Arsenal 0-0 Manchester City: Yawn!

by Rachid



Football games don't get anymore boring than what we saw yesterday. Talk about a cure for insomnia! This blog entry will most likely be a short one since there was not much happening in the match to report on. This was arguably our most uneventful match this season.



The first item of note in the match took place 23 minutes in when Vincent Kompany hacked down Theo Walcott on the right hand side in a challenge for the ball which saw Walcott left in a heap for the physios to attend to. Shay Given had his first save of the game to make 16 minutes later when Robin van Persie played in Samir Nasri who took a shot and Given parried it behind for a corner. That was all there really was to the first half. Yawn!



Not much happened in the second half of note either except in the 52nd minute Paddy Vieira was subbed off for Emmanuel Adebayor and it was a little funny to hear a loud applause and cheer for the former Arsenal skipper turn to resounding boos and whistles for the former Arsenal crybaby.



Given's second save of note came from Abou Diaby's shot from about 23 yards out from goal in the 69th minute. He had to dive to his left to make the save and landed badly on his left shoulder and unfortunately dislocated it. The injury means he's out for their remaining 3 games of the season. Credit must be given to the Arsenal fans who applauded him for his efforts while being stretchered away for medical attention.



Before the game, I expected Lukasz Fabianski to make another customary game costing howler but surprisingly it wasn't the case. Then again, I shouldn't be surprised as Man City didn't seem to care to play either and it's really no question why he didn't have much to do. The only real save of note I can remember from him came in the 86th minute off a shot outside the area from Craig Bellamy. Thankfully that's all he had to deal with and I don't have to be sitting here right now textually tearing him apart.



We laid an egg at the DW Stadium a week ago and needed a big performance yesterday and they didn't deliver it. A win yesterday would've secured 3rd for us and automatic qualification for the group stages of next season's Champions League but we decided to drag it out some more. It's the Arsenal way. No one really seemed to care to win yesterday. They all seemed as though they were just going through the motions. Since it's now a foregone conclusion that we won't win the title perhaps our players have switched off and have decided to just coast through the rest of the season. If that's the case then maybe it's now time for Arsene Wenger to start blooding some of the younger, hungrier talent in the team to get them ready for next season. I'm not saying throw them all in at once but we could definitely introduce a couple names here and there. They'll no doubt be up for it as the season's drawing to a close and they'll want to grab Wenger's attention in order to be considered for a first team role next season. Anyway, whatever. I really couldn't care any less today.



This is the part of the blog where I'd normally do a player rating but why bother? The Arsenal players couldn't give a rat's ass about getting a win yesterday so I can't give a rat's ass about giving them each a rating today.



Team rating: 5/10

Entertainment value rating: 3/10 - I might as well have watched paint dry.



And that's that for today. Talk to you again some other time. Dust!

Arsenal v Manchester City: The Boys Are Back In Town

by Rachid



If you're an Arsenal fan planning on watching the match later today against Man City you must be a masochist, like myself. After a completely dour performance against Wigan last Sunday we have to dust ourselves off and regain focus as continuing our poor form which has seen us gain only 1 win in our last 6 games in all competition could mean we may well slip into a fight for third place with the likes of Tottenham and Man City. As I type this the match between Man United and Tottenham is locked at 1 and should the score remain the same after 90 minutes a win today could take us to within 3 points of United and we could still push to finish 2nd in the league.



After losing our last 3 games, to Barcelona, Tottenham and Wigan respectively we need all the help we can get to restore some confidence to the team. Arsene Wenger has revealed that he's expecting Eduardo and Alex Song back though so we should expect to see the latter of the two in the starting line up with the former on the bench. Andrey Arshavin remains a doubt though.



Wenger however wouldn't be drawn on his choice to man the goal today as Manuel Almunia is still out with a wrist injury. Many have been doubting the truth behind whether Almunia's really injured but after Lukasz Fabianski's flapping around against Wigan last Sunday it would only make sense to believe that Almunia is really injured as I can't see why Arsene Wenger would keep him sidelined with such a walking calamity in our goal. Wenger always backs his players when they come in for heavy scrutiny from the media and he did just that yesterday when speaking about Fabianski. According to Wenger:

"I think he will be a great keeper. If you ask how many mistakes you can afford [at this level], I would say zero. But it is also part of the game.

"I believe Fabianski has total talents, with a great quality and spirit. Now he has a good opportunity to show how good he is.

"Of course, he was disappointed on Sunday [after the Wigan game], but I believe he was not the only one involved in our defeat."

Many would wonder if Wenger did that interview while having a round of vodka shots but I can understand why he says that. I'm pretty sure he doesn't actually believe Fabianski will be a great keeper at Arsenal in the future but given the fact that he isn't sure who he'll start in goal today he wants to build the Pole's confidence just in case he decides to put him in to flap around at the ball some more.



Apart from all that though, we have 4 Ex Gooners returning to The Emirates today. Hopefully Kolo Toure, Sylvinho and Paddy Vieira return to a rapturous applause while Emmanuel Adebayor returns to nothing but the sound of 60,000 strong booing him for 90 minutes. Wenger has urged the Emirates faithful to not be desrespectful to Adebayor but after his disgraceful display in the last Premiership meeting it's hard to see how the fans will heed Wenger's words.

"I am stubborn, but not stupid - sometimes in the heat of the moment you can do things that are not right," admitted Wenger.

"It is not only Adebayor, but also Patrick Vieira and Kolo Toure - we will welcome them all back.

"We have always had the same line of conduct - to respect what they have done for us and we want our fans to respect that as well and encourage our team."

Arsenal should use Adebayor's behaviour as a reason to be fired up for this game. Robin van Persie will no doubt remember Adebayor's stamp in his face and Song should remember his stamp on his shin as well. We should definitely use the reminder and embarrassment of that game as a motivator for a win today. Now is as good a time as ever to prove to the doubters and the naysayers of this team that we do have heart, despite the craven performance shown against Wigan last Sunday.



It's important to note that of all the teams in the Premiership this season, Man City is the team who has scored the most points after coming back from losing positions. This is not good news for us after how we allowed Wigan to score 3 goals and snatch a win from defeat with only 10 minutes to go against us last Sunday.



I'm predicting that the result won't be pleasing for us in the least bit. I expect Tevez and Adebayor to give us a warm time on the pitch and I can see the match ending 3-1 with us taking no points.



Predicted line up:



                      Fabianski

Sagna     Campbell     Silvestre    Clichy

                          Song

           Diaby                   Nasri

Walcott           van Persie            Rosicky



Predicted score: Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City



Key man: Lukasz Fabianski - The Pole to provide various goal scoring opportunities for our opponents today.



We need to make sure we don't see one more of these moments but with Fabianski likely to start it's very much a possibility.



Can't say I'm expecting much today but I'll watch and see. I'll be back later with post game thoughts. Until then, dust!