Wigan vs. Arsenal: Match Preview

Arsenal travel to the JJB Stadium this Sunday to face off against relegation-threatened Wigan. Steve Bruce's Latics, who are currently 14th in the Premier League, would consider any point(s) taken from their clash against the league leaders a good haul, but will face an uphill battle against the impressive Gunners. Arsenal currently sit at the top of the Premier League table, one point ahead of last season's champions, Manchester United.

Wigan are on a run of decent home form, having won their last two home games against West Ham and whipping boys Derby, after losing 2-1 to Everton and Chelsea. The Latics also held Manchester City to a goalless draw last week, although they lost to Sunderland last month.

Arsenal's recent league form is nothing spectacular, with draws against Aston Villa and Birmingham narrowing the Gunners' buffer at the top of the table to a solitary point. The Gunners have won only one of their last five games, defeating AC Milan midweek after drawing with Birmingham, Villa, and Milan, and losing to Manchester United in the FA Cup.

The Gunners will be high on morale after defeating European champions Milan in the Champions League, becoming the first English side to defeat the Italian giants at the San Siro in European competition. An impressive showing from all of Arsenal's young stars in Italy was capped by a superb solo goal from Cesc Fabregas and a stoppage-time second from Emmanuel Adebayor.

The Arsenal squad will also be boosted by the returns of Robin van Persie, Tomas Rosicky, and Kolo Toure; all of whom could feature against Wigan. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will still be without Johan Djourou, Alex Song, and Eduardo.

Only two Wigan players, Ryan Taylor and Erik Hagen, are injury doubts, although both could feature against the mighty Gunners.

Manuel Almunia will start in goal for the Gunners behind a fairly solid back four of Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Philippe Senderos, and Gael Clichy. Although Kolo Toure may be fit in time for the clash, Wenger is unlikely to risk starting the Ivorian against team with as little goalscoring threat as Wigan.

Mathieu Flamini, Cesc Fabregas, and Alex Hleb are all likely to start in midfield although the final spot (or two spots, depending on Wenger's formation) is less easy to decide. Emmanuel Eboue or Theo Walcott could be played on the right or left wings respectively, with Alex Hleb playing as a second striker behind Emmanuel Adebayor. Alternatively, Tomas Rosicky, if fully fit, could feature in place of either Walcott or Eboue.

If Robin van Persie is fit, Arsene Wenger will likely play his team in a 4-4-2 leaving out either Eboue or Walcott and moving Hleb out to one of the wings. Van Persie is unlikely to start, though, as he is most likely not yet match fit. Emmanuel Adebayor is a sure starter up front, and Wenger may even play him alongside Nicklas Bendtner against a Wigan squad which lacks in firepower.

Arsenal defeated Wigan 2-0 earlier in the season, and should do even better this time around. Full of confidence, the Gunners will be expected to rout the Latics. I predict a 3-0 win for the visitors.

AC Milan vs. Arsenal: Match Preview

Arsenal travel to the San Siro this Tuesday to face off against AC Milan in the return leg of their Champions League round of sixteen match up against the Champions League Champions. Arsenal failed to leverage their home advantage at the Emirates in a 0-0 draw, but the Gunners will take confidence from their dominance of the home leg.

Both teams suffered a run of disappointing results since their last clash. Milan defeated Palermo 2-1 in the Serie A before being held to 1-1 draws by both Catania Calcio and Lazio.

Arsenal have drawn both of their games since facing Milan, taking only one point each from Birmingham and Aston Villa. Arsene Wenger's squad will, though, take some confidence from the way in which they earned their draw with Villa, showing good spirit to take a point with a last-minute equalizer from Nicklas Bendtner.

The Rossoneri are up for a significant boost with rested players Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Filippo Inzaghi and playmaker Kaka ready to return to face the Premier League leaders. Clarence Seedorf is a major doubt for the match, while Emerson and Marek Jankulovski are both out of contention.

Arsenal are facing a bit of an injury crisis with Kolo Toure, Alex Song, Johan Djourou, Eduardo, and Tomas Rosicky all to miss the match. Emmanuel Eboue, who missed the Aston Villa clash due to suspension is set to return. Robin van Persie, who has been out for most of the season with injury, has also been included in the squad, although he is not fit enough to start for the Gunners.

Manuel Almunia will start for the Gunners after putting in an impressive performance against Villa.

Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Philippe Senderos, and Gael Clichy are all likely to start in defense against Milan. The back four have performed fairly admirably this season, but an own-goal from Senderos against Villa was only one of many strikes against the Swiss international in the game. Hopefully the central defender will put in a better performance against the likes of Pato and Alberto Gilardino.

The ineffective Abou Diaby will likely be replaced by Emmanuel Eboue in the midfield. Mathieu Flamini, Cesc Fabregas, and Alex Hleb will complete the Arsenal midfield which will face a tough challenge against Kaka, Pirlo, and Gennaro Gattuso.

Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott are likely to start up front, although Wenger may interchange Walcott and Hleb on the left wing and as second strikers. If van Persie is fit enough to play he will probably be used as a super-sub, while Arsenal have another option in Nicklas Bendtner.

The Gunners will face a tough test against Milan, but they have the belief necessary to come through with a determined win. I predict a 1-0 victory for the Gunners.

Arsenal vs. Aston Villa: Match Review

Arsenal managed to stay at the top of the Premier League table after a nail-biting draw with Aston Villa which was settled in stoppage time by a late equalizer from Nicklas Bendtner. The Gunners have only taken two points from their last two games and are now only one point ahead of last season's Premier League Champions, Manchester United.

An own goal from Philippe Senderos gave Aston Villa the lead after 27 minutes, and with Arsenal lacking a decisive touch in the final third it looked as though the Gunners would suffer their first defeat at the Emirates this season. However, young Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner showed some of the fighting spirit for which Arsenal has become renowned, denying Villa at the death with one of the last actions of the game.

Lineups:
Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Gael Clichy, Philippe Senderos, William Gallas, Bacary Sagna; Abou Diaby, Mathieu Flamini, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Hleb; Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor

Aston Villa: Scott Carson; Martin Laursen, Wilfred Bouma, Curtis Davies, Shaun Maloney; Gareth Barry, Nigel Reo-Coker, Ashley Young, Craig Gardner; John Carew, Gabriel Agbonlahor

The game started with a frenetic pace more typical of a match between Manchester United and Arsenal than one between the Gunners and the Villans.

