Arsenal vs Birmingham City

1. 90'

   That's the end of the game - life in the Premiership for Birmingham has begun with a 2-0 defeat as champions Arsenal get off to the expected start

2. 90'

   Birmingham launch a late ball forward. Keown stops it and frees Parlour... Aliadiere is there but the defending is again superb

3. 90'

   Into added time, and it's been a controlled victory for Arsenal

4. 90'

   Mad scramble: it ends with Toure belting in a shot and Purse - who else - clearing off the line quite brilliantly

5. 89'

   The flag-kick comes to nothing... the Birmingham fans are making the noise as we enter the last minute

6. 88'

   Vaesen tips it round the post for a corner. A finishing flourish from the home side

7. 87'

   Parlour charges forward and a neat move gives Vieira a shooting chance from the corner of the area...

8. 86'

   Edu is off and Koulo Toure replaces him. Not long to go now, and Arsenal are in possession

9. 85'

   Aliadiere races into the area and squares for Parlour, who looks a certain goalscorer - until Purse makes a great block. He's had a fine game

10. 83'

    Birmingham have settled well to their task after the break - at times in the first half they looked likely to be overrun

11. 82'

    The game rather meandering towards its conclusion at the moment

12. 82'

    Keown meets it, but his headed attempt is off-target

13. 82'

    ...it's blocked and goes behind for a Gunners corner

14. 81'

    Vieira lurking outside the area. Henry crosses, Gilberto shoots...

15. 80'

    Lauren chips the ball into the area, where Kenna is waiting to head clear

16. 79'

    He hits it, but in the end it's a comfortable catch for Vaesen in the Birmingham goal

17. 78'

    Henry, who got on the scoresheet from a similar range in the first half, is looking at this...

18. 77'

    Blues on the ball again - but they soon face danger as Henry is fouled by Purse on the edge of the area

19. 76'

    Aliadiere nearly gets onto the end of a low Edu pass into the area... all he gets for his pains is a knock, but he's soon back on his feet

20. 75'

    So nearly a route back into the game for the Midlanders. Aliadiere comes on for goalscorer Wiltord as Wenger decides to make a switch

21. 74'

    Birmingham's travelling fans take out their frustrations on Cole - meantime, Darren Carter meets a cross and sees his header brush the top of the net

22. 73'

    Cisse challenges Cole as Birmingham attack - he picks up a second yellow card and is sent off. Blues down to ten men for the last 17 minutes

23. 73'

    Birmingham again do well in defence as Wiltord and Parlour threaten - they've grown in confidence as this half has progressed

24. 71'

    Horsfield is taken off and Aussie winger Stan Lazaridis is his replacement as Blues make another change

25. 70'

    It falls to the unmarked Stern John, but he can't make proper contact with a fast-moving ball

More EPL games on August 18

• Aston Villa12-9-170

  Liverpool18-10-101
  Final