Arsenal FC @ Emirates All Gunner fans fall in

[kiko]

Gunners cruise to win at St Andrew's

Arsenal kept the pressure on the two Manchester clubs at the top of the Premier League as they overwhelmed Birmingham at rainswept St Andrew's.

A Robin van Persie free-kick and Samir Nasri's 13th goal of the season put the visitors in control before an own goal from Roger Johnson added to City's misery.

The Gunners remain in third spot, two points adrift of United and City, after a sixth away success of the season.

Arsenal were worthy winners and carved out a host of gilt-edged opportunities. Skipper Cesc Fabregas pulled the strings in midfield and City struggled to cope with the runs of Van Persie and Nasri. Only poor finishing and a couple of fine saves from Ben Foster kept the scoreline respectable.

Birmingham had already slipped back into the relegation zone before kick-off and failed to match the quality of their performance in the midweek draw with Manchester United.

Manager Alex McLeish will not press the panic button and is aware of the need to bring in a quality striker during the January transfer window. But he will also be concerned at the way his normally frugal defence was cut to ribbons by the rampant Gunners.

Arsenal started brightly and Theo Walcott skated past the challenge of left-back Liam Ridgewell but shot into the side netting from a narrow angle.

Foster was called into action for the first time in clinging onto a low drive from Van Persie after being teed up by Fabregas. Arsenal were in the ascendancy and after 13 minutes Van Persie put them ahead when Scott Dann was adjudged to have brought down Van Persie just outside the area. Van Persie's free-kick took a deflection off Lee Bowyer and flew past Foster into the corner of the net.

Birmingham tried to retaliate and it needed a fine save from Lukasz Fabianski after Fabregas had fouled Craig Gardner.

Former Arsenal midfielder Sebastian Larsson's free-kick was lifted over the defensive wall and Fabianski had to go full stretch to his right to keep out the effort.

Arsenal were still looking the more dangerous and a reverse pass from Nasri played in Van Persie only for his control to let him down. A defence-splitting pass from Fabregas picked out Walcott but his first touch left a lot to be desired and Foster was able to collect.

Birmingham were struggling to move out of second gear although Johan Djourou was yellow carded after hauling down Jerome. The home side had claims for a penalty turned down when Van Persie looked to control the ball with his arm after Johnson headed back across goal.

Arsenal were carving out plenty of chances and Van Persie found himself with only Foster to beat, but he tried to clip the ball over the goalkeeper and failed to make proper contact on his shot.

The game was now more open and Johnson squandered a good opportunity when he volleyed wide after Jerome had flicked on a Larsson free-kick. But Arsenal were soon back on the offensive at the start of the second half and the influential Fabregas, on his 200th Premier League appearance, created an opening for Walcott. However, the England winger completely miskicked across the face of goal.

The chances continued to fall to Arsenal and Wilshere should have marked his 19th birthday with a goal. Walcott's chip was turned back to an unmarked Wilshere eight yards out but he sidefooted over the bar.

Foster then did well to block an effort from Nasri after a mistake by Johnson had allowed him a free run at goal, but it came as no surprise when Nasri made it 2-0 after 57 minutes. He exchanged passes with Fabregas before driving a low shot past Foster just inside the box.

Eight minutes later it became 3-0 with an own goal from Johnson. Nasri set up Fabregas, whose shot was blocked by Foster, but the loose ball bounced off Dann and then Johnson and over the line.

Arsenal were now rampant and Fabregas had a free run into the area but fired high and wide. Foster was equal to a low drive from Walcott who was in acres of space and then turned a low shot round the post from substitute Andrey Arshavin.

Blues looked well beaten and Dann needed to make a last-ditch tackle to deny Van Persie a second goal.

[kiko]

West Ham 0 - Arsenal 3

Avram Grant's reign as West Ham manager looked set to have ended in defeat as Arsenal romped to a 3-0 win at Upton Park.

The Irons boss was widely expected to lose his job, regardless of the result, with Martin O'Neill ready to step in to try to retain the club's Premier League status.

Arsenal, who moved to within two points of top spot, showed the Israeli's team no mercy as goals from Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott put them in command at half-time, before the Dutchman wrapped things up with a penalty on 77 minutes.

Despite guiding the East London club into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, where they beat Birmingham in midweek to move within 90 minutes of Wembley, the patience of owners David Gold and David Sullivan - who only appointed Grant during the summer - appears to have run out.

While the club were officially making no comment, Grant's public spat with vice-chairman Karren Brady over the collapse of Steve Sidwell's proposed transfer appeared to have brought matters to a head.

Arsenal, meanwhile, finally produced a complete passing display to bounce back from the disappointment of their midweek cup defeat at Ipswich as they remain very much in the hunt for the title.

All cameras were trained on Grant as, after a quick exchange of words and handshake with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, he took to the home dugout for what could well be the last time.

There was some sense of irony that Grant's likely departure came at a time when West Ham were actually showing some form, having lost just twice in their previous seven games.

Nevertheless, the Irons remain bottom and they fell behind on 13 minutes when Samir Nasri, back in the starting XI, produced a clever dummy from Walcott's cross - which van Persie despatched into the right corner from 12 yards.

Irons full-back Julien Faubert was then lucky to get away with only yellow card from referee Andre Marriner for jumping in two-footed on Fabregas out on the far touchline, which left Wenger less than impressed.

Walcott shot tamely at goalkeeper Robert Green before West Ham replaced Mark Noble, who had just come back from a spell on the sidelines after a hip problem, with former Gunner Luis Boa Morte.

