Watto’s Report: Birmingham City 1-1 Arsenal

While this result has re-ignited the Blues Premiership campaign the Gunner’s championship aspirations have once more disappeared at St Andrews. There will be the plethora of indignities from the most disliked man in football who ironically is in charge of the nation’s most watchable team.

There has been too much said about the history of this fixture and now those pointless bandying of words can be put to bed at last.

On a pitch that had benefited by the week’s rain and spring grass growth allowed both sides to display their passing prowess. Those fans who were hoping or expecting the Blues to get stuck in to Arsenal were disappointed and it was a piece of crudity by Song that brought the first yellow card and Clichy scything down Gardener in full flight the second. This brought a display of histrionics from the Arsenal manager who bordered on the insane. Blues fans responded with mimicry of dance entitled the “Wenger Wave “.

Arsenal’s best chance came when an error by Ridgewell let the pre-pubescent Walcott clear but Hart came to the edge of the box to block. Blues best chance fell to Jerome who broke into the box where Campbell managed to get a toe in and thwart him.

The only other interesting feature of the first half was the sight of Fabregas begging to be taken off after a strong but fair tackle by Gardener left him limping. Wenger was having none of it and the Catalan actually completed ninety minutes.

The second period was much of the same with both sides passing sweetly and with tackles flying in and the acceptance of those tackles. Arsenal made significant changes on 70 minutes sending on Nasri and Arshavin for Rowsicky and the frankly inept Walcott. This gave the visitors a significant edge in the proceedings but Blues were close to taking the lead. A Ferguson free kick found Johnson who poked the ball over the bemused Almunia. The ball struck a post and incredibly deceived the in rushing Dann who could not force the ball home.

Arsenal took the lead on 81 minutes with a goal that began with poor choice of passes. Chucho (on for Mcfadden) and Jerome were making good forward runs when Ferguson chose to go square and possession was lost. With Blues defence left too deep Nasri cut in from the right and fired a superb goal past Hart.

Blues looked finished and should have been out when Nasri had merely to roll the ball across goal for a Bendtner tap in found the heels of Johnson who managed to clear. With added time almost up and the Grand O’l Poacher Phillips on for Fahey Blues launched an unceremonious high ball into the box. Gardener picked out Phillips who lobbed the keeper. The ball lobbed over everyone and fell kindly over the line. This was Phillips 250th career goal and it was a privilege to be there to see it.

A sloppy goal gave Blues a share of the spoils which they most certainly deserved. The point consolidated Blues in ninth place and hopefully gave Blues the confidence to push on to greater heights.

BLUES (4-4-2): Joe Hart, Stephen Carr, Liam Ridgewell, Roger Johnson, Scott Dann, Craig Gardner, Lee Bowyer, Barry Ferguson, Cameron Jerome, James McFadden (Christian Benitez 76), Keith Fahey (Kevin Phillips 83).

Subs: Maik Taylor, Seb Larsson, Michel, Stuart Parnaby, Gregory Vignal.

Booking: Gardner (85)

ARSENAL (4-3-3): Manuel Alumina, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Alex Song, Sol Campbell, Abou Diaby, Cesc Fabregas, Denilson, Tomas Rosicky (Samir Nasri 68), Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott (Andrey Arshavin 68).

Subs: Lukasz Fabianski, Eduardo, Carlos Vela, Emmanuel Eboue, Armand Traore.

Goal: Nasri (81)

Bookings: Song (16), Clichy (25)

REF Howard Webb (Excellent)

Attendance: 27, 039

By Alan Watton

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