Arsenal kicked-off the new year in the same way that they ended 2008 with a home win in a less than convincing style, beating Championship side Plymouth Argyle 3-1.
Robin Van Persie, captain for the day in the absence of Cesc Fabregas and Manuel Almunia, proved to be the hero with two goals.
Van Persie stuck just after half-time as Samir Nasri floated in a corner, and all the unmarked Dutchman had to do was to head past Roman Larrieu in the Pilgrims' goal. An own goal by David Gray three minutes later and then another Van Persie strike with six minutes left completed the scoring for the hosts. Plymouth had pulled a goal back through Karl Duguid to make it 2-1 after some good work by Gray.
There was a rather subdued start to the afternoon with Arsenal probing around the visitors in their usual unhurried style, with no openings appearing in the visitors' defence. The Plymouth players wanted to make their presence felt with a few strong challenges in the first few minutes.
Van Persie had a double-effort saved by Larrieu and then up the other end Jamie Mackie had a shot blocked. Aaron Ramsey sped through the defence and set up Emmanuel Eboue who's shot was saved by Larrieu.
Arsenal were dominating but Plymouth looked dangerous from set pieces and also on the break capitalising on a few loose passes from Arsenal's midfield.
Mikael Silvestre, who had replaced Gael Clichy for this game at left-back, was himself replaced after 30 minutes with Kieron Gibbs coming on in his place, while William Gallas rushed down the tunnel with a head injury but re-appeared a few minutes later.
Arsenal almost went into half-time one nil down when Paul Gallagher picked up a pass from Eboue and tried to chip Lukasz Fabianski in goal, but the Polish 'keeper tipped the cheeky lob over the bar.
The Arsenal faithful had been quiet for much of the first half, but less than three minutes after the restart Van Persie had them singing. Samir Nasri played a delightful corner into the danger area and Van Persie arrived unmarked to power a header past Larrieu. Suddenly the Gunners sprung into life and five minutes later made it two-nil, Van Persie turned inside the box and crossed towards the onrushing Niklas Bendtner, but Gray beat him to the ball and put it into his own net. The 9,000 Plymouth fans must have been fearing the worst, Arsenal had upped the pace and were playing with some of their usual vigour.
It was the visitors who scored the next goal, however, Gray collected the ball from a corner and ran down the right-hand side of Arsenal's box, he crossed and Duguid arrived late to slide the ball past Fabianski, the Plymouth fans seemed to enjoy this moment and went delirious, hoping for an upset.
It wasn't to be however, despite a few scares Arsenal continued to dominate, and as the game went on, exploited the ever-growing spaces in the Plymouth defence. Samir Nasri continued to be a thorn in the side of the visitors and on 84 minutes he chipped a ball through to Van Persie, who lobbed the onrushing Larrieu who got a hand to it, but Van Persie was on hand to coolly slot in off the bar.
The impressive Kieron Gibbs and Carlos Vela continued to rattle the home defence down the left-hand side and the some neat link up play let Gallas in, but he couldn't slot past his former French Army colleague Larrieu.
It ended 3-1 and both sets of fans couldn't be disappointed as they left the Emirates, Plymouth had put up a good fight but had been in the trenches too long and in the end the pressure paid and the Gunners artillery was just too strong.
Robin Van Persie, captain for the day in the absence of Cesc Fabregas and Manuel Almunia, proved to be the hero with two goals.
Van Persie stuck just after half-time as Samir Nasri floated in a corner, and all the unmarked Dutchman had to do was to head past Roman Larrieu in the Pilgrims' goal. An own goal by David Gray three minutes later and then another Van Persie strike with six minutes left completed the scoring for the hosts. Plymouth had pulled a goal back through Karl Duguid to make it 2-1 after some good work by Gray.
There was a rather subdued start to the afternoon with Arsenal probing around the visitors in their usual unhurried style, with no openings appearing in the visitors' defence. The Plymouth players wanted to make their presence felt with a few strong challenges in the first few minutes.
Van Persie had a double-effort saved by Larrieu and then up the other end Jamie Mackie had a shot blocked. Aaron Ramsey sped through the defence and set up Emmanuel Eboue who's shot was saved by Larrieu.
Arsenal were dominating but Plymouth looked dangerous from set pieces and also on the break capitalising on a few loose passes from Arsenal's midfield.
Mikael Silvestre, who had replaced Gael Clichy for this game at left-back, was himself replaced after 30 minutes with Kieron Gibbs coming on in his place, while William Gallas rushed down the tunnel with a head injury but re-appeared a few minutes later.
Arsenal almost went into half-time one nil down when Paul Gallagher picked up a pass from Eboue and tried to chip Lukasz Fabianski in goal, but the Polish 'keeper tipped the cheeky lob over the bar.
The Arsenal faithful had been quiet for much of the first half, but less than three minutes after the restart Van Persie had them singing. Samir Nasri played a delightful corner into the danger area and Van Persie arrived unmarked to power a header past Larrieu. Suddenly the Gunners sprung into life and five minutes later made it two-nil, Van Persie turned inside the box and crossed towards the onrushing Niklas Bendtner, but Gray beat him to the ball and put it into his own net. The 9,000 Plymouth fans must have been fearing the worst, Arsenal had upped the pace and were playing with some of their usual vigour.
It was the visitors who scored the next goal, however, Gray collected the ball from a corner and ran down the right-hand side of Arsenal's box, he crossed and Duguid arrived late to slide the ball past Fabianski, the Plymouth fans seemed to enjoy this moment and went delirious, hoping for an upset.
It wasn't to be however, despite a few scares Arsenal continued to dominate, and as the game went on, exploited the ever-growing spaces in the Plymouth defence. Samir Nasri continued to be a thorn in the side of the visitors and on 84 minutes he chipped a ball through to Van Persie, who lobbed the onrushing Larrieu who got a hand to it, but Van Persie was on hand to coolly slot in off the bar.
The impressive Kieron Gibbs and Carlos Vela continued to rattle the home defence down the left-hand side and the some neat link up play let Gallas in, but he couldn't slot past his former French Army colleague Larrieu.
It ended 3-1 and both sets of fans couldn't be disappointed as they left the Emirates, Plymouth had put up a good fight but had been in the trenches too long and in the end the pressure paid and the Gunners artillery was just too strong.
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