The first decent opening came for Arsenal in the seventh minute when Emmanuel Adebayor flicked a long pass to Theo Walcott on the edge of the area. The England international, who had scored a brace against Birmingham a week earlier, took the ball on his chest and turned towards goal before firing a low shot which Scott Carson was forced to turn around the post at full stretch.

It had been a positive opening for the league leaders, but Martin O'Neills' Aston Villa are far from walkovers, and created a chance of their own when a sprint from the speedy Gabriel Agbonlahor saw the Villa striker almost alone in the area. An incredible saving tackle from William Gallas spared Manuel Almunia from making a save.

18-year-old Walcott was the source of inspiration for Arsenal in the early exchanges, as his pace saw him run past three defenders before sending a cross too far into the area and out for a goal kick.

Philippe Senderos had a chance in the Villa box after Carson had spilled a corner, but the Swiss international defender could only poke a shot horribly wide after being surprised by the gift of an opportunity.

The central defender, standing in for the injured Kolo Toure, put one in goal in the 27th minute though, after a cross from Agbonlahor saw Senderos divert the ball past his own wrong-footed keeper to give Aston Villa the lead.

The home side were stunned by the mistake and it showed as Villa almost doubled their lead only for Manuel Almunia to acrobatically push an effort from Shaun Maloney onto the frame of the goal.

Arsenal regrouped, but were unable to penetrate the Villa defense, going into halftime 1-0 down after a disappointing showing.

The home side were strong in the opening minutes of the first half, with Walcott forcing another good save out of Carson after a neat one-two with Cesc Fabregas. Space opened up for Alex Hleb about twenty yards out from goal, but the Belorussian, not known for his shooting skills, hit a tame effort well wide.

Villa were strong on the counterattack though, and Agbonlahor forced another full-stretch save from Manuel Almunia after a shot from the edge of the eighteen-yard-box.

Substitute Marlon Harewood almost grabbed the second for Villa after brushing off the ineffective Philippe Senderos, but was denied by yet another fine save from Almunia.

As the ninety minute mark approached it looked as though Arsenal were going to be subject to their first home defeat of the season. However, a good spell of possession for the Gunners finally resulted in a last-gasp goal as Nicklas Bendtner stabbed home from close range to give the Gunners a valuable point.

Arsenal Fitness Boost As Trio Return From Injury

Blackburn Rovers were already in for a tough match at the Emirates on Monday, but the returns of Mathieu Flamini and Manuel Almunia to the Arsenal squad will make victory even more improbable for a hapless Mark Hughes.

Arsenal's Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia was injured in training ahead of Arsenal's match at Manchester City last Saturday. The keeper was replaced by a capable Jens Lehman, but after yet another blunder by the 38 year-old German, Arsenal fans will feel much safer in the hands of the consistent Almunia. 30 year-old Almunia should recover from his twisted thumb in time to face Blackburn.

Mathieu Flamini was taken off of the field due to injury this Tuesday. The holding midfielder had received his first senior international start, but had to be recalled after picking up a thigh injury. The knock seems to be less serious than first feared though, and Flamini may be ready as soon as Monday.

"It is just a little tight spot behind the right thigh," he said.

"It is nothing serious, I hope I will be ready for Blackburn."

Gilberto is also likely to return to the squad by Monday, although Tomas Rosicky, Robin van Persie, and Johan Djourou are still on the road to recovery.

In other news, Kolo Toure seems to have recovered from a knock picked up while playing at the African Cup of Nations. The stalwart central defender started for the Ivory Coast today in the Nations Cup semifinals against defending champions Egypt. It was at first feared that Toure would miss a large part of the remainder of the season, but it now seems as though the 26 year-old will be able to feature as soon as he returns from international duty.

Almunia And Gilberto Out of Manchester Clash

Manuel Almunia and Gilberto Silva were ruled out of tomorrow's game at Manchester City. The injured duo will join Johan Djourou, Robin van Persie, and Tomas Rosicky in the stands. Arsenal are also missing Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, and Alex Song due to the African Cup of Nations.

Almunia twisted his thumb in training but should only be out for about a week. Jens Lehmann, Arsene Wenger's first-choice keeper at the beginning of the season, will stand in for the injured Spaniard.

Gilberto is out with a stiff back, but was unlikely to start in Arsenal's congested field of midfield talent which already contains Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, and Alex Hleb.

Wenger is ready to see the end of the African Nations Cup, as his missing African trio means that Arsenal have only 14 fit outfield players and 2 fit goalkeepers.

"Manuel Almunia is out," revealed Wenger. "He has twisted his thumb. He did it in training today.

"It should be only one week so Jens Lehmann will come in tomorrow. It is a chance for him to play well and to come back with a win. Gilberto is out as well. He has a stiff back.

"For me it is time for the African Nations Cup to finish now," the manager continued.

"We have lost Denilson and Gilberto so we are short in the middle of the park. Tomorrow we are down to 14 outfield players."

Manchester City vs. Arsenal: Match Preview

Second-placed Arsenal take on sixth-placed Manchester City this Saturday in the day's early fixture. Arsene Wenger will be hoping to become the first manager to win at the City of Manchester Stadium this season, as City look to break back into the European spots.

The stadium has become a fortress for City this season, seeing the Citizens drop only 6 points in 12 home games. Sven-Göran Eriksson's side has yet to lose at home, but could be facing their toughest test of the season against a determined Arsenal side.

Traveling to a stadium in which the home team is undefeated is always a tough task, but an Arsenal team full of belief will still be full of confidence. The team are also provided continuity by the fact that Arsene Wenger's squad on Saturday will be the same as the squad that defeated Newcastle 3-0 on Tuesday.

Robin van Persie has returned to training but will not be fit in time for the match. Tomas Rosicky is expected to be back in contention before next weekend's game against Blackburn, and Johan Djourou is expected to be out for three more weeks. Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure, and Alex Song are all on international duty at the African Cup of Nations.

