Premier League - Arsenal kids humble Pompey

Eurosport - Sun, 03 May 06:02:00 2009

Nicklas Bendtner bagged a brace as Arsenal's second string beat 10-man Portsmouth 3-0 at Fratton Park to strengthen the Gunners' grip on fourth place in the Premier League.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Portsmouth-Arsenal Nicklas Bendtner (2nd right) celebrates with his team mates after he scores the first goal of the game - 0

The Dane scored twice in the first half before young Mexican Carlos Vela added a third and Pompey had Noe Pamarot sent off for a professional foul.

The result sent Arsenal 13 points clear of fifth placed Aston Villa, who play Hull City on Monday.

Defeat for Pompey saw Paul Hart's side stay in 14th, seven points above the drop zone, but still close enough to continue feeling the heat with three games remaining.

Pre-match, Arsene Wenger had said he wanted to give several players a breather with one eye on Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester United.

At the same time the Gunners boss had admitted he did not want to compromise the result and that putting daylight between his side and Villa was imperative.

But such is the wealth of young talent Wenger has available to him, he was able to fulfil both wishes as he made sweeping changes to the side that lost 1-0 at Old Trafford during the week, while at the same time watching their replacements cruise to victory.

Out went the likes of Manuel Almunia, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor and in came Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Ramsey, Vela and Bendtner.

Andrei Arshavin - cup-tied for the United clash - and Theo Walcott also started, but Wenger's side was for the most part a reserve XI.

There was an element of fortune to Arsenal's first two goals.

Bendtner opened the scoring on 13 minutes, heading home from Arshavin's cross, but the ball only found the back of the net thanks to yet another howler from David James.

England's number one looked a safe bet to make what should have been a routine save, only to let the ball slip through his fingers when it most mattered. It was a classic James moment, and another he will want to forget in a hurry.

Vela had a chance to add a second - only Herman Hreidarsson's excellent saving tackle denied the Mexican - before the Gunners did manage to double their advantage on 39 minutes.

Again, the goal arrived under fortuitous circumstances, after referee Lee Mason adjudged Sean Davis to have brought down Arshavin in the penalty area. Replays showed the Pompey midfielder to have played the ball before Arshavin fell over his leg.

Bendtner stepped up to net his second of the day, despite James having guessed the right way.

Hart made two changes at half-time, bringing on Kanu and John Utaka for Hredarsson and Jermaine Pennant, and the double switch initially seemed to work as Pompey pushed for a goal that would get them back into the game.

Utaka, Peter Crouch and then Kanu all had decent chances to find the back of the net but the hosts were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal when Vela netted Arsenal's third on 56 minutes.

It has been a difficult few days for the Mexican, who was asked to stay away from training earlier in the week amid fears over swine flu, but the striker put all that behind him as he found the bottom corner with a crisp low drive.

Vela nearly had a another soon after - James showing another side to his game with a brilliant stop - as Pompey's resistance evaporated.

Pamarot's 78th minute sending off, for a tug on Arshavin as the Russian threatened to break through on goal, sealed Pompey's fate although Crouch, Utaka and Sylvain Distin all had good chances to register a consolation goal at full-time approached.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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  1. Arsenal kids needed a penalty when it wasn't and a­ ten men opposition to win. MU kids had a genuine­ penalty turned down against an 11 men Everton team to­ lose on penalties after extra time. I do however admit­ both sets of kids are good and the future should be­ interesting.

    From CHANDRA S, on Mon 4 May 9:32PM

  2. What all these @#$% about young gunners? Wen dey loose­ its due 2 inexperince,wen dey win wondaful pampers­ wearing boys.Its an illusion for Arsenal fans 2 keep­ thinkin dat they have a team dat'll rule the world­ fball,for the past six seasons nothing 2 show for it. A­ good club with man-enof executives wuld have looked­ Wenger in dat his duck like face and throw him­ out.U'r no where near the EPL trohpy,FA Cup,even­ champions league..get a grip pple wake up,buy gud­ players..Real,Milan,Lpool,Barca,Bayarn,ManU..didnt make­ history buy assembling some kindagatons!
    Tony(Muscat­ Oman)

    From anthony, on Mon 4 May 4:18PM

  3. these arsenal kids are good. they will blosom in the­ future. wenger, you are good. arsenal will see off­ man.u 2-0 on tuesday. match on like soldiers to the­ finals arsenal.we fans in GHANA are solidly behind you.

