The Match in Pictures: Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal

Super Sunday promised thrills, and that was exactly what it delivered. After ten-man Liverpool were beaten 2-1 at Anfield by Manchester United in an emotional fixture which came on the back of the Hillsborough revelations, Manchester City played out a 1-1 draw against Arsenal.

Joleon Lescott headed home emphatically when Vito Mannone failed to collect David Silva’s incoming corner, but Laurent Koscielny ensured Arsenal left the Etihad Stadium with a share of the spoils when he blasted the ball into Joe Hart’s net after 82 minutes, following City’s inability to properly clear Santiago Cazorla‘s corner.

The result sees Arsenal in fifth, four points behind league leaders Chelsea, who have a one-point gap between themselves and Manchester United. City are in seventh place after five games, but only goal difference (and Fulham) separates them from the Gunners.

Here are four iconic images which defined the clash in Manchester.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Gervinho of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Manchester, England.

Gervinho

The Ivory Coast forward scored four goals last season, and has already scored three this season. He was expected to continue his purple patch when Arsenal travelled to the North of England, but a combination of circumstances, which involved a poor first touch, profligacy in front of goal and dogged marking by City’s back line meant the Ivorian would not see his name on the scoresheet.

He was sent clean through by Aaron Ramsey in the 16th minute but his woeful first touch meant Joe Hart could snaffle the ball off him as he scampered towards goal. Soon after Arsenal had conceded, Cazorla released Gervinho down the right-hand channel, but he once again failed to threaten Joe Hart.

In the second half, as the minutes ticked down, the former Lille man spurned a glorious opportunity after he’d done all the hard work himself, hoiking his shot and (possibly) seeing Arsenal’s chances of winning the game go into Row Z.

On the positive side, he ran Pablo Zabaleta ragged when positioned on the wings, and made ex-Gunner Gael Clichy look a shadow of the once-sprightly 23-year-old who’d dominated the left at the Emirates Stadium.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Joleon Lescott of Manchester City beats Vito Mannone of Arsenal to the ball to score the first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Manchester, England.

The Spirit of Manuel Almunia continues to haunt Arsenal

Manuel Almunia allegedly lived in a haunted house during his time at Arsenal, and though he has departed London and moved to nearby Watford, his spirit continues to linger in Arsenal’s custodians.

Vito Mannone looks to be the kind of keeper that thrives on confidence. After two solid outings against Sunderland and Stoke and an assured performance against Montpellier, Mannone’s stock seemed to be on the rise.

Until he ventured out of his goalmouth to parry David Silva’s corner.

Not only did he completely miss the corner, he allowed Joleon Lescott to thunder home the header that gave City the lead. Although he did make a couple of decent saves as the game wore on, his lack of confidence seemed to permeate throughout the rest of the team. Mannone’s reaction to the corner was reminiscent of a certain Manuel Almunia, who spread indecisiveness and doubt like contagion during his time at Arsenal.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 01: Jack Rodwell of Manchester City in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers at Etihad Stadium on September 1, 2012 in Manchester, England.

Bringing on Jack Rodwell was a tactical masterstroke by Roberto Mancini

At half-time, like Sir Alex Ferguson did at Anfield, Roberto Mancini took off a winger and brought on a midfielder. Scott Sinclair had been kept quiet by Carl Jenkinson on his Etihad debut, and he was hauled off for former Everton man Jack Rodwell.

The intent behind the change was purely tactical. Abou Diaby, Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta and Santiago Cazorla were overpowering City in midfield, ably aided by Gervinho and Lukas Podolski.

At half-time, the Etihad was collectively surprised when Rodwell replaced the Team GB winger. The move turned out to be a stroke of genius as it meant that though City had lost some of their attacking thrust, they were able to comfortably shore up midfield and successfully stymied Arsenal’s passing game. The second half was unable to hold a candle to the first in terms of entertainment value, but Mancini’s men nearly got the job done, until Laurent Koscielny popped up with the equaliser.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Vincent Kompany of Manchester City attempts an over head kick during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Manchester, England.

A game littered with scoring opportunities

According to statistics from the Official Site of the Barclays Premier League, a total of 26 shots were fired goalwards, 15 of which were on target. While 11 of these were City’s, only four Arsenal shots actually troubled Joe Hart.

Nevertheless, both sides will rue spurning chance after glorious chance to put themselves in the driving seat in this game. Vincent Kompany’s (see above) overhead kick was comfortably palmed away by Mannone, but Laurent Koscielny’s skewed clearance fell straight to Kun Aguero.

The Argentina striker, who had been the hero of the Etihad five months ago, could only watch agonisingly as his shot bobbled past Vito Mannone’s upright for a goal kick. Both him and Edin Dzeko wasted several opportunities to put City in the lead, but they alone were not guilty of profligacy.

Lukas Podolski skied his shot following Carl Jenkinson’s cutback in the first half, and Gervinho was guilty of missing several gilt-edged opportunities.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on September 23, 2012 in Manchester, England.

One point gained, or two dropped?

Based on the number of chances both sides created, they will feel hard done by with a share of the spoils since they will feel that they could’ve secured all three points yesterday.

Last season, Manchester City dropped points at home only once, boasting of a near-perfect record at the Etihad. Arsenal are only the second team to halt City’s march at home this calendar year, and will feel that they deserved at least a point.

On a day in which both number sixes scored, Arsenal will no doubt be the happier side, as this shows that they are no pushovers. City will wonder where the rampaging play they showed last year has gone. They’ve now drawn against both Stoke and Arsenal, and have conceded two goals (at home) to Southampton and another two at Anfield.

With a squad arguably better than the one they had last season, City will be expected to win the title. One can almost certainly expect failure not being tolerated by Sheikh Mansour and his associates should City end up trophyless come May.