Premier League - Arsenal ease Birmingham aside

Eurosport - Sat, 17 Oct 17:00:00 2009

Goals from Robin van Persie, Abou Diaby and Andrei Arshavin handed Arsenal a 3-1 Premier League win over Birmingham at the Emirates.

Arsenal's Robin Van Persie celebrates after scoring against Birmingham, REUTERS - 0

Lee Bowyer was on target for the visitors, who battled gamely but were given the run-around by Arsenal.

It was a dominant performance by Arsene Wenger's side, although Birmingham at times looked dangerous on the break, and Theo Walcott's return was blighted by a knock that forced him off during the first half.

Arsenal bossed possession and fully deserved the two goals they scored in as many first-half minutes.

Just after the quarter-hour mark and following incessant pressure, Alexandre Song slipped the ball to Van Persie on the left-hand side of the Blues' penalty area.

The Dutchman took Stephen Carr out of the equation with a delightful drag-back before firing a low drive across Joe Hart into the far corner.

It was a superb piece of skill and an incisive finish to which Diaby added almost from kick-off when he put the ball into the top right from close range after Tomas Rosicky's drag-back wreaked havoc in the Birmingham box.

Arsenal were camped in their guests' half but Birmingham's policy to sit deep and look for the counter eventually started to reap dividends.

Just before the half hour, James McFadden won a free-kick on the edge of the box, and Sebastian Larsson's dipping effort forced Vito Mannone to parry.

They got an equaliser when, on 38 minutes, Bowyer rifled the ball home after Mannone failed to claim an aerial ball, but there was more than a shadow of controversy as Larsson collided with the flapping Italian keeper.

Walcott's return to the first team was short-lived, as he was forced off after failing to shrug off a knock picked up in a challenge with Liam Ridgewell, while replacement Arshavin was bright on his introduction, forcing a smart stop from Hart with a low drive.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with the hosts dominating territory and possession but Birmingham occasionally threatening on the break.

Arshavin was guilty of a poor miss from close range but raised a smile when referee Lee Probert noticed a late flag, while a catalogue of errors following Larsson's back-pass almost saw the ball rebound off Cesc Fabregas into the net.

Arsenal came close to extending their lead after, following another Larsson back-pass, Hart picked the ball up: Van Persie rifled the close-range, indirect free-kick off the bar.

Defender Thomas Vermaelen almost made it a remarkable five goals in eight Premier League games but his header from Van Persie's corner was blocked by Hart.

Birmingham were denied a shock equaliser when, with 10 minutes left, Mannone's quick thinking denied Garry O'Connor and Gary McSheffrey on the line after a first-time ball from makeshift full-back Ridgewell left the home defence flat-footed.

Arsenal sealed the win soon afterwards when, with six minutes remaining, the visiting defence backed off Arshavin, who needed no invitation to pass the ball into the bottom right from just inside the penalty area.

They came close to a fourth, with a brilliant, point-blank stop by Hart foiling Diaby from close range, while Van Persie was denied a second when Hart parried his injury-time shot.

The win means that Arsenal have now scored more than three goals a game, with 27 in eight league matches comfortably ahead of Liverpool's 22.

Birmingham stay in the bottom half, above the relegation zone only on goal difference.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 55 - 74 of 74

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  1. congolese champions tp mazembe to meet nigeria's­ heartland fc in caf champions league final! visit­ africaplays.come for more

    From Second S, on Sun 18 Oct 7:07PM

  2. You never get Liverpool or Arsenal or Spurs or any­ other premier club makng excuses, only Man United.

    From Phillip S, on Sun 18 Oct 1:11PM

  3. You never get Liverpool or Arsenal or Spurs or any­ other premier club makng excuses, only Man United.

    From Phillip S, on Sun 18 Oct 1:11PM

  4. To Dave, maybe the english players are like the english­ workers, too lazy to get up and do the job, just­ complain moan and groan, if it takes foregners to­ produce the good's then that's the way to go.

    From Phillip S, on Sun 18 Oct 1:07PM

  5. To Nothingman, be very carefull, guy's like you­ must look honestly at all yor games since 92, every­ game you were supposed to loose and were given anything­ upto 7minutes extra time to win which was never­ justified and all the penelties that were given that­ never were penelties and the diving and the ref turning­ a blind eye instead of red and yellow card's then­ the truth would show man united would have one 2 maybe­ 3 trophies, typical man united supporters.

