Post by Salem6 on Nov 24, 2003 7:28:50 GMT
Nov 23 2003
By Paul Smith
THIERRY HENRY provided a master class in creation as he set up all three
goals to keep suspension-hit Arsenal top of the Premiership.
And Arsene Wenger, celebrating his 400th game in charge, had the
satisfaction of watching his side clock up their 230th win and score their
500th Premiership goal under the Frenchman.
It also extended the Gunners' unbeaten start to 13 games, beating the
previous record of 12 set by Liverpool last term.
Arsenal made the ideal start, scoring inside five minutes when Freddie
Ljungberg fired home from close range.
They waited late to seal the points, despite dominating throughout, with the
mercurial Henry the architect, setting up every goal for his team-mates.
Dennis Bergkamp latched on to the Frenchman's pass and unleashed a deft chip
over Birmingham keeper Maik Taylor in the 80th minute, and eight minutes
later Robert Pires scored the third as Henry laid the ball into his path to
leave him with the simple task of walking the ball into the net.
The Gunners went into the game gripped by suspensions to key players
following the brawl at Old Trafford in September.
In the absence of Lauren, Ray Parlour, Patrick Vieira and Martin Keown,
Wenger was forced to reshape the side, with 18-year-old Gael Clichy, a
summer signing from Cannes, making his Premiership debut at St Andrews.
Aside from the injured Christophe Dugarry, Birmingham were at full strength
as they looked to get back to winning ways following the 1-1 draw at Midland
neighbours Wolves.
Blues manager Steve Bruce insisted this match would give him an indication
of how far his side had come after making their Premiership debut against
Arsenal on the opening day of the campaign at Highbury last season.
As it was, it took him precisely four minutes to make an early assessment as
the visitors carved open his defence to make a dream start.
Bergkamp, captaining the side for the first time, began the move before
Henry's measured pass found Ljungberg who raced through to score his third
goal of the season.
With Arsenal dominating, Henry should have increased the lead five minutes
later.
But after the Frenchman left a trail of defenders in his wake with an
impressive run on goal, his final shot was disappointing, allowing Taylor to
save.
Birmingham attempted to drag themselves back into it, but assured defending
by the leaders protected Jens Lehmann in the visitors' goal.
It was Arsenal who teased and tormented their opponents but failed to build
on their early lead, with the gulf in class evident.
Indeed, it took the home side all of 28 minutes before they caught their
first sight of goal with Lehmann never in danger of being beaten by Stan
Lazaridis' snap-shot.
To their credit though, Birmingham stepped up the pressure just before the
break to threaten a comeback.
But Arsenal began the second half in much the same vein as the first, and
with just two minutes gone Edu's breathtaking ball reached Henry, and when
he spun off his marker and raced into the box a goal looked likely until
Taylor's intervention.
Diving low to his left the on-loan Fulham keeper got an outstretched hand to
the ball and turned it round the post.
Birmingham continued to live dangerously and when Henry raced clear in the
58th minute and attempted to pick out Ljungberg at the far post, Kenny
Cunningham panicked and almost put through his own goal as Taylor was forced
to make a last ditch save from his own team-mate.
Substitutions followed with Arsenal bringing on Kanu for Clichy and
Birmingham Stern John for Aliou Cisse.
And in the 65th minute Mikael Forssel was left to regret a golden
opportunity to equalise.
Robbie Savage crossed from the right and the striker beat both Pascal Cygan
and Lehman to the ball but failed to convert it into an empty net.
Ljungberg should have made the points safe when he was clean through on goal
and shot wide in the 75th minute, but sustained Arsenal pressure followed as
they looked to make their class count.
So it came as no surprise when Arsenal eventually extended their lead in the
80th minute.
It was a goal of sheer class by Bergkamp as he surged on to Henry's pass and
raced 50 yards before executing an exquisite chip over Taylor.
With two minutes remaining Arsenal claimed a third and once more Henry was
the provider as he laid the ball to Pires who scored from close range.
MATCH VERDICTS
MAN OF THE MATCH
THIERRY HENRY
Even when Henry isn't finding the net he's a class apart.
Terrorised the home defence and provided Ljungberg, Bergkamp and Pires with
telling passes to secure the points.
RATINGS
BIRMINGHAM Taylor 7, Johnson 6, Upson 8, Clemence 6, Savage 7, Lazaridis 7
(Hughes 5), Clapham 7, Dunn 7, Forssell 6 (Morrison 5), Cunningham 7, Cisse
6 (John 7).
ARSENAL Lehmann 7, Toure 7, Campbell 7, Cygan 8, Cole 7, Ljungberg, 8, Pires
7 (Hoyte 5), Edu 7, Clichy 7 (Kanu 7), Bergkamp 7 (Aliadiere 5), HENRY 9.
MANAGERS: Bruce 6; Wenger 7.
