Pompey, Gunners scoreless at interval

HT Arsenal 0 Portsmouth 0

Tony Adams’ Portsmouth side were unlucky not to go in with an interval lead at the Emirates Stadium after Peter Crouch hit the Arsenal post with a powerful header.

The England striker outjumped William Gallas in the 24th minute and although his header beat Manuel Almunia in the Arsenal goal the ball came back off the post.

Arsenal should have taken the lead in the 33rd minute when Emmanuel Adebayor rode the tackle of Sol Campbell and bore down on James in the Portsmouth goal but Sylvain Distin made a superb saving tackle.

Arsenal should have taken the lead in the 33rd minute when Adebayor rode the tackle of Sol Campbell and bore down on James in the Portsmouth goal.

The Arsenal striker seemed certain to score but Sylvain Distin arrived just in time with a precision tackle to sweep the ball away for a corner.

Almunia was then forced to save a Crouch header and at the other end James had to be alert to snuff out the danger as Adebayor again looked lively. Portsmouth’s Richard Hughes received the game’s first yellow card for a trip on Denilson.