All eyes were on the Etihad Stadium Sunday to see not only how City would react to their first League defeat on Monday against Chelsea, but with United winning a few hours earlier, how they would react to playing catchup.
Arsenal for their part knew that going to the blue part of Manchester hasn't been easy for then in recent seasons and a defeat would probably see them slip out of the Premiership titile race before Christmas. With that said if you were expecting a cagey, defensive chess match type mentality then you would be surprised.
Mancini elected to start with both Balotelli and Aguero with ex Arsenal man Nasri and David Silva also in the starting eleven. Wenger, not to be outdone, started Gervinho, Van Persie, Ramsey and Walcott in attempt literally it looked from both managers, to outscore the other.
In the ninth minute a lovely through ball from Barry saw Zabaletta on the wing in acres of space. Aguero pointed ahead of him as to where he wanted the ball and Zabaletta delivered and inch perfect pass. Aguero controlled the ball before blazing his shot high but it certainly was an idea, even in this early stage, as to how open the game would be. A few minutes later Silva was upended by Song, who later recieved a yellow card for the tackle. The referee allowed the game to flow and eventually the ball was fed though to the Argentinian again. Through on goal he cut back only for Mertesacker for get a touch. The momentum was lost and eventually the Arsenal defence were able to clear the ball. Games like this are tight affairs and with two golden opportunites now gone begging you start to wonder if it will be your day.
It was certainly Hart and Citys day as a Gervinho shot somehow spun away off the keeper for a corner. That resulting corner also forced a save from Hart who was unsighted from a suspiciously looking offside Walcott. Hart did excellent to turn the ball around the post and given that the linesmans flag wasn't raised, would most certainly have been a goal that stood. That chance was after twenty minutes and was probably Arsenals first clear cut chance, which goes back to what I said earlier about City having to take theirs, twenty minutes of dominance and one break away and City could have been behind. That wasn't the case and in fact may have even given City more determination up front.
In the centre of the park Silva found Nasri who laid it off wide to Richards. Micah floated a ball into the box which two Arsenal players went for. Balotelli seemed to step back as they jumped and somehow came out with the ball clean through. His back was to the goal and to be fair the Arsenal goalkeeper was quickly out to smother the swivel shot when it came.
City had one last good chance with five minutes left as City took a throwin deep in the Arsenal half. A little one two with Silva on the edge of the box saw Aguero running across the top of the box before unleashing a shot which Szezesny seemed to predict. The Arsenal keeper almost to the ground before the shot got to him.
Half time arrived and despite the inbalance of chances the scores were all level. Although if it stayed like this it would see City return to the top it was the win that City fans and the City boss was looking for to regain the winning ways and six minutes into the second half City got the goal. As an Arsenal attack broke down the ball arrived at Nasris feet. The Frenchman drove forward before releasing the ball out wide to Balotelli. Mario delayed as there were no options in the area, went past Song and hit a shot which the until now unflappable Szezesny could only parry. The initial ball went to Aguero who almost had his head taken off by Vermaelens boot and the ball fell to David 'Merlin' Silva who doesn't miss.
Fair play to Arsenal though they didn't lay down and did actually put the ball in Citys net through an offside Van Persie. That happened just after an Aguero snapshot went inches wide after good play from Nasri. The ex Arsenal man was also involved in the best missed chance of the second half. Put through by Silva the Frenchman elected to cross rather than shoot. The ball had a little too much on it for Balotelli though and the chance was gone. Even Zabaletta had a chance as Arsenal went to sleep to allow the Argentinian a shot. The goalkeeper was stationary as the ball hit the post and away.
Late on Arsenal had a freekick which Arteta passed out to Vermaelen on the edge of the box. The shot was destined for the net but Hart pushed it over. One last moment for the City fans to be nervous as again Vermaelen curled a shot just wide of a diving Joe Hart. Hart gave a sigh of relief that was reflected all across the stadium.
Written By:PA Cityboy (www.facebook.com/pacityboy)
No comments:
Post a Comment