Arsenal – Manchester City 2-2 Match Report

Match Stats

• Att: 60,000
• Goals:  City: Aguero 27, Demichelis 83 . Arsenal: Wilshere 63, Sanchez 74

MCIVTA Man of the Match

Ratings:

Hart: A game of two halves: he made some a good save early on and an important interception in the first half; and after the break he went down too quickly and was too easily beaten for Wilshere’s goal, and might have been slightly too far over to his right for their second: 6
Zabaleta: Making more forward runs as he gets fitter. His highlight in defence was  a superb covering interception to clear a dangerous Sanchez cross: 7
Kompany: Absolutely immense all afternoon. Assertive in the air, sharp in the tackle on the ground. A great, great defender in any era: 9 (City’s Man of the Match)
Demichelis : He may lack pace at 33, but he reads the game so well, and so it proved here. Rock solid and in this consistently good form, he will be hard to dislodge from the team.8
Clichy: Beaten a little easy for Arsenal’s second but otherwise defended well: 7
Navas: Very good indeed in attack, frequently troubling the Gunners with his pace. He delivered a perfect cross for Aguero’s goal, and was always willing to get back and do his defensive work: 8
Lampard: He looked off the pace which is understandable given it being his first game but he played one lovely pass out to the left and set off Milner for his one-two with Silva.  He should play v Sheff Wed to help him get back up to speed, but I can’t see him being much more than a sub for us while he is here: 5
Fernandinho: A vigorous show in central midfield and picked up a booking for his troubles. 7
Milner: Solid on the left, but a stronger influence in his favoured central role in the second half: 7
Silva: Exemplary, save for that dangerous back pass in the first half. As ever, so creative, intelligent and hard working. His delightful turn and pass for Dzeko should have won us the match: 8
Aguero: Took his goal brilliantly and looked very sharp. Like Navas he often caused Arsenal constant problems 8

Subs:

Nasri (for Lampard (HT): Again he was clearly affected by the childish Arsenal fans’ boos and he didn’t hold the ball and take responsibility like he normally does. He has to learn to relish the stick and take delight in imposing his quality on Arsenal: 5
Dzeko (for Aguero 67): On another day he would have volleyed Silva’s incisive diagonal pass in and also might have put his 94th minute chance to win the match out of Szczesny’s reach: 6
Kolarov (for Fernandinho 77): Great delivery for Demichelis equaliser: n/a

Best Oppo: Sanchez: Very skilful, duck and effective, particularly out on the right flank. He was one of the main reasons Arsenal could move the ball so quickly, particularly in the first half. Much is made in the London press of the vastly overrated Wilshere, but the truth is that Wilshere was a continual cheat with his diving, should have been sent off for a bad tackle on Clichy and penalised for hand ball late on. In contrast, Sanchez played a good tough game, worked hard in defence too and was a real live wire in attack, taking his volleyed goal brilliantly. If it wasn’t for the Arsenal, United, Liverpool etc cartel, and their so-called “Financial Fair Play” regulations, we may have seen him in a light blue shirt this season. Still, without wishing to be overly covetous or arrogant, but it is whingeing, Establishment Arsenal after all, Arsenal’s better players have a habit of seeing the light and taking a northerly journey up the M1, M6 and M60 to East Manchester: 9

Refwatch: Clattenburg: He and his officials allowed fouls to go unpunished in the run up to both Arsenal goals. He may well have been unsighted with Wilshere’s audition for the Harlem Globetrotters but that doesn’t excuse him overall. A weak or biased showing? Only he knows: 0