Arsenal 1-1 Birmingham - Match Report
Arsenal conceded vital ground in the title race by drawing 1-1 with
Birmingham City at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Arsène Wengers side were the better team in the first half and
deserved the lead given to them by Emmanuel Adebayors spot-kick.
However the penalty decision itself was a little harsh on the
visitors.
Birminghams reply came three minutes after the restart when Gary
OConnor headed in a corner by former Arsenal youngster Seb
Larsson. Although it was doubtful the ball would have beaten Manuel
Almunia but for a deflection off Cesc Fabregas foot.
Arsenal stormed forward in search of a winner. But the Birmingham
defence were organised and focussed, keeping the home side mostly
at range.
This was only the second brace of points dropped at Emirates
Stadium in the Premier League this season. The other draw had come
against Manchester United.
That had come courtesy of an equaliser deep into injury time and
felt like a victory. This one felt like a significant defeat.
And of course it gave Sir Alex Fergusons side the opportunity to
knock Arsenal off top spot with victory over Newcastle in the late
game on Saturday.
Naturally Wenger made wholesale changes from the Carling Cup tie on
Wednesday so a more realistic benchmark was the last Premier League
game against West Ham. From that game, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel
Eboue had gone to the African Nations Cup while Justin Hoyte
dropped to bench. Philippe Senderos, Alex Hleb and Bacary Sagna
were their replacements. Tomas Rosicky had fallen victim to flu
overnight so Theo Walcott came in.
Since that 2-0 victory over the Hammers, Arsenal had begun their FA
Cup campaign and continued their Carling Cup assault. With four
competitions on the go, perhaps there was a danger of complacency
against Birmingham side languishing two places above the drop
zone.
Arsenals start suggested that would not be a problem.
Within three minutes of the start, Eduardo and Adebayor had already
gone close with headers. Shortly afterwards Gallas nearly scrambled
home the ball at the end of a goalmouth melee.
Arsenal continued to pressure with Birmingham barely venturing
outside their own half for the first 15 minutes.
Walcott skipped into space and floated an inquisitive cross to
Eduardo who could only flick the ball on. A minute later Adebayor
bore down on goal but a combination of Rafael Schmitzs challenge
and his own stumbling feet saw Birmingham survive.
It was all Arsenal at this stage so it would have been a travesty
if Birmingham had scored with their first chance. But they so
nearly did. Olivier Kapos wonderfully weighted ball forward
allowed Cameron Jerome to dart between William Gallas and Senderos.
The ex-Cardiff striker won the foot race and his low shot looked
destined for the far corner. Almunia dived full length to make a
crucial save. From the corner, Fabrice Muamba might have headed
home.
The game was starting to open up. In the 17th minute Adebayor
backheeled a pass to Hleb on the left who whipped in a wonderful
curling cross onto the head of the onrushing Eduardo just six yards
out. Had his effort gone a yard either side of Maik Taylor it would
have been the opening goal. Unfortunately it was straight at the
former Southampton stopper who caught the ball at the second
attempt.
Arsenal probably deserved to be ahead but when they did take the
lead in the 22nd minute it did involve an element of good fortune.
Adebayors ball found Eduardo on the corner of the six-yard box and
Stephen Kelly rushed in to challenge. Replays confirmed that the
former Tottenham full back certainly got a touch on the ball but
referee Phil Dowd deemed he had illegally tackled the Arsenal
striker. Adebayor slotted home his 13th goal of the season from the
penalty spot.
If Birmingham felt sorry for themselves they did not play like it.
The visitors did not test Almunia in the minutes that followed but
they did take the initiative from Wengers men.
Arsenal only threatened briefly when Eduardo went close and
Fabregas had a shot blocked. The home side had the advantage at the
break but you sensed they would need another to secure the
points.
That was proved just three minutes into the second half. Larsson
floated over a corner from the left and OConnors header
wrong-footed Almunia and bobbled into the net. Replays proved that
the ball had got a crucial deflection off Fabregas.
Arsenal had been content to play the game in third gear until now.
They clearly had to put their foot on the gas.
Adebayor responded immediately when he met a Fabregas pass with a
low, goal-bound shot from the edge of the area. Liam Ridgewell
pulled off an excellent block. Then in the 52nd minute Senderos
sent in a towering header from a Fabregas free-kick but Taylor held
the ball on the line.
Arsenal were now stoking up the pressure. They won a succession of
quick corners and, just before the hour, a sweeping move ended with
Fabregas slicing a shot wide.
As their storm began to blow itself out, Wenger made an astute
move. Nicolas Bendtner came on for Walcott. The Dane joined
Adebayor up front and Eduardo moved out to the left.
The Croatia nearly profited from the move, racing onto Fabregas
pass and advancing into the area before trying to set up Adebayor.
The ball eventually fell to Sagna on the right but his piledriver
flew wide.
Arsenal were now starting to lay siege to the visiting goal.
Bendtner hacked an effort over and slid another wide while Hleb
blazed over wastefully.
Flaminis low, long-range drive forced a decent save from Taylor
with six minutes left. By now Arsenal were gambling going forward.
Wenger even withdrew a defender, Sagna, to bring on midfielder Abou
Diaby.
It was desperate viewing but at the same time credit must be given
the Birmingham backline who were stretched but never beyond
breaking-point.
Arsenal had two significant chances late in the game. First Hleb
reached the byline and cut the ball back into a crowded area.
However no-one was on hand to turn it home.
Then deep into injury time Fabregas blasted an effort inches wide
of Taylors left-hand post.
It was the last act of a disappointing afternoon.
