Pompey lead the Gunners

Arsenal 0, Portsmouth 1 (latest)

Premiership newcomers Portsmouth immediately put leaders Arsenal under pressure at Highbury today as the Gunners were allowed no time to settle on the ball in the opening stages.

Indeed, the early half-chances all went to the visitors, with Patrik Beger firing a free-kick wide and Nigel Quashie blazing another shot over the crossbar.

In central midfield, Amdy Faye was making his presence felt, while the pace of striker Yakubu Ayegbini was always likely to trouble Campbell and Toure.

And just 10 minutes had gone when Campbell, who has endured considerable disciplinary woe this season already, was booked for a foul on Quashie.

The key to Portsmouth's early impact lay not only in Faye's impressive display but in the entire team's commitment to press Arsenal high up the pitch.

That gave the Gunners little chance to establish any rhythm or to launch their dangerous counter-attacks, and it was not until midway through the first half that the home side’s first real threat came.

Even that was from long range as Parlour fired a shot just over the top.

Back came Portsmouth. After Arjan de Zeeuw had drilled a shot just wide, Yakubu’s pace took him clear through the centre – but he fired his shot into Jens Lehmann’s arms.

They were not denied for long, though.

Steve Stone burst past Ashley Cole with alarming ease down the visitors’ right flank and crossed for Sheringham – who else? – to send a diving header into the net with 26 minutes gone.