Manchester City are relatively injury free with only Danny Mills, Michael Johnson, and loanee Nery Castillo likely to miss the match due to injury. Eriksson's side will be low on confidence though, having dropped two points to Premier League whipping boys Derby on Wednesday.

Arsene Wenger will likely field the starting XI from the Newcastle game again, with Manuel Almunia in goal. Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Gael Clichy, and the vastly improving Philippe Senderos will make up the back four.

In the midfield Cesc Fabregas, Alex Hleb, and Abou Diaby will try to provide for their forwards. Mathieu Flamini will have a tough time bossing around Blumer Elano and Martin Petrov, but after an incredible performance on Tuesday, the Frenchman will feel up to anything.

Emmanuel Adebayor will most likely start alongside Eduardo again, although Nicklas Bendtner may feature due to his height. Even Adebayor won't be winning too many headers against the huge backline of Manchester City which includes giants Richard Dunne and Vedran Corluka.

Although Micah Richards and the City defense have done an impressive job this season, Arsenal always seem to find a way through, and are likely to do so again this Saturday. Eriksson's squad lacks attacking power up front, and Arsenal's impressive midfield lineup should be able to stifle the contributions of City's top scorer Blumer Elano. This advantage should be enough to keep Arsenal at least level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table. I predict a 2-0 win for the visitors.

Arsenal vs. Newcastle: Match Review

Arsenal will be at the top of the Premier League for at least 24 hours after defeating Newcastle United 3-0 for the second successive time in only four days. The Gunners, who also beat Newcastle 3-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday, are now three points ahead of Manchester United, who face Portsmouth at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Arsenal went ahead in the 40th minute when Emmanuel Adebayor scored his 9th goal in 7 games to go within one goal of Cristiano Ronaldo's total of 17. Mathieu Flamini bagged Arsenal's second with a fabulous strike from 25 yards out and Cesc Fabregas put the game beyond doubt with a goal in the 80th.

Lineups:
Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Gael Clichy, William Gallas, Philippe Senderos, Bacary Sagna; Abou Diaby, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Alex Hleb; Emmanuel Adebayor, Eduardo

Newcastle: Shay Given; Claudio Cacapa, Stephen Carr, Steven Taylor, David Rozenhal; Nicky Butt, James Milner, Charles N'Zogbia, Damien Duff; Michael Owen, Alan Smith

Arsenal were in control right from the start and almost got an early lead when a quick exchange between Gael Clichy and Cesc Fabregas was halted on the edge of the penalty box by a fine tackle from Steven Taylor.

In the 17th minute Arsenal had another great chance when Abou Diaby got his head to a cross from Alex Hleb. Unfortunately for Arsenal fans, Diaby was put off just enough by a challenge from Nicky Butt, and his diving header went far off the mark.

Shay Given nearly scored an own goal a few minutes later as Adebayor pressured the keeper into a cheeky backheel from only a few yards in front of his own goal. Kevin Keegan was irate, but Given got away with it, controlling the ball well enough to give away a corner rather than a goal.

Arsenal finally got on the scoreboard in the 40th minute when Adebayor got his head onto a cross from Mathieu Flamini. The perfectly weighted cross was turned into the net by the prolific Togolese striker, as déjà vu began to hit the Newcastle fans.

The goal ensured that Arsenal went into halftime with a lead, and Kevin Keegan's side seemed well-beaten after having only managed one shot on goal in the first half.

Newcastle came out far stronger in the second half though, refusing to die down despite being a goal behind at the Emirates. Good work up the flanks was undone by a failure to find the correct final pass, and all of Newcastle's early possession in the second half barely even won the Magpies a shot on goal.

Given was tested again in the 66th minute when he showed fine reactions to get down to the ground and save a low drive from Flamini.

A few minutes later, Nicklas Bendtner came on for Eduardo, pairing the young Dane with Adebayor for the first time since their argument at White Heart Lane. There was no conflict between the two players though, as the bust-up seems to have been worked out.

A strong performance by Flamini was rewarded only minutes after the substitution when the Frenchman released an incredible drive from 25 yards out to double Arsenal's lead. The 72nd minute strike was even better than Flamini's cross for the first goal, and cemented the 23 year-old as the man of the match.

Cesc Fabregas provided a third for Arsenal after reaching a centering pass from Nicklas Bendtner. The midfield maestro looks to be getting back into the form that he showed in the beginning of the season.

Newcastle almost got a late consolation goal when Nicky Butt crashed a free-kick onto Almunia's crossbar, but the game was already lost for the Magpies as Arsenal hit the top of the Premiership.

Arsenal vs. Newcastle: Match Preview

Arsenal face off against Newcastle for the second time in four days this Tuesday as they look to record yet another win against the Magpies.

The Gunners have already defeated the Magpies twice this season, although they were held to a 1-1 draw in the league in early December. The latest match between the two sides was a 3-0 home win for Arsenal as the Gunners progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Arsenal's FA Cup win, which saw Newcastle defeated by an under-strength Arsenal side, will instill the young Gunners with confidence. Kolo Toure, Alex Song, and Emmanuel Eboue are all on international duty at the African Cup of Nations. Arsene Wenger will also be missing Johan Djourou, Neves Denilson, and Robin van Persie due to injury, but a nearly full-strength Arsenal side should be able to handle the off-color Magpies.

Newcastle on the other hand have not won in their last six Premier League outings, and although manager Kevin Keegan will be looking to improve on that record, he openly admits that his players are low on confidence. Injuries to Tim Krul and Peter Ramage will do nothing to help Keegan's cause, although the absences Nigeria's Obafemi Martins, Cameroon's Geremi, and Sengal duo Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye will be more conspicuous.

Manuel Almunia will return in Arsenal's goal after Jens Lehmann took up the gloves in the FA Cup.

The back four is likely to see only one change from the side which faced Newcastle on Saturday, with Justin Hoyte likely to be replaced by the more experienced Bacary Sagna. Captain William Gallas, the vastly improved Philippe Senderos, and the ever-impressive Gael Clichy will complete an Arsenal defense that will be happy with no less than a clean sheet.

Tomas Rosicky looks to have recovered from the injury which saw him limp off of the field in the FA Cup, so he should rejoin Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini in the midfield. Alex Hleb, who made a late substitute appearance on Saturday should take the place of ball-hog Abou Diaby for the more important League fixture.

Up front Emmanuel Adebayor is a sure-shot starter, after bagging 8 goals in his last 6 games, including a brace against Newcastle. Eduardo is the most likely candidate to join the tall Togolese striker, although Nicklas Bendtner could feature if, as Adebayor has suggested, the two have reconciled from an argument at White Heart Lane.

Kevin Keegan may do a great job at Newcastle, but I doubt that he will start winning at the Emirates, a ground where Arsenal have only lost once. I predict a 2-0 victory for the Gunners.

Arsenal vs. Newcastle: Match Preview

Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United will travel to the Emirates this Saturday to face Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup. The 12th placed Magpies will be hopeful of pulling off an unlikely victory after Arsenal crashed out of the Carling Cup in a 6-2 aggregate loss to Tottenham Hotspur.

Keegan would like to get his second managerial spell at Newcastle off to a winning start, but he faces tough opposition in the Gunners who will see the returns from injury of Gael Clichy and Philippe Senderos. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will still be missing Robin van Persie and Johan Djourou, and Neves Denilson, who featured against Tottenham midweek, is a late addition to the injury list after straining his muscle in the 5-1 loss.

Newcastle will have nearly their full complement of players available, with only Mark Viduka and Peter Ramage likely to be absent. The Magpies will also be full of energy, trying to prove themselves to their new manager.

Arsenal will also be looking to prove themselves after the embarassment at White Heart Lane a few nights ago, but the Gunners will also be facing some tough conditions after reports of a bust-up between strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner.

Arsene Wenger has assured Arsenal fans that he will rotate the squad from the one which faced Tottenham on Tuesday, although the manager is likely to rest some of his key players ahead of a Premier League game against Newcastle only three days after this match.

Jens Lehmann may start in goal as he did in the third round of the FA Cup against Burnley as Manuel Almunia gets a deserved rest.

In the defense, Armand Traore, Philippe Senderos, William Gallas, and Justin Hoyte are likely to feature as Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna rest for the more important league fixture.

In the midfield, Gilberto Silva and Abou Diaby should be the only survivors from the side that started against Tottenham on Tuesday. The pair will most likely be joined by Tomas Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas who will bring some creative impetus into the side. The battle may be won or lost in the center of the pitch, as an impressive force of Charles N'Zogbia, Damien Duff, James Milner and Nicky Butt is likely to line up against the Gunners.

Up front Nicklas Bendtner may start up front alongside Eduardo, although Emmanuel Adebayor may also feature if he has sorted out his episode with the Danish youngster.

This game is not too important in and of itself, but Wenger would like to continue blooding his youngsters in the cup, and the winners will have a decisive advantage in the Premier League game between the two next Tuesday.

A mixed Arsenal side will face a tough challenge against Newcastle, but the players will want to prove themselves after a huge defeat, and should manage to win even against a full strength Newcastle side. I predict a 2-1 win for the home side.

Fulham vs. Arsenal: Match Review

Arsenal returned to their winning ways today after an impressive 3-0 victory over London rivals Fulham. The victory completed the double over their London rivals, and kept up pressure on league leaders Manchester United, who sit above Arsenal on goal differential after defeating Reading 2-0 at the Madejski.

Two first half goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and a late goal from Tomas Rosicky ensured that Arsenal would celebrate a victory on the short ride back from Craven Cottage. The Gunners dominated possession and shots with a far better performance than last week's home draw with Birmingham.

Lineups:
Fulham: Antti Niemi; Carlos Bocanegra, Aaron Hughes, Moritz Volz, Dejan Stefanovic; Seol Ki-Hyeon, Simon Davies, Steven Davis, Danny Murphy, Alexi Smertin; Clint Dempsey

Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Philippe Senderos, Gael Clichy; Tomas Rosicky, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Alex Hleb; Eduardo, Emmanuel Adebayor

Fulham started the brighter of the two sides, with Korean international Seol Ki-Hyeon getting inside of Gael Clichy within five minutes. The move ended in a shot from Danny Murphy, who was unable to steer the ball on target.

The home fans were delighted by their team's effort, and it took quite a while for Arsenal to take a hold on the game.

As Arsenal began to find their form, Cesc Fabregas dragged two shots off target to warn Fulham of the Gunners' intent. It wasn't long before Arsenal grabbed the lead when Emmanuel Adebayor rose to meet Gael Clichy's cross in the penalty box. The Togolese striker's 19th-minute header caught Antti Niemi wrong-footed and the Finland keeper could only watch as Arsenal went a goal ahead.

Danny Murphy took a hopeful shot off target only a minute later, but it was Adebayor who would score once again to bring his season Premier League tally to 15, only two behind Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo's record. Mathieu Flamini had won the ball just outside of the Fulham box, and Alex Hleb did some good work to put in a well-weighted cross which was once again met by the tall African striker. The 38th minute strike all but ended the game, but Arsenal continued to press in an attempt to rescue some credibility after last weekend's disappointing result.

Fulham's best chance of the match came just four minutes later, as Murphy sidefooted over the bar after arriving in time to meet Steven Davis' low cross.

Arsenal started the second half in style when Eduardo, a player sometimes criticized for being unable to create his own chances, created a brilliant chance for Tomas Rosicky after weaving through three Fulham players to reach the penalty box. The Czech Republic international was unlucky to see his shot come back off of the near post.

Their was a moment of worry for the Gunners when Philippe Senderos, one of only two fit central defenders with William Gallas, required medical attention after getting a bloody nose from the misplaced elbow of Clint Dempsey. To the relief of Arsenal fans, the Swiss international was able to carry on, and put in another solid display in the center of defense.

Dempsey then hit the back of the net for Fulham, but his goal was disallowed as he was one of three Fulham players caught offside as Bacary Sagna managed to run forwards just in time to catch the Fulham players in the offside trap.

Niemi was the next player to require treatment, but the Fulham keeper managed to carry on after being caught in the face by the trailing boot of Emmanuel Adebayor.

