Arsenal 3 - 1 Portsmouth

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Sunday Sep 02 2007 01:30

Ten-man Arsenal continued their climb up the Premiership table with a 3-1 win over Portsmouth, despite having Philippe Senderos sent off early in the second half.

Goals from Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky were enough to seal the points, with Kanu's cheeky goal for the visitors being a mere consolation.

The Gunners got off to a perfect start when after just eight minutes Adebayor sent David James the wrong way from the penalty spot after the keeper had hauled down Robin Van Persie.

The early goal opened the game up, with both sides going on the offensive. Manuel Almunia got down well to save from former Gunner Lauren on the half hour.

The Gunners could have gone 2-0 up a minute later had it not been for James diving bravely at the feet of Adebayor to prevent to striker from connecting with Fabregas' cross from the right.

Just seconds later, the Spanish midfielder was also denied by the Pompey keeper after he gathered the midfielder's 25-yard drive at the second attempt.

Fabregas did however put the Gunners further in front on 35 minutes when Rosicky's corner was headed on to the Spaniard by Gilberto. Fabregas, two yards out in a crowded penalty area, turned sharply to fire past James into the bottom left corner of the net.

Just two minutes after the re-start, James was on hand to make a fine save from a close-range Senderos header to stop the Gunners adding another.

That was the Arsenal defender's last contribution however as he was red-carded by referee Mark Halsey after bringing down Kanu on the edge of the Gunners area.

The resultant free-kick was palmed away by Almunia but only as far as Matt Taylor, who shot high over the bar from close range.

Ten-man Arsenal re-affirmed their advantage in sensational fashion in the 59th minute when a free-kick on the Portsmouth by-line was passed short by Fabregas to an unmarked Rosicky on the left edge of the penalty area.

The Czech midfielder hit a low drive through a crowd and past James to make it 3-0.

Pompey's response was swift. They reduced the arrears within a minute. John Utaka sped down the right flank to send over a cross that Kanu somehow back-heeled past Almunia.

Substitute Abou Diaby missed a golden opportunity to put the match well beyond the visitors on 72 minutes when he somehow headed Gael Clichy's cross from the left wide of the goal when from just three yards out.

Almunia showed his athleticism to parry a well hit 25-yard drive from Glen Johnson and got down well ten minutes later to stop Utakas's low shot.

Arsenal captain Kolo Toure received an appreciative hug from his keeper when he threw himself in front of a David Nugent shot to divert the ball away for a corner with just four minutes of normal time left on the clock.

