Arsenal keeps a clean sheet at Birmingham
Arsenal stayed in touch with the Premier League leaders after a win which keeps them two points adrift of Manchester United and Manchester City.
Robin van Persie gave Arsenal the lead with a deflected free-kick.
The Dutchman should have then doubled it with a chip, and was almost made to pay when Roger Johnson fired over.
But Samir Nasri scored his 13th goal of the season before fine interplay between the Frenchman and Cesc Fabregas saw Johnson skew into his own net.
Seven points out of possible nine for Arsene Wenger's team over the festive period will breathe confidence into a team which faces Manchester City on Wednesday and will be eyeing the title with added fervour as 2011 begins.
But the result against a side which other big teams have struggled against - Manchester United drew at St Andrew's on Tuesday and Chelsea lost there in November - will give the French boss a hint that his team are developing different methods of winning.
This was a sometimes bruising encounter but Arsenal weathered it convincingly whereas West Ham's win against Wolves earlier on Saturday means that Birmingham start the year in the bottom three.
Robin van Persie gave Arsenal the lead with a deflected free-kick.
The Dutchman should have then doubled it with a chip, and was almost made to pay when Roger Johnson fired over.
But Samir Nasri scored his 13th goal of the season before fine interplay between the Frenchman and Cesc Fabregas saw Johnson skew into his own net.
Seven points out of possible nine for Arsene Wenger's team over the festive period will breathe confidence into a team which faces Manchester City on Wednesday and will be eyeing the title with added fervour as 2011 begins.
But the result against a side which other big teams have struggled against - Manchester United drew at St Andrew's on Tuesday and Chelsea lost there in November - will give the French boss a hint that his team are developing different methods of winning.
This was a sometimes bruising encounter but Arsenal weathered it convincingly whereas West Ham's win against Wolves earlier on Saturday means that Birmingham start the year in the bottom three.
Wenger: 'My team was calm, intelligent and focused'
On the side he picked for the game…
It’s not necessarily down to the players, I decided from the start when I saw the fixtures that I needed to rotate. You can do four or five in one game and four or five in the other game but I decided to go with the whole lot in one game and come back with the whole lot in the third game.
On matching Birmingham physically…
We were prepared mentally today to face physical challenges and we prepared ourselves not to lose our game and be calm, intelligent and especially to have the focus to put the ball down and play our game. We had chances in the first half and in the second half we had an outstanding game.
On Lee Bowyer’s challenge on Bacary Sagna…
I don’t want to talk too much about that because I haven’t seen a replay yet. I don’t want to keep that in my mind tonight because what’s more important is the way we want to play football. I am convinced this win today will strengthen the belief of the squad.
On taking confidence into the Manchester City game…
It is a big game. We have known since the start of December that the games at home against the big sides will have a big impact on the league. We started well with Chelsea and I think that win lifted the team and we can go into the Manchester City game with confidence.
On facing their rivals at Emirates Stadium…
We have played 20 games, with 11 away and nine at home. We have a good opportunity to take advantage of the number of games we have to play at home, especially against the big teams.
On the importance of away victories…
A draw away is not a good enough, especially if you look at the results of the other teams today. Every time when you play away from home you think a point is a disaster because you lose ground and you cannot afford to because there are so many teams fighting. You do not want to get behind.
On the criticism of his rotation policy over the festive period…
In fairness, I am used to criticism! I can understand that I was critisied but I think what is important is that I am paid to make decisions. Strong decisions are better than half decisions. I took a decision and it nearly worked, we were a little bit unlucky. I could have played the same team three times and lost at Wigan and tonight. I consider that we dropped two points at Wigan but you can also say that Manchester United dropped two points at St Andrew’s. Over the festive period we were the team with less recovery time than any team and the team who played, along with Manchester United, twice away from home.
The psychological impact of the wins over Chelsea and Birmingham…
We are in a race where every game becomes important. You cannot choose your games. We have learnt two things since the start of the season: the most consistent team will win it and you can drop points anywhere. West Brom, who are in the second half of the table, play outstanding football and that has changed in the Premier League.
On whether Birmingham were unlucky…
I cannot say objectively that Birmingham were unlucky to lose the game because if you look at the number of chances we had, we deserved to win.
On coping with Birmingham’s physicality…
We needed to be resilient without losing our nerves. I give great credit to my players for doing that because they kept calm, intelligent and never let nerves come out in their game. I am very proud of my team today.
On a pleasing clean sheet…
We needed that because we are questioned so much about that.
On Robin van Persie’s first league goal of the season…
He is an exceptional player but when you play up front you want to score goals. Fortunately, he got one today.
On Samir Nasri’s improvement this campaign…
He played too deep before and he goes much more in the final third. I could see in training last year that he has that ability.
On the side he picked for the game…
It’s not necessarily down to the players, I decided from the start when I saw the fixtures that I needed to rotate. You can do four or five in one game and four or five in the other game but I decided to go with the whole lot in one game and come back with the whole lot in the third game.
