Arsenal kept up the pressure on Manchester United via a 0-3 thumping of Birmingham at St. Andrews last night. Goals from RVP, Samir Nasri, and Rodger Johnson were enough to get 3 points of a usually stubborn Birmingham side (at home).
The game started with a slow tempo from the home side and we had our first chance within 5 minutes as Theo passed Ridgewell with a brilliant first touch only to smash the ball into the side of the net.
In the 13th min, we got our 1st goal. Robin Van Persie scored his first goal for the club in 2011, and his first goal since May. Controversy shall surround the manner in which the dutch-man won the free-kick, and honestly he did dive. But decisions have gone wrong against us in the past, just 2 days ago we were denied a penalty because of ball-handling, so screw it.
4 mins later Luke pulled out a brilliant save to deny Seb Larsson from equalising. After that the home-side started to get a grip on the game again, and we did not have any clear chances until the 26th min, when Samir Nasri made a delightful run from the left of the field, before cutting back right and playing a defense splitting through-ball for RVP. Now God knows whats wrong with RVP for he was 1-on-1 with Foster, but the striker could only scramble a weak chip to the former United keeper.
As the second half began, the real Arsenal stood up. In the 52nd min, Walcott crossed the ball from the right flank to Nasri, who subsequently played a delightful first touch lob to Jack, unfortunately our birthday boy skied it. 1 min later, Nasri headed an Arsenal counter-attack via a solo run, but Foster did well to save the French-mans chip.
In the 57th min we got our second Nasri and Cesc combined together playing delightful 1-2′s to each other before the French-man drove a low shot into the net.
After that goal Birmingham were shaken up badly. And 8 mins later, we got our 3rd. The goal was capped of by Rodger Johnson, but the play leading to it was breath-taking. Nasri-Cesc,-Song, Sagna all combined together to produce a typical Arsenal move.
As the half drew to its end, AW brought on Andrey and Denilson for Theo and Jack. The Russian’s first touch (shot) of the ball was stunning as in the 80th min he forced Foster to make a save after a clever move from RVP and Nasri. In the 90th min RVP did miss another sitter (header) but there was no harm done, for the game had ended at least 15 mins back.
Next up, Shitty at home
Cheers,
Watch highlights of Birmingham 0-3 Arsenal
