The prematch this time was all about Arsenal's record in Manchester and their hammerings last season away from home to a big side. Indeed Arsenal had lost 6-3 last season against City and Arsenal fans all around the world were detesting this match so much so that they felt no need to even expect anything from this match and all that should happen was damage limitation. I was not amongst those people, but neither was I over optimistic. I felt over the course of this so far disappointing season, one aspect we have improved in is our performance against the big teams compared to last season. We lost 3-0 at Everton and 5-1 at Liverpool last season but this season both ended in 2-2 draws. We lost 6-0 to Chelsea in Wenger's 1000th game in charge and although we lost this season as well, it was by 2 goals and a performance that did not deserve a defeat. The only problem was our loss to United at home when we put in probably one of the best 45 minutes I have seen us play in the 1st half. The problem this season has been more about us losing points in games against the smaller teams.
Team news was positive for us from both camps. Obviously Yaya Toure had departed for the AFCON and Sergio Aguero was not really fit, none the less was given the chance to lead the line just for the fear factor it would have on our defence. Nasri was out injured as well so a lot of emphasis about City's play was going to be through David Silva, block him and block City. That is easier said than done given how we love to open up against oppositions in a sense of the "overload" tactic in Football Manager! Our line up was the same as the last League game except for the introduction of Ramsey in place of Rosicky, understandably so as we needed more of a box-box midfielder. Also Bellerin started in place of the injured Debuchy. Ospina kept his place in goal and our preferred CB partnership continued of Lolo and Per. Monreal who has been so impressive this season played at LB. The very impressive Coquelin continued at DM with Ramsey and Cazorla slightly ahead of him. Sanchez and Chamberlain played on the flanks with Giroud the lone striker. Our bench was excellent, having the likes of Ozil and Walcott alongside Rosicky.
The 1st half started as expected with City having early possession and we were holding back until they entered the final third, when we would start pressing and then after winning the ball back start a blistering counter attack move given the pace of Sanchez and Chamberlain. The tactic produced Arsenal's and the match's first chance when Chamberlain crossed for Giroud to narrowly miss a near post header. We had the chance to take the lead very soon when the impressive Monreal tried to combine with Olivier Giroud, as he was making a run to receive a return pass he was fouled by Kompany which awarded us a penalty. Cazorla made no mistake as he blasted the ball into the corner which although Hart guessed correctly, could not reach the ball because of the power. Shockingly for all football fans around the world we did have a lead. Against the champions. In their backyard. City barely even threatened with Ospina not called into action during the entire half. Before you knew it we were leading 1-0 at the Etihad and the half time whistle had gone. Arsenal fans were still pessimistic and felt we would lose the lead sooner rather than later.
Arsenal started the 2nd half like the team that lost 6-3 last season, trying to over commit people in offensive positions causing the team to be exposed to City's counter attacks. So it felt all the reasons to be pessimistic could well be true. But more than anything it was the change by Pellegrini to introduce Jovetic in place of Milner that changed the complexion of the game. Suddenly City had chances with Aguero hitting wide and Ospina having to make a save from Navas. As City started to put more men forward Arsenal cleverly used the pace of their players to hit City on the counter attack, a move which saw Ramsey having a chance after some work by Alexis and Giroud, unfortunately the left leg of Ramsey could not give a better finish. Then Navas almost put Aguero through for a tap in but a brilliant last minute Koscielny tackle enough to take the ball away. Arsenal then doubled the lead when Santi Cazorla whipped in a free kick that Giroud just nudged past Hart. Unbelievable scenes. Suddenly all Arsenal fans were excited and believing. Alexis then had a chance when he cut in to have a curling effort that ultimately was too straight at Hart to cause too many problems. Ospina had to make a couple of late saves but Arsenal really should have been 3-0 up when Flamini had to cut the ball back to Giroud for a tap in, but ended up hesitating and the chance was gone. None the less we ended up being the first team to defeat City at Etihad by a 2+ goal margin since ourselves when we won 3-0 during the early Sheikh years when they had Jerome Boateng playing at RB. The performance so unlike Arsenal, but none the less deserved 3 points. A special mention for Coquelin who had Silva in his pocket for most of the game and for Bellerin who was ever so impressive. Hopefully this match will be a springboard for further performances for the rest of the season. Up the Arsenal.
