Match Review: Arsenal 3-1 Man City

Again, apologies about the lateness but I still must express my delight at this victory. The Gunners were full of confidence, after ending a horrific run with an impressive win over Bolton. Arsenal started the game in their usual fashion, playing good football and putting the opposition on the backfoot. An after 12 minutes, Abou Diaby battled well and shifted the ball to Eboue on the right. The Ivorian full-back whipped in a fierce cross and Tomas Rosicky, scorer of Arsenal's first at the weekend, was first to react as he poked the ball past Isaksson. It felt good to get an early goal, and it was a rare occasion that Arsene Wenger's side didn't concede the first goal. But there were few chances and you had to credit City's defending. On the half-hour mark, Abou Diaby got caught in the head and had to go off for treatmant. The Frenchman tried to battle on but only lasted 2 more minutes, before he trudged off with bandages round his head, and was replaced by Julio Baptista. And the burly Brazilian made an immediate impact. His freekick was deflected and just whistled over the bar. Replays show that had there not been a touch, Arsenal would have been 2 up. But then Emirates was silenced on 41 minutes. A simply awful, scuffed clearance from Lehmann landed at the feet of Joey Barton who knocked it to Michael Johnson, before the latter squeezed a ball in behind the defence, for DaMarcus Beasley to slot home. So The Gunners had threw away an important lead.

In the second half, City were attacking strongly, just as they were in the last 5 minutes of the first period. But it wasn't exactly a spectacle and the first chance came just over 20 minutes from the end. Tomas Rosicky was clear, one-on-one with Isaksson, but made the wrong decision in unselfishely cutting it back for Adebayor, who's shot was eventually blocked. But a few minutes later Ashburton Grove woke up. An unconvincing clearance was set up perfectly for Fabregas, to fire a sublime long range volley into the corner. It was the Spaniard's second goal this week, showing his blossoming confidence. And with 10 minutes to go the game was wrapped up. Hleb slipped a pass into the path of Baptista, who neatly placed the ball past the keeper. It was a convincing win and a relief for many gooners.