Football: Arsenal exposed by Holdsworth

Arsenal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

Wimbledon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

SOMEONE needs to tell Ian Wright that England v San Marino will be a Cup tie, because he and Arsenal are evidently not bothered with the Premier League. They have not won at Highbury, apart from knock-out competitions, for three months. Wimbledon wanted the points more, and met little resistance in winning them.

In a dull opening phase, Wimbledon made no impression but for the odd crunching tackle by John Scales. Arsenal's first sign of ambition, a David Hillier blunderbuss that hit the mural, was soon followed by two more; Wright broke down the left and saw his shot well saved by Hans Segers, then Alan Smith rose to head wide.

No sooner had Arsenal got out of neutral than Wimbledon forced their first corner in the 17th minute and promptly took the lead. Neil Ardley's inswinger was met by Robbie Earle, whose header was stopped on the line but before Arsenal could regroup Dean Holdsworth pounced on the rebound.

Merson showed the odd flash of imagination in reply, but ideas seemed in short supply.

Arsenal emerged from the interval under instructions to take the aerial route forward. But it was Holdsworth, deflecting Ardley's shot over the bar, who gave first notice of renewed determination.

The temperature rose as a couple of the referee's decisions went against Arsenal, and Gerald Dobbs and Ian Selley soon entered the book. A weary stalemate characterised almost all the second half. With neither side giving way on the ground, you could have been forgiven for assuming that Highbury was hosting the Farnborough Air Show.

Wimbledon were more than happy for it to stay that way. The substitution of Jimmy Carter for Merson, just after Earle came close to stabbing in Gary Elkins's left-wing cross, was hardly calculated to change anything.

Arsenal: Seaman; Keown, Winterburn, Hillier, Linighan, Adams, Selley, Wright, Smith (Morrow, 85), Merson (Carter, 70), Campbell. Substitute not used: Miller (gk).

Wimbledon: Segers; Joseph, Elkins, Talboys (Fear, 39), Scales, Fitzgerald, Ardley, Earle, Fashanu, Holdsworth, Dobbs. Substitutes not used: Clarke, Sullivan (gk).

Referee: P Don (Hanworth Park).