Pompey Euro dreams Poll-axed by ref’s error

PORTSMOUTH’S brave bid for a UEFA Cup place came up short as referee Graham Poll, in his last Premiership match, disallowed a 68th-minute effort for offside when Niko Kranjcar’s shot appeared to go in off Arsenal’s Philippe Senderos.

Pompey huffed and puffed in search of a late winner but it was all in vain as a young Arsenal side dug in to earn a point that should have been in their pockets well before half-time.

Arsenal’s on-loan Brazilian striker Julio Baptista had enough chances to bury Portsmouth’s ambitions in the first-half but his 40th-minute penalty was superbly saved by David James.

Arsenal gave Pompey every opportunity to fulfil their European dreams by fielding an end-of-season side without Jens Lehmann, William Gallas, Gilberto, Tomas Rosicky and Emmanuel Adebayor to name but a few.

Controversial Poll had no difficult decisions to make until the dramatic no-goal ruling — especially the clear-cut penalty when Linvoy Primus clumsily tripped Emmanuel Eboue. But Arsenal were terribly wasteful, despite cutting through the Pompey defence several times in the first half.

Opta Fact: Arsenal were awarded 12 penalties in 2006-2007, more than any other side.

PORTSMOUTH: James, Johnson, Primus, Pamarot, Traore, O’Neil (Mvuemba 76), Davis (Pedro Mendes 64), Hughes, Kranjcar, Kanu, Mwaruwari (LuaLua 46).

ARSENAL: Poom, Hoyte, Djourou, Senderos, Clichy, Eboue, Fabregas, Toure, Hleb, Diaby, Julio Baptista.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).