Arsenal v Birmingham City | Matches

Chelsea V
Arsenal
3RD OCT 2010

Saturday 16th October
Kick off: 15:00
Emirates Stadium

Arsenal
2 – 1
Birmingham City

Arsenal V
Shakhtar Donetsk
19TH OCT 2010

HIGHLIGHTS

Live Text isn't live anymore, this is a record of the match events.

90

LOTS OF TALKING POINTS... including Chamakh's penalty and Wilshere's red card. Tell us what you think via the website at www.arsenal.com/studio
90

REMINDER: Stay online for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and Paul Davis will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
Full Time AND THAT'S IT! ARSENAL HAVE THE POINTS! ARSENAL 2 BIRMINGHAM 1
90

BRILLIANT FROM FABIANSKI: The Pole gets out very quickly to make a smart catch as Birmingham pile on the pressure
90

ARSENAL DOWN TO TEN MEN: And still a couple of minutes to go here. Zigic is walking back on now but limping badly.
90

THAT WAS A VERY BAD CHALLENGE: Wilshere lost control and slid in on Zigic, straight into the striker's ankle. The ref had no hesitation.
90

Red Card RED CARD! WILSHERE IS SENT OFF!
90

PHEW! The free kick clears everyone and Arsenal break with Eboue. He goes down, the whistle goes and Arsenal have a free kick. McLeish is fuming: 'He got the ball!' he screams
90

FOUR MINUTES OF STOPPAGES: Could do without that, frankly. And Birmingham have a free-kick
90

NASRI SHOOTS! But straight at Foster. Once again Diaby led the charge after Djourou tackled O'Connor
90

GOOD CLAIM FROM FABIANSKI: He's done that a lot today, credit to Lukasz. We are into the final minute here at the Emirates
89

NOT LONG TO GO FOLKS: Birmingham really haven't threatened in this half, bar a few corners. But still only one goal in it
88

THE TWO NO 19s CLASH: Wilshere, five foot something, up against Zigic, six foot seven. From a distance it looks like a boy trying to tackle his Dad
87

ROSICKY WITH THE CURLER... but it flies well over. Good approach work from Bendtner but Rosicky ignored his pleas for a return pass
86

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and Paul Davis will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
86

DIABY ON THE BYLINE: Good footwork from the big man, he goes past Dann but can't get past Johnson.
85

CORNER TO BIRMINGHAM: Ridgewell gets up but Arsenal can break with Djourou... but he loses out
84

GREAT EFFORT FROM ROSICKY... but Foster counters with a fine diving save
84

ATTENDANCE: 60,070 - and it looks like they will leave rather happier than they did a few weeks back. Not that I'm counting my chickens
83

WILSHERE IS DOWN: He's holding his face and must have had a bang in the face. Ooh, he did - with the biggest man on the pitch, Zigic. Should be fine though
82

PAUL DAVIS: 'Birmingham are still dangerous. Arsenal have kept probing but the third goal hasn't come'
81

OOOH! BENDTNER JUST MISSES ROSICKY'S CROSS: Good ball in and the Dane attacked the near post, slid in and just failed to make contact
80

Substitution SUB: O'Connor replaces Bowyer for Birmingham
79

NICE TOUCH THAT: Bendtner and Chamakh were all smiles as they crossed on the touchline. Good to see Nicklas back - he's 'the real Bendtner' now, according to Arsene Wenger
79

Substitution HERE COMES BENDTNER: The big man is getting stripped off. And he replaces Chamakh. Applause all round for both players
78

Substitution SUB: Murphy replaces Fahey for Birmingham
77

Yellow Card YELLOW CARD FOR EBOUE: He caught Ridgewell badly there. That's not a great challenge by any means
77

WELL PLAYED WILSHERE: Good challenge to break up a Blues move, then a cute pass into the path of Chamakh. Is he really only 18? Such maturity
75

WALCOTT, DENILSON AND BENDTNER ALL WARMING UP: I reckon we'll see the Brazilian and one of the strikers at some point - unless Birmingham equalise very soon
73

