Arsenal 3 Birmingham City 1 - full time report

Oct 17 2009 By Jim van Wijk, PA Sport

Before Blues could recover, it was 2-0. Eboue put Rosicky clear down the right channel, and his cut-back from the near post went all the way through to Diaby - who smashed a first-time effort into the roof of the net.Arsenal were now in cruise control, but to their credit, Birmingham maintained some tempo.

Song bundled over James McFadden to concede a free-kick in a decent position for the visitors, some 25 yards out.

Larsson, who left Arsenal in January 2007, struck his effort well as it beat the wall, but Mannone got down quickly to make the save.

Walcott eventually had to go off, replaced by Arshavin on 33 minutes.

Arsenal were made to pay for a lapse in concentration as Birmingham pulled a goal back after 38 minutes.

Barry Ferguson sent a deep cross into the penalty area, which Diaby flicked back up in the air.

Mannone, under pressure from Larsson, came to collect, but dropped the ball - which Bowyer smashed into the net.

Arsenal quickly looked to restore their two-goal cushion, and Hart saved well down at the right-hand post to deny Arshavin.

Birmingham, clearly boosted by their goal, had an early chance at the start of the second half when the ball flashed across the Arsenal six-yard box.

At the other end, Arshavin stabbed a close-range effort wide after Diaby's low centre.

Larsson was, at full stretch, penalised for what referee Lee Probert deemed a somewhat harsh backpass, giving Arsenal an indirect free-kick eight yards out. Fabregas rolled the ball to Arshavin, who stopped it for van Persie, but the Dutchman's fierce effort skimmed off the top of the crossbar.

As the hour passed, Arsenal maintained the pressure, but despite all of their decent approach play, failed to find a telling pass.

It could have proved costly as Mannone made a brave take as Ridgewell's pass went through the Arsenal six-yard box, which would only have needed a touch for the visitors to equalise.

Arshavin, however, settled matters with five minutes left when he slotted home from just inside the penalty area after a quick counter attack.

Arsenal: Mannone, Eboue (Wilshere 90), Gallas, Vermaelen Gibbs, Fabregas, Song Billong, Diaby, Walcott (Arshavin 33) van Persie, Rosicky (Sagna 72).
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Ramsey, Silvestre, Traore.
Booked: Song Billong.
Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, Carsley (Phillips 79) McFadden (McSheffrey 70), Jerome (O'Connor 61).
Subs Not Used: Maik Taylor, Damien Johnson, Bent, O'Shea.
Booked: Hart, Ridgewell.

Att: 60,082
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).