EPL Week 5: Manchester City Crush Arsenal 4-2
September 13th 2009 05:02
After beating the likes of Portsmouth, Wolves and Blackburn, many people questioned Manchester City's true potential to crack the top four. On Saturday, the Citizens proved they mean business as they humiliated Arsene Wenger's boys to keep a perfect record so far this season.
Although the Gunners dominated the opening twenty minutes with their beautiful passing game and fluid movement, it was the home side who scored first on a set-piece in the 19th minute. A useless foul by Sagna led to a City free-kick that was headed by Micah Richards only to hit the post and bounce in off Almunia's head. It was a lucky goal, but a goal nonetheless.
Despite their 55% of possession, Arsenal didn't seem to know what to do with the ball. Their passing was very pretty but every time the ball-carrier seemed to pose a threat to City's defense, he was quickly dispossessed by a midfielder tracking back. As such, Shay Given had a pretty quiet half.
The visitors finally equalized the mark in the 62nd minute with a long-range strike by Van Persie. The shot seemed to come from pure desperation as the Dutchman was off-balance and forced to use his weaker foot, but still the ball found its way past Given's outstretched arm.
The home side didn't waste their time to grab their advantage back. Ten minutes after Van Persie's goal, Craig Bellamy put Manchester City 2-1 up and that's when Arsenal fell back into that foggy state which always seems to come up when they fall behind. After Bellamy's goal, the Gunners' backline was far more nervous and tentative. Consequently, their attacks were far more difficult to build. Adebayor crucified his old team with a perfect free-header in the 79th minute and that was all that she wrote. His celebration was a bit over the top as he ran all the way across the field to taunt Arsenal fans. He got a yellow card for his trouble, and I really think that it was unnecessary and plain childish the way he acted. Shaun Wright-Phillips gave some dignity back to the Citizens with a nifty goal in the 83rd minute. With a scoreline of 4-1, Manchester City had achieved their goal and Arsenal weren't going to recover despite Wenger's attack-minded substitutions.
The Gunners did grab a consolation goal in the 86th minute with Rosicky scoring his first of the season after coming off the bench but the damage was already done. Last season has shown that when Arsenal lose a couple of games, their confidence suffer an important fall. Next week's encounter against Wigan will be the perfect opportunity to bounce back – if they can. As for City, a big test awaits them next week as they'll meet the defending champions Manchester United.
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Arsenal line-up: Manuel Almunia; Bacary Sagna (Emmanuel Eboue, 76th), William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen, Gael Clichy; Denilson (Tomas Rosicky, 52nd), Cesc Fabregas, Alexandre Song (Eduardo, 76th); Nicklas Bendtner, Robin Van Persie, Abou Diaby.
Although the Gunners dominated the opening twenty minutes with their beautiful passing game and fluid movement, it was the home side who scored first on a set-piece in the 19th minute. A useless foul by Sagna led to a City free-kick that was headed by Micah Richards only to hit the post and bounce in off Almunia's head. It was a lucky goal, but a goal nonetheless.
Despite their 55% of possession, Arsenal didn't seem to know what to do with the ball. Their passing was very pretty but every time the ball-carrier seemed to pose a threat to City's defense, he was quickly dispossessed by a midfielder tracking back. As such, Shay Given had a pretty quiet half.
The visitors finally equalized the mark in the 62nd minute with a long-range strike by Van Persie. The shot seemed to come from pure desperation as the Dutchman was off-balance and forced to use his weaker foot, but still the ball found its way past Given's outstretched arm.
The home side didn't waste their time to grab their advantage back. Ten minutes after Van Persie's goal, Craig Bellamy put Manchester City 2-1 up and that's when Arsenal fell back into that foggy state which always seems to come up when they fall behind. After Bellamy's goal, the Gunners' backline was far more nervous and tentative. Consequently, their attacks were far more difficult to build. Adebayor crucified his old team with a perfect free-header in the 79th minute and that was all that she wrote. His celebration was a bit over the top as he ran all the way across the field to taunt Arsenal fans. He got a yellow card for his trouble, and I really think that it was unnecessary and plain childish the way he acted. Shaun Wright-Phillips gave some dignity back to the Citizens with a nifty goal in the 83rd minute. With a scoreline of 4-1, Manchester City had achieved their goal and Arsenal weren't going to recover despite Wenger's attack-minded substitutions.
The Gunners did grab a consolation goal in the 86th minute with Rosicky scoring his first of the season after coming off the bench but the damage was already done. Last season has shown that when Arsenal lose a couple of games, their confidence suffer an important fall. Next week's encounter against Wigan will be the perfect opportunity to bounce back – if they can. As for City, a big test awaits them next week as they'll meet the defending champions Manchester United.
Watch More Football Videos at MySoccerPlace.net
Arsenal line-up: Manuel Almunia; Bacary Sagna (Emmanuel Eboue, 76th), William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen, Gael Clichy; Denilson (Tomas Rosicky, 52nd), Cesc Fabregas, Alexandre Song (Eduardo, 76th); Nicklas Bendtner, Robin Van Persie, Abou Diaby.
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