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Arsenal hold on comfortably for a crucial three points against an unlucky 10-man Birmingham who looked like they were going to snatch a point thanks to the world class saves of Maik Taylor.
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce throws Mikael Forssell into the action for the final few minutes in place of Jamie Clapham.
Mathieu Flamini is brought on in place of Fredrik Ljungberg.
A mistake by Sol Campbell lets in Jermaine Pennant but he is denied by Kolo Toure's sliding challenge and from the corner Olivier Tebily's header is not give because the flag-kick had gone out of play.
Arsenal finally get the goal they have been searching for as Robin van Persie's effort from outside the area deflects off Stephen Clemence and past Maik Taylor.
Stephen Clemence gets the game's first yellow card for impeding Jens Lehmann as he bids to take a quick goal kick.
Jermaine Pennant puts in an inswinging free-kick which Matthew Upson heads over the top.
Gilberto Silva is fortunate to escape a booking when he clatters former Arsenal man Jermaine Pennant in the middle of the park.
Maik Taylor is forced to hurry his clearance as Dennis Bergkamp bears down on him but the Birmingham keeper gets the ball away in time.
Arsenal are keeping hold of the ball very well playing passes around the edge of the Birmingham area but they just can't seem to make a killer pass.
Robin van Persie is brought on in place of Robert Pires as Arsenal step up their bid for a crucial opening goal.
Arsenal feel they should have another penalty when Jermaine Pennant appears to bring down Robert Pires on the edge of the area by the referee waves play on.
As Birmingham look to have taken the sting out of Arsenal Jose Antonio Reyes breaks free in the penalty area only to be yet again denied by Maik Taylor.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is going all out to get a goal by bringing Dennis Bergkamp on in place of Aleksandr Hleb.
Birmingham break at the Arsenal goal with Jermaine Pennant playing in Emile Heskey but the big striker loses his footing at the decisive moment and his weal shot is easily saved by Jens Lehmann.
Stan Lazaridis is introduced into the action in place of Walter Pandiani and Steve Bruce bids to tighten things up in midfield.
Maik Taylor is again the hero for Birmingham as he tips Robert Pires' close range effort onto the post.
The free-kick is cleared and Arsenal break quickly with Jose Antonio Reyes who puts the ball into the path of Fredrik Ljungberg but he is denied by another world class Maik Taylor save.
Birmingham launch a rare attack with Jermaine Pennant winning a free-kick in a dangerous area after he was fouled by Robert Pires.
Arsenal are straight on the attack through Jose Antonio Reyes and when the Birmingham only clear his ball into the area to the edge of the box Cesc Fabregas hits a shot just wide.
Birmingham get the second half up and running as they will look to try and get something from the game despite being a man down.
Arsenal fail to get a breakthrough after dominating since Kenny Cunningham's red card with Maik Taylor in great form for Birmingham saving several attempts on goal including Robert Pires' penalty.
Birmingham appear to weathered the storm as they look to get to half-time without conceding a goal.
Fredrik Ljungberg attempts a free-kick after Aleksandr Hleb was foule don the edge of the Birmingham but he blasts his shot well over the bar.
Jose Antonio Reyes pokes a shot goalwards inside the area but this time Olivier Tebily is on hand to deflect the ball away from danger.
Jose Antonio Reyes again gets a shot away on goal but once again Maik Taylor is equal to the task.
A great ball from Cesc Fabregas finds Jose Antonio Reyes on he left side of the area and his powerul shot from a tight angle is pushed away by Maik Taylor.
Jose Antonio Reyes picks up a corner on the edge of the Birmingham area but can only direct his shot over the bar.
Ashley Cole puts a ball right across the face of goal but Jamie Clapham is on hand to knock it out of play for a corner which comes to nothing.
Olivier Tebily makes a great challenge to prevent Jose Antonio Reyes from working his way into the penalty area.
Arsenal continue to carve open the 10 men of Birmingham with Jose Antonio Reyes' cross across the penalty area hacked clear by the Blues defence.
Fredrik Ljungberg again at the centre of things as Damien Johnson is guilty of fouling him in the area to give away a spot-kick but Maik Taylor saves Robert Pires' kick down to his right hand side.
Maik Taylor makes a brilliant save to tip Jose Antonio Reyes' resultant free-kick over the bar as it headed towards the top corner of the net.
The game finally bursts into life as Kenny Cunningham is sent off for bringing down Fredrik Ljungberg on the edge of the area as he races clear on goal.
Several niggly fouls have broken up the pattern of play with Birmingham duo Jamie Clapham and Walter Pandiani guilty of offences.