REFEREE:P Durkin 8.
www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/content_objectid=13652630_method=full_siteid=106694_headline=-HENRY%2DFIRES%2DGUNNERS-name_page.html
By Paul Smith
THIERRY HENRY provided a master class in creation as he set up all three
goals to keep suspension-hit Arsenal top of the Premiership.
And Arsene Wenger, celebrating his 400th game in charge, had the
satisfaction of watching his side clock up their 230th win and score their
500th Premiership goal under the Frenchman.
It also extended the Gunners' unbeaten start to 13 games, beating the
previous record of 12 set by Liverpool last term.
Arsenal made the ideal start, scoring inside five minutes when Freddie
Ljungberg fired home from close range.
They waited late to seal the points, despite dominating throughout, with the
mercurial Henry the architect, setting up every goal for his team-mates.
Dennis Bergkamp latched on to the Frenchman's pass and unleashed a deft chip
over Birmingham keeper Maik Taylor in the 80th minute, and eight minutes
later Robert Pires scored the third as Henry laid the ball into his path to
leave him with the simple task of walking the ball into the net.
The Gunners went into the game gripped by suspensions to key players
following the brawl at Old Trafford in September.
In the absence of Lauren, Ray Parlour, Patrick Vieira and Martin Keown,
Wenger was forced to reshape the side, with 18-year-old Gael Clichy, a
summer signing from Cannes, making his Premiership debut at St Andrews.
Aside from the injured Christophe Dugarry, Birmingham were at full strength
as they looked to get back to winning ways following the 1-1 draw at Midland
neighbours Wolves.
Blues manager Steve Bruce insisted this match would give him an indication
of how far his side had come after making their Premiership debut against
Arsenal on the opening day of the campaign at Highbury last season.
As it was, it took him precisely four minutes to make an early assessment as
the visitors carved open his defence to make a dream start.
Bergkamp, captaining the side for the first time, began the move before
Henry's measured pass found Ljungberg who raced through to score his third
goal of the season.
With Arsenal dominating, Henry should have increased the lead five minutes
later.
But after the Frenchman left a trail of defenders in his wake with an
impressive run on goal, his final shot was disappointing, allowing Taylor to
save.
Birmingham attempted to drag themselves back into it, but assured defending
by the leaders protected Jens Lehmann in the visitors' goal.
It was Arsenal who teased and tormented their opponents but failed to build
on their early lead, with the gulf in class evident.
Indeed, it took the home side all of 28 minutes before they caught their
first sight of goal with Lehmann never in danger of being beaten by Stan
Lazaridis' snap-shot.
To their credit though, Birmingham stepped up the pressure just before the
break to threaten a comeback.
But Arsenal began the second half in much the same vein as the first, and
with just two minutes gone Edu's breathtaking ball reached Henry, and when
he spun off his marker and raced into the box a goal looked likely until
Taylor's intervention.
Diving low to his left the on-loan Fulham keeper got an outstretched hand to
the ball and turned it round the post.
Birmingham continued to live dangerously and when Henry raced clear in the
58th minute and attempted to pick out Ljungberg at the far post, Kenny
Cunningham panicked and almost put through his own goal as Taylor was forced
to make a last ditch save from his own team-mate.
Substitutions followed with Arsenal bringing on Kanu for Clichy and
Birmingham Stern John for Aliou Cisse.
And in the 65th minute Mikael Forssel was left to regret a golden
opportunity to equalise.
Robbie Savage crossed from the right and the striker beat both Pascal Cygan
and Lehman to the ball but failed to convert it into an empty net.
Ljungberg should have made the points safe when he was clean through on goal
and shot wide in the 75th minute, but sustained Arsenal pressure followed as
they looked to make their class count.
So it came as no surprise when Arsenal eventually extended their lead in the
80th minute.
It was a goal of sheer class by Bergkamp as he surged on to Henry's pass and
raced 50 yards before executing an exquisite chip over Taylor.
With two minutes remaining Arsenal claimed a third and once more Henry was
the provider as he laid the ball to Pires who scored from close range.
MATCH VERDICTS
MAN OF THE MATCH
THIERRY HENRY
Even when Henry isn't finding the net he's a class apart.
Terrorised the home defence and provided Ljungberg, Bergkamp and Pires with
telling passes to secure the points.
RATINGS
BIRMINGHAM Taylor 7, Johnson 6, Upson 8, Clemence 6, Savage 7, Lazaridis 7
(Hughes 5), Clapham 7, Dunn 7, Forssell 6 (Morrison 5), Cunningham 7, Cisse
6 (John 7).
ARSENAL Lehmann 7, Toure 7, Campbell 7, Cygan 8, Cole 7, Ljungberg, 8, Pires
7 (Hoyte 5), Edu 7, Clichy 7 (Kanu 7), Bergkamp 7 (Aliadiere 5), HENRY 9.
MANAGERS: Bruce 6; Wenger 7.
REFEREE:P Durkin 8.
www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/content_objectid=13652630_method=full_siteid=106694_headline=-HENRY%2DFIRES%2DGUNNERS-name_page.html
