GOONER >3

Arsenal began 2011 in the best possible style by winning 3-0 at Birmingham on New Year’s Day.

After letting two points slip at Wigan in midweek, Arsène Wenger’s side needed to respond in the Midlands. And the pressure was cranked up just before kick-off with the title-chasers all winning their fixtures.


However this evening, Arsenal were on top from the off. Robin van Persie’s deflected free-kick gave them the lead in the 13th minute. Both sides would have opportunities in the rest of the first half but, after the restart, it was all Arsenal.
 

Samir Nasri’s 13th goal of the season doubled their advantage and then Roger Johnson’s comical own goal – which had been preceded by a flowing Arsenal move – killed the game.


Fabregas, Nasri, Jack Wilshere and Andrey Arshavin all could have scored too as Birmingham’s resistance crumbled. But the clean sheet was just as important to the visitors.
 

The travelling support represented over 4,000 of the 24,000 present at this game – and they were in full voice throughout.
 

This evening their side were at their controlled best. If Arsenal can beat Manchester City on Wednesday then this will represent a pretty merry old festive period for Wenger’s men.
 

The manager had been criticised in some quarters for making eight changes at Wigan on Wednesday. This afternoon all those players came back in.
 

Once again, Lukasz Fabianski, Laurent Koscielny and Bacary Sagna retained their places. Fabregas, Johan Djourou, Nasri, Van Persie, Theo Walcott, Alex Song, Wilshere andGael Clichy all returned.


This was the evening kick-off of the day. In the preceding hours, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham had all won.

It meant Arsenal needed a victory to keep pace at the top but Birmingham had lost only once on home territory this season and even held Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in midweek. Perhaps it was the toughness of this encounter that had precipitated all those changes at the DW Stadium.