By Ian Grant

Arsenal 4 Portsmouth 0

Minus ten degrees centigrade said the headline in the Evening Standard. But the chilly stands were warmed by a turbo-charged Arsenal performance reminiscent of the 1998 title winning side.

It didn’t start like that. Gilberto gave the ball away and Cygan gave away a foul in the first couple of minutes – giving rise to that sinking feeling. Wonder what Patrick Vieira, wrapped up all in black in the stands was thinking? Could Portsmouth win here for the first time in 50 years, perhaps?

But Reyes (vying with Henry for Man of the Match) ran back for a great tackle and the Spaniard was involved in the first three attacks – running on to long balls and taking a shot (wide).

Flamini, who is a bit erratic at the moment, pounced on a loose midfield ball in the seventh minute and sprayed it out left to Reyes, whose pace outflanked the Portsmouth right and he cut a perfect angled pass for Bergkamp to sidefoot home into the right corner.

Goal 119 puts the Dutchman in the Arsenal top ten goal-scorers of all time.

Six minutes later a long ball from Toure was picked up by Henry on the right of the Portsmouth area. He controlled it and laid a perfectly weighted pass for Reyes to thump home a rising left footed shot. The provider turned scorer illustrating Arsenal’s versatility.

Arsenal sat back a bit after that. If anything they tried more delicate moves which broke down. On 25 Portsmouth fashioned a chance from the busy and dangerous Lualua, after Bergkamp gave the ball away.

However, having Pires in the side instead of Ljungberg, although continually booed by Portsmouth fans from a previous penalty incident, gives the team more fluidity and balance.

And although Gilberto got caught in possession once or twice and Flamini broke down a couple of moves, on 37 he produced a defence splitting pass down the middle, picking up Henry’s run. The Arsenal captain rounded the keeper, Ashdown, and brilliantly dinked the ball so it went over the on-rushing O’Brien.

On 43, Henry picked up the ball in midfield and fed it to the right where Pires was in the clear. He sent and angled ball into space in the Portsmouth area where Reyes, about to shoot was pushed by Viafara.

Henry sent Ashdown the wrong way for the penalty.

The 4-0 halftime score was reminiscent of the West Ham game in 1998. But that had a powerful dynamic vibe. This was from fast incisive passing and possession.

Reyes starred again in the second half, sprinting back to help Cygan out and mixing it with the much taller Viafara, who complained he was being kicked. He then dummied brilliantly to set up an attack.

He was substituted to standing ovation and rising tones of Jose Antonio.

Eboue came on and although, like a lot of Arsenal youngsters shows promise, particularly at beating players, his final ball was nearly always the wrong choice.

Perhaps playing in exalted company makes him try to play above his current game, rather than producing a simpler ball for the good of the team, somewhat like van Persie last year.

Anyway, he’ll learn, and it is one of the things Arsenal fans have to put up with to see a young team and particular individual players develop.

Lualua was the best Portsmouth player and he fashioned a looping shot which beat Lehmann and came back off the post.

The impressive Taylor had a low shot saved by Lehmann.

A pertinent reminder to the current Arsenal youths was ex-Arsenal youngster Richard Hughes (you could fill a full Premiership side now with ex-Arsenal youngsters who never made it at Highbury) who performed below par and was booked.

Arsenal fashioned two clear-cut chances in the second half. Pires set up Bergkamp for a first time shot. And Henry and Pires set up a neat one-two with the former missing his hat-trick by a foot.

Wenger said it was great first half and it looked like Arsenal would score when attacking. He added it was important to keep a clean sheet – the second in a row.

He said that he believed this team had great potential and would develop very fast.

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One or two emails to ANR suggest that Wenger is not going to be active in the transfer window, as he thinks it would be unfair on the younger players.

This isn’t true. Wenger has his eye on one or two players and will bring them in if available.

Given it is World Cup year, Arsenal need a superstar or two to help sell season tickets for Ashburton Grove and help keep Thierry Henry at the club. There will be very little time to do business in July after the end of the tournament in Germany and before the likely start of the early Champions League qualifying rounds.

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