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Arsenal beat Portsmouth 1-0
Sol Campbell's first Premiership goal in 16 months steered Arsenal past a rather uncomfortable challenge against Portsmouth and secured a 1-0 win at Fratton Park.
But then England centre-back Campbell strode forward and as Pompey backed off, clearly expecting him to make a pass, he exploded a low drive past goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown. That was enough to end Portsmouth's four-match unbeaten run under the caretaker management of executive director Velimir Zajec and coach Joe Jordan, but they should be proud of their team's efforts against the Gunners who barely managed a shot in the second half - until Campbell's intervention. Even after Campbell's strike it was not quite over, with Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia having to make two remarkable saves in quick succession from Lomana LuaLua, the first one with his face after the ball appeared to bounce up off a divot. But Arsenal stole a victory where Manchester United lost last month and where Chelsea have to come a week on Tuesday. Portsmouth are sure to make it a tough evening for Jose Mourinho's side. There was no doubt about the visitors' class in the first half, however. Patrick Vieira, back from suspension, masterminded their approach but also slipped and swept a Thierry Henry corner over the crossbar with the goal gaping in the 12th minute. He beat the ground in frustration and Henry must have felt like doing the same as goalkeeper Ashdown, who once played eight weeks in Arsenal's reserves, twice bravely blocked when he had sneaked in behind the home defence. Clever footwork by Robin van Persie, making his first league start but later replaced by Dennis Bergkamp, led to an Henry shot which demanded a save on his near-post by Ashdown. Ashley Cole joined the attack and linked with Henry on the half-hour mark, making the most of a lucky bounce to work the ball inside to Van Persie who swept it way over the bar. Then Henry almost unhinged Pompey's defence all on his own, exchanging a pass with Vieira and forcing Ashdown off his line to dive gallantly at his feet and knock the ball away. A pack of Portsmouth defenders hunted it down as the loose ball ran out to Lauren who crashed down over Taylor's challenge. Harsh words were exchanged between the pair as referee Howard Webb waved play on. LuaLua relieved the pressure on Pompey, cutting in from the left and hitting a low drive not far wide from 20 yards. And it was Arsenal's turn to have a bit of luck when LuaLua's long ball upfield sent Gary O'Neil in hopeful pursuit, even though Kolo Toure should have had matters well under control. The centre-back made a hash of it, however, and gave the ball away, but O'Neil steered his shot wide with the Arsenal defence floundering in the 36th minute. Pompey's best chance always seemed to be one of Arsenal's notorious defensive blunders and careless work by Cole gave Pompey a corner which Campbell coolly cleared, but Portsmouth were just as effective at the back, blocking everything Pires, Henry and Van Persie had to offer. But a dazzling series of passes just before half-time almost cut them open with Henry finally trying to slide the ball home only to just miss the far post. Almost immediately LuaLua broke for Pompey down the right and fed Fuller whose powerful shot was half-blocked by Toure, just enough to turn it away for a corner. Fuller missed another good opening after the break when Patrik Berger split the Arsenal defence and he was soon replaced by Ayegbeni Yakubu, back after six games out with a knee injury. Vieira dallied in the centre circle and was robbed by Steve Stone who poked the ball through for the Nigerian. Yakubu only had Almunia between him and goal, but the keeper just got there first - at thee expense of injury that needed sustained treatment. But Almunia was up on his feet to help defy Portsmouth's late seige which deserved at least the same reward as the point they took from Arsenal in this game last season. |
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