Arsenal v City post match thread

[OB1]

It's been a good week.

A little bit of frustration, mind, due to the Chelsea result, beforehand.

I thought Dzeko showed signs of fatigue against Arsenal.

Nasri was my player of the season up until his injury, but he has gone hiding for me in recent games. He lacked desire and energy at the Emirates.

I also thought Clichy was pretty poor, lacking intelligence and positional sense.

What has really surprised me in these last two games is the responsibility Silva has taken upon himself and moved to another level. He is demonstrating a level of tenacity and leadership I did not think he had in his locker.

We could do with a couple more of our exceptional talents taking his lead, mainly Yaya and Nasri in games like the Arsenal one.

Hopefully, the return of Aguero will see to that.

To put the Arsenal result into perspective, Liverpool failing to win today, or any time between now and the end of the season, turns our point against Arsenal into a victory.

Good intelligent post and I agree Aguero could be key - we lacked movement in the second half apart from Silva who is a sublime football player. Nasri looked as though the booing got to him which is surprising as he normally rises in games like that.

I actually thought Nasri was pretty passive against United, also.

I do think he also looks to be carrying a little bit more timber in recent games.

I think criticism of Yaya and Nasri has been a bit overdone. Nasri was a bit conservative maybe but both players had more touches on the ball than all but four City players and had decent pass completion; Nasri was a 96%. Yaya did some excellent defensive work that won't even show up in the stats (shielding the ball out for instance in his own box). Unfortunately, they were party to losing the ball for the move from which Arsenal scored and they did not have the sort of positive impact that they are capable of.

I also wonder if Nasri still struggles a bit with all the constant booing when he gets the ball?

 

[cheddar404]

It's been a good week.

A little bit of frustration, mind, due to the Chelsea result, beforehand.

I thought Dzeko showed signs of fatigue against Arsenal.

Nasri was my player of the season up until his injury, but he has gone hiding for me in recent games. He lacked desire and energy at the Emirates.

I also thought Clichy was pretty poor, lacking intelligence and positional sense.

What has really surprised me in these last two games is the responsibility Silva has taken upon himself and moved to another level. He is demonstrating a level of tenacity and leadership I did not think he had in his locker.

We could do with a couple more of our exceptional talents taking his lead, mainly Yaya and Nasri in games like the Arsenal one.

Hopefully, the return of Aguero will see to that.

To put the Arsenal result into perspective, Liverpool failing to win today, or any time between now and the end of the season, turns our point against Arsenal into a victory.

Good intelligent post and I agree Aguero could be key - we lacked movement in the second half apart from Silva who is a sublime football player. Nasri looked as though the booing got to him which is surprising as he normally rises in games like that.

I actually thought Nasri was pretty passive against United, also.

I do think he also looks to be carrying a little bit more timber in recent games.

When he came over to take a corner in front of the south stand at the Fulham game, he looked about as mobile as I do the morning after a Sunday league match.

 

[OB1]

As good as city were in the 1st half, we were just as good if not better in the 2nd and this is with us missing 4/5 top players whereas city were just missing augero.

As mentioned on here, this is not a result that is going to cost you the title as your results against top 4 this season have been excellent.

To put it into perspective, as shit as we've been against top teams away, our home form is 2nd to none. We have not lost at home in the league since first game of the season. We've beaten Liverpool twice, spurs, Everton in the cup, drawn with Man U city and Liverpool.

I also think we've conceded the least amount of goals at home as well (I haven't checked so don't quote me on that).

All in all if I was a city fan id have been happy with a point as the emirates is not a easy place to come for any team, regardless of how many injuries we have. And you've still taken 4 points of us this season.

Misleading this, cos Arsenal have a midfield cast of thousands who are virtually interchangeable. Walcott and Wilshere are the highest profile casualties, but neither would have improved the side one iota yesterday. Cazorla and Rosicky were outstanding, Arteta and Flamini were essential to the gameplan, and they still had Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench. The difference Aguero makes to City though is immeasurable

Aguero's injuries have been a big blow to us: fit and on form, I think that he is at least as dangerous as Suarez.

