Fabregas shines, Arsenal keep pace Sunday, January 02, 2011
Robin van Persie scored his first Premier League goal of the season as Arsenal maintained their title challenge with a comfortable 3-0 win at Birmingham.
Samir Nasri was also on the scoresheet as the Gunners remained within two points of leaders Manchester United.
Arsene Wenger had criticised his defence following their 2-2 draw with Wigan in midweek, but the Arsenal boss had no reason to complain as his side kept their first clean sheet in eight league games.
Van Persie opened the scoring after 13 minutes when his free-kick deflected off Lee Bowyer and past Ben Foster, but the Birmingham players had reason to feel aggrieved after Van Persie tumbled under a soft challenge from Scott Dann on the edge of the penalty area.
But Birmingham responded immediately, with Sebastian Larsson curling an effort goalwards, but Lukasz Fabianski made a fine save to keep the former Arsenal player's effort at bay.
They were denied a penalty when Van Persie appeared to handle the ball from Roger Johnson knockdown. And the Netherlands international had the chance to double his goal tally after Nasri threaded the ball through, but his weak effort was easily blocked by keeper Ben Foster.
Arsenal continued to dominate possession in the second half, and they made their dominance count when Nasri's strike from the edge of the area beat Foster after a fluid passing move between Nasri and Cesc Fabregas.
And the pair combined once more for the third goal, with Fabregas' shot from an acute angle was initially saved by Foster, but Johnson was helpless to stop the ball rebounding off him and into the net.
