22 September 2024
Man City 2 Arsenal
Pep Guardiola locked horns with his old protégé Mikel Arteta. This was the fixture everyone had been looking forward to as Man City welcomed Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium. 115 charges faced 115 excuses as to why they have not won the league for twenty-one years. Having finished runners-up the last two seasons, The Gunners needed to up their game in these contests.
Everyone talks about the progress Arsenal have made under Mikel Arteta and yes there have been improvements but they are still not winning trophies. Unless that changes over the next few years, to believe he is still the right man for the job will be conceding that The Gunners’ ambitions are no longer to win major trophies. Forget about the European Cup, the club has never won that in its entire history, but given the money they have spent on transfers titles should be won.
If the case against the defending champions is upheld, this fixture may only play out in cup matches after this season. Straight from the kick-off Rodri was on the floor, holding his face. While Havertz did clatter into him, it was body against body so only he will know why he was rolling around like he had been headbutted by the German.
The hosts made the perfect start as Savinho slotted the ball into the path of Haaland. He had lost Gabriel and poked the ball past Raya to put Man City ahead. The Etihad Stadium erupted as they hoped they were going to continue their recent form and hand out a harsh lesson to the visitors. It was the worst possible start Arsenal could have hoped for.
Guardiola’s side then won a free kick, just outside the box. Gundogan stepped up to take it and looked to bend it around the wall. With Raya well beaten, his shot smashed against the outside of the post. So close to doubling the lead for the hosts. The Gunners were struggling to deal with the onslaught from their rivals.
Man City won a corner and just as Savinho was about to take it, Rodri ended up in a heap on the floor once again. There was no foul from the Arsenal man, it seemed as though his knee jarred underneath him. That was the end of the game for the Spaniard and we have since had it confirmed that he has torn his cruciate ligament and will miss the rest of the season. Big blow for the champions.
As a free kick was awarded to the visitors, Michael Oliver called the two captains over. The Gunners then took it quickly and Martinelli laid it off into the path of Calafiori. He struck a first time shot past Ederson and into the back of the net. Man City complained that Walker had not been given chance to get back into position. Guardiola roundhouse kicked his own seat in fury.
The goal seemed to knock Man City out of their stride. They stumbled and struggled like Liam Gallagher trying to find the voice he had in the 1990’s. Trossard was then booked for a tug on Savinho, ‘taking one for the team’ to prevent the break. Arsenal countered and forced a corner, a chance for them to send the big defenders forward.
As the cross came in, Gabriel lost Doku and rose to have a completely free header but put it over the bar. It was a terrible miss. As The Gunners forced another set piece, it was a real case of déjà vu. This time he lost Walker and made sure he headed this one into the back of the net. The visitors had turned this game on its head after being a goal down.
Just before the interval, Trossard clattered into Silva. A free kick was awarded and the Belgian kicked the ball away like a frustrated child. The referee had no option but to show him a second yellow card and give him his marching orders. When you have been booked, you do not give the official a chance to book you again. The Arsenal attacker gave him two, the foul and kicking the ball away.
After going a man down, The Gunners regressed into their shell like a tortoise. Arteta had decided they were good enough to play a 6-3-0 and come away with a two-one victory. The second-half was a tough watch as it was attack versus defence. Made a worse spectacle by Man City’s lack of creativity, ideas or movement. They just didn’t seem to know what to do.
The closest they came to scoring was when Haaland got up well at the back post to meet a corner. Raya got a good hand to save but Bernardo Silva smashed the loose ball over the crossbar off balance. All we saw in the main was the likes of Kovacic, Walker and Dias sending shots all over the ground and nowhere near the goal.
Gvardiol had the best chance to score when Arsenal failed to clear a corner and the ball dropped to the Croatian. His shot had some power behind it but Raya got down to make a good save to deny him. With moments left in the game, the Spanish keeper was to deny the Man City defender once again to keep his side ahead.
Then, deep into added time, Kovacic’s shot struck Kiwior and fell to Stones on the edge of the six yard box. The versatile defender slotted home to break North London hearts. Arsenal thought they had done enough to win this game but Guardiola’s side salvaged a point with near enough the last kick of the game.
After the final whistle, there were plenty of scuffles and words exchanged between the two sets of players. For Man City, this will seem a point gained given when they scored their equaliser. Had you offered this scoreline to Arsenal before the game, they would have snapped your arm off. City return to the top of the table and The Gunners sit in fourth spot.
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