Manchester City will be fighting to stay in touch at the top of the Premier League, as they face Arsenal at home in the Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2.45am on Monday morning.
Having worked so arduously to cut down Chelsea’s ominous lead in December, Manchester City handed back the initiative to their London rivals following their draw at Everton last week.
Chelsea has since rebuilt their five point lead – a prospect that once again forces City to play catch up. With extra commitments via the FA Cup and Champions League to come in February, the champions will dearly need to overcome the deficit soon – starting against Arsenal.
The overall record between these two sides is no indication of shifting paradigms. Aside from suffering a 3-0 thumping in this year’s Community Shield with a spare parts side, Manchester City have enjoyed a thorough ascendancy over Arsenal in recent times. While much of it is courtesy of the Abu Dhabi Group, another factor is the way City has plundered Arsenal’s resources since 2008.
Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping for a reaction from his players after last week’s draw at Goodison Park, and is likely to enforce changes to a team that looked too vulnerable to the counterattack. This is despite fielding a team with Brazilian duo Fernandinho and Fernando.
Both may be jettisoned, as Pellegrini will likely to turn to the reliable James Milner to control Arsenal’s midfield. Greater focus will be spent on spreading Arsenal’s suspect defence via the midfield, making Samir Nasri a key component to the City game plan. In defence, it is unlikely neither of the former Gunners in Bacary Sagna nor Gael Clichy will feature against their former club.
For Arsenal, the fight to secure a top four spot represents the realism of today – in stark contrast to their opponents. The days of yore when Arsene Wenger could combine an artistic attacking combination alongside a defensively solid back four is an uncomfortable notion of the past.
Don’t let a last start 3-0 home win against Stoke City tell you otherwise. This is a team that shipped plenty of goals at the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool last season – all teams they would claim to stand at least on par with.
If David Silva is Manchester City’s artisan, then see Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal. Little of Arsenal’s struggles can be attributed to the Chilean, who represents the Gunners’ biggest threat to the home side. A double against the Potters last week takes his season tally to 12 – already a fine return on the 30 million pound investment Arsene Wenger paid for him.
Yet he has regularly lacked support from his comrades in the forward lines – Danny Welbeck has been sporadic at best, while Mesut Oezil continues to disappoint in a red shirt.
Much will come down to the mental approach from Arsenal. Do they believe they can win away at their main rivals’ homesteads? Either way, the game either promises a tight arm wrestle or a flurry of home side goals.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Great write-up Vas. Huge win for the Gunners.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Manchester City 0-2 Arsenal What a moment for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. It is a result that will resound around England. Manchester City, the champions, concede more ground to the challengers. Arsenal, meanwhile, have shed a huge monkey off their back, and have won at the home of the champions. Santi Cazorla's penalty in the first half gave them the lead, while Olivier Giroud scored the second in the 67th minute to hand Arsenal all three points, and Chelsea the clear advantage in this title race. We are back with the Premier League in two weeks, where we will bring you what is looking a potential early title decider, where Chelsea host Manchester City. Join us for that one. Until then, the final score from the Etihad is a huge boilover. It finished Manchester City 0-2 Arsenal
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+3: Free kick given away by Silva, who mouths a few choice words at MIke Dean, who has had a good game in keeping control of this affair. The penalty call can be construed 50/50, but City have enjoyed plenty of decisions in their favour of a similar ilk, so can't complain too long. Seconds remaining. Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+2: The Etihad faithful about to ring out the boos, as Arsenal now look to have done enough to secure this result. Two minutes of added time remaining. Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'89: Mertesacker concedes a corner, and Kompany rises high, but wide! Well delivered by Silva finds Kompany at the near post, and like so many before him, cannot find his range today. It's been quite inept by the champions today, as they suffer what is looking terminal today, even in Janiary. At the other end, Kompany turns into hero, as he concedes a corner to stop a likely Arsenal third. Four minutes added on. Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'87: Dzeko finds an angle to shoot, but too acutely at Ospina, who can gather without going out of play. It's been a commanding performance by the Arsenal number two stopper. He may see his run in the team continued at the expense of Szczesny. Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'85: Corner for City, cleared and Gibbs is unleashed by Giroud. Zabaleta has to slide in with a big tackle to concede a corner before damage is done. But MIke Dean now shows Aguero a yellow for a blatant shirt tug in the lead up to that counter, where he held Gibbs for what seemed an eternity.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'83: Double change due for Arsenal. It's a defensive swap. Kieran Gibbs and Mathieu Flamini about to be introduced. Off come Alexis Sanchez, who has once again been central to much of what is good to Arsenal this season. The other player off is Aaron Ramsay. Arsenal with seven plus minutes to hang onto what will be remembered and cherished by every Arsenal fan. Remember how much this club has endured at the expense of Manchester City. Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'83: Ramsay on the ground playing for time. Arsenal still with two changes to make. For City, this 11 is what they are now having to be content with. Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'80: Jovetic wide! It's a corner, but another near miss for City. Silva's corner is too close to Ospina. That is one area the Spaniard is not the maestro in. Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'77: Another corner for City conceded by Coquelin. Silva delivers, and Ospina palms away. Arsenal not able to securely retain possession since going two up. They would be wise not to test City's attacking prowess. There are still 10 plus minutes to deal with here for the Gunners. Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'76: Some silky work by Cazorla, as he wrong foots for City players before conceding a throw. Final throw of the dice for Manchester City. Navas off, Dzeko on. The Bosnian makes his first appearance since the start of December. What a moment for him to be thrown into. Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'74: Well that's a lucky moment for Arsenal, and more specifically, for Nacho Monreal. His attempted clearance is all wrong, and loops over the net of Ospina dangerously! It's a corner, which is cleared for a City throw. Those are one of those moments when you are two down that you just need to go your way. It so nearly did. Monreal breathes a heavy sigh of relief, as do Arsenal, and as do Chelsea. Edin Dzeko about to be introduced. Surely not even he can rescue this situation? Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'73: At the other end, Navas has a weak effort gathered by Ospina. Today, Manchester City have met an Arsenal defence that is well on key. Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'71: Can City find two to salvage a point? Can they find another to get two more? Can they do this in less than 20 minutes? Should they concede the points today, Chelsea will be five in front, and will be at home when these two sides meet next weekend. That is looking all the more like a potential title decider, even with four months to play! Sanchez! Beaten away by Hart, and the play is halted as an offside is called against Giroud! Arsenal looking for a third to put it well beyond City! Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'69: We are talking about the champions here, but that was truly pathetic defending by Fernando. Two changes down for Pellegrini. Who else does he have? Should Arsenal hold on, as they should now, this can be termed a proud watermark for Arsene Wenger. After their horror travels last season, this will be a huge moment of their season. Unlikely they can mount any title challenge of their own, but they will not give up their Champions League berth without a fight! Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'68: Corner for City, as the intensity should now be set to "frenzy" for the home side. Navas to take. Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'67: What a moment for Arsenal, and what's more, what a moment in the title race! Giroud is completely allowed what amounts to a free header, as Fernando stands near stationary inside the penalty area! This is looking three points for the Gunners away from home at the champions' den! And as Arsenal fans sing, so likely does Chelsea! Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'66: Jovetic gives away the free kick, as finally the change is made. Oxlade-Chamberlain is off for Rosicky. Free kick is about 25 yards out, and good chance for Arsenal to deliver a ball from the boot of Santi Cazorla. IT'S TWO! GIROUD! Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'64: Zabaleta's cross is held well by Ospina, as Arsenal again start their own raid. Still no Rosicky. Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City