Arsenal 1 - 1 Manchester City: A Game of Two Halves

FT Stats Arsenal v Man City
Shots 10-15
On target 3-4
Fouls 8-11
Duels Won 56%-44%
Pass Accuracy 82%-82%
Possession 48%-52%


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As the title says, it was a game of two halves. Thought we were nervous in the 1st half after our last two matches. The pressing wasn't there and the defensive organisation was lacking. However the 2nd half was much better and one must ask the question that why don't we play more like this every week? It was the same sort of performance that got us the win against Napoli, Liverpool, Dortmund and Everton however we just don't seem to channel it more often.

1-1 was fair in the end. Both sides could have won it. Rosicky and Flamini were excellent for us. Taking the game to City.

Think the title race is all but done for us but this result should help us finish strongly at least. Everton away next week is crucial.

If we fight like this for the remaining games in the league and FA Cup, I'll be a happy man.

Also one more thing, Cazorla was magnificient... it's about time he gets to last season's form. And Oxlade-Chamberlain should start on the left instead of Podolski, any day from now on.

Good game, frustrating first half but what a great second half.

Hope we can play the same way against Everton and the rest of the season.

given players we were missing and our poor record when conceding first couldn't ask for more

Flamini scored ,had another one in offside and made penetrative runs
now imagine if it was Ramsey in that role ....damn

started well but conceded in a manner which we have become accustomed to. I thought we would have collapsed like other games but stayed in it at half time. Could have won it but I am satisfied with the draw. Santi, Rosicky and Gibbo were great today so were Arteta and Flamini.

urbaNRoots wrote:Also one more thing, Cazorla was magnificient... it's about time he gets to last season's form. And Oxlade-Chamberlain should start on the left instead of Podolski, any day from now on.

I expect Cazorla to have a meh game against Everton, story of his season. A good game followed by a meh one then a shit one and so on.

We really, really missed Walcott today. We got in behind their midfield plenty of times, but had no one to run in behind City's defence; Rosicky ran past Toure in midfield about three times, and each time had to play a simple pass or keep going because the movement in front of him was non-existent.

Some of the first half defending was shoddy, to say the least. We didn't help ourselves by constantly giving the ball away, and the goal we conceded was so typical. Podolski lost it cheaply, City broke on us and get a lucky ricochet off the past, which just happened to fall on Silva's foot. Our inability to keep the ball put us in trouble several times, and was indicative of the lack of confidence in the side.

The second half surprised me though as the players actually responded and came out fighting. They got a lot tighter to City, and found some precision and tempo to their passing that we haven't seen for a while. The goal was well worked and a direct result of Yaya Toure not picking up Flamini's run into the box; he exploited the space created by Giroud taking the centre backs away. Amazing what happens when you get more than one player in the box.

We had a couple of chances to win it from there, so it was disappointing that we couldn't get all three. Still, a draw is a decent result given our recent form and City's recent form. The most important thing was that the performance was good - the best it's been for a while - and if we can perform with the same level of intensity in the coming games, we'll finish the season strongly.

Don't understand why people think we're out of the title race? Only 5 points behind top and, as Palace showed today, anything can happen from now until the end

Had we lost, I'd agree that the title race was over. But it's far from over.

Arsenal are out of the title race, just like Chelsea. Let's see how Liverpool do against Spurs today, I expect them to win comfortably.

Still can't see past City considering its their only competition to play for with that squad.

We're five points behind a team who won't be top if Liverpool win, and who won't be second if/when City win there games in hands. If it were just one team we're chasing, then you could say we're still in it, if only barely, but when you're chasing another two teams on top of that, you really haven't got much of a chance. We're relying on three teams to drop enough points for us to catch up, which is just unlikely, no matter how weird this season has been.

We should fight to the very end, get as many wins as we can and see where it takes us, but bar something dramatic happening I can't see us getting back into the title race at this stage.

After every big loss we draw.

