GALLAS RUINS ADAMS'S RETURN
William Gallas's late header spoiled Arsenal legend Tony Adams's return to his former club as the north Londoners were made to sweat for their 1-0 victory at the Emirates against Portsmouth. The French defender rose to nod home Denilson's free-kick with only nine minutes remaining, and keep alive his side's Premier League challenge.
Portsmouth set out to destroy the home side's creativity by playing five in midfield, and with Peter Crouch acting as Adams's team's solitary attacker, Portsmouth's plan worked well, as they harried and pressured Arsenal giving them little time to conjure in the final third.
Indeed the first effort on goal from the frustrated north Londoners came after 23 minutes, but centre-back Gallas's 30-yard speculative shot was blocked. A minute later Pompey came within inches of taking a surprise lead when Marc Wilson floated an appetising cross towards Crouch, lurking at the far post. The tall forward out-jumped Gallas, but could only direct his header on to foot of Manuel Almunia's left-hand post.
Emmanuel Adebayor should have put Arsenal ahead after 32 minutes with a gilt-edged opportunity. The Togo forward, returning after suspension, was played though by a cleaver first-time pass by Abou Diaby that bisected the Portsmouth defence, but, having rounded goalkeeper David James, was tackled excellently by a sliding Sylvain Distin.
Before the interval Arsene Wenger, clearly unsettled by Adams's tactics, moved forward Nicklas Bendtner to the right flank and Samir Nasri, who had been there, in to central midfield in order that the diminutive Frenchman could wield more of a creative influence.
Despite matching the away side's number in the middle Arsenal still found it hard to test James's goal, though Adebayor wasted another superb opportunity on the hour mark. Denilson's cross from the right fell to the 24-year-old with the goal gaping six-yards away, but his snap-shot found the side-netting.
With Arsenal supporters becoming more restless as a fourth consecutive draw loomed, Brazilian Denilson clipped over a free-kick from the left, which Papa Bouba Diop needlessly conceded, and Gallas managed to steal in front of James and head the winner after 81 minutes.
The result moved Wenger's team to fourth in the table, though they are still 10 points behind leaders Liverpool. For Arsenal old boy Adams, who played over 500 games for the club, the pressure will increase. Since taking over from Harry Redknapp his team have managed only nine points from a possible 33 and a relegation battle looks a certainty.
William Gallas's late header spoiled Arsenal legend Tony Adams's return to his former club as the north Londoners were made to sweat for their 1-0 victory at the Emirates against Portsmouth. The French defender rose to nod home Denilson's free-kick with only nine minutes remaining, and keep alive his side's Premier League challenge.
Portsmouth set out to destroy the home side's creativity by playing five in midfield, and with Peter Crouch acting as Adams's team's solitary attacker, Portsmouth's plan worked well, as they harried and pressured Arsenal giving them little time to conjure in the final third.
Indeed the first effort on goal from the frustrated north Londoners came after 23 minutes, but centre-back Gallas's 30-yard speculative shot was blocked. A minute later Pompey came within inches of taking a surprise lead when Marc Wilson floated an appetising cross towards Crouch, lurking at the far post. The tall forward out-jumped Gallas, but could only direct his header on to foot of Manuel Almunia's left-hand post.
Emmanuel Adebayor should have put Arsenal ahead after 32 minutes with a gilt-edged opportunity. The Togo forward, returning after suspension, was played though by a cleaver first-time pass by Abou Diaby that bisected the Portsmouth defence, but, having rounded goalkeeper David James, was tackled excellently by a sliding Sylvain Distin.
Before the interval Arsene Wenger, clearly unsettled by Adams's tactics, moved forward Nicklas Bendtner to the right flank and Samir Nasri, who had been there, in to central midfield in order that the diminutive Frenchman could wield more of a creative influence.
Despite matching the away side's number in the middle Arsenal still found it hard to test James's goal, though Adebayor wasted another superb opportunity on the hour mark. Denilson's cross from the right fell to the 24-year-old with the goal gaping six-yards away, but his snap-shot found the side-netting.
With Arsenal supporters becoming more restless as a fourth consecutive draw loomed, Brazilian Denilson clipped over a free-kick from the left, which Papa Bouba Diop needlessly conceded, and Gallas managed to steal in front of James and head the winner after 81 minutes.
The result moved Wenger's team to fourth in the table, though they are still 10 points behind leaders Liverpool. For Arsenal old boy Adams, who played over 500 games for the club, the pressure will increase. Since taking over from Harry Redknapp his team have managed only nine points from a possible 33 and a relegation battle looks a certainty.
Labels: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Portsmouth, Premier League, Tony Adams, William Gallas