Arsenal nearly grabbed a third in the 78th after a brilliant interplay between Hleb, Rosicky, and Fabregas, but the Spaniard uncharacteristically shot wide.

The Gunners would not be held back though, and Tomas Rosicky grabbed his 6th of the season in the 81st minute to take the game beyond any doubt. Eduardo broke down the left wing and got to the goal line just in time to pull the ball back near the six-yard-box. Rosicky made no mistake this time, sliding in just quickly enough to get a toe onto the ball for Arsenal's third goal of the match.

The win should instill the Arsenal squad with confidence ahead of next week's Carling Cup semifinal clash with Tottenham. The victory was well-deserved, and proved that Arsenal are still capable of overtaking Manchester United.

Arsenal vs. Birmingham: Match Review

Barclay's English Premier League leaders Arsenal may lose their top spot to Manchester United today when the Red Devils host Newcastle United at Old Trafford. The Gunners went into the weekend two points ahead of their nearest rivals, but dropped two unlikely points at home against lowly Birmingham.

The Blues were outplayed throughout most of the 90 minutes, and Arsenal looked sure to win after taking an early lead thanks to an Emmanuel Adebayor penalty kick. However, Garry O'Connor struck back at the beginning of the second half to tie up the game. Despite constant pressure from the Gunners, Birmingham managed to hold on to take a valuable point back to St. Andrew's.

Lineups:
Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Philippe Senderos, Gael Clichy; Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Alex Hleb; Eduardo, Emmanuel Adebayor

Birmingham: Maik Taylor; Stephen Kelly, Franck Quedrue, Liam Ridgewell, Rafael Schmitz; Damien Johnson, Olivier Kapo, Sebastian Larsson, Fabrice Muamba; Cameron Jerome, Garry O'Connor

Birmingham city started on the wrong foot, with Eduardo heading a shot off target after just two minutes of play. A number of early Arsenal chances went unrewarded, but the tone was set for the match as Arsenal pressured Maik Taylor and the Birmingham defense.

The visitors had the best chance of the opening exchanges though, almost taking a surprise lead when Cameron Jerome latched on to a through ball only for Manuel Almunia to produce a great one-handed save at full-stretch. A goal would've been against the run of play and undeserved.

Maik Taylor made a save soon after, when Eduardo latched on to a cross from Alex Hleb. The striker, who has better heading ability than most of the Arsenal players, had looked sure to score but could only steer the ball straight into the chest of the Birmingham keeper.

Taylor could do nothing to stop Arsenal's 21st minute goal though. Stephen Kelly took Eduardo down inside the box and referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot. Emmanuel Adebayor stpped up and placed a well-struck penalty into the bottom right corner of the net. Taylor dove the right way but the ball was out of his reach. The Northern Ireland keeper almost got his fingertips to it, but could not stop Arsenal from taking a well-deserved lead.

Birmingham had their own penalty shout turned down just a few minutes later, but Arsenal looked the better team and as the half-time came it seemed as though the Blues would be going through a damage limitation exercise.

Unfortunately for the home fans, the Blues struck a surprise equalizer out of nothing only three minutes after the restart. Former Arsenal player Sebastian Larsson took a corner which was headed goalwards by Garry O'Connor. Almunia looked ready to save the ball, but a nasty deflection off of Cesc Fabregas caught the keeper wrong-footed and he could only watch on as O'Connor raced away in celebration.

The Gunners still looked like they would go on to win the game though, with Adebayor having a shot well-blocked by Liam Ridgewell and Senderos seeing a header turned away by a great save from the busy Maik Taylor.

Frustrated Arsenal midfielder Alex Hleb had a small spat with Ridgewell, resulting in bookings for both men.

Former Birmingham loanee Nicklas Bendtner soon joined the fray as a replacement for Theo Walcott, but even the great Dane could not find a winner for the Gunners, despite consistently dominating in possession.

A fierce shot from Gael Clichy went straight into the outstretched arms of Taylor, and Bendtner shot wide following a nice move involving Hleb and Fabregas. A low strike from Mathieu Flamini forced the Birmingham keeper into action once again as Arsenal failed to regain the lead.

It was a disappointing game for Gunners fans who would never have thought their team could drop points at home to a relegation threatened side.

Arsenal vs. Birmingham: Match Preview

League leaders Arsenal host 16th-placed Birmingham on Saturday as the London giants look to stay clear ahead of Manchester United at the top of the table.

The Gunners are unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions, having won seven and drawn two. They have not lost a game in the Premier League since early December, and have every reason to believe that their recent unbeaten run will continue on Saturday.

The Blues would be happy to scrape any points off of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal squad, but will be downtrodden after falling out of the FA Cup last weekend following a loss to Huddersfield. Birmingham's cause will be helped by the injury sheet, though, with only Damien Johnson and Borja Oubina likely to miss the game due to injury.

Arsenal on the other hand will be without Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, and Alex Song due to the African Cup of Nations. Johan Djourou, Philippe Senderos, Theo Walcott, and Robin van Persie all picked up knocks and all four are doubts for this Saturday's game, meaning that captain William Gallas may be Arsenal's only fit center-back.

When asked about who would play in the center of defense, Wenger joked, "Me, at this rate. It's very difficult for us. We've effectively lost seven players in two days, given that three have gone to Ghana, and we have a problem in central defence. We don't know yet how long they will be out."

Bacary Sagna, Justin Hoyte, and Gilberto can all play at center-back if called upon to do so, so the situation is not as dire as it might look. However, Wenger will be hoping that at least one of his specialized central defenders returns from injury in time for the game.

Manuel Almunia will start in goal, hopefully behind a defensive quartet of Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure, Philippe Senderos, and Gael Clichy.

In the midfield Alex Hleb, Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky, and Mathieu Flamini should boss around Olivier Kapo and company.

Up front either Nicklas Bendtner or Eduardo should start with Emmanuel Adebayor as Arsenal fans wait yet another week for Robin van Persie's Premiership return.

Despite an injury-ravaged squad the Gunners will be expecting to get a full three points out of Saturday's fixture, and barring an abhorrent performance they should be able to do so against a relegation-threatened Birmingham. I say 2-0 to Arsenal.

