Arsenal's red-card curse may be returning to haunt them but the Gunners
reacted by displaying tremendous resilience, spirit and heart as they secured
victory at Wimbledon despite playing for 47 minutes with 10 men.
Defender Oleg Luzhny became - controversially - the third Arsenal player to be
dismissed in the past four games, the seventh this season and the 29th during
Arsene Wenger's three-and-a-half-year reign at Highbury just before half-time
for a professional foul.
But while it has been Arsenal's indiscipline which has betrayed them on
countless previous occasions, there was a burning sense of injustice in the
Gunners' camp this time around.
Just as when Thierry Henry was recently dismissed against Werder Bremen,
Arsenal felt hard done-by, with television replays showing that Luzhny hardly
touched Andreas Lund as the striker bore down on goal just outside the penalty
area.
Referee Uriah Rennie nevertheless believed that the Ukrainian centre-back was
at fault and that, as the last defender, he had to go - even though team-mates
were in close proximity.
Arsenal were already 2-1 ahead by this stage after Kanu had struck twice, one
of them from a suspiciously offside position, following Lund's 12th-minute
opener for Wimbledon.
Despite their numerical advantage, the Dons could find no way past the massed
Arsenal defensive ranks in the second-half as Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira
provided an impenetrable bulwark ahead of a back four in which Martin Keown was
outstanding.
And the Gunners even scored a late third goal when substitute Henry converted
a penalty after being brought down by Jason Euell, who was himself sent off.
In contrast, Wimbledon simply lacked the imagination or invention to break the
Gunners down as they failed to ease their continuing relegation worries.
And amid an injury crisis, it is painfully evident that there is simply too
little quality available - apart from Michael Hughes, who has only just been
publicly criticised by boss Egil Olsen for his defensive shortcomings.
The Dons still managed to take the lead, however, when Hughes crossed from the
right wing for Lund to rise virtually unchallenged to meet the ball and direct
it just inside the far post as keeper David Seaman either slipped or hesitated.
Wimbledon continued to concentrate on hitting the visitors on the
counter-attack and a mazy run by Marcus Gayle ended with the striker being
tackled just as he took aim but vociferous claims for a penalty were turned
down.
Hughes and Martin Andresen were also swapping wings in a bid to keep the
Arsenal defence on their toes and another dangerous cross by the Northern
Ireland international found Euell - again unmarked - at the far post.
This time, however, Seaman's reactions were up to the challenge and the keeper
was also relieved to see a ferocious half-volley from 30 yards out by Hughes
clear the crossbar by a couple of inches after dipping and swerving en route to
goal.
Arsenal still had at least an equal share of possession but lacked a cutting
edge up front as Dennis Bergkamp fired three times at keeper Neil Sullivan while
Kanu produced a magical turn only to shoot over the bar.
Bergkamp's persistence eventually paid off, however, as he threaded a short
through-ball to Kanu inside the penalty area and the Nigerian international, who
seemed offside, turned to strike his shot powerfully past Sullivan.
After Silvinho had then let fly with a thunderbolt shot that Sullivan did
superbly to parry, there were no possible arguments about Kanu's second goal
four minutes before the breakthrough.
The striker rose above Kenny Cunningham and Lund to meet Silvinho's corner and
head past Sullivan only for the topsy-turvy game to take another twist just two
minutes later as Luzhny was sent off.
Arsenal were furious at the decision, with Vieira having to be pulled back
into the defensive wall by team-mate Lee Dixon, but they regrouped, with Marc
Overmars being sacrificed as Petit came on and Gilles Grimandi dropped back into
defence.
After Arsenal managed to create the first opening of the second half, with
Sullivan diving low to his left to save from Bergkamp, the Dons stepped up the
pressure and Hughes hit a crisp volley which Seaman managed to parry around the
post.
But despite their numerical advantage, the Dons struggled to find their way
past the massed ranks of Arsenal defenders, while substitute Henry troubled them
on the break with his pace.
Hughes hit a long-range effort which flew over the bar but it was Arsenal who
clinched victory with two minutes left as Henry raced clear onto Vieira's
through-ball and was clearly brought down by Euell, who was sent off.
Henry duly sent keeper Sullivan the wrong way from the penalty spot to confirm
Arsenal's impressive backs-to-the-wall victory: the third time they have secured
victory with 10 men in the past four games.
Some things just never change.
Teams:
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Blackwell, Andersen, Jupp,
Hughes, Euell, Roberts (Badir 76), Andresen (Ardley 66), Lund, Gayle.
Subs Not Used: Willmott, Davis, Francis.
Sent Off: Euell (88).
Goals: Lund 12.
Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Grimandi, Silvinho, Luzhny,
Parlour, Vieira, Overmars (Petit 45), Kanu (Henry 66),Bergkamp (Winterburn 74).
Subs Not Used: Suker, Manninger.
Sent Off: Luzhny (43).
Goals: Kanu 33, 41, Henry 89 pen.
Att: 25,858
Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).
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