Portsmouth 1 Arsenal 4: Eduardo's stroke of luck sparks top Gunners

31 December 2009 00:58
Arsenal's pretty patterns and beautiful football could not prevent the mood turning ugly at Fratton Park. If anything, they made it worse.[LNB]Arsene Wenger's team eased closer to the top of the Premier League with another stylish display as home fans gave in to their anger on a day when the club's prospects darkened.[LNB]After news that HM Revenue and Customs had opened winding-up proceedings against Portsmouth, it was too much to take as the goals flew in from Eduardo, Samir Nasri, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Song.[LNB] Enlarge Knee and easy: Eduardo's free-kick cannons off Younes Kaboul as a moment of fortune sets up Arsenal for another convincing victory [LNB]Arsenal moved within four points of leaders Chelsea with a game inhand but Portsmouth are bottom, four points adrift, with four playersoff to the Africa Cup of Nations and a fire sale set for next month.[LNB]Add to that the staggering debts, a crippling wage bill andboardroom confusion, and it was no surprise patience finally snappedamong those in the stands who have watched the saga unfold.[LNB]They went through a catalogue of chants. 'Sack the board', 'Where'sall our money gone?', 'You're not fit to run a club', 'What the **** isgoing on?' and others.[LNB]When captain Aaron Mokoena fouled Ramsey to collect the first booking of the night, Pompey fans called for him to be sent off.[LNB]When he was substituted, they cheered. When the final whistle went, they had no energy left to boo. They simply turned and left.[LNB][LNB]Welsh wonder: Aaron Ramsey hit Arsenal's third[LNB]'I know there are problems off the pitch but I cannot say anything,'said manager Avram Grant. 'I have sympathy for the fans. I never heardthem saying anything. I am focused on the game. The board are tryingtheir best, as far as I know. I still hope to have funds available inJanuary.[LNB]'Even though it is a difficult situation, the team can stay in thePremier League. I know what this team needs to stay in the League and Iknow we can do it.'[LNB]By fluke, Portsmouth ran into a team with the youthful exuberanceand form to suggest 2010 could be a very exciting year, boosted by newsthat captain Cesc Fabregas ought to be back sooner than first fearedafter tweaking a hamstring in Sunday's win against Aston Villa.[LNB]'It looks like he will be out for 10 or 12 days,' said Wenger.[LNB]That would rule Fabregas out of games against West Ham, in the FACup, and Bolton in the Premier League, but gives him a chance to returnagainst Everton. Theo Walcott,missing with a side strain last night, is on a similar time scale.[LNB][LNB] At the double: Samir Nasri smashes home the Gunners' second[LNB]Arsenal have not been beaten by Portsmouth for more than half acentury but the home team started positively. Kevin-Prince Boatengcharged into space behind Arsenal left back Armand Traore and testedManuel Almunia with a fierce drive.[LNB]Boateng is one of those Pompey hope will command interest in thetransfer market after an impressive four months since his £4.5millionmove from Tottenham, but he came off injured in the second half. Bythen, Arsenal were in control.[LNB]Asmir Begovic made a good save from Abou Diaby but could do littleto stop the opener. Eduardo's free-kick, awarded after a foul byMokoena on Ramsey, did not seem dangerous until it took a meatydeflection off Younes Kaboul's knee and evaded Hermann Hreidarsson onthe post.[LNB]Kaboul is another earmarked for a transfer, with Manchester Cityamong those interested. He came off the pitch laughing with Arsenal'sDiaby, a former team-mate at Auxerre. He did not look like a manconcerned by the future.[LNB] Combative: Alex Song - who scored Arsenal's fourth - tangles with Kevin-Prince Boateng of [LNB]Arsenal's second, just before half-time, was the perfectillustration of the speed and precision with which they move the ballat their best. Song clipped a pass to Eduardo, who dummied to shootbefore sliding a pass to Ramsey, again proving a quality replacementfor Fabregas.[LNB]Ramsey took control instantly and had the awareness to poke the ballsquare before he was engulfed by defenders. His pass was straight intoNasri's path and he coolly arrowed the ball first time into the bottomcorner.[LNB]The early defiance of the home team had vanished and discontent grew in the stands.Nadir Belhadj went close after the break and Almunia saved a low shotfrom Hassan Yebda, but the Gunners threatened to extend their leadevery time they attacked and Ramsey scored the third to cap hiswonderful display.[LNB] Battle: Tal Ben Haim tussles with Gunners youngster Ramsey[LNB]Taking the ball from Yebda in midfield, he accelerated, jinked pasta feeble challenge from Frederic Piquionne and swept in a left-footedshot from the edge of the box. It was Arsenal's 50th Premier Leaguegoal of the season.[LNB]'We have problems with our strikers, it's true,' said Wenger.'Everybody tells me to buy strikers, but nobody has scored more goalsthan us in the League. We have players who move the ball well andeverybody gets in dangerous positions. With the confidence high,everyone can score goals. But we are still in the market.'[LNB]Belhadj pulled one back before Song completed the scoring with apowerful header from a Nasri cross and Wenger sent on 19-year-old CraigEastmond for his league debut. For Pompey, a year from hell is about toend but the future does not look much brighter.[LNB][LNB] PREMIER LEAGUE: All Wednesday's action as it happenedYou're not fit to wear the Arsenal shirt: Arsene Wenger's Anfield attack turned our season around, says Samir Nasri ARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail