Seven wins in a row as Arsenal keep firing

Arsenal made up valuable ground in the Premier League race after maintaining their 100 per cent winning record at Emirates. Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby put the Gunners 2-0 up inside the opening 18 minutes before yet more defensive chaos - a trait that

Arsenal made up valuable ground in the Premier League race after maintaining their 100 per cent winning record at Emirates.

Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby put the Gunners 2-0 up inside the opening 18 minutes before yet more defensive chaos - a trait that Arsene Wenger's side must cut out if they are to challenge for the title - allowed Lee Bowyer to halve the deficit for Blues.

Birmingham, who were being watched by their new Chinese owner Carson Yeung, pushed the Gunners hard before Andrey Arshavin sealed Arsenal's seventh successive victory in all competitions with a neatly taken third on the break.

With Chelsea and Liverpool both losing, Wenger was happy - but also clearly a little disappointed with his own side's performance.

"In the second half we did not have the same fluency or control in the game, not the same pace, but in the end I still believe 3-1 is a fair result because we had plenty of chances," he said.

And on those defeats for two of his title rivals, he added: "The league is much tighter than everybody predicted before the season

"We have to be happy, to take that potential in an intelligent way. When we are cruising, we have to keep focused and not lose it."

He also expressed his disappointment at Birmingham fans cheering Theo Walcott's early substitution after he picked up a knee injury.

He added: "Frankly, that is atrocious. They will not be remembered for the quality of their taste ... I put it in the ranks of stupidity.

"People lose their identity together and their sense of responsibility.