W Ham 0 - 1 Arsenal

Arsenal maintained their place at the top of the Premier League with a controlled victory over West Ham.

Robin van Persie scored the only goal of the game when he rose at the far post to nod in Alexander Hleb's centre.

Hleb was later carried off after a bad tackle by Mark Noble, but Arsenal continued to dominate the match.

Van Persie was denied a second when Robert Green tipped his shot onto the post, while West Ham's Dean Ashton had a goal-bound header hacked away.

Interview: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Interview: West Ham boss Alan Curbishley

After the opening 45, when a shot on the turn that went over was his most notable contribution, Ashton provided an increasingly stern test for Arsenal's back four.

Arsenal, far short of the champagne football of recent weeks, appeared to be playing within themselves.

However, in-form striker Emmanuel Adebayor almost scored with the Gunners' first attack when he fizzed a low shot just wide of the post.

And on 13 minutes Adebayor was heavily involved in the opening goal when he held the ball up before laying it off for Hleb to cross and Van Persie to finish the move.

Other than that, there was little to get excited about it the opening half.

Perhaps it was frustration that led to Lee Bowyer crunching two-footed into Matthieu Flamini and then Noble doing the same to Hleb. Both were booked.

Whereas Flamini shook off his knock, Hleb's match was over and he was replaced by Emmanuel Eboue.

West Ham lost a player, too, with Scott Parker failing to make it out for the second half after suffering knee damage in a challenge with Flamini. Hayden Mullins took his place.

Nine minutes after the break, Arsenal came close to doubling their advantage when Van Persie let fly from the edge of the area but Green managed to divert the effort onto his post.

It had the effect of waking West Ham from their slumber and Ashton should have done better with a free header when an equaliser seemed inevitable, allowing Manuel Almunia to save easily.
Two minutes later former Gunner Freddie Ljungberg thought he had restored parity when he slotted in but his goal was ruled out for offside.

More goalmouth action followed as Adebayor had a low shot pushed away by Green, Ashton sent a drive skidding wide and Adebayor shot tamely after good work by Abou Diaby.

Then Diaby shot just over from the edge of the box and Gael Clichy's low strike had Green scrambling and at full stretch.

West Ham put Arsenal under pressure for a spell, with Ashton a threat in the air.

With 10 minutes remaining, Arsenal lost Adebayor to what looked like a hamstring injury.

And the Gunners would have lost two points as well had Van Persie not been on hand to clear Ashton's header off the line shortly after.

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley on Freddie Ljungberg's disallowed goal:"I think he was definitely onside when he scored. But they are tight things and we didn't get it. Had we got it, it was all to play for.

"From then we were sailing close to the wind to get ourselves in the game.

"However, I thought Dean Ashton might have scored with a header to get us back in the game."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:"We have had a problem taking points at Upton Park recently. We had to take our chances and overall we deserved the victory.

"It was a good test to defend a 1-0 advantage and not to make mistakes. I believe we did that very well.

"We have matured, we have more belief and we are really hungry. The players show a pleasing solidarity."

West Ham: Green, Neill, Ferdinand (Gabbidon 48), Upson, McCartney, Bowyer (Boa Morte 83), Parker (Mullins 46), Noble, Ljungberg, Ashton, Camara.Subs Not Used: Wright, Cole.

Booked: Bowyer, Noble.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb (Eboue 31), Fabregas, Flamini, Diaby,

Adebayor (Silva 79), Van Persie (Bendtner 88).Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Denilson.

Booked: Flamini, Eboue.

Goals: Van Persie 13.

Att: 34,966.

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

From : BBC Sports

Tottenham 1-3 Arsenal

Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice as Arsenal came from behind to beat Spurs and go top of the Premier League.

Gareth Bale curled in a 15th-minute free-kick to put Tottenham ahead before Paul Robinson twice denied Adebayor.

Abou Diaby hit the bar as Arsenal pushed on, then Dimitar Berbatov was thwarted by a last-ditch Kolo Toure tackle and Adebayor blazed over.

Arsenal equalised when Adebayor nodded in before Cesc Fabregas' drive put them ahead and Adebayor volleyed a third.

Interview: Tottenham boss Martin Jol
Interview: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
Interview: Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas

But for long spells it had seemed Arsenal's profligate finishing would lead to Spurs beating their neighbours for the first time in 17 attempts - particularly as there was no such wastefulness from Bale, who took advantage of Manuel Almunia's poor positioning to whip a free-kick into the bottom corner.

But then time and again, Spurs' defence - which included fit-again Michael Dawson for the first time this season - was cut open by the visitors' quick, incisive passing.

