Arsenal:
                    Lehmann
            Eboue Campbell Cygan Clichy
Ljungberg (Quincy 84) Vieira Flamini Reyes (Pires 70)
         Henry       van Persie (Cesc 76)

Arsenal started with massive changes in defence. Toure's ban saw Cygan start his (probable) 3-match break from the bench, and he did ok. Emmanuel Eboue at right back seems to have settled a bit since his promising but slightly nervy start against Stoke. He nearly got on the goal sheet very early on, and later in the first half was denied what looked a cast-iron penalty claim. Lehmann, we can confirm, is still Lehmann. Today's moments included an unpressured pass to a striker, and knocking the ball out for a corner again with no opposition player in a threatening position.

Henry had a good chance after 4 minutes when he managed to get hold of Cygan's long high pass. But slightly bizarrely he passed the ball into open space with no other Arsenal players around, when he might have fashioned a shooting opportunity for himself. You can take selfless play a bit too far sometimes!

We had 3 penalty claims int he first half but the only realyl good one was Eboue's. He skipped round Lescott only to be tripped by the same defender. Reyes, Henry, and van Persie all saw shots saved or flying just over the bar. And we had the ball in the net at one point after Henry loitered close by Oakes when the keeper had the ball in his hands. Henry waited for it to be thrown up for the kick and poked out a toe to nick the ball in mid-air, then tapped it onto the net. Mike Riley was not impressed and ruled it out. It's not exactly clear to me what the rule is, here. The ball was in the air, not in the keeper's hands, and there was definitely no element of dangerous play or high foot by Henry. Clearly, if the ball had been rolled along the ground instead of thrown up, there'd have been no question of disallowing it. I've heard it said that it was because the ball had been thrown up for a kick and so wasn't "in play" yet, in some sense. But I have to admit to not understanding that. The keeper made an error and Henry punished him for it (it's not like Henry was hiding behind him like you sometimes see - Oakes must have been aware of his presence).

Anyway, the second half started with more saves from Oakes, a virtual one-man team for spells. Vieira powered a header goalwards from Henry's cross but Oakes showed great reactions to tip it over the bar.

Soon after, Reyes had another penalty claim turned down when he controlled a ball from Vieira with his chest only to be bundled over in the box. But Henry picked up the loose ball and was brought down by Oakes, and this time finally Riley awarded the penalty. Henry having won the penalty, the honour of taking it fell elsewhere. With Pires on the bench, and Lauren being rested also, it was Vieira's turn, and he made no mistake sending the ball wide into the corner of the net.

The visitors were forced to come out a bit more and it only gave Arsenal more chances to attack. Oakes was forced into a fantastic double save when first van Persie hit a superb volley and then Ljungberg turned it goalwards again after Henry had hit the rebound back into the 6 yard box.

Oakes made another fine save from Henry but in the end he just couldn't do it all on his own. Henry got to the goalline and cut the ball back low into the box for a classic run by Ljungberg who belted the ball high into the net.