Manchester City have laid down a huge marker for the title race as they came from behind to win 2-1 against Arsenal at the Etihad. And with this win, City won for the first time in 4 years in a match they were trailing at half-time. The Sky Blues have hence moved back into the 2nd spot after a brief spell at the 4th spot.
The match got off to a belter for Arsenal fans and a horrid one for the City fans as their defence was carved open by Sanchez’s pass to Walcott who controlled it first time and nestled it into the back of the post past the familiar sight of a hapless Claudio Bravo. But the match went flat after that piece of play by the Gunners and it was another dominating spell of football by City who passed and passed but with no real conviction. And Arsene Wenger was seemingly content to see his team sit back and thwart an Aguero-less City.
But it was a different City side after the break and with a slight tweak in formation and personnel, Guardiola had instilled a sense of urgency and sharpness in his front four. They hustled and harried the Gunners and pushed them on the backfoot continuously. And a similar piece of pressing saw Sterling win the ball and Silva deftly released Leroy Sane who kept a cool head to guide it past a sprawling Petr Cech. And as the game went on it was almost as if the winner was a matter of time. A peach of a cross-field pass by De Bruyne to Sterling caught Arsenal horribly out of position and the English International showed quick feet and struck it past Cech.
With the win, City are certainly back in the title race after a horrible start to December and while the 7-poin gap might look big, it could have much worse for the Sky Blues. But Wenger will be distraught after his usually cursed November seems to have been transferred to the 12th month of the year. They need a win, quickly.
Let us check out a few tweets as Arsenal are bashed up and City praised, somewhat with surprise, though.
I still dislike City but man that was some pass from Silva :clap::clap:
— Olumide (@Seal_Lumidee) December 18, 2016
Did arsenal go on there Christmas break at half time ?? :weary: #MCFCvAFC
— Bobby Diamond (@BobbyDiamond92) December 18, 2016
— Freddy Dennis (@ArsenalBlogz) December 18, 2016
Alexis Sanchez has one major contract left in his career
If he wants Money & London life then stay at Arsenal
Titles? He has to leave #AFC
— indykaila News (@indykaila) December 18, 2016
He may be bald, but Pep sure knows how to use a hair dryer. Incredible since half time. MCFCvAFC
— Amit Mishra (@Leamitmishra) December 18, 2016
Mesut Özil’s game by numbers vs. Manchester City:
1 chance created
0 crosses completed
0 take-ons completed
0 shotsHe wants 250k a week..
— indykaila News (@indykaila) December 18, 2016
No Aguero? No Fernandinho? No Gundogan? No Kompany? No Problem. #ManchesterCity #Arsenal @ManCity @Arsenal
— Premier League Love (@love_epl) December 18, 2016
Arsenal’s week:
Mon: Draw Bayern in UCL
Tue: Lose to Everton
Wed: All rivals win 3 points
Sat: All rivals win 3 points
Sun: Lose to City pic.twitter.com/KQPPerlJ2h— Transfer Related (@TransferRelated) December 18, 2016