There was a let-off for Arsenal when Johan Djourou's backpass was too short and Carlton Cole darted in on goal - but stand-in keeper Wojciech Szczesny made a fine block and Hines smashed the rebound over from a tight angle.

Van Persie was within inches of making it 2-0 when Arsenal broke quickly through Nasri and his first-time pass into the left of the penalty area was crashed against the base of the upright by the Dutchman.

West Ham were in danger of being overrun and they doubled their lead five minutes before the break.

Van Persie latched onto Fabregas' ball down the left side of the box, which the Dutchman pulled back from the goalline to the centre, where Walcott crashed it into the roof of the net.

Chants of "You're getting sacked in a hour" rang out from the away end as Grant stood at the edge of his technical area, hands in pockets.

It was more one-way traffic at the start of the second half, van Persie testing Green at his near post and then firing over from 20 yards. However, Szczesny had to be alert to tip away Freddie Sears' angled drive, which looked set for the top corner after a quick break.

Wayne Bridge, making his debut on loan from Manchester City, tripped Walcott as the England winger nipped into the penalty area. Marriner pointed to the spot on 77 minutes and Van Persie slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.

Irons fans had seen enough, hundreds leaving for the exits, with Grant probably soon to follow.

At the final whistle the Israeli shook hands with his players as they left the pitch, before applauding the fans and throwing his lucky claret and blue scarf into the stands in what appeared to be a farewell gesture.

# Walcott: We've learnt from our mistakes

Theo Walcott insisted the team performance was far more important than any personal achievement as he capped his 100th Premier League performance with a goal in the 3-0 victory over West Ham.

"All these stats keep getting better, and it's always nice to get goals," he told ESPN. "But the most important thing was that the team won, we kept a clean sheet so we're very happy."

The performance marked a much-improved display from the 1-1 FA Cup draw against Leeds last Saturday, and Walcott added: "It was clear we've learnt from our mistakes.

"It showed today. It was a bobbly pitch at times but keeping a clean sheet is important. Now we're not thinking about anyone else in the table, just concentrating on ourselves. We're happy just to be where we are and we need to keep on plugging away and keep enjoying our football."

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was also pleased to see a response to the Leeds display, saying: "It's been a busy week but we started strongly and remained strong. We had plenty of chances, our technical ability came out again today and we were consistent and convincing."

[chatlovers]

Congratulations to All Arsenal Fans!!!

Although this game is far from being over... As tough 2nd leg awaits at Camp Nou. Arsenal victory over Barcelona is one of the best nights in Arsenal history.

Barcelona has won 20 out of 23 games scoring 71 goals this season in La Liga. They even beat Real Madrid 5-0. It is one of then best teams in history and Messi is without a doubt best player at moment.

[Newborn]

all goonerz..hope arsenal will really come this july...

[Peace No War]

Arsenal missed an good chance to close the gap to within 1 point,when they can only draw 0-0 with Sunderland,yesterday.

[jayboy]

Hope Arsenal tonite will hve a good one also. and MU just a draw ba.

[jayboy]

Too bad gunner draw the match and MU won it.

[chatlovers]

Basically, Man Utd won because of goalkeeping error (from bolton keeper) while Arsenal dropped points becase of goalkeeping error from Almunia.

Lets us take it positively, after being 2-0 down we could have easily lost this game. so 2-2 is not a bad result in that context.

Also league is still open.

Let us hope that after international break we will have Fabregas, Walcott and Alex Song back plus no injuries from international games...specially to RVP, Nasri and Arshavin.

[stephan]

Thks to that stupid bugger Eboue.... I wait n see Wenger still want to keep him for how long!

[dust]

i am an arsenal fan....my view that arsenal did not play well with liverpool....not much chance created....

Recently found arsenal tactics abit boring...always cross from wing and back...Wenger need some new ideas to win cup.....stilll gunners keep the faith..wait again..

[Naka_Timo]

I think now quite hard for them to catch up already especially when they are 3rd now..

Wenger should look into next season bringing in some solid player..

[chatlovers]

Originally Posted by Naka_Timo

I think now quite hard for them to catch up already especially when they are 3rd now..

Wenger should look into next season bringing in some solid player..

Well, it can still go to the last game... Imagine Arsenal wins all their remaining 5 games. Chelsea wins their remaining 5 games. And Man Utd wins their games except against Chelsea and Arsenal. Then all 3 teams will end up with 79 points.

It will be interesting...

Though I doubt that Arsenal will win all their remaining games. Arsene MUST invest big to make it happen next season.

[jayboy]

Originally Posted by chatlovers

Well, it can still go to the last game... Imagine Arsenal wins all their remaining 5 games. Chelsea wins their remaining 5 games. And Man Utd wins their games except against Chelsea and Arsenal. Then all 3 teams will end up with 79 points.

It will be interesting...

Though I doubt that Arsenal will win all their remaining games. Arsene MUST invest big to make it happen next season.

But i see Arsenal lose hope also. some game should win but end up nvr win. maybe no luck also.

[Naka_Timo]

Originally Posted by chatlovers

Well, it can still go to the last game... Imagine
It will be interesting...

Arsene MUST invest big to make it happen next season.

Yes.. i agreed. if he stick to the current fate will be the same as this season..

at least an experience defender and GK

[jayboy]

Now gunner 赔了夫人又坼兵。i nvr expect so worst also.