Man City 6-3, next game Chelsea 0-0

Liverpool 5-1, next game United 0-0

Chelsea 6-0, next game Swansea 2-2


So for us to put in such an encouraging shift after the customary draw is just that... encouraging.

I agree with Lex. It would be unwise to count us out. We should be realistic about our chances but if the team just plays like this then we can all hold our heads high at the end of the season. I'm confident of that.

It was certainly a game of two halves. Second half, we really did well. Was thoroughly impressed in those second 45 minutes. Flamini (!!) of all people with the goal, unorthodox finish, mind.

With the players we had out, a point against in-form City is a terrific result.

Wenger said "I would like to see Man City without Kompany, Toure and Silva and we play the game again" referring to the likes of Ramsey, Ozil and Koscielny missing.

As for the title, I think that's over. But a top 4 finish and the FA Cup would represent a good campaign. We need to make sure we don't lose at Everton next weekend, then we *should* be good for the top 4.

Given that our 5 matches after Everton are Hull, West Ham, Norwich, Newcastle and WBA (not in that order)

While Everton host City, United and visit Southampton so they should drop points meaning even a draw would be decent for us.

But after yesterday we need to start winning. The players looked up for it and if we want to have any chance of competing for 1st then we have to win literally every game which we can.

We have the same chance as Everton winning the title, which is very slim.

No, our remaining fixtures are better than theirs and we're 4 points ahead.

Lex wrote:Don't understand why people think we're out of the title race? Only 5 points behind top and, as Palace showed today, anything can happen from now until the end

Had we lost, I'd agree that the title race was over. But it's far from over.

A potential 9 points worse off the top place with 6 games to go. You really think Arsenal are in the title race?

If you guys talking about top4 trophy yes we have a good chance, the real title 0%. I dont even know where the tittle talk is coming from?  

We dont have the team or the Manager to win the league. Lets be happy with our top4 struggle again and called it a successful season. 

If we dont beat Everton, no top 4.

ExtremistEnigma wrote:

Lex wrote:Don't understand why people think we're out of the title race? Only 5 points behind top and, as Palace showed today, anything can happen from now until the end

Had we lost, I'd agree that the title race was over. But it's far from over.

A potential 9 points worse off the top place with 6 games to go. You really think Arsenal are in the title race?

Which hole did you pull 9 points out of? We're 7 points behind your lot with the potential to plane it down to 4 by the time Liverpool play again, while you still have to play both Chelsea and Man City, the other two candidates in the race

Far, far from over

Lex wrote:

ExtremistEnigma wrote:

Lex wrote:Don't understand why people think we're out of the title race? Only 5 points behind top and, as Palace showed today, anything can happen from now until the end

Had we lost, I'd agree that the title race was over. But it's far from over.

A potential 9 points worse off the top place with 6 games to go. You really think Arsenal are in the title race?

Which hole did you pull 9 points out of? We're 7 points behind your lot with the potential to plane it down to 4 by the time Liverpool play again, while you still have to play both Chelsea and Man City, the other two candidates in the race

Far, far from over

if we win at everton, we have a small chance, the everton match will be HUGE. with the injuries we got, im just not too sure we can win there though.

Man City have two games in hand. If they win both of them, they'll be on 73 points.

Here, I'll do the math for you:
73 - 64 (Arsenal points) = 9 points.

Lex wrote:

ExtremistEnigma wrote:

Lex wrote:Don't understand why people think we're out of the title race? Only 5 points behind top and, as Palace showed today, anything can happen from now until the end

Had we lost, I'd agree that the title race was over. But it's far from over.

A potential 9 points worse off the top place with 6 games to go. You really think Arsenal are in the title race?

Which hole did you pull 9 points out of? We're 7 points behind your lot with the potential to plane it down to 4 by the time Liverpool play again, while you still have to play both Chelsea and Man City, the other two candidates in the race

Far, far from over

lol man

The real question is, in terms of accurately predicting the future, who's better, Professor X when hooked up to Ultimate cerebro, or ExtremistEnigma?