Pompey 0 Arsenal 3
Steve Wilson with the action as it happened at Fratton Park.
POMPEY O ARSENAL 3
Pompey: James, Pamarot, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant, Davis, Hughes, Mullins, Belhadj, Crouch. Subs: Begovic, Primus, Nugent, Kanu, Basinas, Utaka, Cranie.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Song Billong, Djourou, Eboue, Walcott, Denilson, Ramsey, Arshavin, Bendtner, Vela. Subs: Mannone, Bischoff, Coquelin, Emmanuel-Thomas, Merida, Randall, Frimpong.
There was a selection shock for Pompey before kick-off with Glen Johnson ruled out with a hamstring problem, while Jermaine Pennant was preferred to David Nugent on the right of the five-man midfield.
Noe Pamarot came in at right-back for Johnson, while Linvoy Primus was included among the substitutes for the first time this season.
Arsenal, meanwhile, made eight changes to the side who went down to Manchester United in the Champions League semi-final in midweek with a host of youngsters on the bench.
Pompey's survival hopes were given a boost before kick-off as relegation rivals Middlesbrough went down to a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester United.
And on the back of Monday night's 0-0 draw at Newcastle, Pompey went into the game in good spirits knowing a victory over Arsene Wenger's side could secure their Premier League safety for next season.
Pompey made a decent start to the contest as Richard Hughes drifted over a cross from the left flank to find Peter Crouch. And his knock-down fell nicely to Hayden Mullins, but his shot was well gathered by Lucas Fabianski.
Arsenal showed their attacking prowess moments later, though, with a swift counter-attack as Andrei Arshavin released Theo Walcott with a glorious pass inside the full-back, but the England winger's cross flashed across David James' goal with no Arsenal striker able to provide the killer touch.
And the Gunners looked threatening again soon afterwards as Nicklas Bendtner escaped the back-line to latch on to Walcott's pass, but his tame shot was fielded by James at his near post with minimal fuss.
However, it was Pompey who should have been celebrating in the seventh minute as Nadir Belhadj wasted a gilt-edged opportunity to fire the Blues ahead.
After the Algerian bustled his way through the defence, he slashed wildly off target from a great position to groans all around Fratton Park.
But Pompey's bright start was undone in the 13th minute after an uncharacteristic error from James allowed Bendtner to head home a soft opener for Arsenal.
Arshavin's corner was initially cleared, but the little Russian stood up a second cross and the Arsenal striker's header should have been saved by the Pompey keeper, but the ball squirmed through his hands and crept over the line.
It should have been 2-0 to Arsenal just four minutes later as Carlos Vela looked certain to double the lead after a fine run to the byline from Emmanuel Eboue, but Hermann Hreidarsson made a superb last-ditch block to deflect the effort over the crossbar.
Arshavin – the Arsenal skipper for the day – was the first man in the referee's notebook after a cynical tug back on Pennant as the Pompey winger looked to get away down the right flank and catch the visitors on the break.
But after gifting the opposition lead, Pompey should have been back on level terms in the 26th minute after a tremendous one-two between Peter Crouch and Belhadj sliced the Arsenal defence wide open.
With Crouch bearing down and clean through on goal, his poked effort skidded past the far post as he dinked the shot over the onrushing Fabianski and the chance went begging.
Pompey had to face long periods of chasing the ball with Arsenal so confident in possession, but the Blues looked dangerous when they were allowed to get at the visiting defence and get support up to the increasingly isolated Crouch.
Pompey fell further behind five minutes before the break as a controversial penalty was awarded to Arsenal and Bendtner tucked away the resultant spot-kick.
Arshavin burst into the box and tumbled in the area as Sean Davis slid into make the challenge.
But the Russian himself appeared to suggest it wasn't a penalty as he wagged his finger and shook his head, but after a consultation between referee Lee Mason and his assistant, the penalty was given and Bendtner did the rest, despite James going the right way.
In truth, it was no less than Arsenal deserved for their share of possession, although Pompey might have considered themselves a touch unlucky after spurning two excellent opportunities.
As the protests continued, skipper Sol Campbell was yellow carded by the referee, who was not exactly flavour of the month among the Pompey fans as the half-time whistle sounded.
There was a double change made by Paul Hart at the break as John Utaka and Kanu replaced Pennant and Hreidarsson as the Blues boss went for broke in an attempt to get back into the game.
The Nigerian winger really should have reduced the arrears just a couple of minutes after the restart as he dragged a shot wide from a glorious position.
Pamarot's deep free-kick found Crouch at the far post and Richard Hughes teed up Utaka just inside the box, but his shot was screwed horribly wide with plenty of the goal to aim at.
Pompey were back on the front foot though after being outclassed in the first period and both Crouch and Kanu went close.
But there was more misery for Utaka soon afterwards as he seemed certain to bring it back to 2-1, only to lose his footing at the vital moment after rounding Fabianski.
And Pompey were made to play for their host of missed chances as Arsenal made it 3-0 when Vela's angled drive buried itself in James'
bottom corner with the visitors' first real opportunity of the second half.
It was no surprise that Arsenal were in total command after the third goal, but Pompey were still kicking themselves for a host of missed opportunities that could have changed the complexion of the game.
Arsene Wenger made his first change of the afternoon as he replaced Theo Walcott with Amaury Bischoff. And it could easily have been 4-0 midway through the second half as Vela's shot was spectacularly pushed aside by James after yet another impressive burst from Eboue down the left flank as Pamarot appeared to tire.
Wenger then replaced two-goal Bendtner with youngster Fran Merida, but Pompey's day went from bad to worse with less than a quarter of an hour to go as Pamarot was sent off for a professional foul after chopping down Arshavin.
The French defender was caught on his heels as the Russian raced clear, but although the foul was right on the edge of the box, Pamarot was shown the expected red card.
Crouch – who continued to lead the fight for Pompey – showed good skill to create a chance for himself but fired over the crossbar, before Davis was booked for showing his frustration at protesting a foul on Merida.
Arsenal made their final change when Mark Randall came on for Aaron Ramsey as the game was effectively over for Pompey.
It summed things up as Pompey were denied a late consolation as Sylvain Distin's effort was tipped on to the crossbar and the ball was smuggled away by the Arsenal defence.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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