NASRI TAKES THE FREE-KICK... but he slams this one into the wall. No matter - Arsenal get a corner... but Nasri can't find a team-mate
72

Yellow Card YELLOW CARD: Carr goes in the book for hauling down Rosicky. No doubt about that one
71

WILSHERE PULLING THE STRINGS AGAIN: This time a clever pass to Song gets Arsenal going but once more they can't find room - or inclination - for a shot. Arsenal well in control though
70

Substitution SUB: Arshavin is replaced by Rosicky
70

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and Paul Davis will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
70

CLICHY CROSSES... and Arshavin is there first but Foster saves. Unlucky
68

WILSHERE ON THE COUNTER-ATTACK... but Birmingham get men back quickly. Jack does look the most likely to make a difference from midfield though
67

ARSENAL WELL ON TOP: They just need the third goal to spare themselves an anxious last 20 minutes
65

CHAMAKH ALMOST IN AGAIN... but Arsenal have to settle for the corner. The first one is cleared away but the home side have another corner... and Diaby clips the ball into the box for Foster to gather
63

HIT IT JACK! My words, not the crowd's, as Wilshere plays a one-two with Arshavin, takes the ball wide of a defender and then gets his strike in. Just over the bar
62

ARSENAL DITHERING! Diaby goes past Ferguson, finds Chamakh, he finds Diaby... no one wants to take responsibility... Chamakh finds Eboue and his shot hits a defender. What was that about being ruthless?
61

CARR STORMS FORWARD: Good run from the former Spurs man (he is reminded of that by the home fans) but Squillaci comes across to deny the right back. That was dangerous though
60

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and Paul Davis will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
59

PAUL DAVIS: 'Good play from Nasri again. He keeps driving Arsenal forward.'. Get your e-mails to our commentary team at www.arsenal.com/studio
59

GOOD PLAY FROM DIABY: Arshavin flicks the ball to Nasri, he finds Diaby and he takes it past Carr... but yet another shot from the Frenchman is blocked. This time Johnson gets in the way
57

IT'S LIKE THE FIRST HALF-HOUR: Arsenal have taken their foot off the gas slightly and it's pretty even-stevens. Why don't they step it up and take Birmingham apart?!
55

FREE-KICK TO BIRMINGHAM: But it hits Nasri and goes behind for the corner... good delivery but Fabianski punches well. Don't want to tempt fate but he's done well today
54

DIABY WITH THE HEADER: Nasri curls it in and Abou nods it straight at Foster. Good chance that
54

Yellow Card YELLOW CARD FOR BOWYER: He tripped Diaby after hacking down Wilshere. The ref books him but Arsenal were in a great position there
53

PAUL DAVIS: 'The half time break has calmed the players down'. Give us your reaction at www.arsenal.com/studio
52

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Dan Roebuck and Paul Davis will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
51

WALCOTT AND BENDTNER WARMING UP: Not sure if they will be needed though - Arsenal are looking good right now
49

BIRMINGHAM GUTTED: That is a real hammer-blow to them and the identity of the scorer won't help Alex McLeish's mood one bit.
47

WILSHERE THE CREATOR... Jack dinked a pass through and Chamakh span before clipping it past Foster and then slotting home
47

WHAT A START TO THE SECOND HALF FOR CHAMAKH! He was the talking point of the first half after 'winning' that penalty and he slots Arsenal ahead here at the Emirates!
47

GOAL! - Marouane Chamakh 2 : 1 GOAL!!! ARSENAL 2 BIRMINGHAM 1
Kick Off BIRMINGHAM RE-START THE MATCH: And Arsenal are attacking the Clock End now
Half Time HALF TIME: ARSENAL 1 BIRMINGHAM 1
45

WE'RE INTO STOPPAGE TIME: And feelings are still running high. The ref is having a bad time of it - he gets another decision wrong, incorrectly awarding a free-kick to Birmingham
45