As well as the two Adebayor efforts - the first tipped over by Robinson and the second beaten away by the England keeper - Arsenal's Alex Hleb also wasted a good first-half chance.

Fabregas, influential throughout, stormed through the midfield before releasing Adebayor, whose clever lay-off found Hleb in a central position.

But his shot was parried by a well-positioned Robinson, whose confidence had clearly been restored after his two clean sheets for England.

However, he should have picked the ball out of the net after Diaby was played in by Hleb but the Arsenal midfielder rifled his shot against the bar from eight yards.

As the half wore on, though, Tottenham began to settle.

Striker Berbatov floated a teasing cross for Robbie Keane but the Republic of Ireland star was ruled to have handled the ball as he tried to control it.

After the break, Berbatov should have doubled Spurs' lead when he raced through on goal and rounded a stranded Almunia, who had left his area, but the Bulgarian attempted to trick Toure

rather than shoot into an unguarded net and was dispossessed.

Yet if that was a bad miss, Adebayor quickly edged ahead in the miss-of-the-match stakes as he

blasted over from eight yards following a great run and pull-back by Bacary Sagna.

The game then entered a period of niggling challenges, flared tempers and players squaring up to each other.

Perhaps that unsettled Tottenham - and fired up Arsenal.

And when Fabregas' free-kick came in from the right - after the Spaniard had been fouled by Steed Malbranque - Adebayor finally demonstrated he has a striker's touch by powerfully heading home.

The hosts responded well and Berbatov had a shot cleared off the line by Gael Clichy.

But Tottenham suffered a crushing blow when Fabregas set his aim from distance and crashed

in a fierce strike to put Arsenal ahead for the first time.

Spurs then had a great chance to even things up again but substitute Darren Bent scuffed his shot horribly wide when clear through on goal.

And, remarkably, there was still time for Arsenal to score a third goal when Adebayor flipped up the ball on the edge of the box, swivelled and crashed a magnificent volley into the top corner.

Tottenham manager Martin Jol:"We should have killed them off but we didn't take our chances.

"We should have scored to go 2-0 up and then conceded from a set-piece but at 1-1 we had a good opportunity and then at 2-1 down we had two good chances.

"We took the game to them and created chances. But they were clinical and that was the difference."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger"It shows our spirit and belief and I was very happy with our game and our mental strength and togetherness. We have showed them all again.

"Having lost Thierry (Henry), it has helped the belief and mental strength of the team to start well. We never forget Thierry but we know that the team is blossoming and growing.

"There is something in the side; quality, of course, but also mental strength.

"I hope the good form continues. At half-time I could not complain because all we did wrong was not to take our chances. I felt that if we kept the pace high, we would have a good chance of winning."

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Lee, Malbranque (Bent 82), Huddlestone, Jenas, Bale (Lennon 69), Berbatov, Keane. Subs Not Used: Cerny, Zokora, Rocha.
Booked: Jenas, Chimbonda.

Goals: Bale 15.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Silva, Clichy, Hleb (Song Billong 90), Fabregas, Diaby (Rosicky 56), Flamini, Adebayor, Van Persie (Denilson 85).Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Walcott.

Booked: Sagna, Hleb.

Goals: Adebayor 65, Fabregas 80, Adebayor 90.

Att: 36,053.

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

England 3-0 Russia

A Michael Owen brace helped a vibrant England to a vital win over their main Euro 2008 qualifying rivals Russia.

Owen was composure epitomised as Gareth Barry's cross fell to him 10 yards out and he sidefooted a strike in off the post to give England an early lead.

Russia's Konstantin Zhyrianov had a goal harshly ruled out for handball before a lethal Owen powered in a shot.

England weathered a spell of pressure from Russia before Rio Ferdinand angled in a shot to complete the win.

Report: England beat Russia 3-0
Interview: England manager Steve McClaren
Interview: England striker Michael Owen
Interview: Russia boss Guus Hiddink

England's performance had Wembley rocking at the end of a game which began with tensions high as Russia led Steve McClaren's side by a point in Group E.

A Russia win would have all but ended England's hopes of reaching Euro 2008 and the visitors began by trying to deny the hosts the sort of time and space Israel afforded them on Saturday.

But an England side exuding confidence quickly asserted their authority, and Owen put them ahead after seven minutes with a clinically-struck trademark finish.

Euro 2008 Qualifying tables

Steven Gerrard dinked a ball through the heart of Russia's backline to set up Heskey, who got the nod ahead of Peter Crouch to start, but his shot was blocked by keeper Vyacheslav Malafeev.

Owen appeared to slip as he attempted to slot in the loose ball as a second goal eluded England.

Russia tried to hit back as they pressed for an equaliser, and England were reprieved when Zhyrianov slotted in a shot only to be harshly penalised for handball.

A Shaun Wright-Phillips point-blank header went wide before England keeper Paul Robinson had to dive to his right to smartly palm away a Diniyar Bilyaletdinov strike.

England regained the upper hand with a slick passing game intertwined with clever movement, which left Russia struggling to cope.

TOP ENGLAND SCORERS
Bobby Charlton - 49 goals (from 106 games)
Gary Lineker - 48 goals (from 80 games)
Jimmy Greaves - 44 goals (from 57 games)
Michael Owen - 40 goals (from 85 games)

Joe Cole had a deflected shot saved before a second Owen goal put the gloss on an impressive first half from England.

Owen was found in space by a Heskey flick-on and he arrowed in a shot for his 40th international goal.

The precise passing and discipline of Gareth Barry was particularly impressive for England, but they were given two early scares after the interval.

Dmitri Sychev powered an angled shot across goal just wide and just failed to make contact with a the ball as he slid into meet a near-post cross.

A resurgent England professionally closed out the win as McClaren's balanced and buoyant side showed maturity and mettle.

Ferdinand latched on to a pass from Owen and lashed in a shot to put the icing on the cake at the end of an open and entertaining match.

England: Robinson, Richards, Ferdinand, Terry, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips, Barry, Gerrard, Joe Cole (Neville 88), Heskey (Crouch 80), Owen (Downing 90).Subs Not Used: James, Brown, Smith, Johnson.

Booked: Joe Cole.

Goals: Owen 7, 31, Ferdinand 84.


Russia: Malafeev, Vasili Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Alexei Berezutsky, Aniukov (Kerzhakov 80), Bilyaletdinov, Zhirkov, Semshov (Bystrov 40), Sychev (Pavluchenko 63), Arshavin, Zurianov.Subs Not Used: Shunin, Torbinsky, Pogrebniak, Kolodin.

Att: 86,106

Ref: Martin Hansson (Sweden).

England may defy Reds on Gerrard

England v Israel

Wembley Stadium

Saturday, 8 September

Kick-off: 1700

England have not ruled out the possibility of giving Steven Gerrard an injection so he can play in Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel.

Gerrard has a broken toe and Reds boss Rafa Benitez says he does not want the influential midfielder to have a jab.

But England coach Steve McClaren says Gerrard is keen to play on Saturday and will have an injection if necessary.

"We're leaving it as late as possible but we want Steven on the field and we want him ready to play," said McClaren.

News conference: England boss Steve McClaren

"We will liaise with Liverpool and we will do nothing to put the player at risk, but we will also go a lot on how Steven feels and what he wants."

Gerrard had an injection to enable him to play for Liverpool against Chelsea on 19 August and Benitez said it took him "four or five" days to get over it.

McClaren insisted he would not do anything that would have a long-term negative effect on Gerrard, but his main concern at the moment is beating Israel.

That means he is prepared to risk losing Gerrard for the game against Russia on Wednesday by playing him on Saturday.

And the England boss said there were plenty of precedents for giving him a jab.

"You look and in some cases, if there's no great risk, then fine," said the England coach.

Frank Lampard is having intensive treatment with Chelsea and we have said he might have a chance of playing in the second game

England boss Steve McClaren

"John Terry and Frank Lampard had broken toes in pre-season and were taking injections.

"I have known it at club level where it would be just too painful to play (without the injection) but there's no risk of further injury if you have one."

McClaren's midfield options are limited because England regular Lampard is definitely out of the Israel game because of a thigh injury.

It was expected he would definitely miss the Russia game as well but it now appears his injury is not as serious as first thought.

"Frank is having intensive treatment with Chelsea and we have said he might have a chance of playing in the second game," said McClaren.

"It is still a far-out possibility at this moment but he is doing everything he can to be available."

Everton defender Joleon Lescott took part in his first England training session on Tuesday, while recalled striker Emile Heskey was involved for the first time in three years.

Israel squad for Euro 2008 qualifier against England on 8 September at Wembley:
Aouate, Davidovitch, Strauber, Ben Haim, Benado, Gershon, Ziv, Sprungin, Saban, Strul, Antebi, Benayoun, Badier, Alberman, Tal, Zandberg, Yamuz, Itzhaki, Golan, Balili, Collauti, Barda, Katan.

From : BBC Sports

Arsenal 3-1 Portsmouth

Arsenal held out for more than 40 minutes with 10 men to beat Portsmouth.

Emmanuel Adebayor's penalty and Cesc Fabregas's close-range effort put Arsenal in first-half control.

Philippe Senderos saw red for a foul on Kanu when he was the last defender, but Arsenal increased their lead through Tomas Rosicky's powerful strike.

Kanu's bizarre goal gave Portsmouth hope, but Manuel Almunia denied Glen Johnson and John Utaka as the visitors mounted a late rally.

Interview: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
Interview: Portsmouth head coach Joe Jordan

Portsmouth came with a game plan, to defend in numbers and try and hit Arsenal on the break with John Utaka's pace and Kanu's trickery.

Pompey had a penalty shout turned down when Senderos - in for Bakari Sagna - appeared to block Hermann Hreidarsson as Matthew Taylor's corner came in.

But having turned that one down referee Mark Halsey had no hesitation in pointing to the spot at the other end, when Robin van Persie proved too quick for keeper David James.

Adebayor obliged from the spot by sending James the wrong way for his first goal of the season.

Arsenal used the flanks to try and by-pass the massed ranks in the middle.

Alexander Hleb whipped in an inviting cross which any sort of contact from Adebayor would have resulted in a goal and Gael Clichy got down the left flank to fire in a cross which Noe Pamarot almost sliced into his own net.

Portsmouth cleared their heads but their attempts to get back into the game were undone by a tendency to give the ball away cheaply.

It was a tendency which cost Pompey as Arsenal doubled their lead before half-time.

Gilberto Silva's header from Rosicky's corner was actually blocked by Fabregas but the Arsenal midfielder reacted quickly to spin and bury the loose ball from close-range.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp replaced defenders Lauren and Hreidarsson with midfielders Pedro Mendes and Nico Kranjcar to try and salvage the situation but almost fell further behind when another corner caused panic, with James saving well from Senderos's header.

Referee Halsey handed Portsmouth a route-map back into the game when he sent Senderos off four minutes into the second half.

The referee ruled Senderos pulled Kanu down when the Pompey striker was through on goal, although there looked to be minimal contact.

Almunia could only parry the resulting free-kick taken by Utaka, but Matt Taylor blazed the rebound over the bar from six yards.

Referee Halsey returned the complement by awarding Arsenal a dubious free-kick on the by-line for what appeared to be a shoulder-barge by Distin on Clichy.

Portsmouth switched off as Fabregas tapped the ball to Rosicky who drove his shot through three Pompey players, including Glen Johnson's legs.

Within seconds, Pompey pulled one back through a freak goal as Kanu tried to control Utaka's cross and saw the ball ricochet in off his standing leg.

Substitute Abou Diaby should have restored Arsenal's three-goal cushion when he rounded off a stunning move by heading Clichy's cross wide from six yards.

Glen Johnson almost made them pay with a swerving shot that Almunia could only parry and as Arsenal dozed at a free-kick Utaka warmed Almunia's palms.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:"If Kanu wasn't offside, then the referee had no choice but to send him off.

"We are where we want to be at this point in the season, and that's a good basis.

"In the first half we showed tremendous quality, and in the second half we were tested mentally and physically."

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp:"You've got to be at your best to live with Arsenal but you can't gift them goals like we did.

"Their third goal was as bad as anything I've seen, players were switching off, walking away and not looking at the ball.

"You don't walk off and think about something else, that's what we did and we got punished."

Arsenal: Almunia, Toure, Senderos, Silva, Clichy, Rosicky, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb (Denilson 61), Van Persie (Diaby 70), Adebayor (Eduardo 79).Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Walcott.
Sent Off: Senderos (49).

Booked: Fabregas.

Goals: Adebayor 8 pen, Fabregas 35, Rosicky 59.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson (Kranjcar 46), Lauren (Pedro

Mendes 46), Muntari, Davis (Nugent 61), Taylor, Utaka, Kanu.Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hughes.

Booked: Hreidarsson, Kanu.

Goals: Kanu 60.

Att: 60,114

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

From : BBC Sports

Henry's wife is granted divorce

Former Arsenal footballer Thierry Henry's estranged English wife, Claire Merry, has been granted a divorce.

The decree nisi order was granted on the grounds of Henry's behaviour, according to court papers.

Details of the French international's behaviour referred to in Ms Merry's divorce petition were not released.

The pair, who have a two-year-old daughter, Tea, did not attend the hearing at the Principal Registry of the High Court's Family Division.

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The divorce was one of 34 decrees nisi approved by District Judge Malik in just over a minute.

Henry and Ms Merry shared a six-bedroom home in Hampstead, north London, which Henry bought five years ago for £5.95m.

They met when they starred together in TV adverts for Renault Clio cars.

Henry announced he was leaving Ms Merry in June, just before his transfer to Spanish club Barcelona.

From : BBC Sports