PLAYER RATINGS
13: David Ospina (7.5): Decent saves from Navas and Aguero, but did not have much to do for the rest of the game. 3rd consecutive cleansheet is also reason for optimism, also does not make silly decisions and has a high level of concentration.
39: Hector Bellerin (8): Was excellent defensively and offensively as well. Showing maturity beyond his years. Will only improve as well.
4: Per Mertesacker (8): Made some really important headers and was very composed through out. He rubbed that on all other players around him.
6: Laurent Koscielny (8.5): Kept Aguero in his pocket and made one stunning last minute ditch to take the ball away.
18: Nacho Monreal (9): Another superb performance from the much maligned Spaniard. He made 8 interceptions yesterday the highest by any player on the day. Won the penalty as well. Splendid performance all round.
34: Francis Coquelin (9): A 100% tackle completion rate and 6 clearances begs the question as to why Flamini was picked ahead of him for most part of the season. Keep up it up Coq.
19: Santi Cazorla (9.5): A goal and an assist. A performance which everybody cannot stop admiring. The way he got past people in tight situations was stunning. Him and Monreal have been unsung heroes this season. His performances early on in the season had pissed me off so much so I would beg in each post for him to be replaced by the likes of Podolski. Again shows how faith in a player is always vindicated and why the players love Wenger so much.
16: Aaron Ramsey (7): Aaron had a decent game working tirelessly throughout and winning the ball on many occasions.
15: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (7): Started off brilliantly, but faded away as the half went on and made a few poor decisions that ended with him being subbed off for Rosicky.
17: Alexis Sanchez (8): Initially looked off pace but slowly gained confidence and made arguably the league's best RB an outright joker with some off his skills. His work rate as usual splendid!
12: Olivier Giroud (7.5): Did not really have an excellent game but ended up scoring the decisive goal of the game. A complaint from most fans was his inability to turn up against the better teams in the league. However he has now scored against Pool,Everton,City and United.
SUBSTITUTES:
7: Tomas Rosicky (7): Was brought on to keep possession and did exactly that.
3: Kieran Gibbs (N/A): Brought on to help defensively.
20: Mathieu Flamini (N/A): Brought on to increase numbers defensively and replace a tired Ramsey in the 84th minute.
Team news was positive for us from both camps. Obviously Yaya Toure had departed for the AFCON and Sergio Aguero was not really fit, none the less was given the chance to lead the line just for the fear factor it would have on our defence. Nasri was out injured as well so a lot of emphasis about City's play was going to be through David Silva, block him and block City. That is easier said than done given how we love to open up against oppositions in a sense of the "overload" tactic in Football Manager! Our line up was the same as the last League game except for the introduction of Ramsey in place of Rosicky, understandably so as we needed more of a box-box midfielder. Also Bellerin started in place of the injured Debuchy. Ospina kept his place in goal and our preferred CB partnership continued of Lolo and Per. Monreal who has been so impressive this season played at LB. The very impressive Coquelin continued at DM with Ramsey and Cazorla slightly ahead of him. Sanchez and Chamberlain played on the flanks with Giroud the lone striker. Our bench was excellent, having the likes of Ozil and Walcott alongside Rosicky.
The 1st half started as expected with City having early possession and we were holding back until they entered the final third, when we would start pressing and then after winning the ball back start a blistering counter attack move given the pace of Sanchez and Chamberlain. The tactic produced Arsenal's and the match's first chance when Chamberlain crossed for Giroud to narrowly miss a near post header. We had the chance to take the lead very soon when the impressive Monreal tried to combine with Olivier Giroud, as he was making a run to receive a return pass he was fouled by Kompany which awarded us a penalty. Cazorla made no mistake as he blasted the ball into the corner which although Hart guessed correctly, could not reach the ball because of the power. Shockingly for all football fans around the world we did have a lead. Against the champions. In their backyard. City barely even threatened with Ospina not called into action during the entire half. Before you knew it we were leading 1-0 at the Etihad and the half time whistle had gone. Arsenal fans were still pessimistic and felt we would lose the lead sooner rather than later.
