Arsenal secure three points over Man City in Premier League
Published:
Matt Haynes | December 21, 2015
Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City
- Walcott gives Gunners lead
- Giroud doubles lead before break
- Toure pulls on back late on with super strike
Tactical start
Arsenal, 21/20 with Coral to beat Southampton, put in a dominant display against Manchester City at the Emirates to deliver a defying title warning.
It was almost a game of chess for the opening 20 minutes, with both clubs affording each other respect for their attacking threats and they showed this with each team reluctant to commit many men forward.
Kevin De Bruyne was pulling the strings for City during the early periods, though the visitors were unable to make chances count and Arsenal grew into the match.
Wonderful Walcott
As Arsenal moved through the gears, City’s centre backs were dragged out of position time and again by Mesut Ozil, though when the German laid it off to Theo Walcott on the edge of the area, the attacker bent a stunning strike into the far corner, beyond the reach of Joe Hart.
Not long after, they doubled their advantage during injury time at the end of the first half. Ozil pulled yet another string and released Olivier Giroud in the area who fired through Hart’s legs.
Arsenal entertaining
The second half offered Arsenal a number of opportunities to push on and score more, with Aaron Ramsey’s surging runs into the box giving him three clear-cut chances to extend the Gunners’ lead.
Joel Campbell twice had chances after being released with City pushing forward and exposed at the back, though the Costa Rican couldn’t make them count.
Perhaps one of the key figures for the hosts was Mathieu Flamini whose tireless contribution kept City’s attackers in check, including Sergio Aguero who was substituted midway through the second half after a quiet match.
Terrific Toure
Yaya Toure, who had made a nuisance of himself throughout scored late on with a strike worthy of being labelled world class as City pushed to get back into the match late on.
However, with Arsenal defending doggedly, this proved a mere consolation as the hosts secured all three points at the Emirates.
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