Arsenal 3 Birmingham City 1 - Sunday Mercury report

Oct 18 2009 By Andy Walker

WELCOME to the Premier League Carson Yeung! A state-of-the-art stadium, world-class players and fantastic, free-flowing football – just a shame that it’s not his, yet.

The Hong Kong tycoon has already revealed that he’s a fan of slick, passing football and, if he transforms his new club into the Arsenal of the Second City, then Bluenoses should be jumping for joy.

But judging by the regular “step-by-step” statements from Yeung’s aides, the Blues faithful will be waiting some time.

The new Blues president witnessed a gulf in class at the Emirates yesterday afternoon and, had it not been for several scuffed efforts in front of goal, this could have easily been four or five to Arsenal.

The odds of Blues winning in the red half of north London were as long as the Great Wall of China, and Alex McLeish’s men often found themselves chasing shadows.

“Getting a result was always going to be a bonus for us playing against a team of massive quality out there,” said McLeish. “The disparity in terms of the financial cost of Arsenal compared to us is astronomical.

“But I felt that we gave a spirited performance but we’ve given spirited performances at Spurs, Manchester United and now Arsenal and we’ve come away with nothing. We’ve certainly got to now start picking up points in the games ahead and there are no easy games in the Premier League.

“We are probably where most people expected us to be at the start of the season but I think the performances in eight games out of nine, not the Burnley game, have been good.

“I don’t think we have looked out of place but we have lacked the cutting edge.”

The TV cameras were firmly fixed on Yeung throughout and he yelped, fiddled and swore as much as the next Bluenose.

After a dominant opening spell from the hosts, it was only a matter of time before an Arsenal opener arrived.

And when the Gunners fired home two goals in as many first-half minutes, Arsene Wenger’s men took their foot off the pedal.