Gunners fire their way past Pompey

Arsenal's understrength side still had enough quality to beat Portsmouth 3-0 at Fratton Park and extend their unbeaten Barclays Premier League run to 21 matches.

The Gunners were captained by Andrey Arshavin with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and Manuel Almunia all rested ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League semi-final, second leg against Manchester United.

Nicklas Bendtner put them ahead following a blunder by England goalkeeper David James on 13 minutes, before making it 2-0 from the penalty spot before half-time. Mexican Carlos Vela wrapped things up on 56 minutes.

Polish keeper Lukasz Fabianski - whose had a nightmare in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea - was given an early test when Peter Crouch's knockdown was drilled goalwards by Hayden Mullins, but he was down quickly to make a comfortable save.

Arsenal took the lead when a 13th-minute corner was only half-cleared and the ball dropped back out to Arshavin on the left. His deep cross was met at the far post by Bendtner, whose downward header was spilled by James and rolled over the line.

Pompey almost snatched an equaliser when Peter Crouch played a one-two with Nadir Belhadj on the edge of the area, only to stab his shot just wide.

Arsenal won a penalty when Arshavin was tripped by Sean Davis after 41 minutes. Although James went the right way, he could not keep out Bendtner's kick into the far corner.

Pompey continued to press, with Crouch the next man to fire off target from a decent position before Fabianski pushed away a 20-yard drive from Kanu.

Somehow the ball stayed out when John Utaka got to a chip into the area ahead of Fabianski as the home side saw another chance wasted.

It proved costly as Arsenal made it 3-0 after 56 minutes. The ball broke for Vela on the left side of the Pompey area after Arshavin's shot was blocked by Hayden Mullins. The Mexican forward showed Pompey how to finish with a low strike into the far corner.