 

[Bluep*ss]

Listened to Radio M/cr for the game. This team was taken from the Official site.Manchester City:

Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Fernandinho, Toure, Navas (Milner 63), Silva, Nasri (Garcia 81), Dzeko (Negredo 84)

Unused subs:
Kompany, Yaya Toure, Silva

Bookings:
Pantilimon, Kolarov, Lescott, Jovetic
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know it is obviously a mistake - the players booked and those on the bench. I did wonder why Jovetic wasn't given some game time. I have to be happy with a draw because it is a hard place to win.
Yaya did ok without any of his" trade mark lung busting runs" and Nasri was ok. Dzeko was - well Dzeko -
We need a fully fit Aguero back soon - hope he lasts out the season.

 

[GoMancini7]

Not delighted at all with the draw given how many injured players they had, and how low they were mentally in recent games.

Going 1-0 up we should have scored again and finish it off not letting them back and in the we were had to be happy we didnt lost it.

Whole game we were slow, less energetic than we should have been, no real drive forward, many mistakes in passing, some real shit individsual performances Yaya, Nasri especially.

4 points in two away games not bad, but United away is hardly a tough fixture this year, I mean nearly more teams won at Old Toilet than not this year. Wba, Soton, Everton, Newcastle all came away with 3 points we just done the same, nothing special...

Title will be decided in less than 2 points, the second of the league wont be 3 or more points far from the Champions we cannot do things like this 1-0 up vs a team missing their best players and they come back.
Pellegrini didnt risk anything after their goal made late subs, left Nasri on too much, he was happy with the draw after the game and also after their goal around 60. minute.
Early in the season its OK to be happy weith a draw in a big away game, but not the end of season.

Soton and the game at Anfield now even bigger games for us, we better come up with the right mentality and tactics vs pressing teams. Something we used to suffer a lot against...

 

[Ban-jani]

Very good point & one definitely gained, not lost.

We'll look back at that point as champions, trust me.

 

[wythenshaweblue£££]

I dont see this as points dropped arsenal played good in the second just a shame we couldnt finish them off in the first half but draw was a fair result.

 

[coleridge]

As good as city were in the 1st half, we were just as good if not better in the 2nd and this is with us missing 4/5 top players whereas city were just missing augero.

As mentioned on here, this is not a result that is going to cost you the title as your results against top 4 this season have been excellent.

To put it into perspective, as shit as we've been against top teams away, our home form is 2nd to none. We have not lost at home in the league since first game of the season. We've beaten Liverpool twice, spurs, Everton in the cup, drawn with Man U city and Liverpool.

I also think we've conceded the least amount of goals at home as well (I haven't checked so don't quote me on that).

All in all if I was a city fan id have been happy with a point as the emirates is not a easy place to come for any team, regardless of how many injuries we have. And you've still taken 4 points of us this season.

Misleading this, cos Arsenal have a midfield cast of thousands who are virtually interchangeable. Walcott and Wilshere are the highest profile casualties, but neither would have improved the side one iota yesterday. Cazorla and Rosicky were outstanding, Arteta and Flamini were essential to the gameplan, and they still had Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench. The difference Aguero makes to City though is immeasurable

Aguero's injuries have been a big blow to us: fit and on form, I think that he is at least as dangerous as Suarez.

Absolutely.

He has simply not played enough over the last couple of seasons. There comes a time when a difficult decision has to be made. Get the feeling he'll be fine for the World Cup though.

Probably the best striker that we have ever had. That's what makes it even more frustrating.

 

[Chippy_boy]

Misleading this, cos Arsenal have a midfield cast of thousands who are virtually interchangeable. Walcott and Wilshere are the highest profile casualties, but neither would have improved the side one iota yesterday. Cazorla and Rosicky were outstanding, Arteta and Flamini were essential to the gameplan, and they still had Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench. The difference Aguero makes to City though is immeasurable

Aguero's injuries have been a big blow to us: fit and on form, I think that he is at least as dangerous as Suarez.

Absolutely.

He has simply not played enough over the last couple of seasons. There comes a time when a difficult decision has to be made. Get the feeling he'll be fine for the World Cup though.

Probably the best striker that we have ever had. That's what makes it even more frustrating.

Don't be daft, he's FAR too good for "difficult decisions to be made". You could possibly say it of Jovetic, but never Sergio. And who knows, he might not miss a game next season.

Unrelated, has Suarez missed ANY games through injury these last 2 seasons? They have a very thin squad and have been incredibly lucky with injuries. If Sergio had played as much as Suarez this season, we might have the title wrapped up by now.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

Bottom line from yesterday was Arsenal were fortunate that Fernandihno slipped else he'd have got that cross.