CHAMAKH GOES DOWN IN A HEAP: Johnson went in with his elbow high. That is dreadful. The ref didn't see it though. 'You don't know what you're doing' sing the Arsenal fans
44

SONG CLEARS: Big scramble in the Arsenal box but the hosts get rid of it. Suddenly the atmosphere is far, far better. Sometimes it takes a bit of needle
43

DAN ROEBUCK: 'What is Ben Foster doing 30 yards from his goal?' Good question - the keeper is not helping the situation. It all stemmed from the penalty decision; Birmingham are fuming at Chamakh still
43

Yellow Card YELLOW CARD: Nasri is booked for a hack at Ridgewell. This is getting nasty. Referee Martin Atkinson needs to get a grip
41

PAUL DAVIS: 'Chamakh looked like he was clipped but he did go down very easily'
41

CRACKING SPOT KICK FROM NASRI! He sends Foster the wrong way.
41

GOAL! - Samir Nasri 1 : 1 GOAL!!! ARSENAL 1 BIRMINGHAM 1
40

PENALTY TO ARSENAL! Chamakh goes down and the ref points to the spot. Not sure about that but Nasri steps up anyway...
39

OH MY WORD: Birmingham so close to a second. Johnson wins the header, it's knocked down into the six-yard box and Fahey clatters into a team-mate when he should have scored
37

SAME OLD STORY: Arsenal camped in their opponents' half trying to find a way through a packed defence. This could be a long afternoon folks
35

PAUL DAVIS: 'That has really shaken Arsenal. They will need to lift the tempo of their passing now.'
34

ARSENAL TRY TO HIT BACK: Song shoots but it deflects wide for a corner.
33

TOP-CLASS HEADER FROM ZIGIC: Fahey curled in the cross and Zigic soars at the back post to send a perfect header beyond Fabianski and into the corner. Oh dear
33

GOAL! - Nikola Zigic 0 : 1 GOAL! ARSENAL 0 BIRMINGHAM 1
32

MORE JEERS: This time for the ref after Squillaci bangs into Zigic.
31

JEERS AT THE EMIRATES: Foster is already playing for time, taking the ball to the other side of the six-yard box for his goal kick.
30

CORNER TO ARSENAL: Nasri finds Diaby inside the box and the ball flicks off Carr. Nasri trots over to take it... and it evades pretty much everyone
28

FREE-KICK COMES IN... and Fabianski punches well. Good distance. Hleb turns it back in but the Polish keeper is first to that too
27

GOOD SPELL FOR BIRMINGHAM: And they have yet another free-kick and another chance to get the ball into the box. Arsenal have gone into their shells
26

FABIANSKI SAVES... FROM EBOUE! In-swinging free-kick clips off Eboue but the Pole is alert and dives to claim. That was very nearly embarrassing
25

LARSSON CURLS IN A FREE-KICK... but Song gets his head on it. Good header that. So far Zigic (at six foot seven) has been kept quiet by the Arsenal back four
24

ARSENAL GO CLOSE AGAIN! Nasri's cross is taken away from Chamakh by Ridgewell and Clichy nips in to dispossess Larsson but his shot rolls a yard wide.
23

FAHEY SHOOTS... but Fabianski saves. Decent pace on the shot but Lukasz was right behind it.
22

POOR TOUCH FROM LARSSON: He tries to play Carr through but there's far too much weight on his pass. That was dangerous, or at least should have been
21

NASRI SHOOTS WIDE: Arsenal break at pace and Nasri goes for goal, ignoring two options to his right or left. The shot is not a good one
20

PAUL DAVIS: 'I've been a bit disappointed with Arshavin. He had injuries last year... but he can do something from nothing'. Tell us what you think at www.arsenal.com/studio
19

FOSTER STOPS ARSHAVIN! Diaby again at the heart of an Arsenal attack, he dinks the ball to Arshavin and the Russian tries to chip Foster... but he can't get enough purchase on the shot
18

