And two minutes later Jeremie Aliadiere had his shot saved by Taylor after Sol Campbell's neat through-ball.
BBC: SPORT | Football | Premiership | Birmingham 2-1 Arsenal
He also denied Sol Campbell's place at the club may be under threat to make way for Distin.
And he had tormented Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell on Sunday before being stretchered off in the 76th minute.
Keeper Lukasz Fabianski picked up what was deemed a Sol Campbell backpass and Falcao scored from a quick free-kick.
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard drove England forward in an exciting second half, while Sol Campbell was a rock at the back.
Hull's equaliser came from the penalty spot after Sol Campbell was adjudged to have brought down a seemingly offside Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.
In recent weeks Celtic have also failed in their attempts to bring Premier League stars Sol Campbell and David James to the club.
But for all of the visitors' opening endeavour, a calamitous communication breakdown between Sol Campbell and David James gifted Vassell the opening goal.
Captain David Beckham, Sol Campbell and Gerrard could all miss the crucial tie in Turkey next month if they pick up a booking.
Three minutes later Guimaraes had a chance to level but Joao Paulo Fajardo blazed a penalty over after Sol Campbell hauled down Felix Roberto.
The Gunners started the game as firm favourites, even without injured striker Thierry Henry and key defender Sol Campbell still not ready to return.
The game turned in seconds in the 35th minute, first when Poll waved play on after Wayne Allison tumbled under challenge from Sol Campbell.
Koscielny improves Wenger's defensive options as Sol Campbell is mulling over a new one-year deal and William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre likely to leave.
And in Sol Campbell and Sylvan Distin, they were coming up against a resolute backline which was amply protected Diop, Sean Davis and Sulley Muntari.
England as expected, were without captain John Terry after he suffered a recurrence of his knee injury in training and Sol Campbell came in as replacement.
The North Africans had given England an early scare when Sol Campbell had to sprint back to clear from Skander Souayah after a mistake by Tony Adams.
The Gunners took the lead through Andrey Arshavin after 14 minutes but Jimmy Bullard leveled with a penalty after 28 minutes when Sol Campbell fouled Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.
And he has joined the trail set by Glen Johnson, Dimi Traore, Sean Davis, Peter Crouch, Sol Campbell, Sylvain Distin and now also Niko Kranjcar in leaving Pompey this summer.
At the other end Sol Campbell timed his tackle perfectly as Folan bore down on goal, and David Unsworth saw his lob beat James but drift wide of the target.
Sol Campbell (gashed shin) and Martin Keown (foot) should be fit to face Korea, but McClaren but believes striker Robbie Fowler "may not be quite there" because of a hip problem.
Manager Arsene Wenger said he was unsure whether veteran Sol Campbell would partner Thomas Vermaelen in Song's place, as the former England international was struggling to recover from his weekend exertions.
That had much to do with a superb display from Sol Campbell in the Portsmouth defence as Pompey became the first side to stop Arsenal scoring this season in the league.
Gallas, 32, and fellow centre-backs Sol Campbell and Mikael Silvestre are all out of contract in June and Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood described Gallas's demands for a new contract as "quite extravagant".
And centre-back Sol Campbell, winning his 70th cap because of skipper John Terry's injury, could hardly have had an easier match in which to make his international comeback after a 16-month absence.
Arsenal remained comfortable in possession and Fabregas delivered a pin-point free-kick towards the charging Sol Campbell but the veteran defender could only parry the ball back to Rob Green with his shoulder.
Ashley Cole is a defender with rare attacking ambition, while occasional defensive lapses in concentration can be overlooked when the whole picture is examined and the influence of Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand grows.
Adventurous Pompey were looking to expose Villa's high back line and, Sol Campbell and Carew, reminiscent of two heavyweight boxers, were in a constant battle for scraps of possession when the home side pushed on.
They have failed to pay their players on time several occasions, are the subject of a winding-up petition and legal action from former player Sol Campbell, and have only recently had a transfer embargo lifted.
The club has been taken over twice, with former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson arriving as director of football and Sol Campbell signing as a free agent - although both men have now left Meadow Lane.
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