Arsenal started the 2nd half like the team that lost 6-3 last season, trying to over commit people in offensive positions causing the team to be exposed to City's counter attacks. So it felt all the reasons to be pessimistic could well be true. But more than anything it was the change by Pellegrini to introduce Jovetic in place of Milner that changed the complexion of the game. Suddenly City had chances with Aguero hitting wide and Ospina having to make a save from Navas. As City started to put more men forward Arsenal cleverly used the pace of their players to hit City on the counter attack, a move which saw Ramsey having a chance after some work by Alexis and Giroud, unfortunately the left leg of Ramsey could not give a better finish. Then Navas almost put Aguero through for a tap in but a brilliant last minute Koscielny tackle enough to take the ball away. Arsenal then doubled the lead when Santi Cazorla whipped in a free kick that Giroud just nudged past Hart. Unbelievable scenes. Suddenly all Arsenal fans were excited and believing. Alexis then had a chance when he cut in to have a curling effort that ultimately was too straight at Hart to cause too many problems. Ospina had to make a couple of late saves but Arsenal really should have been 3-0 up when Flamini had to cut the ball back to Giroud for a tap in, but ended up hesitating and the chance was gone. None the less we ended up being the first team to defeat City at Etihad by a 2+ goal margin since ourselves when we won 3-0 during the early Sheikh years when they had Jerome Boateng playing at RB. The performance so unlike Arsenal, but none the less deserved 3 points. A special mention for Coquelin who had Silva in his pocket for most of the game and for Bellerin who was ever so impressive. Hopefully this match will be a springboard for further performances for the rest of the season. Up the Arsenal.
PLAYER RATINGS
13: David Ospina (7.5): Decent saves from Navas and Aguero, but did not have much to do for the rest of the game. 3rd consecutive cleansheet is also reason for optimism, also does not make silly decisions and has a high level of concentration.
39: Hector Bellerin (8): Was excellent defensively and offensively as well. Showing maturity beyond his years. Will only improve as well.
4: Per Mertesacker (8): Made some really important headers and was very composed through out. He rubbed that on all other players around him.
6: Laurent Koscielny (8.5): Kept Aguero in his pocket and made one stunning last minute ditch to take the ball away.
18: Nacho Monreal (9): Another superb performance from the much maligned Spaniard. He made 8 interceptions yesterday the highest by any player on the day. Won the penalty as well. Splendid performance all round.
34: Francis Coquelin (9): A 100% tackle completion rate and 6 clearances begs the question as to why Flamini was picked ahead of him for most part of the season. Keep up it up Coq.
19: Santi Cazorla (9.5): A goal and an assist. A performance which everybody cannot stop admiring. The way he got past people in tight situations was stunning. Him and Monreal have been unsung heroes this season. His performances early on in the season had pissed me off so much so I would beg in each post for him to be replaced by the likes of Podolski. Again shows how faith in a player is always vindicated and why the players love Wenger so much.
16: Aaron Ramsey (7): Aaron had a decent game working tirelessly throughout and winning the ball on many occasions.
15: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (7): Started off brilliantly, but faded away as the half went on and made a few poor decisions that ended with him being subbed off for Rosicky.
17: Alexis Sanchez (8): Initially looked off pace but slowly gained confidence and made arguably the league's best RB an outright joker with some off his skills. His work rate as usual splendid!
12: Olivier Giroud (7.5): Did not really have an excellent game but ended up scoring the decisive goal of the game. A complaint from most fans was his inability to turn up against the better teams in the league. However he has now scored against Pool,Everton,City and United.
SUBSTITUTES:
7: Tomas Rosicky (7): Was brought on to keep possession and did exactly that.
3: Kieran Gibbs (N/A): Brought on to help defensively.
20: Mathieu Flamini (N/A): Brought on to increase numbers defensively and replace a tired Ramsey in the 84th minute.