Match Report


ArsenalArsenal     Birmingham CityBirmingham City
Simon VerlaatSimon Verlaat Computer Player Computer Player
Valerio LottiV. Lotti73
G
1
G
55Terry ScholesT. Scholes
Giuseppe ComandiniG. Comandini65
D
2
D
71Harvey CooperH. Cooper
Alfredo LambertiniA. Lambertini66
D
3
D
68Terry SimonsenT. Simonsen
Yves-A. ZugnaY. Zugna71
D
captain4
D
65Gianmarco PivottoG. Pivotto
Andy DickovA. Dickov68
D
5captain
M
74Patrick PearceP. Pearce
Warren NevilleW. Neville64
M
6
M
71Brian GardnerB. Gardner
Stefan GelsiS. Gelsi68
M
7
M
50Nicholas CharltonN. Charlton
Danilo CarvalhoD. Carvalho69
M
8
M
50Graham VieiraG. Vieira
Anton KirschnerA. Kirschner67
A
9
A
73Oliver HallerO. Haller
Carlos LoureiroC. Loureiro74
A
10
A
54Graham CarterG. Carter
Nicol˜ BattistiniN. Battistini70
A
11
A
54Massimo PoloniaM. Polonia
 
Daniel FerrerD. Ferrer66
A
12
D
58Stuart SwiftS. Swift
Anton ThielemannA. Thielemann61
A
13
D
56Noel PhilipsN. Philips
Wladimiro MartinoW. Martino76
M
14
G
50Andy FerdinandA. Ferdinand

FISO
today's match is sponsored by FISO
Match Report
There is a slight drizzle in the air here at Emirates Stadium where Arsenal play host to Birmingham City. A crowd of 8,709 fill this 10,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in good condition.
Arsenal are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Birmingham City appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Ugo Maddison.


0.00
The whistle blows and Arsenal get the match underway!
9.38
Nicholas Charlton sees space and advances. Nicholas Charlton cuts inside the box! Nicholas Charlton strikes a beautiful left-footed shot at goal. The ball swerves viciously but the keeper is a match for it. Good save!
18.41
Giuseppe Comandini darts forward. Giuseppe Comandini flicks the ball to his team mate, Anton Kirschner. Anton Kirschner shoots from 20 yards. Terry Scholes is helpless! The ball slams into the back of the net - goal!!
28.04
Warren Neville flicks a high pass forward to Anton Kirschner who brings the ball under control. Anton Kirschner sees Carlos Loureiro just inside the box and quickly passes the ball. Some good footwork from Carlos Loureiro provides some space. He shoots at goal. The ball skims nastily along the ground and slips under the keeper's body. Goal!!
32.10
Danilo Carvalho flicks a high pass forward. Nicol˜ Battistini holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Nicol˜ Battistini plays a scrappy one-two with Carlos Loureiro and stumbles forward towards the goal... Nicol˜ Battistini makes some space for himself and shoots at goal. The ball clips the underside of the bar and bounces just over the line. The fans cheer wildly!
38.11
Graham Vieira threads a neat ball through to Oliver Haller. Oliver Haller knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
44.02
Danilo Carvalho flicks the ball to his team mate, Carlos Loureiro. Carlos Loureiro advances inside the box! Some good footwork from Carlos Loureiro provides some space. He shoots at goal but it curls horrendously wide!
45.00
The referee blows for the end of the first half

Both teams emerge for the second half. Arsenal appear unchanged since the first half. Birmingham City also appear unchanged since the first half. The Birmingham City players look more relaxed than they were earlier in the game.

45.00
The whistle blows and Birmingham City kick off!
47.22
Graham Carter hacks Andy Dickov from behind! Graham Carter is given a warning by the referee! Andy Dickov runs off the knock.
48.38
Danilo Carvalho knocks the ball forward to Carlos Loureiro. Carlos Loureiro passes the ball forward but Anton Kirschner is offside!
55.05
Nicholas Charlton takes a short throw-in bringing Patrick Pearce into play. Patrick Pearce flicks a high pass forward to Massimo Polonia who brings the ball under control. Massimo Polonia threads the ball through to Oliver Haller but he's offside!
60.14
Arsenal have made 3 substitutions with Anton Thielemann replacing Nicol˜ Battistini, Daniel Ferrer replacing Anton Kirschner and Wladimiro Martino replacing Stefan Gelsi .
61.20
Alfredo Lambertini threads the ball through to Danilo Carvalho. Danilo Carvalho changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Danilo Carvalho plays a one-two with Anton Thielemann and rushes in on goal... Danilo Carvalho shoots from just inside the box but it's drastically wayward!
72.43
Brian Gardner hits a low pass to Massimo Polonia. Massimo Polonia lofts in a cross ball towards Graham Carter. With a superhuman jump, Graham Carter connects with the ball and heads it goalwards. It's there!! Valerio Lotti has to pick the ball from the back of the net!
75.36
Harvey Cooper kicks a strong pass forward to Brian Gardner. Brian Gardner threads a neat ball through to Oliver Haller. Oliver Haller deftly passes the ball to Graham Carter, releasing him through on goal. Graham Carter cuts inside the defence and shoots at goal but connects badly and the ball goes wide!
77.53
Giuseppe Comandini threads a neat ball through to Wladimiro Martino. Wladimiro Martino sees space and advances. Wladimiro Martino makes a probing pass to Anton Thielemann but he's offside!
81.31
Danilo Carvalho plays the ball forward to Anton Thielemann. Anton Thielemann threads the ball through into the box. Some silky footwork from Daniel Ferrer provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal. It's a goal!! What a beauty!
90.00
Full-time is reached with the referee blowing his whistle!

Match Statistics
 

Arsenal

Birmingham City
Goals
4
1
Shots on Target
4
2
Shots off Target
2
1
Offsides
2
2
Fouls
0
1
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
50.8%
49.2%
Play Area
32.2%
42.4%
25.4%

Scorers
Anton Kirschner 18
Carlos Loureiro 28
Nicol˜ Battistini 32
Daniel Ferrer 81
Graham Carter 72

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Carlos Loureiro of Arsenal

Match Ratings