Arsenal 2 Birmingham 1: Jack Wilshere sees straight red but Gunners' get title bid back on track

Arsenal got their Barclays Premier League campaign back on track with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Birmingham - but had Jack Wilshere sent off in stoppage time for a rash challenge.The Blues took a shock lead through Nikola Zigic after 33 minutes as once again the Gunners - who had lost their past two league games before the international break - failed to make the most of early possession.However, Samir Nasri levelled with a somewhat controversial penalty just before half-time, before Marouane Chamakh slotted home a well-taken effort two minutes after the restart which proved enough for all three points.The win was soured late on, however, when England teenager Wilshere showed his immaturity with a reckless challenge on Zigic which earned him a straight red and a three-match ban. Marching orders: Jack Wilshere is shown a straight red by referee Martin Atkinson after his late challenge on Nikola Zigic (floored) Defeat at Chelsea last time out hadleft Arsenal some seven points off the pace, and manager Arsene Wengerhad called on his team to produce a strong response from kick-off.It was almost that as Chamakh wentclose after just four minutes following a neat one-two with Wilshere onthe edge of Birmingham's box, but Stephen Carr blocked his side-footeffort.Arsenal suffered a shock 3-2 defeatagainst West Brom in their previous match here last month - and therewas more frustration for the home supporters during the firstquarter-of-an-hour following some resolute defending by Birmingham.On 17 minutes, Sebastien Squillaciheaded in Samir Nasri's chipped free-kick from the right wing, but theoffside flag was quickly up.Arsenal were presented anothergolden opportunity on 24 minutes when a soft back pass from formerArsenal midfielder Sebastian Larsson in his own penalty area giftedGael Clichy a free shot at goal from 10 yards, but the full-backdragged his shot wide of the far post. Despairing dive: Birmingham's Ben Foster is helpless as Marouane Chamakh rounds the keeper to put Arsenal 2-1 upGunners goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianskihad not really been troubled, but needed to be alert to collect aninadvertent backward header from Emmanuel Eboue, which was set for thetop corner, after a free-kick into the Arsenal box.The Blues, however, continued tolook dangerous from set-pieces and it was no real surprise when thevisitors went ahead after 33 minutes.A throw-in was fed back to KeithFahey, and his sweeping cross was met by Zigic, who got up above JohanDjourou to power a header back into the bottom corner for the Serbian'sfirst Premier League goal.Birmingham almost snatched a secondwhen Roger Johnson knocked the ball back across the six-yard box, butFahey blazed over as he got in the way of Zigic. Level pegging: Samir Nasri makes no mistake from the spot after Chamakh was felled in the areaArsenal were then handed a lifelinefive minutes before the break when Scott Dann clipped Chamakh'strailing leg and referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot.Nasri made no mistake as he crashed in his fifth goal of the season.The French winger, though, was soonin the referee's book for barging at Liam Ridgewell, although replayssuggested the card could easily have been red after leading with hisknee.Tempers were boiling over ashalf-time approached, with Blues skipper Carr involved in a heatedexchange with the Arsenal bench and Chamakh looked to be on thereceiving end of an elbow from Johnson, but it went unpunished.If there was a touch of controversyabout Chamakh's involvement in the equaliser, the Morocco strikerproduced the perfect response as he put Arsenal ahead just two minutesafter the restart.Wilshere played the ball into theleft side of the penalty area, where Chamakh ghosted past Carr beforeholding off Dann as he rounded the goalkeeper to roll home his fifthgoal from a tight angle. Giant strides: 6ft 8in striker Nikola Zigic connects with Keith Fahey's cross to nod beyond Lucasz FabianskiArsenal soon settled into theirusual passing rhythm, as Birmingham suddenly found themselves chasingpossession for long spells, but were again guilty of taking too manytouches around the box when a more direct approach was required.Wilshere did just that when charging into the left side of the penalty area before drilling an angled drive over.Both substitute Tomas Rosicky andNasri tested Foster from distance while the introduction of Denmarkstriker Nicklas Bendtner for his first appearance of the season gaveArsenal a different option.But it will be Wilshere's red cardwhich makes the headlines after he went in late on Zigic, and must nowserve a three-match ban. Arsenal continue to keep tabs on Ipswich starlet striker WickhamBirmingham strengthen boardroom with Chinese business leaderPREMIER LEAGUE: How the afternoon's action unfoldedARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail