Gunners ease past Blues

Robin van Persie and Vassiriki Diaby had fired the Gunners into a 2-0 lead inside 18 minutes, but Lee Bowyer capitalised on a mistake by young keeper Vito Mannone - preferred to fit-again Manuel Almunia - to pull a goal back before half-time.

After soaking up plenty of pressure from the battling Blues, Andrey Arshavin wrapped up victory late on.

The Gunners started the livelier of the two sides and broke the deadlock. Alex Song collected possession 25 yards out, and slipped a low pass through the left side of the penalty area.

Van Persie took the ball on his right, then switched back inside past Stephen Carr before drilling it into the net.

Before Birmingham could recover, it was 2-0. Emmanuel Eboue put Tomas Rosicky clear down the right channel, and his cut-back from the near post went all the way through to Diaby - who smashed a first-time effort into the roof of the net.

Theo Walcott, who earlier was injured in a heavy challenge, eventually had to go off, replaced by Arshavin on 33 minutes.

Arsenal were made to pay for a lapse in concentration as Birmingham pulled a goal back after 38 minutes. Barry Ferguson sent a deep cross into the penalty area, which Diaby flicked back up in the air. Mannone came to collect, but dropped the ball - which Bowyer smashed home.

Birmingham, boosted by their goal, had an early chance at the start of the second half when the ball flashed across the Arsenal six-yard box.

At the other end, Arshavin stabbed a close-range effort wide. Arshavin settled matters with five minutes left when he slotted home from just inside the penalty area after a quick counter attack.