Arsenal 3 Birmingham City 0: Arsenal turn the tide

Fabregas tackles Julian Gray

Whether anyone was being held back for the Rosenborg match remains to be seen, but for today there was only one major change of note which was Almunia replacing Lehmann.

Arsenal kicked off towards the Clock End and played it around at the back as Brum dropped off. Fairly predictably it took less than 15 seconds for Savage to foul Vieira. We were tentative in the early stages but played the occasional good ball without stringing any killer moves together. The first rousing cheer of the day came when Pires hit a cross that caught Savage full in the face and their number eight went down. Our first chance came when Rob hit a snap shot on the turn from a Reyes ball, but it was well off target. Lauren kept an awkward ball in well and hit it towards Reyes who won a fine header to put Henry away on the right, but Thierry was out of sorts for a large part of the match and didn’t capitalise.

Credit today should go to Ashley Cole and Freddie Ljungberg both of whom were superb as the have been all through our poor spell. Freddie particularly was a bundle of enthusiasm and energy. We still seemed unsure about coming forward in droves but edged the play in an edgy sort of way. Good to hear 'Sicknote' being booed for a rare Brummy corner which he took to nil effect. Freddie with a slick back-heel put Thierry away but we only won a corner. Our best move so far came when Cole showed excellent cool play, Sol hit a fine ball to Freddie who hit a killer ball on to Henry who couldn't control the pass. Very Arsenal. 'Come on Arsenal'. I felt the crowd did well today and clearly wanted too lift the players if at all possible.

Campbell won good ball against Heskey who went down like a sack of spuds. Pound for pound Heskey must be the biggest tart in the Premiership, he has the heart of a horseradish and has more imaginary injuries, falls and submissions than anyone in the division. Rob was really good today, he worked hard and was effective, none more so than when he worked a ball into Freddie from the left. Freddie battled and held it up long enough for Rob to follow up and slot a low, almost scuffed shot past Taylor for a 1-0 lead. This we were told by the announcer was Rob’s 50^th goal for the Club. We’d grafted for it rather than played the Brummies off the park but it was very welcome for all that.

Kolo Toure challenges Heskey

More often than not Henry still couldn’t find a red shirt but he didn’t sulk and was encouraged by those around him. Freddie was buzzing and Pat was getting stuck in. Birmingham only rarely threatened as when Ash had to head a deep far post cross from Gray away. Kolo had a shot from 40 yards that went wide, but I took this to be a useful hint to our forwards who had continued to carry on with their recent shot-shy ways. Pat had a great run down the left, Henry found Cesc who had a shot that lacked power and Heskey continued to roll around on the grass looking for sympathy. We nearly added a goal before the break when Vieira played a fabulous ball to Henry down the right who in turn crossed crisply, but Jose couldn’t make contact at the far post.

Almunia, one high catch apart, had been untroubled, but then again we hardly worked their keeper to death. Most of the Gooners present would have settled for a half time lead and we had it.

After the break Sol was called upon to make a diving header to clear. Melchiot had a very obvious dive that was rightly ignored by the unfussy and effective Dermott Gallagher. Henry broke superbly down the left but once more failed with his final ball as Freddie charged in. When Cunningham was forced to foul Freddie again we wasted the free kick. The Clock End lead the chanting with an uplifting ‘Red Army’ and Henry played a great pass for Pires who laid it on for Freddie. If Dermot Gallagher made a serious error it might have been right here and now as Ljungberg seemed to me to be tripped in their box, his penalty claim was certainly supported by the North Bank. It wasn’t given. Such set backs have damaged Arsenal of late but we carried on in the ascendancy.

There was a big handball shout from the East Stand and then a poor clearance by Almunia but I think he might have got a bad bobble. Henry, Vieira and Freddie carved out a decent move; Henry nearly squeezed through soon after. Upson then body checked Freddie for the first and only yellow card of the match. Gronkjaer, on for the unloved Anderton, header the Pires free kick clear. Reyes, largely out of things again, hit a fine cross-field ball for Thierry as Arsenal continued to press. A great Ljungberg cross saw Henry win the header but Taylor saved. The crowd showed Freddie their appreciation for his continuous effort.

Clichy came on for Reyes and Morrison replaced the anonymous Dunn, as Freddie moved up front with Tel. Morrison nearly scored as Almunia had an Old Trafford moment, but this time he recovered his fumble to save further embarrassment. Arsenal stayed on top and Birmingham went for the big ball as Arsenal collectively denied them space. Heskey fired a rising shot over. Flamini on for Cesc. We won a few corners at this stage including one that was a rather obvious goal kick. Only one came anywhere close to being productive when Rob found Kolo.

Henry gets his first goal

Henry had been out of sorts for this match but his turn in front of the West Stand was miraculous. He rode a foul from behind that could have been a yellow card, turned at the same time and belted off with the ball at his feet. He did everything right on route to goal and slipped it in low at the far post with the inside of his right boot. 2-0 and an unspectacular but brilliant goal. Melchiot was replaced by the jolly green giant who went under the pseudonym of Martin Taylor. Arsenal worked hard as a unit and for once held firm at the back.

Arsenal rounded things off with more fine work from Freddie that ended with a cross that looked as though it would headed clear but wasn’t. Henry just needed to let the ball hit his bonce and go in, which is more or less what he did. 3-0 Arsenal and no more than we deserved. After this Lauren had a tussle with Gray and ended up over the boards and in the crowd. The full time whistle had Arsenal looking at their first clean sheet since September.

This wasn’t a brilliant performance, Birmingham were not much cop, but it was three points well earned and by the end we had started to get back in the groove. Hopefully this will prove to be a turning point at the start of a crucial week.