Arsenal - Lehmann Out, Diarra To Follow

Arsenal outcast Jens Lehmann has agreed to switch the Gunners with his former club Borussia Dortmund. The 38 year-old goalkeeper has only a few small details to sort out before his transfer is officially announced.

The Germany number one was first-choice keeper at Arsenal until earlier this season when two early-season errors saw him lose his place to longtime backup goalie Manuel Almunia. Almunia's form has seen Lehmann relegated to the bench for most of the season, although the German international did feature last weekend in an FA Cup victory over Burnley.

Lehmann has not been gracious about his second-choice place, openly criticizing Almunia and even Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Already past his peak, Lehmann would not have lasted much longer in London. His transfer is a good move for both clubs, the player, and the Arsenal fans.

22 year-old Lassana Diarra is also likely to leave the club soon, after being left out of both of Arsenal's cup games this week. The French international regularly features for his country, but has found it difficult to displace any of the members of an Arsenal midfield already laden with young talent.

The holding midfielder joined Arsenal from Chelsea this summer, hoping to find regular first-team football, but has failed to break into the mold. Diarra is still highly rated and many Premiership clubs, as well as French champions Lyon are reportedly interested in the Arsenal midfielder. Among the Premiership clubs seeking his signature are Newcastle, Portsmouth, Manchester City, and Arsenal's North London rivals, Tottenham.

Diarra has publicly stated that he would like to leave Arsenal, and it seems that it will be only a matter of time before he leaves the Emirates.

Jens Lehmann Free To Leave Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has stated that Jens Lehmann is free to leave the Gunners during the transfer window, but maintains that the veteran stopper has not yet decided on his future.

Rumors had it that Borussia Dortmund, the player's former club, were set to announce Lehmann's signing yesterday, but the day passed with little transfer movement of note, and Lehmann still at Arsenal.

"When I extended the contract for Jens, I opened the door that if he does not play [for us] and has a chance to play in the European Championships, then I would not stop him from leaving in January," said Wenger. "If he does not play, that means somebody else can get in front of him.

"I have heard that Dortmund made a press conference and they did not announce Jens but they are hopeful. The door is not closed for Jens, but at the moment we have not reached any agreement. I do not even believe he has made his mind up.

"He still thinks he should play, and I respect that. On one side you cannot want a player to give 100 per cent every day to be the best and then accept he is not the best. They do not work together.

"But what I respect the most is he is a player who comes in and does his job 100 per cent and does not talk too much. That is what he does at the moment."

Personally, I'm not too sure about that last part. Lehmann lost his first-choice place in large part due to the fact that he could not stop criticizing Manuel Almunia, and even at times Wenger himself.

I am keen to see the club cash in on the German. He performed well for Arsenal in past seasons, and I commend him for that, but his recent dip of form, in conjunction with his volatile personality makes me hope that he leaves sooner rather than later.

Arsenal vs. West Ham: Match Review

Arsenal stayed at the top of the Premier League after defeating London rivals West Ham 2-0 at the Emirates. Early goals from Eduardo and Emmanuel Adebayor sealed the victory for the Gunners.

Elsewhere, Manchester United and Chelsea both won, with the Reds keeping pace only two points behind the Gunners.

Lineups:
Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Justin Hoyte, Kolo Toure, William Gallas, Gael Clichy; Emmanuel Eboue, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Tomas Rosicky; Eduardo, Emmanuel Adebayor

West Ham: Robert Green; Anton Ferdinand, George McCartney, Lucas Neill, Matt Upson; John Pantsil, Jonathan Spector, Freddy Ljungberg, Hayden Mullins; Mark Noble, Carlton Cole

Arsenal got off to a bright start against a confident West Ham side. The Hammers, who had defeated Manchester United the week before, were looking to beat a young Arsenal side which was missing Alex Hleb, Bacary Sagna, and Robin van Persie. Unfortunately for them, it took only two minutes for Arsenal to score.

Cesc Fabregas lobbed a ball to Eduardo in the box, and the Croatian chested the ball to his feet before volleying past Robert Green to give Arsenal an early lead.

West Ham were clearly shaken by conceding the early goal, but still looked for a quick equalizer.

Anton Ferdinand saw an effort cleared off of the line by Arsenal's Gael Clichy after a corner, and Manuel Almunia had to make a clutch save to deny former Gunner Freddy Ljungberg from close range.

The visitors couldn't hold up the pressure though, and Arsenal doubled their lead in the 18th minute thanks to a brilliant strike from Emmanuel Adebayor.

A long ball from Clichy met the Togo striker near Green's penalty box, and the African skillfully rounded the keeper. It looked as though the angle would stop Adebayor from slotting home, but the striker somehow managed to hit the back of the net via the far post.

West Ham tried to come back again, with John Pantsil coming close with a spectacular overhead kick.

Things began to go badly for the Hammers a few minutes later when Ljungberg was taken off in the 37th minute after he appeared to pick up a hamstring injury.

Soon after, Arsenal appeared to have won a penalty when Emmanuel Eboue's cross was blocked by Jonathan Spector's arm, but referee Chris Foy waved play on.

The second half began as the first had ended, with Foy once again denying Arsenal what looked to be a penalty. Lucas Neill appeared to have held Eduardo in the box, but Foy did not point to the spot as play continued.

It made little difference though, as Arsenal went on to win the match despite failing to find a third goal.

The victory ensures that Arsenal will end New Year's Day at the top of the Premier League, despite having inferior goal differential to Manchester United.

Almunia For England And Lehmann To Germany

Arsenal's current first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia could become England's national team keeper, as he has never been called up for Spain and is in the process of acquiring English citizenship.

The keeper proved his worth to Arsene Wenger this season, replacing long-time Arsenal and Germany number one Jens Lehmann as the club's first-choice keeper. However, he has yet to get a cap for a national team.

"They (Spain) have never, never called me," said Almunia.

"If other people want me, I have to study my situation and take a decision because it is good for me - I will not close myself to anything."

"I always say I have to wait to see what is happening at that moment, or which goalkeeper England has, or which goalkeeper Spain has, look at the situation and take a decision," he continued.

"It would be a big decision but I wouldn't care if I had two days to take it."

Meanwhile, the player he has replaced, Jens Lehmann, is pondering a move away from the North London giants.

