Emile Heskey gave Arsenal warning that they can take nothing for granted after
snatching a late winner to give Birmingham victory at St Andrews.
The Gunners, missing four key players ahead of next week's FA Cup final with
Manchester United, had strolled through a dreary game only for Steve Bruce's
Birmingham to deliver a painful reminder of what can happen when concentration
wanders.
Walter Pandiani had given Birmingham the lead with 10 minutes left before
Dennis Bergkamp equalised, and the game was drifting towards a draw only for
Heskey to catch the Arsenal defence asleep.
With this result meaningless, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be more
concerned about the fitness of Thierry Henry, Jose Antonio Reyes, Robert Pires
and Lauren, who all missed the trip to St Andrews.
Hopes had been raised by Arsenal's midweek 7-0 hammering of Everton that this
could be another masterclass but it was not to be.
With nothing at stake for either side there was a definite end-of-term feeling
and, especially as far as Arsenal were concerned, this appeared little more that
a run-out in the afternoon sun with an emphasis on avoiding cards and injuries.
Jermaine Pennant showed a couple of nice touches against his old club early
on, linking well especially with Mario Melchiot, but it was Robin van Persie who
fired the first shot in anger, driving low from 25 yards after good build-up
play only to see Kenny Cunningham make the block.
Birmingham attempted to use a direct approach, hoping that Heskey and Pandiani
would unsettle Sol Campbell and Philippe Senderos and they achieved some success
with the tactic.
The Blues should even have taken the lead when Pandiani knocked Senderos off
balance and laid the ball back for Stephen Clemence to strike on the run but he
blasted over.
Other than that, chances were at a premium in the first half, with Arsenal
trying to pass their way through midfield and finding Birmingham working hard to
deny them space.
Kolo Toure, playing at right-back, timed his tackle in the penalty area
perfectly to deny Darren Carter. Ashley Cole broke quickly and ran 50 yards
before sliding a pass through to Freddie Ljungberg only for the impressive Mario
Melchiot to rob the Swede.
Toure showed the value of some direct running with a powerful burst down the
right flank before finding van Persie, who sent his shot bouncing a yard past
the post.
Generally though, neither side was busting a gut and at one stage Arsenal were
so laid-back that Blues 'keeper Maik Taylor had the time to take a throw-in.
The best passing move of the half nearly gave Arsenal the lead in first-half
injury time when Cesc Fabregas set up van Persie but Taylor was well-placed to
save.
There was at least more initiative shown by both sides after the re-start.
Pandiani started it, rolling a 25-yard shot wide after a neat Heskey lay-off
then Patrick Vieira had a volley blocked in the other penalty area.
Van Persie sent a left-footed free-kick bending just over the angle before in
Arsenal's next attack putting his fellow Dutchman Bergkamp clean through on
goal.
For once Bergkamp's first touch was not perfect and he had to stretch to reach
the ball, sending it over Taylor but off target.
Mehdi Nafti sent a low shot straight at Jens Lehmann then on the break Cole
flashed a ball across goal with no Arsenal player able to get the crucial
touch.
Pennant struck a long-range free-kick but was unable to test Lehmann, then
Fabregas played in Bergkamp but he did not make the best contact with his shot
and Taylor was grateful to gather.
Birmingham went to three up front when Clinton Morrison came off the bench to
replace Carter and almost immediately had a terrific chance when Nafti's block
tackle sent him through but Lehmann came sliding out to pull off a great stop.
Wenger sent on Edu and Jeremie Aliadiere and the young French striker was next
to threaten only to see his shot from a tight angle parried well by Taylor.
Toure struck the bottom of the upright after a one-two with Bergkamp, before
Pandiani finally broke the deadlock firing low into the corner from close range
after a mad melee on the edge of the Arsenal six-yard box.
That brought the game to life - at last. With two minutes left man of the
match Vieira lifted a delightful ball over Cunningham's head and Bergkamp forced
the ball home off Taylor.
That should have been that only for Arsenal to switch off completely in
defence and allow Heskey to steal in and thump the ball gleefully past Lehmann
for the winner.
Teams
Birmingham Maik Taylor, Melchiot (Tebily 78), Cunningham,
Upson, Clapham, Pennant, Nafti, Carter (Morrison 62), Clemence,
Pandiani (Martin Taylor 90), Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Blake, Vaesen.
Booked: Pandiani.
Goals: Pandiani 80, Heskey 90.
Arsenal Lehmann, Toure, Senderos, Campbell, Cole,
Fabregas (Flamini 75), Silva, Vieira, Ljungberg (Edu 68),
Bergkamp, Van Persie (Aliadiere 68).
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Eboue.
Goals: Bergkamp 88.
Att: 29,302
Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
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