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Heskey could have given Brum the lead had he really powered a shot that required Cole to clear off the line. The big, lumbering lump had a headed chance soon after that soared over Jen’s bar in front of the North Bank. Bruce appeared to settle for the now very common 4-1-4-1 and it was as ever both tedious and effective. Arsenal had plenty of pretty play but not much in the way of the killer finish. Birmingham even broke away on occasions as when a fast break saw them three on three. A poor scuffed clearance by Lehmann to Heskey required intervention from Cole as he conceded a corner.
The early stages were not exactly tedious but we rarely if ever got around the back to turn their defenders. Kolo made a great tackle on Pennant and he definitely looks the part this season – Kolo not Pennant. Despite winning quite a few corners, playing the odd sweet pass, the odd clever flick and knocking it about quite well there was little meaningful pressure on their back four. As has been our norm of late we didn’t penetrate overly much.
Freddie was tripped by Clapham following some fine play by Lauren. Soon after a delightful ball through by Gilberto put Freddie clear and running down the middle. Cunningham took him down and referee Chris Foy flashed a red card almost immediately, Foy had no option really. A great save by Taylor saw him tip over Reyes well struck free kick. Almost with our next fast attack Johnson brought down Freddie in their box. The clear-cut penalty was given. Pires lined it up on the spot and hit it just as he did against Ajax, only this time the keeper went the correct way and saved, Rob got to the rebound but could only fire into the side netting. It was a rather lame penalty, as was his previous.
Reyes and Ljungberg continued to look sharp as Lauren had a shot blocked and a Brummie in the away section was escorted from the ground. A great line ball to Cole saw him burn forward and drill in a brilliant cross that won us another corner. But Reyes corner went straight out for a goal kick and Taylor meantime had already started timewasting. A Pires' corner found Reyes on the edge of their area but his right foot isn’t as good as his left and he fired it over the bar. We were getting closer but still lacked the desired penetration. Brilliant control to bring down a difficult ball by Reyes but his shot was saved. Another great move involving Lauren and Hleb saw the keeper save with his leg from Reyes for another corner – final corner count was 11-4 to Arsenal, but you win nothing for a corner kick unless it’s converted. This latest corner was by Pires to Gilberto who headed over. More good play from Jose and another shot saved. Most of our shots were on target or very close but Taylor was having a good day.
Hleb was tripped outside their box and Freddie missed by a mile. Heskey hauled down Lauren but Foy just grinned like a Cheshire cat and did nothing. Cole got clear but had mistimed his run and was offside. Two minutes of added time in which one of many strange ‘advantages’ was played when Freddie was taken out. Another corner and this time the keeper took Fabregas’ near post header high and with ease.
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Pennant broke fast but Heskey wasn’t quite up to his pass. Dennis arrived to replace Hleb as Freddie moved to our right flank. Kolo had to recover from a nightmare back pass that put him in trouble; he did so at the expense of a corner. The Blues did ok with their ten men but it hardly altered their defensive game plan and the traffic was pretty well all one way throughout the match. Reyes found Dennis well but he was offside. Jose broke through but this time he could only hit a less than killer shot at the very much in form Taylor. Cesc to Cole, who blasted over from an angle.
Two fouls in quick succession were both bottled by Foy. First Cole was taken down on the edge of the box, as he attacked towards the North Bank and then Pires was clearly knocked over in the box. Soon after this Foy awarded an identical foul with a free kick, but it was of course outside the area. Van Persie replaced Pires, as Jose moved to the left flank. Reyes was the next to be shoved over and not win a penalty. Was Foy bottling or were we just getting frustrated? Pennant rolled around on the deck wasting time and generally playing the git that he is. This was followed by a dive by Lazaridis and Upson headed over from their subsequent free kick wide on the left.
Clemence was then booked for timewasting and what seemed like an altercation with Lehmann who otherwise had a very quiet day at the office. Clemence chanced his arm and tripped the very advanced Cole. Dennis played in the free kick, which Taylor took with ease. Reyes won yet another corner as Arsenal continued to press before the decisive moment of the match. Van Persie was a long way out and the ball came to him via a weak clearance, he had a shot that kept low, it wasn’t a pile driver but it took a deflection. This made the previously heroic Taylor look a bit of a mug because he dived past and it bounced off his shin into the net with just nine minutes remaining. 1-0 Arsenal, at long last.
Lazaridis chopped Freddie. Cesc got through with a timed run but Van Persie had been flagged offside. Probably by this weeks interpretation of the offside rule it was correct, maybe a few weeks ago it would have been onside and who knows what next months interpretation will be? Great ball Reyes to Ljungberg.
Kolo did the required as Pennant threatened to go through. A Birmingham corner was then headed into the net past Lehmann by Upson, but thankfully the kick had swung out of play before reaching him. We could all laugh at the celebrating Brummies, phew! Flamini came on for Ljungberg and Forssell replaced Clapham with three minutes to play. Lehmann needed treatment to his hand before three minutes of added time kicked in. During which there was more great stuff from Cesc who is almost visibly gaining stature. He seems to be one of those rare classy players capable of making the time to do exactly what he wants. Apologies to any younger readers but the other old gits will maybe understand when I say Bobby Charlton somehow springs to mind in his central midfield role. Cesc makes himself the same sort of time and space with the same ease. If you didn’t see Charlton play just think of it as a tremendous compliment to our young Spaniard.
The game ended with a dubious corner to the Brummies that didn’t please the Clockenders. We’d been on top throughout but still somehow had to rather sneak the three points. For a nano-second when we scored I felt really sorry for Taylor, then I thought why should I and laughed. It’s always been nice to laugh at Steve Bruce, although I have to admit I do like his TV advert.