NO COMPLAINTS FROM ARSENAL... but I'd like to see that again and so would Paul and Dan. Maybe Squillaci was fouling his marker?
17

FREE-KICK TO ARSENAL... And Squillaci heads Nasri's kick past Foster! But the flag goes up and the goal won't stand.
16

IT'S RATHER QUIET HERE: You can't hear the Arsenal fans, just the visiting supporters. One of those days when the Emirates crowd needs to be lifted by the players - perhaps it should be the other way round?
14

A CLOSE SHAVE: Nothing happening of note on the pitch but Chamakh's haircut is pretty severe. Look out for that when you watch the highlights on ATVO (available from the early hours of Sunday, UK time)
13

GOOD RUN FROM SONG: Alex jinks past two challenges but then fouls Carr. Free kick to Birmingham.
11

TACTICS: Incidentally, former Gunner Alex Hleb is playing in an advanced midfield role behind the lone striker Nikola Zigic for Birmingham. Good player Hleb - he regrets leaving but not sure he'd get in this Arsenal team
10

DIABY GOES THROUGH AGAIN: Another surge forward but he can't find space for a shot this time. He squares to Arshavin but Birmingham smuggle it away
8

DIABY TRIES AGAIN! A good turn from the Frenchman but another block - this time from Johnson - denies the big man.
8

PAUL DAVIS: 'I like Fabianski, he's got a lot of good stuff going on'. Tell us what YOU think at www.arsenal.com/studio
6

JOHNSON GETS UP! But his firm header is straight at Fabianski. No real pressure on Johnson there though.
5

GOOD PLAY LARSSON: Former Gunner Seb races down the right and wins a corner off Clichy. Arsenal's fans seem edgy - memories of West Brom are still fresh of course
4

SO, SO CLOSE TO 1-0... Wilshere intercepts deep in Blues territory and plays a one-two with Chamakh before setting up the Moroccan, but Carr makes a brilliant block. Lovely football
3

DIABY HAS A POP! Good build-up on the left with Wilshere and Arshavin. Diaby gets picked out 20 yards from goal and has time to shape for a shot but he scuffs it and Ben Foster gathers
2

TACTICS: Diaby is playing as the most advanced midfielder with Song and Wilshere deeper. Arshavin on the left, Nasri to the right and Chamakh through the centre
Kick Off WE'RE UNDERWAY AT THE EMIRATES: Arsenal kick us off and go straight on the attack.
We're all set to go and, unusually, Arsenal will be attacking the North Bank in the first half. Birmingham won the toss and opted to change ends.
Are you listening to our live audio commentary? Dan Roebuck and Paul Davis are calling the shots just across from me in the press box. Remember to get your e-mails in at www.arsenal.com/studio
And here come the teams...
The players are finishing their warm-up here at Emirates Stadium. We had an absolute downpour about an hour ago but the sun is shining now and the pitch looks like a lovely green carpet.
The eagled-eyed among you will notice there's two changes from the side that lined up at Chelsea: Djourou and Eboue come in for the injured Koscielny and Sagna. Walcott and Bendtner are back from injury but have to settle for a place on the bench
The Arsenal team is in and here it is... Fabianski, Eboue, Squillaci (c), Djourou, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Nasri, Diaby, Arshavin, Chamakh
Get in touch by sending your comments to us via www.arsenal.com/studio
Tell me Arsenal fans… How confident are you that Arsene Wenger’s side will bounce back from the defeat against Chelsea? What positives will his team take from that game? And are you at all worried by threat posed by former Arsenal men Alexander Hleb and Sebastian Larsson?
Former Gunner Paul Davis will be alongside Dan Roebuck in the commentary team from 3pm (UK time). They'll be taking your e-mails during the game and fielding your calls in our post-match show.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Arsenal TV Online for another MatchDay Show. It gets underway at 2.30pm (UK time) with highlights of last year’s 3-1 win over Birmingham, the key moments from Arsene Wenger's pre-match press conference, highlights of an exclusive interview with the boss plus all the breaking team news.