Arsenal have won two consecutive Champions League group stages in the new season, and Arsene Wenger was temporarily relieved to win Ajax on the road.

As long as they pick up at least four points from their next game against Sparta Prague, Arsenal are essentially locked in qualification.

For Arsenal, who are strained and want to avoid excessive physical exertion, it is necessary to spend as little as possible in the Champions League in the first half of the season.

Having already beaten Stamford Bridge and Anfield in the league, Arsenal will need to build as much of an edge as possible in the first half of the season, as the intensity of the two-front battle will certainly be higher in the second half than in the first.

Back in England for three days, Arsenal host the eighth round of the Premier League against Birmingham.

"The eighth round of the Premier League is on schedule, defending champions Arsenal have started the new Premier League season with a surprising seven consecutive wins, Vieira has begun to be forgotten, fans are no longer worried about Arsenal's injury wave, Arsenal still look as strong as last season, and Fleet Streetball critics agree that Arsenal's defense seems to be better this season than last season, not because of the huge leap in the individual quality of their defensive players. Rather, Arsene Wenger used the right tactics to make the team's margin for error much higher.

Let's take a look at who will be fighting for victory at Highbury today.

Arsenal started 451.

Goalkeeper: Lehmann.

Defenders: Eboue, Toure, Senderos. Flamini.

Midfielder: Ljungberg. Cesc Fabregas. Qin Xiong, Silva, Hleb.

Striker: Thierry Henry.

Ljungberg returned from injury, Pire was old and had just played in the Champions League in midweek, so Arsene Wenger kept him on the bench and Hleb made a rare chance to play in a game to prove himself.

Birmingham started 451.

Goalkeeper: Taylor.

Defender: Melchiott. Upson, Carningham, Clapen.

Midfielders: Pennant, Barth, Izet, Clemens, Gray.

Forward: Heskey.

The starting line-up of the two teams is almost identical, but there will certainly be differences in stance, as many Fleet Street commentators have advised Premier League teams to go to Highbury and never give Arsenal a chance to counter-attack. It should be your counterattack against Arsenal! ”

The game got underway, and Arsenal immediately launched a fierce attack at home.

Qin Xiong combined with Hleb in midfield. Hleb is much better than when he first arrived, he has found his place, he is no longer the core of Stuttgart, at Arsenal, he is not even a main player, so naturally he has to lower his profile to serve the main players.

Qin Xiong made a wonderful one-two with him in the front court, and after playing Bart, Qin Xiong suddenly made an offensive transfer, he sent a diagonal pass through the ball, and Ljungberg, who had returned from injury, entered the penalty area according to the habitual way of running inside.

While the Gunners fans were waiting in the stands for a scene that would knock Birmingham down as soon as the game opened, Ljungberg stopped the ball wide!

Straight to goalkeeper Taylor confiscated the ball.

It was a difficult cross to stop, but Ljungberg doesn't just stop the ball to the goalkeeper when he's in good form.

There is only one possibility: Ljungberg, who has just recovered from injury, has not yet recovered.

This was also proven in the following games, with Ljungberg's mistakes mounting.

Birmingham defended very well today, and containing Qin Xiong is already something that all Premier League teams do when they play Arsenal.

They have three midfielders to check Qin Xiong, including Izet, who was the Premier League assist leader two years ago and has a passing skill that can tear apart the opposition's defence.

Hleb's wide break lacked a change of pace, and he couldn't do what Pire's ability to get past opponents and pass the ball well.

He can only do the same of both.

Either passing or passing, the combination of the two is difficult for him who has not yet fully adapted to the Premier League.

As a result, Arsenal's attack has suffered a great difficulty.

Ljungberg's flank attack was problematic and Hleb's role was not obvious enough.

Cesc Fabregas came up with a natural assist to share the pressure on Qin Xiong in the middle, but Bart and Clemens' defensive prowess was obvious to all, and they were effective in switching between targets.

The game was locked in a stalemate after 10 minutes.

Qin Xiong will not have room to break through, and the small team cooperation of his teammates is not too good, and the continuous battle may also be a test for Fabregas's form, after all, it is his first season as the main force.

When the situation was unexpected, Qin Xiong noticed a small problem with Birmingham's counter-attacking attack.

Pennant is an active and selfish attacker on the right, he seems to be aggressive, but he is too lonely, and he always wants to make waves in Arsenal's defence.

There is a stubbornness that outsiders can't understand.

Of course he was stubborn!

He was dropped by Arsenal!

The Notts County player moved to Arsenal at the age of 16 and became one of Wengrozhi's talented young talents, and then six years later, he was dropped by Arsenal in the summer and moved to Birmingham City on a permanent basis!

He is not a fuel-efficient lamp like many English players, he was imprisoned for a month for a drunk driving accident more than half a year ago, and he has to wear an electronic tracker for games after parole, which is a scandal that happened to him, but he never thinks that this is the reason why Arsenal gave up on him, but that Wenger did not give him enough trust!

In the summer when Qin Xiong arrived, Pennant returned from Leeds United on loan, and he made a bold statement: I am Arsenal's biggest "acquisition" in the summer!

However, when Qin Xiong gradually established his main position, in the first half of the 04/05 season, Pennant only made seven substitute appearances, which added up to less than three full games.

How can he calmly accept the fact that he has been swept away by Arsenal?

Once he gets the ball, Pennant, who uses his personal ability to attack the Arsenal defence, is like a wild revenge**!

It's not that I can't!

It's you who don't trust me at all!

I'm going to let you guys watch me destroy Arsenal!

I want you to regret it!

With a frenzied obsession, Pennant's vengeful fury was evident in the first half of the game.

In the 21st minute, Pennant finally hit the Arsenal goal with a long-range shot from outside the area, but the threat was not great at all, and Lehmann easily held the ball in his arms.

Qin Xiong, who was in the midfield, walked to Hleb's side and whispered a word to him.

Then he retreated to the backfield to pick up, took the initiative to run to Silva's side, and said the same thing.

"Encircle Pennant!" (To be continued......)