    From Phillip S, on Sun 18 Oct 1:03PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    well done man utd.

    From AVINASH G, on Sun 18 Oct 6:51AM

  7. Such a good goal from Arshavin...
    Congratulation­ Arshavin...

    From Irfan, on Sun 18 Oct 6:36AM

  8. Did ARS deserved the win?
    Yes(thumbs up)
    No(thumbs­­ down)

    From Wt, on Sun 18 Oct 6:36AM

  9. keep scoring gunners...make your fan proud..To our­ lovely Wenger no matter what happen after this i just­ want to say your fan always at your back side..

    From khairil, on Sun 18 Oct 5:17AM

  10. arsenal fully deserve to win.they play well entire­ game.gooners can score more than 3

    From ulat_simple, on Sun 18 Oct 5:16AM

  11. "Half A Brain" you brainless @#$% go write­ @#$% on your man utd posts you little punk

    From a, on Sun 18 Oct 5:03AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    "chima, what are you talking about? Arsenal did­ not win­ anything for 4 years and counting. You lost to­ every­ Top team you played this season, and this game­ was­ against a newly promoted struggling team. Scoring­ many­ goals does not win you a thing, winning games­ does, and­ Arsenal is far from doing that on a regular­ basis."

    And I see you here day in day out saying­ that winning against small clubs doesnt count! Well­ what does count to you? Oh the goal difference doesnt­ matter neither? Well what does?

    From NothingMan, on Sun 18 Oct 3:26AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ARSENAL FOREIGNERS UTD,WITHOUT THESE YOU LIKE MAN UTD­ AND CHELSEA,LIVERPOOL WOULD STRUGGLE.

    From DAVE, on Sun 18 Oct 12:28AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    BREAKING NEWS, Police in Sunderland have confirmed that­ they have arrested liverpool manager Rafa Benitez on­ assult charges, In a brief statement they confirmed­ that after the defeat earlier today a fan confronted Mr­ Benitez as he was leaving the Stadium of Light, The fan­ was seen by witnesses to be laughing at the liverpool­ Manager when suddenly he was attacked and beaten to the­ floor by the crazy enraged manager, also in the­ statement police said that the 7year old boy who was­ the victim was in a stable condition. Mr Benitez lawyer­ confirmed that when the case goes to trial on Monday­ they will be pleading insanity after all the Jury only­ has to be showen highlights of liverpools games this­ season to aquit on grounds of insanity.

    From I am top gear stig, on Sat 17 Oct 11:00PM

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    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Sat 17 Oct 9:41PM

  16. not surprised about man u biscuit fans taking their­ frustration on an other team,they knew was always­ better than theirs long life sir arsene wenger

    From khalidallaoui, on Sat 17 Oct 8:58PM

  17. 3/1 could and should have been 7/8 /9 there goal was a­ foul on the goal keeper if that goal had happend at­ old trafford god reffere not fit needs classes well­ done arsenal you make me very proud long live wenger­ good team performance i still would like a holding­ midfeilder and a out and out centrforward gunners for­ ever

    From holton211, on Sat 17 Oct 8:56PM

  18. 3/1 could and should have been 7/8 /9 there goal was a­ foul on the goal keeper if that goal had happend at­ old trafford god reffere not fit needs classes well­ done arsenal you make me very proud long live wenger­ good team performance i still would like a holding­ midfeilder and a out and out centrforward gunners for­ ever

    From holton211, on Sat 17 Oct 8:56PM

  19. 3/1 could and should have been 7/8 /9 there goal was a­ foul on the goal keeper if that goal had happend at­ old trafford god reffere not fit needs classes well­ done arsenal you make me very proud long live wenger­ good team performance i still would like a holding­ midfeilder and a out and out centrforward gunners for­ ever

    From holton211, on Sat 17 Oct 8:56PM

  20. 3/1 could and should have been 7/8 /9 there goal was a­ foul on the goal keeper if that goal had happend at­ old trafford god reffere not fit needs classes well­ done arsenal you make me very proud long live wenger­ good team performance i still would like a holding­ midfeilder and a out and out centrforward gunners for­ ever

    From holton211, on Sat 17 Oct 8:55PM
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