As mentioned earlier, Arsenal were prepared for this line of defence and tried to get crosses in right from the first minute of the match. This is borne out by the fact that Arsenal averaged 23 crosses per game before this match, while they attempted 38 crosses on Sunday. The fact that the crossing accuracy was less than the average is down more to solid defending by Lescott and Kompany, both of whom had a very good game.
One of Arsenal’s best opportunities came from the wide right position. Â Clichy and Nasri allowed Rosicky and Sagna plenty of time on the ball, preferring to defend at the edge of the box. Sagna found Walcott with a low pass, which the Englishman seemed to have scored from but his shot was diverted by Hart onto the post. Vermaelen was following up and should have scored but he somehow managed to shin the ball. Still, it fell kindly to Benayoun and with the goal gaping a yard in front of him, the Israeli poked it onto Lescott and the ball hit the other post and went out for a corner.
Changes were made on both sides. Benayoun came off for Ramsey, and Nasri departed for Kolarov. Later, Tevez replaced Aguero and Alex Oxlade came in for Walcott. It did not change the game in any way. City were still looking like they’d rather go home, and Arsenal kept pressing. The breakthrough eventually for the Gunners came from the brilliant Arteta, who intercepted a Gareth Barry pass meant for Pizarro. The Spaniard took a couple of touches, spotted a little gap to Lescott’s left, and rifled in a right footed screamer just inside Joe Hart’s left post.
It was what Arsenal had deserved. The rest of the game petered out, with City showing no belief that they were ever going to get back into it. But not before Balotelli deservedly got sent off, this time for a second yellow for a challenge on Sagna.
For me, the man of the match was undoubtedly Mikel Arteta. Besides netting the crucial winner, other numbers confirm this view. Arteta attempted 78 passes, twice as many as City’s highest (Pizarro with 39). He completed 73 of these, achieving a 93% completion rate. He had the joint highest number of interceptions along with Lescott (5). It indicates a fantastic overall performance by the Spaniard.
Tactically, I feel Arsene Wenger got almost everything right for this match.
The formation worked perfectly against a Manchester City team that failed to use the width of the pitch, something the Gunners themselves have been guilty of recently. Also, Arsenal seemed prepared for City to defend deep and defend centrally. While the crossing may not have been effective due to good work by City’s centre-half pairing, it did put the visitors’ back line under constant pressure. This told in the end, with a tired Lescott unable to muster the energy or determination to close down Arteta’s strike.
The goal itself showed the value of having a pop – something Arsenal don’t do often enough, especially late on in matches.
On the defensive side, the Gunners were solid throughout. Â Arsenal had committed 16 more defensive errors than City prior to this game but there were none on Sunday. In 90 minutes, City did not muster a single shot on target.
I feel though that Arsenal were aided to a large extent by Mancini’s tactics. He took the option that Manchester City have taken in recent years at the Emirates, to stay solid defensively and hope to get something on the counter. If at all City had a chance, I would have thought it was in going for an all out attack on an Arsenal back-line that is susceptible to the odd mistake.
Playing Balotelli on the left was another perplexing decision. Mario himself was not happy with this and I think he tried to take matters into his own hands at the start of the second half, before reverting to the left again. His defensive game has never been his strong point and when combined with the temperament of a teenager going through a bad bout of periods, it was a disaster waiting to happen.
David Silva not being in the squad was another massive boost for Arsenal. The Spaniard may be out of form, but he’s one of those players that can come up with one moment of magic that can open up the defense. Nasri did not offer that threat at all and was marshalled well into non-threatening areas of the pitch by the Arsenal.
Lastly, I think the Emirates crowd played a crucial part in Arsenal’s victory as well. Every decision for Arsenal was cheered, every one against was jeered. It finally seems as if the Emirates is becoming the intimidating venue that Highbury was for so long. After all, home advantage is not only the state of the pitch and the Arsenal support was most definitely the team’s 12th man on Sunday.
Overall, a thoroughly deserved victory for Arsenal which effectively ends City’s title ambitions while strengthening the Gunners claim for third place.
