Hughes brings down Vela and luckily for him referee Alan Wiley shows some compassion and doesn't produce a second yellow card for the Portsmouth man.

There will be 4 minutes of added time.

Eastmond is forced to play the ball behind for a Portsmouth corner under pressure from Vanden Borre. The corner finds Vanden Borre at the far post and his effort back across goal is almost turned home by Piquionne.

Arsenal are just looking to keep possession now and see the game out.

Nasri takes the free-kick but it deflects away for a corner to the visitors.

Foul by Kaboul on Ramsey and it's another free-kick for Arsenal in a dangerous area 25 yards from goal.

Rosicky cuts in on his right foot and shoots from 25 yards but it goes just over.

Decent cross from Belhadj towards Vanden Borre. Almunia comes out to collect and drops the first attempt, but gathers at the second.

Arshavin crosses from the left, but it's easily claimed by Begovic in the Portsmouth goal.

Boateng goes down awkwardly inside the Arsenal penalty area and it looks like the Pompey man will need some treatment.

Gallas almost gets in behind the Portsmouth defence, but his first touch is poor and Portsmouth clear.

Good run by Boateng down the right. He crosses low towards Belhadj. but the first ball is cut out. It rebounds to Yebda, who shoots first time, but straight at Almunia.

Poor ball forward by Hughes and Portsmouth waste possession. The hosts have competed reasonably well to a point, but they've really struggled to make anything happen in the final third.

Yebda plays the ball forward down the right for Piquionne, but the Portsmouth man is adjudged to have fouled his man and Arsenal have a free-kick.

Song's shot from just inside the area is deflected to Diaby. The Arsenal midfielder twists and turns to find space, but his shot-cum-cross is just wide of the far post.

Traore's cross from the left is fumbled by Begovic at the far post, but Arshavin can't quite turn it back goalwards and Portsmouth are able to contain the attack.

Belhadj gets the ball inside the Arsenal area on the left. He shoots left-footed first time, but his effort flashes wide of the far post.

Good pass forward from hreidarsson finds Boateng in the area, but his back heel beats everyone and the danger is cleared.

Eduardo gets the ball inside the area. His first effort hits a Portsmouth defender and his second effort on the volley is well over.

Arshavin tries to pick out the run of Ramsey, but it's cut out and Portsmouth clear the danger.

Ramsey shoots from the edge of the area. It's deflected off of Kaboul towards Arshavin, who nicks it over Begovic, but the flag is up for offside against the Arsenal man.

Piquionne tries beating Gallas down the left-hand side, but the Arsenal man does well to win the ball and clear the danger.

Diaby's pass finds Arshavin inside the Portsmouth area, but his early shot his a Portsmouth defender and goes to safety.

Dangerous cross by Traore from the left, but it's well headed away under pressure.

Arshavin crosses from the right corner of the area but it's straight into the arms of Begovic.

There will be two minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

Ball forward towards Boateng on the left, but the Pompey man is caught well offisde.

Good run and cross by Nasri down the right. His cross is missed by Begovic, but Eduardo can't quite reach the ball at the far post.

Portsmouth attack down the right and Yebda earns a throw-in for Pompey right in the corner of the pitch.

Hughes gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Vermaelen and the referee justs wants a word with the Portsmouth man.

Decent possession from Portsmouth in the Arsenal half, but they can't find a forward pass and Finnan eventually wastes possession for the hosts..

Poor cross-field pass by Kaboul and Nasri almost gets in on goal, but for an interception by Ben Haim.

Belhadj drives forward and shoots left-footed from 25 yards, but he drags his shot wide of Almnuia's left-hand post.

Song tries to pick out Nasri inside the area, but it's just headed away as the ball looks like it will drop to him. Arsenal are enjoying some real pressure since the goal.

Dangerous looking cross by Finnan, but Sagna cuts it out and clears the danger.

Foul by Mokoena on Arshavin 25 yards from goal and central. It's a really good shooting opportunity for the Gunners.

Mokoena shoots from distance but the ball goes well over the bar.

Great chance for Boateng as he gets behind the Arsenal defence, but he slips on the edge of the area as he tries to get the ball out of his feet.

Diaby is fouled on the corner of the Portsmouth area and it's a free-kick in a dangerous position for the visitors.

The ball is played forward towards Piquionne, but the referee's assistant spots a handball and a free-kick is given against the Portsmouth front-man.

Nasri plays Arshavin in on goal8 yards out. It looks close by the referee's assistant raises his flag and Portsmouth are awarded a free-kick for offside.

Great chance for Arsenal to open the scoring. Nasri slips Eduardo in down the left. He crosses low towards Diaby, but his effort at the near post is well saved by Begovic and the ball goes out for another corner to Arsenal.

Excellent cross from the right by Sagna is met by Eduardo in the middle, but he can;t direct his header from 8 yards and the ball dirfts wide of the far post for a goal-kick.

Arsenal are just starting to get themselves into the game and are exerting some pressure on the home side.

Another corner for Arsenal as Sagna's cross from the right is deflected behind again.

Arsenal force a series of corners as the hosts struggle to clear, but the third one is claimed well by Begovic and the pressure is over.

Sagna's cross from the right is charged down by Belhadj and the ball goes out for an Arsenal corner.

Arsenal break with Arshavin. He moves the ball onto his left foot and shoots from the edge of the area towards the far top corner but his shot is off target and out for a goal-kick.

boateng bursts forward from the halfway line for Portsmouth. His run takes him wide on his right foot, but he shoots powerfully towards the near post and forces a save out of Almunia for a corner to the hosts.

Decent chance for Piquionne as the ball ricochets to him 8 yards out, but the Portsmouth striker scuffs his shot and the flag goes up anyway.

Arsenal have struggled so far to get any decent possession and Avram Grant will be pleased with how his troops have set about their evening's work.

Good early start for Portsmouth as Belhadj pushes forward down the left and forces another throw-in deep inside Arsenal territory.

Dangerous ball forward by Belhadj looks for Piquionne down the left-hand channel and Song has to track back and play it out for a throw-in 25 yards from the corner flag.

Decent cross by Finnan from the right, but there is no one in the penalty area for Portsmouth.

Boateng shoots from the edge of the area, but it comes off the back of an Arsenal defender and spins away to safety.

Arsenal immediately get possession of the ball. Song tries to pick out the forward run of Arshavin, but Hreidarsson does well to shepherd the ball out for a goal-kick.