Barclays Premier League: Portsmouth v Arsenal Highlights Video, Match Report, Goal Videos
Played at Venue: Fratton Park Date: Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Portsmouth v Arsenal Match Report
Arsenal cruised to a comfortable victory over Premier League basement club Portsmouth to keep pace with Chelsea and Manchester United at the top of table.
Eduardo, Samir Nasri, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Song's first of the season were enough for the Gunners to breeze past Pompey, who claimed a late consolation through Nadir Belhadj.
Portsmouth had two early opportunities as first Richard Hughes scuffed a volley on the edge of the penalty area following some good work from Frederic Piquionne.
Kevin-Prince Boateng then stole the ball off Song on the halfway line before progressing forward but failed to trouble Manuel Almunia.
After that early blip Arsenal dominated the remainder of the half and gave Portsmouth an early indication of their might when Andrey Arshavin fed Bacary Sagna but the France full-back's cross was just too high for Eduardo.
Pompey goalkeeper Asmir Begovic then denied Abou Diaby at his neat post after Eduardo had found space on the byline to free the lanky midfielder.
The opener for the visitors was inevitable but it arrived in almost un-Arsenal like circumstances as Aaron Mokoena's crude lunge on Ramsey brought up a free-kick 25 yards out.
Eduardo fired low towards Begovic's far post only for the ball to strike Younes Kaboul and roll past Hermann Hreidarsson waiting on the goalline.
Belhadj tried to hit back in anger with a skidding left-footed strike but it proved to be a brief revival as Arsenal doubled their lead three minutes before the break.
Eduardo shaped to shoot but instead passed to Ramsey, who helped the ball onto Nasri for the young French midfielder to find the corner and give Arsenal a dominant lead.
After the break Pompey tried to rally but were three down when the excellent Ramsey tackled substitute Anthony Vanden Borre before firing a stunning drive into the corner of the net.
The home side were not to be completely embarrassed as they gave their suffering fans a temporary glow with Belhadj and Vanden Borre exchanging passes before the Algerian fired past Almunia.
Arsenal still had time for a fourth as Nasri had all the time in the world to pick out Song at the far post and the Cameroon midfielder promptly headed past Begovic.
Portsmouth v Arsenal Main Highlights Video
27:02 GOAL - Da Silva Eduardo:Portsmouth 0 - 1 Arsenal
Eduardo's free-kick takes a heavy deflection off of Kaboul and creeps past Hreidarsson on the line to find the bottom corner.
41:12 GOAL - Samir Nasri:Portsmouth 0 - 2 Arsenal
Samir Nasri scores a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal.
68:51 GOAL - Aaron Ramsey:Portsmouth 0 - 3 Arsenal
Aaron Ramsey grabs a goal from just outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal.
73:38 GOAL - Nadir Belhadj:Portsmouth 1 - 3 Arsenal
Belhadj plays the ball out to the right to Vanden Borre. The Portsmouth substitute pulls the ball back low into the path of Belhadj who finishes left-footed from 12 yards.
80:31 GOAL - Alexandre Song Billong:Portsmouth 1 - 4 Arsenal
Song tries to dribble through the Pompey defence. The ball ricochets away to Nasri who crosses Song and he heads home from 10 yards.
Wnger Happy with "focused" display
Grant attempts to dispel pompey fears
Played at Venue: Fratton Park Date: Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Arsenal showcased their Premier League title credentials and increased Portsmouth's troubles at the bottom with a stunningly comprehensive win.
Portsmouth v Arsenal Match ReportArsenal cruised to a comfortable victory over Premier League basement club Portsmouth to keep pace with Chelsea and Manchester United at the top of table.
Eduardo, Samir Nasri, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Song's first of the season were enough for the Gunners to breeze past Pompey, who claimed a late consolation through Nadir Belhadj.
Portsmouth had two early opportunities as first Richard Hughes scuffed a volley on the edge of the penalty area following some good work from Frederic Piquionne.
Kevin-Prince Boateng then stole the ball off Song on the halfway line before progressing forward but failed to trouble Manuel Almunia.
After that early blip Arsenal dominated the remainder of the half and gave Portsmouth an early indication of their might when Andrey Arshavin fed Bacary Sagna but the France full-back's cross was just too high for Eduardo.
Pompey goalkeeper Asmir Begovic then denied Abou Diaby at his neat post after Eduardo had found space on the byline to free the lanky midfielder.
The opener for the visitors was inevitable but it arrived in almost un-Arsenal like circumstances as Aaron Mokoena's crude lunge on Ramsey brought up a free-kick 25 yards out.
Eduardo fired low towards Begovic's far post only for the ball to strike Younes Kaboul and roll past Hermann Hreidarsson waiting on the goalline.
Belhadj tried to hit back in anger with a skidding left-footed strike but it proved to be a brief revival as Arsenal doubled their lead three minutes before the break.
Eduardo shaped to shoot but instead passed to Ramsey, who helped the ball onto Nasri for the young French midfielder to find the corner and give Arsenal a dominant lead.
After the break Pompey tried to rally but were three down when the excellent Ramsey tackled substitute Anthony Vanden Borre before firing a stunning drive into the corner of the net.
The home side were not to be completely embarrassed as they gave their suffering fans a temporary glow with Belhadj and Vanden Borre exchanging passes before the Algerian fired past Almunia.
Arsenal still had time for a fourth as Nasri had all the time in the world to pick out Song at the far post and the Cameroon midfielder promptly headed past Begovic.
Portsmouth v Arsenal Main Highlights Video
27:02 GOAL - Da Silva Eduardo:Portsmouth 0 - 1 Arsenal
Eduardo's free-kick takes a heavy deflection off of Kaboul and creeps past Hreidarsson on the line to find the bottom corner.
41:12 GOAL - Samir Nasri:Portsmouth 0 - 2 Arsenal
Samir Nasri scores a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal.
68:51 GOAL - Aaron Ramsey:Portsmouth 0 - 3 Arsenal
Aaron Ramsey grabs a goal from just outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal.
73:38 GOAL - Nadir Belhadj:Portsmouth 1 - 3 Arsenal
Belhadj plays the ball out to the right to Vanden Borre. The Portsmouth substitute pulls the ball back low into the path of Belhadj who finishes left-footed from 12 yards.
80:31 GOAL - Alexandre Song Billong:Portsmouth 1 - 4 Arsenal
Song tries to dribble through the Pompey defence. The ball ricochets away to Nasri who crosses Song and he heads home from 10 yards.
Wnger Happy with "focused" display
Grant attempts to dispel pompey fears
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