    From kofiyeboah, on Mon 4 May 4:02PM

  4. Peter S //// SHUT UP YOU GUTLESS INBRED, GO PLAY WITH­ YER KIDS YOU KN0BHEAD FILTHY TRAMP N0N5E...............

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Mon 4 May 3:51AM

  5. Peter S ////

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Mon 4 May 3:49AM

  6. Peter S ////

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Mon 4 May 3:49AM

  7. Billy, you blinkered view of the game is a little­ unfair on Pompey. "Pompey couldn't get­­ anywhere near them" - what, apart from the three­ or four good chances they had in the second half. I­ admit Arsenal deserved to win, but it was not quite as­ clear cut as you suggest. The first goal was a classic­ James moment, the second NOT a penalty; only the third­ goal had merit.

    From Peter S, on Mon 4 May 12:46AM

  8. Hey, ROCK & ROLL, what is the name 'ROCK &­ ROLL' if not "TRYING TO ADVERTISE THEY ARE A­ BIG HARD MAN­ IN THEIR POST NAME" and "STINKS­ OF IMMATURITY". You are a disgusting little pr*ck­ and deserving of all the insults and ridicule aimed at­ you.

    From Peter S, on Mon 4 May 12:29AM

  9. It was exactly like the game against Boro. No offence­ to Middlesborough or Portsmouth , but Arsenal made it­ look like a training game. Pompey couldn't get­ anywhere near them, even Denilson was taking the mick­ doing tricks. It was a great display from young Ramsey­ too, he showed off his passing range and ability. Vela­ is the nuts, you can see him being something special.­ Im even beginning to like Bendtner!Shock horror.
    A­ Gooner

    From Billy, on Sun 3 May 10:36PM

  10. With Arsenal constantly blooding new players into the­ first team they are getting the right experience so­ when required they can replace existing players.­ Walcott and Gibbs are perfect examples. Man U did it a­ few years ago with Beckham and co and see what it did­ for them.

    Once the man u CL match is over, expect the­ youngsters to appear to gain more valuable­ knowledge.

    It also saves massives amounts of money in­ saving on transfer fees unlike other nort London clubs­ can say.

    From timity, on Sun 3 May 8:04PM

  11. The fabulous youngsters were absolutely brilliant for­ the humble Pompey to match them.
    Vela is a great­ prospect though.

    From Felix, on Sun 3 May 7:05PM

  12. What a brilliant show from the youngsters.I should said­ they could beat MU youngsters in the future.

    From Tham, on Sun 3 May 3:42PM

  13. young gunners were simply majestic in yesterday's­ match against the pompey's.that's the way to go­ gunners.come on gunners.

    From Vish, on Sun 3 May 3:40PM

  14. SAPPERCOMMANDO, I'LL JUST CALL YOU SAP FOR SHORT.­ ANYONE THAT TRIES TO ADVERTISE THEY ARE A BIG HARD MAN­ IN THEIR POST NAME, STINKS OF IMMATURITY. JUST DO YOUR­ JOB THAT YOU ARE PAID FOR AND SHUT IT.

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Sun 3 May 3:11PM

  15. Even though I'm a United fan, I gotta say that­ young Vela looks a lovely prospect.

    From David, on Sun 3 May 2:21PM

  16. ROCK AND ROLL:
    The only way I can react to your comment­ is to mention that you are pathetic, vile, absurd and­ childish. Are you totally incapable of commenting in a­ normal fashion or does abnormality and immaturity run­ in your family. There is an obvious drought in­ education amongst your kind.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 3 May 1:41PM

  17. harryabdu: you need to get a life.....a real life mate.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 3 May 1:28PM

  18. ARSENAL FAKE THE GAME AGAINST MAN U........FERGY RED­ NOSE WILL BE SHOCK TO SEE THE TRUE ARSENAL ON­ TUSDAY.....WENGER PLAYED ALL HIS MIDDLE FIELD OUT OF­ POSITION JUST TO CONTAIN UNFORTUNATLY MAN U WAS SO­ LUCKY TO SCORE.....BUT COME TUSDAY MAN U WILL GET­ PUNICH

    From two2tango, on Sun 3 May 11:11AM

  19. ha ha vela is back in training they had him on the­ transfer list yesterday lol

    just incase he had got the­ swine flu from his mexican friends that visted lol

    From Michael, on Sun 3 May 9:51AM

  20. DONT FORGET BOO AND WHISTLE, EVERY TIME MAN UNTIED?GET­ THE BALL ON TUESDAY.THATS
    WHAT THEY DID TO US.AT ­ O.T (COME ON THE GUNNERS. LETS HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS.)

    From Peter saint george, on Sun 3 May 8:52AM
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