A highly anticipated game featuring the title contenders Arsenal and Manchester City on a Monday night proved to be an extravagant feast of great goals and full value entertainment. Kevin De Bruyne flashed his shot wide of the post with only Cech to beat and was left to rue his mistake when the home side took the lead in the 33rd minute.
Laurent Koscielny’s pinpoint pass from defence went straight to assist leader, Mesut Ozil who guided the ball along to Theo Walcott on the left-flank and the Englishman made an angle and curled it in between Bacary Sagna and Fernandhino, into the bottom corner past Joe Hart to draw first blood. Arsene Wenger’s men doubled their lead right on the stroke of half time after Eliaquim Mangala carelessly gave the ball away in his own-half to Aaron Ramsey who passed it on to Mesut Oz
Reuters/Dylan Martinez
il and the German was successful to spot Olivier Giroud’s off the ball run and the Frenchman’s shot went between the legs of Joe Hart leaving City a mountain to climb in the second half.
The Citizens did get one goal back with 10 minutes to go, after some lovely inter play between Sagna and Toure and the Ivorian’s effortless shot into the top-right left Petr Cech with no chance. That slick effort proved to be nothing more than a consolation as the game ended 2-1 in Arsenal’s favour and sees them move above Man City in second place, two points behind unlikely league leaders Leicester. With the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham looking rather incomplete in some aspects, City and Arsenal look to be the long-race horses this campaign, as fans and pundits alike believe Leicester will slip up sooner or later and this result may prove to be one the title deciders.
Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
Meanwhile in the Bundesliga, Pep Guardiola will be leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season and his most likely destination will be Manchester City, while former-Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has agreed terms to take over the reins at Bayern next summer.
Jurgen Klopp will be a worried man, after Liverpool slumped to an embarrassing defeat 3-0 defeat at Watford, as the Reds stand 9th in the table.
Tags: Arsenal Manchester City