On matching Birmingham physically…
We were prepared mentally today to face physical challenges and we prepared ourselves not to lose our game and be calm, intelligent and especially to have the focus to put the ball down and play our game. We had chances in the first half and in the second half we had an outstanding game.
On Lee Bowyer’s challenge on Bacary Sagna…
I don’t want to talk too much about that because I haven’t seen a replay yet. I don’t want to keep that in my mind tonight because what’s more important is the way we want to play football. I am convinced this win today will strengthen the belief of the squad.
On taking confidence into the Manchester City game…
It is a big game. We have known since the start of December that the games at home against the big sides will have a big impact on the league. We started well with Chelsea and I think that win lifted the team and we can go into the Manchester City game with confidence.
On facing their rivals at Emirates Stadium…
We have played 20 games, with 11 away and nine at home. We have a good opportunity to take advantage of the number of games we have to play at home, especially against the big teams.
On the importance of away victories…
A draw away is not a good enough, especially if you look at the results of the other teams today. Every time when you play away from home you think a point is a disaster because you lose ground and you cannot afford to because there are so many teams fighting. You do not want to get behind.
On the criticism of his rotation policy over the festive period…
In fairness, I am used to criticism! I can understand that I was critisied but I think what is important is that I am paid to make decisions. Strong decisions are better than half decisions. I took a decision and it nearly worked, we were a little bit unlucky. I could have played the same team three times and lost at Wigan and tonight. I consider that we dropped two points at Wigan but you can also say that Manchester United dropped two points at St Andrew’s. Over the festive period we were the team with less recovery time than any team and the team who played, along with Manchester United, twice away from home.
The psychological impact of the wins over Chelsea and Birmingham…
We are in a race where every game becomes important. You cannot choose your games. We have learnt two things since the start of the season: the most consistent team will win it and you can drop points anywhere. West Brom, who are in the second half of the table, play outstanding football and that has changed in the Premier League.
On whether Birmingham were unlucky…
I cannot say objectively that Birmingham were unlucky to lose the game because if you look at the number of chances we had, we deserved to win.
On coping with Birmingham’s physicality…
We needed to be resilient without losing our nerves. I give great credit to my players for doing that because they kept calm, intelligent and never let nerves come out in their game. I am very proud of my team today.
On a pleasing clean sheet…
We needed that because we are questioned so much about that.
On Robin van Persie’s first league goal of the season…
He is an exceptional player but when you play up front you want to score goals. Fortunately, he got one today.
On Samir Nasri’s improvement this campaign…
He played too deep before and he goes much more in the final third. I could see in training last year that he has that ability.
Cesc post-match interview
Arsene's post-match interview
Arsene greets the fans
Has some words with ex-Gunner Alexander Hleb
Wanna play horsey?
Johnson is a cunt and tries to break Cesc's ankle. His karma was the own goal.
GOOOOOOAAAAL!
In the 13th minute, Scott Dann dragged down Van Persie and was lucky to escape a yellow card. Van Persie’s effort again went in to the wall but this time deflected past the wrong-footed Foster. It was the striker’s first Premier League goal of the campaign.
From The Guardian:
18 mins What a save by Fabianski from - yes - a Birmingham free kick, taken by Larsson about 20 yards out. He gave him the eyes, he put it to the keeper's side, not the wall's, and Fabianski leapt back across his goal to palm it away with a decisively non-limp wrist.
In the 58th minute, Samir swapped passes with Cesc, and scored his 13th goal of the season.
GOOOOAAAL!
The way the ball went into the net was odd – hitting Dann and then Johnson before going in – but the build up had been exquisite. Intricate passing between Nasri and Fabregas tied the home defence in knots. The Spaniard’s drive cannoned off Foster before bouncing off the two defenders and trickling in.
Lee Bowyer is a cunt, Part 1
Lee Bowyer is a cunt, Part 2
We concur, Arsene
But all's well that ends well.
Arsene's post-match interview
Arsene greets the fans
Has some words with ex-Gunner Alexander Hleb
Wanna play horsey?
Johnson is a cunt and tries to break Cesc's ankle. His karma was the own goal.
GOOOOOOAAAAL!
In the 13th minute, Scott Dann dragged down Van Persie and was lucky to escape a yellow card. Van Persie’s effort again went in to the wall but this time deflected past the wrong-footed Foster. It was the striker’s first Premier League goal of the campaign.
From The Guardian:
18 mins What a save by Fabianski from - yes - a Birmingham free kick, taken by Larsson about 20 yards out. He gave him the eyes, he put it to the keeper's side, not the wall's, and Fabianski leapt back across his goal to palm it away with a decisively non-limp wrist.
In the 58th minute, Samir swapped passes with Cesc, and scored his 13th goal of the season.
GOOOOAAAL!
The way the ball went into the net was odd – hitting Dann and then Johnson before going in – but the build up had been exquisite. Intricate passing between Nasri and Fabregas tied the home defence in knots. The Spaniard’s drive cannoned off Foster before bouncing off the two defenders and trickling in.
Lee Bowyer is a cunt, Part 1
Lee Bowyer is a cunt, Part 2
We concur, Arsene
But all's well that ends well.