By the end Arsenal were hanging on but they will cling to this victory as irrefutable evidence that they are most emphatically in this Premier League title race and have the determination to see it through this time. For Manchester City and, definitely, for their manager Manuel Pellegrini, this was a performance they had feared.
With Pep Guardiola on the market Pellegrini’s prospects were not enhanced by the nature of this defeat as City were undone by their own failings as much as by Arsenal’s tactics. This was a new Arsenal. An Arsenal that has been seen before under Arsène Wenger – not least in previous meetings with City – but one that played with greater tactical discipline, work-rate and without dominating possession.
The latter point would have been anathema to Wenger not that long ago but there is a practical edge now. In the absence of the injured Alexis Sánchez it does not half help if there is a player who is capable of stepping up and scoring a Sanchez-style goal.
• Arsenal vs Manchester City: as it happened
On 33 minutes Walcott did just that to give Arsenal the precious advantage as he collected possession from Özil – who else – and cut back in from the left, where he has been stationed of late, and along the front of the penalty area to then strike a fierce angled shot back across Joe Hart into the net. Crucially, Özil had ducked down as the ball ran over him, possibly leaving Hart unsighted. A trademark Sánchez goal.
Walcott celebrates Arsenal's opening goal after Ozil, once again, provided the assist
Up until that point it had been a dominant City, at least in terms of possession as Arsenal deliberately dropped deep, and the goal came almost immediately after a crucial miss by Kevin de Bruyne. Arsenal had sat in but when they did venture forward Nacho Monreal was caught out of position and Sergio Agüero’s sharp first-time pass had set De Bruyne free down the right. He ran on and on and fired a shot narrowly past the far post when he could, possibly, have picked out the onrushing David Silva. Silva certainly thought so by his reaction
Emirates Stadium possession
City certainly had intent. An intent bolstered by the return of Agüero, absent for the past four matches through injury, to lead the attack and provide more of a focus. And it was Agüero then stealing possession away from Laurent Koscielny with the ball again eventually reaching De Bruyne who once more shot low and hard, attempting to beat Cech at his near post.
The goalkeeper turned it away for a corner.
It already had the feel of a match whose result would carry a significance. In practical terms the winner would earn the right to be in Leicester City’s slipstream at the top of the table going into Christmas. But the mood was that the victor here would gain an important advantage in the title race.
Giroud pokes the ball beyond Joe Hart, the City goalkeeper, to extend the hosts' lead
Certainly the goal bolstered Arsenal. City appeared less certain, more disorganised, and that was exposed on half-time as Eliaquim Mangala delivered a woefully stray pass which was intercepted with Özil again the provider by slipping the ball through to Olivier Giroud. The striker still had much to do but took it early and beat Hart – his shot going through the goalkeeper’s legs. It was an awful concession by City not least for its timing.
Pellegrini sent Raheem Sterling to warm up during half-time but how he must have wished he had Vincent Kompany at his disposal. That City defence had let him down badly, especially through its soft heart and the hapless Mangala in particular. But it was goals required. Delph gave way and City had an even more attacking feel to them as they searched for a way back.
Giroud reels away in celebration after scoring the second on the stroke of half time
Instead they almost fell further behind as they were opened up down their right with Monreal then crossing low for Joel Campbell to steer the ball over the bar after Nicolas Otamendi failed to cut it out and Aleksandar Kolarov failed to get close to him. Soon after and another chance opened up for Campbell as he sprinted onto a long punt forward to poke a shot goalwards which Hart kicked away before, desperately, Otamendi sliced the ball behind as Giroud shaped to reach another cross.
Arsenal's attacking statistics
City’s defensive frailties were exposed and were exposed again as Arsenal broke with Campbell eventually playing a clever first-time pass to Aaron Ramsey only for Hart to rush from goal and divert his shot away for a corner.
Manchester City's attacking statistics
Finally an opportunity was fashioned by City with substitute Jesus Navas released by Fernandinho. He had a run at goal but such is his lack of confidence that he tried, and failed, to find a team-mate rather than shoot. Then, out of nothing, City did score with Bacary Sagna cutting the ball back to Yaya Touré. Mathieu Flamini stood off and Touré’s powerful first-time shot arced over and around Cech.
Soon after a shot by substitute Wilfried Bony was deflected narrowly wide. Suddenly Touré was dominant and he exchanged passes with De Bruyne before sending another shot skimming past the post. City were transformed but, fortunately for Arsenal it was too late.
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