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.
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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.
Amir Bashir follow him on Twitter.
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