Match Report

Arsenal v Portsmouth 28th December 2005

Arsenal 4 - 0 Portsmouth

Four first-half goals helped Arsenal to only their second win of the month over a struggling Portsmouth.

Thierry Henry, who had not scored since the end of November, struck two just before the interval, including one from the penalty spot.

And the other goals came from Dennis Bergkamp - his first in the Premiership this season - and Jose Antonio Reyes.

Pompey, in contrast, never looked like scoring or ending a Highbury winless streak that now stretches to 50 years.

To their credit, Harry Redknapp's side started brightly and showed an impressive workrate for much of the first half.

But they failed to get a shot on target, unlike Arsenal who, with their former skipper Patrick Vieira watching from the stands, seemingly scored every time they ventured into Pompey's box.

By half-time they had coasted to 4-0, Bergkamp, who had been rested for the Boxing Day win over Charlton, opening the scoring in the seventh minute.

Mathieu Flamini broke through the centre and laid it off on the left flank to Reyes, who cut the ball across the Bergkamp to dab home.

Five minutes later, Reyes managed a goal of his own, skying it into the top right-hand corner of the goal after Henry had showed sublime control and skill in the box.

Henry, who had been in the midst of a five-match drought, rounded off the half in style with two further goals.

Flamini, who was superb throughout, again pierced Portsmouth's defence and midfield, and Henry coolly darted past goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown before stroking home the ball.

The Frenchman was just as nonchalant in the 42nd minute when he chipped in a penalty after Andy Griffin had pushed Robert Pires over in the box.

Sadly for the home crowd, half-time seemingly took the spark out of the Gunners' fireworks, with Pompey actually creating the better chances early in the second half.

Lomano Lua Lua had Jens Lehmann beaten with a thumping strike, which rattled the crossbar before bouncing clear.

Seconds later Matthew Taylor also had a shot on target but it lacked the venom of his team-mate.

Arsenal tried to recreate their earlier attacking opportunities, but only Bergkamp managed to force a save out of Ashdown.

And the Dutchman and his team-mates happily saw out the remainder of the game amid a raft of substitutions from manager Arsene Wenger.