"I would not leave this club just because I was on the bench. But if I am going to change clubs, I would have to make my decision by the beginning of January and I expect to do that in little over a week," said Lehmann.

"That is just a week away and I am not actively looking for another club.

"I have had offers, but I can say that for the moment there is nothing concrete.

"I have spoken with nobody at Manchester City, perhaps Arsene Wenger spoke with someone from Wolfsburg and my lawyer has spoken with people from other teams, but I can’t say which clubs."

Portsmouth vs. Arsenal: Match Preview

League leaders Arsenal are to take on 7th placed Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Boxing Day.

The Gunners, who sport a clean bill of health, will be looking for six points out of six in their next two matches to go into the new year as leaders, but they will have to work hard as they face quality opposition in Portsmouth and Everton.

Portsmouth are a bit short on confidence though, having begun to falter after a bright start to the season. They have gotten only four points out of four matches this month, and will be missing Noe Pamarot, Linvoy Primus, and Martin Cranie, although Sean Davis and former Arsenal defender Lauren should b back in time for the clash.

Arsenal on the other hand are high on morale, having won four games in a row since losing to Middlesbrough. The Gunners recently completed the double over rivals Tottenham Hotspur after winning their second London derby in two weeks (the other a 1-0 win over Chelsea).

Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie are the only doubts for the Gunners, although the former should recover from a virus soon enough to be fit to play at Fratton Park on Wednesday and the latter may also feature.

Manuel Almunia, who finished Saturday's game with a penalty kick save, will keep his place in goal behind Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Kolo Toure, and Gael Clichy. These five will have their hands full with former Gunner Nwankwo Kanu and the brilliant Benjani.

In the midfield the brilliant quartet of Tomas Rosicky, Mathieu Flamini, Alex Hleb and Cesc Fabregas will try to boss around a Pompey midfield which includes the likes of Niko Kranjcar, Sulley Muntari and John Utaka. If van Persie isn't fit, they will most likely be joined by Emmanuel Eboue in a 4-5-1 with Hleb playing off of Emmanuel Adebayor.

Up front Emmanuel Adebayor may finally link up with Robin van Persie in the attack after the Dutchman missed the North London derby with a small knock. If he doesn't feature, Wenger will either play Eboue as a fifth midfielder, or play Nicklas Bendtner, who scored the match winner against Tottenham last weekend, up front with Adebayor. Eboue is the more likely option, but I would personally like to see Bendtner get a start alongside Adebayor.

Pompey are a bit short in confidence, and should fall prey to Arsene Wenger's brilliant Gunners. A nearly full-strength side should do away with Harry Redknapp's side, keeping Arsenal at the top of the table.

Arsenal vs. Tottenham: Match Review

Arsenal completed the double over arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur as they escaped from a nervy encounter with three points. The Gunners, who were heavy favorites to win the match despite Tottenham's recent resurgence, went a goal up just after halftime when Emmanuel Adebayor scored his tenth league goal of the season, but Dimitar Berbatov levelled in the 66th. Robbie Keane then saw a penalty fabulously saved by Manuel Almunia before substitute Nicklas Bendtner headed in with his first touch of the match to give Arsenal a 2-1 victory.

Lineups:
Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy; Emmanuel Eboue, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Alex Hleb, Tomas Rosicky; Emmanuel Adebayor

Tottenham: Paul Robinson; Young-Pyo Lee, Younes Kaboul, Pascal Chimbonda, Teemu Tainio; Kevin-Prince Boateng, Jamie O'Hara, Steed Malbranque, Aaron Lennon; Robbie Keane, Dimitar Berbatov

Arsenal rushed out of the gates, with Mathieu Flamini hooking a volley just off target in the second minute.

Spurs were trying their best to contain Arsenal and play on the break, but Kolo Toure still managed to get onto a Cesc Fabregas free kick, but the ball fell tamely to Paul Robinson.

Tottenham were playing their game well though, and chances were hard to come by for both sides.

Robinson finally made his first real save in the 33rd minute when Emmanuel Eboue took a shot at the England stopper's right goalpost.

The game began to liven up as half time approached with Almunia saving a free kick from Dimitar Berbatov and Kevin-Prince Boateng curling an effort just over the Spaniard's crossbar.

Toure once again got on the end of a Fabregas free kick just before half time, but Paul Robinson was equal to his effort again, and the half time whistle sounded with the teams level.

The second half was much more lively.

Cesc Fabregas' cheeky backheel met Emmanuel Adebayor in the penalty area only minutes after the second half started, and the tall Togo striker finished well, curling the ball past Robinson, putting him on top of the Premier League's scoring chart this season.

Robbie Keane volleyed into the crossbar after meeting a cross from Aaron Lennon in the 65th minute, as Tottenham looked to equalize.

The equalizer came only a minute later after Keane backheeled to Berbatov who finished neatly past Mathieu Flamini and Kolo Toure at the near post.

Berbatov was involved again when Kolo Toure brought the Bulgarian down in the penalty area. Keane stepped up, but Almunia dove the right way to brilliantly deny Tottenham a second goal.

Arsene Wenger then sent Nicklas Bendtner on for Emmanuel Eboue and Arsenal were immediately rewarded.

In the 74th minute Nicklas Bendtner rose unmarked in the box to head past Paul Robinson with his first touch in the game. There could be no better way to endear oneself to Arsenal fans than scoring the winner in the North London derby, and the 19 year-old Dane seems like he may have himself quite a future at the Emirates.

Bendtner nearly set up Adebayor for a third, but the striker was muscled off of the ball.

Adel Taraabt then had a penalty shout dismissed by referee Rob Styles who blew the final whistle soon after.

Newcastle vs. Arsenal: Match Review

Newcastle came back from an early goal down to win a point against Premier League leaders Arsenal, who failed to capitalize on a game in hand but nonetheless went four points clear of second-placed Manchester United.

Arsenal were 1-0 up after only four minutes, after Emmanuel Adebayor drilled a fabulous volley into the back of Shay Given's net. Despite having lost their last four matches, though, Sam Allardyce's Newcastle showed some spirit, and got a point out of the match when Steven Taylor's 60th minute strike went in off of the post.

