Manchester City meet Arsenal in cozy Thursday evening at The Emirates Stadium.
TEAM SHEET
Arsenal: Cech, Mustafi, Koscielny, Kolasinac, Ramsey, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Welbeck, Aubameyang
Subs: Ospina, Holding, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Iwobi, Nketiah
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Danilo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, D Silva, Sane, Aguero, Bernardo
Subs: Bravo, Zinchenko, Laporte, G Jesus, Stones, Yaya Toure, Foden
Arsenal started the fixture playing from left to right with blue painted circle as a precaution for snow arriving during the game. Arsenal had everything under control as the game commenced – they looked a better team with feather touch clean passes and constantly threatening City’s defence.
Pep Guardiola’s men got lucky not to concede early in the game with a deflection from Vincent Kompany landing perfectly on Ederson’s dive. It’s been an attitude from the home side to go aggressively on Manchester City’s defence.
Moment of brilliance from Manchester City’s Leroy Sane who got the ball to Bernardo Silva on the edge of the penalty area, and City lead outta no where. It was a brilliant goal, with the ball beating Petr Cech on the flight as well as on the curve – No keeper would have got his hands to that shot.
Despite of Cityzens leading early in the game, the tempo for Arsenal didn’t change with Xhaka and Ramsey testing Ederson. Though Manchester City make it TWO!!
David Silva hustles past Arsenal’s midfield rolling the ball to Leroy Sane who grounded it to Aguero and a flick from Argentine back to Silva was enough to split Arsenal’s defence as the Spainard beats Petr Cech.
As Arsenal looks to bite back to City, the visitors find a way to damage hopes – Arsenal were absolutely ripped by blues form Manchester on t he half-an-hour mark, when they scored their third. Aguero runs past Arsenal’s defence and with a pass to Kyle Walker with a nutmeg to Shkodran Mustafi. Walker crosses into the penalty area where Leroy Sane finds a way to get it into the net.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME EVER ARSENAL HAVE CONCEDED THREE FIRST HALF GOALS IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE.
Arsenal get back into the second half as they are the better team on the ball pressuring City’s defence. Pep Guardiola’s men had to stay back and defend – but eventually gave away a penalty when Otemandi sticks out Mkhitaryan’s leg. Aubameyang is in charge of the spot-kick and he side-foots it into the right corner but Ederson does well to keep it out.
Wenger have definitely got some motivational words in the dressing room. Arsenal are much composed team in the second half.
The second half looks like a stalemate, Arsenal are charging into City defence and it eventually gets cleared out without posing any serious threat. Arsenal don’t have a strong bench at the moment, maybe this is the time Arsenal fans get to know the impact Olivier Giroud provided.
Arsenal stepped up their game in second half but score at half time remains the score at full time as on one side Manchester City are only five wins from clinching the title but on another Arsene Wenger & Co. will need to get things back on track as soon as possible.
