Arsenal 3 Birmingham City 1 - full time report
Oct 17 2009 By Jim van Wijk, PA Sport
Arsenal 3 (van Persie 16, Diaby 18, Arshavin 84)
Birmingham City 1 (Bowyer 38)
Birmingham City's new regime saw the team beaten at Arsenal as the Gunners maintained their 100% home record with a 3-1 win.
Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby had fired the Gunners into a 2-0 lead inside 18 minutes, but Lee Bowyer capitalised on a mistake by young keeper Vito Mannone - preferred to fit-again Manuel Almunia - to pull a goal back before half-time.
After soaking up plenty of pressure during the second half from the battling Blues, Andrey Arshavin wrapped up the points late on as Arsene Wenger's side made it seven successive victories in all competitions this season.
New Birmingham owner Carson Yeung - who has promised manager Alex McLeish a transfer kitty of up to £40 million to spend in the January transfer window - was in the stands.
However, the challenge ahead to make his club in the same league as the Gunners was clear inside the opening few moments as the hosts immediately went on the offensive.
Emmanuel Eboue combined with Theo Walcott down the right to swing over a dangerous cross towards Robin van Persie.
On five minutes, the Dutchman knocked down a high ball into the path of Tomas Rosicky at the edge of the penalty area.
However, the Czech midfielder scuffed his first-time shot into the ground.
Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell left Walcott - making his first start of the season following a back problem - in a heap following a strong sliding challenge. The Arsenal forward, though, bent his knee back when falling, and had to go off for extended treatment.
As play continued, the home side should have taken the lead when Diaby's left-wing cross was knocked back by van Persie at the far post, but once again Rosicky got his timing all wrong and failed to make a decent contact.
Walcott, hoping to be part of Fabio Capello's World Cup squad, soon came on again - immediately picking up the ball on the right, expertly side-stepping Ridgewell before his cross was tipped over by Joe Hart.
The opening goal finally came on 16 minutes. Alex Song collected possession 25 yards out, and slipped a lovely low pass through the left side of the penalty area.
Van Persie took the ball on his right, then switched back inside past Stephen Carr before drilling it into the far corner.
