Arsenal 3-1 Portsmouth – 02/09/07 – (Premier League) 3 September, 2007

I was expecting a good game, and it was. We played really well and should’ve won 3-0 if it wasn’t for a very lucky Kanu goal. Flamini started in right back (obviously Diarra was never going to start, it was more me hoping) and had a very good game as did Clichy on the other side who had another great performance. Hleb recovered from his illness in the week to start out on the wing and he didn’t have a bad game at all. Rosicky on the other side had a brilliant game, he hasn’t made a great start to this season but if he continues on yesterday’s form then this will be a very good year for him.

We got an early goal with an Adebayor penalty in the 8th minute. Clichy closed down a ball being knocked around the Pompey defence and Van Persie raced onto it and was through on goal. David James came out to intercept and sent Robin flying, how James didn’t get a card is beyond me but we won the penalty and Adebayor placed the ball on the spot. He sent the ‘keeper the wrong way with a cool finish and it was 1-0 to The Arsenal.

Both teams has some long-range efforts, none of which troubled the ‘keepers. There was a similar chance from the other day when Hleb but in a low cross across the face of goal and Adebayor running in couldn’t quite reach it to put the ball in the net. In the 35th minute we did manage to double our lead. Rosicky’s corner came to the head of Gilberto but his effort was blocked. Fabregas reacted quickest and shot on the turn to make it 2. With that goal Cesc has equalled the amount of goals he got last season and it’s now 4 in 5 games for him.

So at half time we were in a strong position and Harry Rednapp made two subs to try and change things around, he knew his side were being outclassed and something needed to be done. Last year we were 2-0 down just after half time and managed to come back and this is something that Portsmouth thought they might be able to emulate.

Senderos went close early in the second half with a free header but minutes later he was sent off for a challenge on Kanu and was the last man. I think it was harsh but I’m probably wrong. The ref was absolutely terrible again, can’t be bothered to go into it though, there’s no point. So we had to play with 10 men for 40 minutes but we coped fine, Gilberto came into defence and we were fine. From the resulting free-kick Pompey came close but luckily they didn’t score; a goal then could’ve dramatically changed the game.

Rosicky made it three just before the hour mark. Clichy was pushed over near the corner spot and we got a free kick, Fabregas played it short to Rosicky who fired a low shot from a tight angle. It went through the legs of Glen Johnson and in the net. However seconds later Kanu pulled on back from the visitors with a very lucky goal. The cross came in to him and his first touch was poor ball the ball hit him and went in the far corner.

You feared that Pompey could score another and then it’d be very close. However that didn’t happen, we held the game at 3-1 and that win takes us to 2nd place with Liverpool only above us on goal difference. The top two have a game in hand over Chelsea, who lost to Villa, and Manchester United who are down in 8th.

Thanks for reading. I’ll get a news update up tomorrow then I’m off on holiday for a week. The players are off on internationals so there won’t be a great deal of news anyway.