The game has turned a little flat with neither side seemingly able to get past the opposition's midfield.
The tempo has slowed down a little in the past few minutes after a bright start especially by the visitors.
Arsenal threaten with some intricate passing play but Kenny Cunningham is on hand to clear the danger from the Birmingham penalty area.
Birmingham attack again with Jermaine Pennant and Julian Gray both getting dangerous balls into the area which are just too high for Emile Heskey.
Jose Antonio Reyes threatens to burst clear on goal but Matthew Upson gets back well to make another good challenge.
A lively start to proceedings at Highbury with both sides willing to attack when the chance arises.
Birmingham respond immediately at the other end with Emile Heskey beating Jens Lehmann but not Ashley Cole who boots his effort off the line.
A crucial tackle by Stephen Clemence prevents Fredrik Ljungberg getting his shot in on goal which would have almost certainly put Arsenal ahead.
Arsenal get the game underway at Highbury against Birmingham.
Substitute Robin van Persie's deflected 81st-minute shot finally broke Birmingham's brave resistance and earned Arsenal their 11th successive home Premiership victory. Van Persie's 30-yard effort hit Stephen Clemence and left heroic goalkeeper Maik Taylor stranded. Taylor's brilliant saves had defied Arsenal for almost an hour, after Birmingham skipper Kenny Cunningham was sent off in the 24th minute for a professional foul on Freddie Ljungberg. The keeper even saved a Robert Pires penalty. Victory keeps Arsenal in contact with the top teams, but defeat leaves Birmingham uncomfortably close to the relegation zone having won only six points from eight matches. However, the Gunners were mighty relieved to collect three points. Jens Lehmann returned in goal for Arsenal after suspension and Gilberto Silva passed a fitness test on an ankle knock to replace Mathieu Flamini. Dennis Bergkamp began on the bench, so Ljungberg started in the forward role he played in the Gunners' 2-1 Champions League win over Ajax. Birmingham's squad was ravaged by injuries, and suspensions for Nicky Butt and Neil Kilkenny. Manager Steve Bruce had only 14 fit senior players to choose from. Sixteen-year-old Sone Aluko was named among the substitutes after making just two reserve appearances. Walter Pandiani and Emile Heskey started in attack in a 4-4-2 formation. Heskey later fought a lonely duel with Sol Campbell - in front of watching England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, after Cunningham's dismissal. Both teams survived early scares. Clemence made a second-minute challenge to stop Ljungberg as he prepared to shoot after a neat one-two with Jose Antonio eyes. A minute later, Ashley Cole cleared off the line from Heskey with Lehmann beaten after Pandiani's pass had played the striker through. Arsenal struggled for fluency in midfield and too often they uncharacteristically gave the ball away. Aleksandr Hleb was a particular offender. The game turned on Cunningham's 24th-minute dismissal. Gilberto's throughball freed Ljungberg and Cunningham, the last defender, brought him down and referee Chris Foy immediately showed him the red card. Taylor then made a flying save from Reyes' swerving free-kick - the first of many. Two minutes later, Damien Johnson brought down Ljungberg inside the box and Foy pointed to the penalty spot. Taylor beat out Pires' weak kick and the Frenchman hit the rebound into the side-netting. Reyes blasted over the bar, Taylor palmed away another Reyes strike and then dived low to thwart the Spaniard. Cesc Fabregas headed straight at the keeper as Birmingham somehow survived until the interval. Fabregas opened the second half with a shot that flew inches wide, after Pires seized on Johnson's error. Taylor denied Arsenal again, with a brilliant save from Ljungberg's blast after a lightning counter-attack led by Reyes. He pulled off an even better stop in the 54th minute, tipping Pires' shot onto a post after Fabregas had split the Birmingham defence. But City almost scored in a 59th-minute breakaway when Heskey, falling backwards, scooped Jermaine Pennant's pass at Lehmann. Arsenal's anxiety grew. Bergkamp replaced Hleb after an hour and Ljungberg returned to the right flank. Taylor saved again from Reyes and Arsene Wenger sent on van Persie as Arsenal tried desperately to beat Taylor. Jamie Clapham was lucky not to concede a spot kick after taking out Reyes while at the other end, Matthew Upson flashed a header over from a free-kick. Then van Persie's 81st-minute effort broke the deadlock. He picked up a weak clearance and hit a low shot through a crowd of bodies. The ball struck Clemence and deceived Taylor who could not readjust in time. Kolo Toure robbed Pennant in the dying minutes to preserve Arsenal's lead. Olivier Tebily headed the corner past Lehmann but an assistant had signalled that the ball had already gone out of play. That seemed to sum up Birmingham's afternoon.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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