap at the top the Scottish Premier League standings. Hearts remained unbeaten in its last six games with a 2-0 win over St. Mirren.

An own-goal by Tim Clancy put St. Johstone ahead in the 20th minute.