Portmouth succumb to belowstrength Arsenal

02 May 2009 17:28
The Russian had already provided the assist for Arsenal's first when he burst into the penalty area shortly before half-time and went down under a challenge from Sean Davis. Referee Lee Mason pointed to the penalty spot, but Arshavin immediately got to his feet and shook his finger in an apparent attempt to indicate that Davis had taken the ball fairly. [LNB]It was a gesture to restore some faith in the on-field honesty of footballers but, regrettably, not sufficient to persuade Mason to change his mind. The decision effectively sealed Portsmouth's fate, while Arsenal's 3-0 win guarantees their top-four league finish and sends them into the Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester United knowing their place in the competition is again guaranteed next season. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League tableTelegraph player raterSport on TVPremier League actionArsenal outplay Villarreal to reach last four date with Manchester UnitedRound-up: Chelsea and Arsenal on fire as West Brom slide towards the dropArsene Wenger clearly selected his team with Tuesday's big showdown in mind and only Theo Walcott, Bacary Sagna and Alex Song survived from the team that had been beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday. [LNB]Yet even with Manuel Almunia rested, Portsmouth's David James still contrived to add credibility to Wenger's theory that it is the Arsenal goalkeeper who should be Fabio Capello's first choice by the time of the World Cup next year. [LNB]James' position for England will come under considerable danger should Almunia see through his threat to apply for a British passport and his 13th minute mistake handed Arsenal the initiative. [LNB]Arshavin had found space down the left and his cross was met by a powerful but relatively innocuous Nicklas Bendtner header that went through James' hands. Bendtner also converted Arsenal's second following the controversial penalty decision, while Arshavin split open the defence for Carlos Vela to add a third and then provoked the foul that saw Noe Pamarot sent-off. [LNB]Arshavin is not available against United on Tuesday but Wenger remains bullish about the prospect of progressing to the final. "I believe we can win by two clear goals and the whole squad believes that," he said. [LNB]"When it comes to keeping your nerve I look at the whole team. That's because when we were a penalty down in Rome we still managed to make it. They can hold their nerve. They will not be affected by pressure." [LNB] 

Source: Telegraph