Sol Campbell wasn't in the line up for Portsmouth because he was either injured or scared of our attacking prowess. Hlebster came back into the starting eleven. From all accounts the Gunners were hitting on all cylinders right from the get-go and it didn't take long for V. Persie to get free on a through ball in the box where he was taken down by a clumsy David James challenge. Adebayor took the honors from the box and slotted home, which is double good because he's not been on the score sheet yet. I think Arsenal expected to romp then, moving Portsmouth around and looking for chances. Just before half Rosicky and Hleb combined down the side and got a cross onto Gilberto's head. It was blocked on the line but Fabregas managed to guide it across in the ensuing melee. So it was 2-0 at the break.
Things got interesting after half-time, mainly because Toure and Senderos lost track of Kanu. Senderos is supposed to be the sure-tackling tough when he plays in the middle next to Toure, but it's shocking how often he gets caught in these kind of compromising spots. He pulled Kanu down from behind and looked enough like the last guy that he got himself a red card and an early trip to the showers. Arsenal had to play with 10 again for nearly a whole half.
Only a few minutes after the boking Fab took a sneaky free kick quickly, finding Rosicky at the corner of the six and the Czech hit an acute angle bomb to the far side. It was another lapse from Portsmouth, but opportunism is for Arsenal what skill and aplomb are from most sides, a sign of inspiration. 3-0 at Emirates.
Kanu got one back for Portsmouth in one of his magic accidents. The cross came into him hard and a bit behind him right around the penalty spot and he did a sort of whirling heel flick that tucked just inside the far post. He's so good and if you're a real Gunner it's hard not to smile when he scores, especially if you're already up by three goals.
Anyway, that's about the whole of it. A really good result. Fab now has as many goals as he had all last year. My magic stat of ten goals from him, Rosicky, and Hleb looks attainable. Arsenal now share the top of the table with the Liverpudlians who are kicking some serious ass at Anfield and put a horrible 6-0 beating on Derby. Torres got two and so did Alonso. Last year their attacking triangle was hardly scary and this year it's terrifying. The Ukrainian Voronin scored again, so he's the top Ukrainian striker in England now.
His partner is benched at Chelsea and they are undergoing some serious misery and power struggle. Terry and Lampard can't get fully fit. Robben is gone. Ballack is hurt and unhappy at being left of the Champion's League roster.
Sheva says he's being inexplicable kept off the field, even though the simple explanation is that he hasn't scored in eons. Is this all part of the special one's plan?
Meanwhile Sir Alex seems
a little grumpy too, and well he should with his team's struggles to score. They snuck past Roy Keane's Sunderland. The Sky Blues are coming back to earth and the year is shaping up to be full of parity and fun. The top spot is there for the taking and I can't wait to play Liverpool.
Oh, by the way, the Boss says he'll have
a new contract by the end of the week...
We'll keep the Notes simple this week because I didn't get to see the game on the tube and had to settle for visualizing it in its entirety in my sensory deprivation tank. Nothing to look forward to this weekend either, because of the FIFA match-week schedule, so we'll just have to hang onto the memory of defeating