The Gunners kept possession well for the remainder of the game to deservedly claimed all three points.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    A deserved and impressive victory for the Gunners, while Portsmouth now look forward to facing Liverpool after the international break.
  • 89
    Diaby almost adds another with a stunning 25-yard strike, which whistles just inches over the top of the bar.
  • 88
    It's been an impressive display from Arsenal, especially since going down to ten men and they maintain their unbeaten record.
  • 86
    Pompey almost set up a granstand finish, but Toure does brilliantly to deflect Nugent's goalbound effort over the bar.
  • 84
    Mendes is the latest to have a crack from outside the area but although his shot is well struck, it's straight at Almunia.
  • 83
    Despite having plenty of possession in the final third, Pompey look like a team that don't believe they can get anything now.
  • 81
    Muntari slips a quick free-kick into Utaka, the striker turns and shoots but Almunia gets down well to gather,
  • 79
    The final change for the Gunners as summer signing Eduardo Da Silva replaces Adebayor.
  • 78
    Muntari's cross goes right accross to Taylor, but he wastes the opportunity by firing his cross-cum-shot over the bar.
  • 76
    Denilson sends in a cross from the right and almost finds the other Arsenal sub Diaby, but Johnson gets accross him and Pompey are able to clear.
  • 74
    Johnson strides forward and lets fly from 25 yards and forces a decent save from Almunia. Muntari has another shooting chance and makes a mess of it by miscontrolling the ball.
  • 72
    What a miss, Arsenal should have had a fourth! Clichy swings in a great cross from the left and somehow Diaby sends a header wide from just seven yards out.
  • 70
    Wenger sacrifices one of his forward players, as Van Persie is replaced by midfielder Vassiriki Abou Diaby.
  • 69
    Taylor breaks away down the left hand side and fires in a great ball accross the middle of the penalty area, but no-one can get on the end of it.
  • 67
    Fabgreas is the latest player to go into the book after a high foot in a challenge with Nugent.
  • 64
    Kranjcar collects a Kanu pass and strikes from goal from the angle, but the shot lacks power and Almunia collects.
  • 62
    Another Pompey change as Redknapp looks for more in front of goal, as David Nugent replaces Sean Davis.
  • 61
    Arsene Wenger makes a change and Hleb makes way for Pereira Neves Denilson.
  • 60
    Pompey go straight down the other end and pull a goal back, but it's a fluke from Kanu. Johnson's cross picks out the Nigerian, who hits it off both legs before finding the corner of the net.
  • 59
    Arsenal grab a third and surely that's the three points - A quick free kick is pulled back fro the byline to Rosicky, who fires into the far corner from a the angle.
  • 56
    Utaka floats a great ball over the top for Kanu, but an uncharacteristic bad first touch from the Nigerian allows Arsenal to clear their lines.
  • 54
    The latest caution is handed out to Kanu, as the former arsenal man is adjudged to have fouled Rosicky.
  • 52
    Pompey sense they can get back in this game now after a bright start to the second half.
  • 49
    Utaka takes the resulting free-kick and forces Almunia into a decent save and then Taylor blasts the follow up over the bar.
  • 49
    What a start to the second half as Senderos is sent off by Mark Halsey. The Swiss defender drags Kanu down on the edge of the area.
  • 48
    Van Persie's corner is headed goalward by Senderos, James makes a fine parry and Johnson hacks it off the line at the near post.
  • 47
    Hleb gets away down the left and sends in a deep cross and Taylor has to head behind for an early Arsenal corner.
  • 45
    Portsmouth get the second half underway and they will need to improve greatly to get anything from this game.
  • 45
    Niko Kranjcar is the second half-time change for Pompey, replacing Lauren.
  • 45
    Harry Redknapp is making changes for the second half, the first sees Pedro Mendes replace Hermann Hreidarsson.
  • 45
    Arsenal are in complete control of this game and deserve their two goal advantage, Harry Redknapp needs to find some inspiring words at the break.
  • 44
    Hreidarsson is the first to go into the book after a rash challenge on Hleb.
  • 42
    The Gunners are ripping Pompey apart at times but another break fails due to Adebayor. The striker balloons his cross with two Arsenal players waiting in the middle.
  • 40
    Adebayor twists and turns past two defenders on the left-edge of the penalty area, but his shot is weak and straight at James.
  • 38
    Arsenal break quickly but it's a poor pass from Adebyaor, who overhits the through ball to Rosicky.
  • 35
    It's been coming, arsenal double their lead. A corner eventually drops to Fabregas six yards out and the Spaniard turns and shoots home from close range.
  • 34
    Van Persie takes the resulting free-kick, but again the cross is poor and goes straight into James' arms.
  • 33
    Van Persie tries to break down the right and gets away from Distin, only for the Pompey defender to barge him over.
  • 31
    Toure takes a run like a fast bowler for a 30-yard free kick and, predictably, he smashes it straight into the wall!
  • 29
    Clichy is seeing plenty of the ball down the Arsenal left, but this time the youngster's cross is too near to James.
  • 27
    Fabregas and Hleb try to work a one-two on the edge of the Pompey box and it almost pays off. The Gunners look more likely to add to the scoreline at the moment.
  • 25
    Another corner for the home side - Van Persie swings in a dangerous cross but James does well to punch clear under major pressure.
  • 22
    Fabregas and Sulley Muntari slide in for a 50-50 and it's the Portsmouth man who comes off worse, but he shakes himself off and gets on with it.
  • 20
    Taylor breaks the Arsenal offside trap but his cross from the left is too close to Almunia, who gathers it in the six yard box.
  • 17
    Although Arsenal are on top, Portsmouth look lively on the break on rare occasions.
  • 15
    Cesc Fabregas has his first effort of the game, letting fly from 30-yards but it's gathered comfortably by James.
  • 13
    How have Arsenal not scored a second - Flamini puts a ball accross the box and Adebayor misses the ball on the edge of the six yard box.
  • 11
    Clichy is having some joy down the left and a weaving run is eventually halted by Johnson just inside the Pompey box.
  • 9
    Arsenal are threatening another goal and Adebayor breaks into the area but his shot is wayward and slices accross the area.
  • 7
    Emmanuel Adebayor sends James the wrong way from the spot and bags his first goal of the season.
  • 7
    Gael Clichy threads a great through ball for Robin van Persie, James rushes out and brings down the Dutchman and the ref has no choice.
  • 5
    Pompey have kept the ball well in the last couple of minutes, Taylor's cross picks out Lauren but his 15-yard header loops over the bar.
  • 3
    Matthew Taylor swings in a corner from the right for Pompey and although Hreidarsson claims a foul after going down in the area, referee Mark Halsey correctly waves away the appeals.
  • 1
    Alex Hleb swings a cross into the area and under pressure, Hermann Hreidarsson does well to chest the ball back to David James.
  • 0
    Arsenal get us underway and look to attack straight away with Tomas Rosicky down the left.
  • 0
    New signing Glen Johnson is named in the starting line-up for the visitors, while Harry Redknapp brings former Arsenal man Etame Mayer Lauren in for the departed Gary O'Neil.
  • 0
    Jens Lehmann is still missing so Manuel Almunia starts between the post for the Gunners, while Philippe Senderos has recovered from an ankle injury.

Statistics

Arsenal
Shots on target 9
Shots off target 2
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 6
Offsides 1
Corners 8

Portsmouth
Shots on target 10
Shots off target 5
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 12
Offsides 3
Corners 5

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