Portsmouth 0 Arsenal 1: Sol chimes in with a winner

Thierry Henry's effort is blocked by Linvoy Primus

The Pompey fans are far superior to their stadium but what a bunch of short memoried gonads they are. The entire match was for them merely an opportunity to berate the man who took them on as a two-bob, going nowhere outfit, guided them into the Premiership and then miraculously kept them there. I’m sure it wasn’t Redknapp’s choice to be forced out by Mandaric. But his two-fingered salute to Mandaric by joining what they would call the Scum has certainly got under their skin.

Pires was booed throughout the match, there’s originality for you. Rob didn’t have a blinding game but then again no one did up front. Henry was applauded onto the pitch and performed less effectively than we’d have hoped for given some of his stunning recent displays but still did plenty. Van Persie started and despite showing us a couple of killer balls and a few very deft turns he couldn’t cope with the helter-skelter football and failed to shine, as we know he’s capable of doing. Clichy was up and down our left flank combining really well with Cole, Henry and everyone else

Robin started the game with an electrifying touch but failed to maintain the level. Our first move of note involved him and Rob almost getting Henry in, but Ashdown their keeper was down quickly smother. Stone who was man to man on Vieira was quite effective because he was allowed to hack Pat down at will, it being the second of such hacks before referee Webb blew his whistle for a foul. At which point the most biased bunch of no-brain fans in England screamed at Vieira for cheating, what were they on? Listen up you sailors; if a player is kicked and goes down it’s a free kick, you’re not at Old Trafford you know!

Fuller beat Kolo Toure but hoofed his shot into about Row FF of the TY Europe Stand. ‘If you all hate Redknapp clap your hands’ followed shortly after by ‘If you fecking hate Redknapp clap your hands’ The no-brainers only let up on their anti-Redknapp ranting to boo Bobby whenever he was on the ball. Cole and Henry nearly worked Van Persie in and our pressure was fairly good but nothing to write home about. Henry and the very mobile and exceedingly quick Gael Clichy set up Pat who missed a big opportunity to give us the lead. To say Pat wasn't at his best today was a classic understatement. But Flamini his partner in midfield was the same Mr perpetual motion he was against Chelski.

There was a fair amount of nearly but not quite attacks as The Arsenal in yellow and blue attacked towards the travelling Gooners. A good header by Flamini started a move where Clichy played a big part in setting up henry with a shot from a narrow angle, which won a corner. Campbell had a very fine solo, which made good progress as he ploughed forward. Van Persie played a great ball to Henry who shot with two Arsenal left backs steaming into their box.

Arsene must have wondered where the goal was coming from

Great work by Clichy and Henry put Cole in with half a chance. Cole and Henry combined to give Van Persie a shooting opportunity. Lots of possession it seemed but little or none of it looked like paying off. More fine play by Thierry and Robin nearly got Lauren in who went down, it might have been a foul it might not. What seemed a fortuitous break from Stone’s hoof forward saw O’Neil beating Kolo but shooting wide from a half decent chance. Henry meanwhile fired one well over after a steamroller attack from Vieira had won us a corner.

Some Portsmouth pressure late in the half got the home fans excited as when Henry got shoved off the ball and a breakaway which involved LuaLua had Fuller in with a chance. But Kolo, I think, made a last ditch block to concede a corner. Time left for an obvious handball on a Portsmouth break to send the death, dumb and blind kids mouthing obscenities at the ref for his sheer audacity in spotting it. Our performance had been rather moderate. Although some around me felt we should be carving Pompey to bits there is very rarely such a thing as an easy game in the Premiership and Portsmouth had after won points at St James’s and Anfield in the past couple of weeks.

Pompey started where they’d left off with Fuller screwing up from a fine Berger pass as Almunia seemingly collided with a yellow shirt. Great tackle by O’Neill on Van Persie whose frustration increased as the half progressed. The Premiership has a very steep learning curve for new boys. Yakubu replaced Fuller. Clichy and Vieira nearly got in at one end before LuaLua had one of numerous attacking breaks, he beat Clichy but Cole covered well. Kolo then cleared another Berger cross.

Yakubu steamed down the middle chasing a long ball but Almunia charged out to clear. Yakubu left his foot in though and became one of numerous players who could and maybe should have been carded. Kolo had a solo forward but ran it out for a goal kick. Dennis then replaced his fellow Dutchman. Yakubu, I think it was, had a shot from a narrow angle saved by Manuel. Primus then chopped Henry from behind on a run and didn’t get carded; neither did Clichy when he took out Yakubu. From their free kick Sol headed clear but Stone latched onto it and drove a shot reasonable close from a decent distance.

A weak shot on the turn form Yakubu was easy for Almunia. What followed was Sol’s third sortie into enemy territory. This time he meandered forward and was unopposed so strode on before releasing a low scudding Excorcet of a shot that arrowed true on the target and stunned everyone by finishing in the bottom corner. We of course were up the other end but I’d guess he was about 20-25 yards out when he hit his screamer, 0-1 to the Arsenal.

Pires received a warm welcome from the Pompey fans

This was not a dirty game but when Stone hacked down Pires from behind he’d done enough to earn a yellow if you totted up all his fouls. Arsenal were on top now and Flamini might have made it two when he headed wide. The only booking came when LuaLua seemed incapable of beating Cole and stumbled more in hope than expectation, a rather unjust yellow card followed.

Almunia, whose confidence has clearly grown, made a very decent double save including one shot that seemed to get a rather wicked bounce. Faye was replaced by the noxious little runt Berkovic in a last ditch effort from the blues to salvage something. But it was Arsenal who finished the stronger and had the better of late attacks. As when Dennis found Lauren whose fine cross was cleared as far as Vieira who attempted a ‘Gerrard’ style shot but could only manage a ‘Neville’ style calamity.

Pires set up Dennis with a chance and Henry also had a deflected shot saved before Almunia saved from Berger. Henry then went down the right and fed Dennis who had another shot well saved. So after three minutes of added time we took home three points. If I made the match sound exciting then I’ve over-cooked it, this being the season for seriously over cooking things. Arsenal were well below their best but how good to see us play moderately and take home three points back to London instead of just the one.