Manchester City won back to back games for the first time in a while as Arsenal lost back to back for the first time this season. After a miserable loss against Everton, the Gunners couldn’t hold on to their lead once again and fell to a defeat after goals from Sane and Sterling cancelled out Walcott’s opener.
Although City controlled possession after the goal, they could do seldom little in front of goal with it. And Arsenal went in at half-time feeling comfortable. 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.
Let us take a look at the talking points from the game.
PEP MIGHT BE BALD BUT KNOWS HOW TO USE A HAIR-DRYER
Pep has reiterated that City are going to play his way and he is hell bent of attaining success via the process he believes in. But it hasn’t been smooth sailing totally. After an excellent start, they seem to have been found out and all sorts of problems came up.
While a part of that list was seen today in the 1st half where City were carved open easily and although they had possession, it was domination without penetration. But we saw a different City and a City Pep is promising, only better and stronger. His half-time talk did wonders and he probably should be keeping the hair-dryer with himself for the time being.
ARSENAL’S NOVEMBER CURSE HAS SHIFTED TO DECEMBER?
Arsenal escaped with two draws and a win from the quiet November period, where traditionally they have been having a torrid time. But after a couple of convincing wins, they have now lost 2 on the bounce. People have spoken about a new and improved Arsenal with grit and determination like never before but only an injury to their regular defender, who has just joined this summer has exposed their defensive line and the inconsistency of the likes of Xhaka and Coquelin.
City had Aguero, Fernandinho, Kompany and Gundogan out but their depth saw them through. It might be a factor henceforth.
MANCHESTER CITY ARE BACK IN IT
It was not long ago that a 10-match winning streak across all competitions had made Pep Guardiola favourites to win the title in his 1st season in the Premier League. The rest of the world class teams and the managers and the already established competitors were conveniently forgotten.
But a subsequent difficult period saw him being ‘found out’. But we can be certain that Pep won’t be paying heed to the hypocritical chanting. Although City have had a difficult last couple of months, today’s win showed they won’t be out of the race. There will be ups and downs but with the personnel and firepower they have, it will go down to the wire.