Lineups:
Newcastle: Shay Given; Habib Beye, David Rozenhal, Steven Taylor; Joey Barton, Nicky Butt, James Milner, Charles N'zogbia, Geremi; Obafemi Martins, Alan Smith

Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure, William Gallas, Gael Clichy; Emmanuel Eboue, Gilberto Silva, Lassana Diarra, Tomas Rosicky, Eduardo da Silva; Emmanuel Adebayor

Arsenal started off with a bang after a brilliant piece of work from Emmanuel Adebayor silenced the Tyneside crowd only four minutes into the game.

The lanky Togolese striker chested down a cross from Emmanuel Eboue, and drilled an unstoppable volley between Steven Taylor and David Rozenhal before the ball touched the ground.

The goal will certainly be a contender for goal of the month.

Newcastle almost responded only a few seconds after Adebayor's strike when Geremi sent a header just wide with Almunia beaten.

The Magpies skipper then saw a free kick well saved by a fully stretched Almunia in the 28th minute.

The Arsenal goalkeeper played brilliantly, and made yet another save as the game approached half-time, throwing up a hand to deflect Steven Taylor's header onto the post. The save was so unexpected that the Newcastle players appealed for a handball, assuming that an Arsenal outfielder had touched the ball, rather than the brilliant keeper.

It was a warning for Arsenal, though, as Newcastle continued to press the Gunners in the second half.

Charles N'Zogbia powered a shot towards the well-worked Arsenal keeper soon after the break, but the ball only stung the Almunia's hands from distance.

The visitors showed some of their promise soon after, as Tomas Rosicky played Eboue in down the right. Unfortunately the Ivorian crossed straight to Shay Given, wasting a gilt-edged opportunity.

Geremi saw a shot blocked by Gilberto in the 53rd minute, before an Arsenal fast-break started.
Adebayor and Rosicky played off of each other, but the Togo striker raced ahead into an offside position, as the Czech Republic captain had the ball stripped away.

It was a chance that the Gunners would rue, as Newcastle equalized in the 60th minute.

Bacary Sagna was kept away from Habib Beye's cross by a strong Obafemi Martins, and the ball fell perfectly for Steven Taylor. Sagna tried to recover, but his block came a fraction of a second too late, as Taylor's shot ricocheted home off of the bottom of Almunia's post, giving the keeper no chance.

Newcastle continued to play strongly, as a shell-shocked Arsenal side backed down.

Even Nicklas Bendtner coming on for Eduardo could do little, as Arsenal settled for a point at St. James' Park.

Arsenal vs Wigan: Match Review

Match Preview

An undermanned Arsenal side managed to break down a resolute Wigan in the last ten minutes to go clear at the top of the Premier League table as Manchester United faltered at Bolton.

Wigan showed some real character in their compact defense, but a goal from William Gallas opened the game up in the 83rd minute and Tomas Rosicky insured the win with a second only two minutes later.

Lineups:
Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy; Emmanuel Eboue, Neves Denilson, Lassana Diarra, Tomas Rosicky; Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor

Wigan: Michael Pollitt; Emerson Boyce, Titus Bramble, Andreas Granqvist, Salomon Olembe, Paul Scharner; Kevin Kilbane, Michael Brown, Jason Koumas, Denny Landzaat; Marcus Bent

Arsene Wenger was forced to field a makeshift midfield lineup due to injuries to Alex Hleb, Mathieu Flamini, and Abou Diaby. Gilberto was also out due to fatigue, and Cesc Fabregas missed the match due to suspension after picking up his 5th yellow card of the season against Reading. Theo Walcott started alongside Emmanuel Adebayor as Robin van Persie was still not fit to play, although the Dutch international has returned to training.

Both sides started brightly, with Theo Walcott warning Wigan of his talent with some mazy runs into Latics territory.

Wigan had the first clear-cut chance of the match though, as Marcus Bent fired past Manuel Almunia before being correctly flagged offsides.

Arsenal were having a tough time finding their usual passing rhythm without Fabregas and Hleb, but the showed some of their style in a fine exchange of passes after about 20 minutes of play. The move resulted in a through ball from Theo Walcott to Emmanuel Adebayor near the penalty spot. The Togo striker drilled in a shot, but a fine reaction save from Michael Pollitt, who was already a few yards off his line, kept Wigan level with the Gunners.

In the 36th minute Arsenal had another great chance, as some unselfish play from Adebayor set up the dangerous Walcott who saw his shot blocked by a last-ditch tackle from Salomon Olembe.

It was close, but not enough, and Arsenal began to get frustrated as a wall of eleven Wigan defenders stopped the Gunners' free flowing football.

Just after the hour mark Emmanuel Adebayor was released in the box, only for Emerson Boyce to make a beautifully timed tackle to deny the lanky forward a shot.

Wigan then had a rare chance as a mix-up between Kolo Toure and William Gallas saw the ball fall to Marcus Bent just outside Arsenal's 18 yard box. Unfortunately for the Latics, Bent's shot went wide of the post.

It was Arsenal's chance again, as a free-kick from Denilson was nearly deflected into Pollitt's net at the other end of the pitch. The Wigan keeper showed some fine reactions to keep the ball out at his near post.

Denilson and Bent were in the center of the action again as the Brazilian suffered a bad tackle from the Wigan striker. Tempers flared and William Gallas got involved with substitute Emile Heskey, resulting in yellow cards for the Arsenal captain and both of the involved Wigan players.

It wasn't the last bad tackle though, as a sliding tackle from Bent crumpled Theo Walcott, who was stretchered off as Nicklas Bendtner came on.

As if in response to the reckless tackles, Arsenal went on a sudden and ferocious offensive, finally breaking down the Wigan defense.

A wonderfully placed cross from Bacary Sagna met countryman William Gallas who headed in at the near post.

The goal opened up the game for the final few minutes, but Arsenal were finally assured a victory when Tomas Rosicky grabbed a second. Substitute Nicklas Bendtner fed the Czech Republic captain on the edge of the box. Rosicky finished well, firing in with a low shot off of Pollitt's left post.

It was a great day for Arsenal as they lengthened their lead on last season's champions Manchester United to three points.