Arsenal 2 – 2 MAN CITY – MY THOUGHTS
14 Sep
Had you asked City supporters before the game whether they would accept a draw from the visit to Arsenal, I imagine the resounding response would have been ‘yes’. Away to one of the top sides in the country and with this fixture coming at the start of a pulsating but highly challenging week, Blues’ fans would have realistically settled for a share of the spoils.
The frustration at missing out on all three points stems from having taken the lead and from coming so close at the end to stealing a victory, but there was no lingering anger at the final whistle. Instead, there was recognition that this was a fine encounter between two impressive sides and that a draw was the fair result.
It would be easy to focus on the two occasions when City struck the woodwork in the closing stages or when Edin Dzeko shot tamely at goal from a superb position in injury-time, but that would be overlooking the excellence of the game as a whole. Both teams enjoyed strong periods and both had to show character to bounce back from behind. On reflection, City will realise this was a hard-fought point and one that should give them confidence heading forward.
Arsenal’s strength is their fluidity in midfield and the way they fizz the ball around at pace. On the flip side, four of City’s five midfielders were making their first starts of the season. In the first half, it is fair to say that rustiness showed. Fernandinho and Frank Lampard were overwhelmed by the movement of the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, while Alexis Sanchez highlighted his ability with a vibrant and incisive show out wide.
Yet it says much about City’s defensive resilience (with firm nods yesterday to Gael Clichy and Vincent Kompany) and attacking quality that despite struggling to control the game before the break, they took the lead. Jesus Navas’s pace out wide was always an option during the game and it was through a combination of his anticipation and composure, and then Sergio Aguero’s goalscoring instincts, that the Blues grabbed the opening goal.
However, rather than dominate proceedings with the measured professionalism we have come to expect in recent seasons, City found it tough to take the sting from the action. The obvious comment would be to suggest that Manuel Pellegrini missed Fernando’s bite and Yaya Touré’s sure touch in the centre, and while that is true to an extent, Arsenal’s comeback had more to do with their talents in attack rather than any City weaknesses. Equally, it would be fair to criticise the referee, Mark Clattenburg, for failing to spot fouls on Aguero and Kompany in the build-up to both goals.
Then, having fallen behind and with time running out, it was City’s turn to showcase their determination and hunger. David Silva, as invariably seems to be the case, was the catalyst for attacking endeavours, linking crisply with Navas and injecting creativity into our play. Following Demichelis’s bullet header to equalise, it was Silva’s delightful lofted pass to Dzeko which saw one looping effort hit the post and it was Silva’s genius again which created Dzeko’s gilt-edged chance in the box. Sadly for City, neither opportunity was taken.
With Bayern Munich up next and then Chelsea in the league at the weekend, it was vital for City not to fall to defeat at Saturday. A potentially defining week has got off to a solid start and with another two tough encounters ahead, I suspect City fans would accept another couple of draws.
Good balanced account. If we can take points from our rivals away and do our stuff at home we will be there or abouts come the last few weeks.
Arsenal fan here. Nicely balanced piece, well done.
Firstly it was a very entertaining game between two good teams. Both teams could come away and curse their luck that they didn’t take all three points so you gotta think a draw was the fair result. It’s a better result for you guys as it was at our place. The return should be very interesting.
Hope you beat Chelsea when you play them. I despise Chelsea.
Two teams who play the beautiful game.
Cannot stand Mourinho’s brand of football. Costa’s tap-ins are as dull as they get. Aguero’s, Wilshere’s and Sanchez’s goals were a thing of beauty.
Hope City or Arsenal win the title. Total football.
Chelsea = Anti-Football
Great account of the game, well done. I think if Yaya could have started we may have done better, but we shall never know. Hope we win in Germany and do Chelski 3-0.
A fair analysis. No point Pellers moaning about the two decisions that went against us for their goals. Those things even themselves out over the season. And, Kun, for all his brilliance had two players to his left screaming for the ball and he just wouldn’t give it. I thought Jimbob did a great job once he’d settled into midfield in the second half, chased & fought for everything which is what you need, especially away from home. A game we could’ve, maybe, won. But a draw was a fair result. And I’ll take that any day on our travels, especially against a good team like Arsenal. Get Fernando back ASAP!!