Arsenal qualify for Champions League with Pompey win
Nicklas Bendtner found the back of the net twice
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Saturday, 02, May 2009 06:13
A weakened Arsenal team proved to be too strong for Portsmouth as the Gunners won 2-0 at Fratton Park to secure Champions League qualification.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger made eight changes from the side that faced Manchester United in the Champions League. He rested the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and Samir Nasri, but his side still played the stylish football which has become associated with the club.
Johan Djourou should have given the Gunners the lead, but he headed when unmarked from an Andrey Arshavin corner.
Arsenal took the lead after 14 minutes and it came thanks to a mistake from England goalkeeper David James. Arshavin's cross was headed tamely goalwards goal by Nicklas Bendtner, which James somehow managed to let slip through his fingers.
Pompey could barely get into the game in the first-half and only had one decent strike from Peter Crouch, which went just wide of goal, to show for their efforts.
The Gunners doubled their lead before the break when Sean Davis was penalised for bringing down Arshavin in the penalty area and Bendtner coolly slotted the ball past James from the spot-kick.
The points were secured for Arsenal at the start of the second-half when a break from the Londoners led to the impressive Arshavin laying the ball back to Mexican international Carlos Vela, who finished low past James.
Pompey's hopes of an unlikely comeback were ended when they had Noe Pamarot sent-off for pulling down Arshavin when he was through on goal.