Last
time both these sides met in the Premier League, a stalemate was waiting for
both of them as a 1-1 draw did little that day for both teams in March this
year. This time, both the teams after just 1 point separating them went into
the match to make amends for their recent slips and a similar result awaited.
While Arsenal were fielding nearly their 1st choice team for the 1st time this
season with center-back Laurent Koscielny returning, City had to cope with multiple injuries as
players like Stevan Jovetic and YToure were missing from this important encounter.
City were ruthless:
Despite
scoring only 1 goal in this match with Arsenal enjoying a lion share of nearly
everything, City were ruthless in their approach towards the game. Although it
is Pelligrini’s 2nd year at English soil, still he employed the tactics that
any senior manager would use against the gunners. By playing Fernandinho in the
central midfield line, he made sure Arsenal will come to blows every-time they
go forward. As a result, there were many stops in the 1st half for Arsenal just
when they seemed to look dangerous and most of them came when City were on the
back foot.
Gunners disgust Nasri:
Despite
of it being a writing on the wall, this match showed the difference in temper
between the Arsenal boss and his fans. With a roar that was only matched when
Jack Wilshere put the ball into the back of net, Samir Nasri was welcomed
everytime although in different sense whenever anything gone against the
Frenchman. From the time when Nasri was stretching himself to come on to the
misplaced pass by Samir Nasri, Arsenal fans made sure the former Arsenal player feel the pain of
betrayal Arsenal fans have felt.
Wilshere has learnt - - - Finally:
When
England played Basel and even in the World Cup before that, it seemed that once
the golden boy Jack Wilshere was missing in terms of hype. However as they say
big players perform in big occasions, it seemed Wilshere has finally put his
head down and ignored his golden boy reputation. Against a Manchester City side
that had Fernandinho to counter him, Wilshere enjoyed the most number of fouls
no other player ignited from the opposition. As a result every-time the ball
was close to WIlshere, Arsenal fans expected something to happen. So finally it
was a match Jack WIlshere can use in his favor to strengthen his position on
the International level.
Same old story in defense for
Arsenal:
While
it was a terrific football match for a neutral, both Arsenal and City fans will
be questioning their defending. While the citizens aren’t used to this type of
performances against the big teams, Arsenal switched off, didn’t picked up
their men and as a result poor defending came forth. Both the goals could have
been avoided however it was the 2nd goal that would have hurt the World
Champions Mertesacker as it was like challenging him on his territory.
Same old story for City:
While
this City team is known well for dismantling oppositions at their home turf,
they are also known to scrap it away from home and they could have nearly done
that today if that shot from Kolarov had gone in, in the later stage of 2nd
half. While Arsenal were the better team in term of every stat but goals, City
looked dangerous every time they had the ball and Silva was their star man in
the whole match.
Bar came to the rescue - - - for
both teams!
When
the match was going score-less in the 1st half, a Welbeck chip deserted Hart
before the bar came to the rescue of the English Champions. Deep down in the
2nd half when Kolarov converted a half chance nearly into a goal, it was
Arsenal’s turn to thank God as the pole-factor came to their rescue and similar
was the case when Szczesny was on all fours when an Eden Dzeko run gone on
un-noticed. So both teams have their share of luck to claim a point from this
match.
No comments