Sunday 5 November 2017

Pep Guardiola's Man City beat Arsenal 3-1 and it looked so easy! (All the action as it happened)



Billed as one of the biggest games this weekend, and rightly so- Man City took on Arsenal FC at the Etihad on Sunday knowing that a win would solidify their position at the top of the table no matter the result between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
Three goals from Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus with a Lacazette effort sandwiched in between was all that was needed for Man City to gain the much needed three points.
Before kick off, Sergio Kun Aguero, was given a 'Guard of honour' and presented with an award as he recently became City's all time leading goal scorer.
Pep Guardiola, knowledgeable of his side's strengths and weaknesses, started with a strong line-up consisting of Sane, Aguero, De Bruyne , Silva and Sterling as the attacking line up, while Arsenal started with Alex Iwobi, Mesut Ozil and and Alexis Sanchez as it's front three, noting that Man City's John Stones and the make-shift left back- Delph were there for the taking.
Just in the first minute after kick off, a quick counter attack sent shivers round the away section of the stadium as Sergio Aguero ballooned away a glorious opportunity to score from the right side of the post.
Arsenal then in the sixth minute preyed around Man City's defense which led to two successive corners for Arsene Wenger's team. Wenger said before the game that sometimes 'the best way to defend was to attack', and his team in the first 15 minutes refused to sit back, but rather attacked Man City and refused to be bullied.
Another counter from Arsenal fell on Ozil at the right after a Ramsey interception but Ozil kicked it to the far left as no man opened for him. City in the 11th minute, quickly countered and a pass from Aguero found Sane who teed up Sterling, but Sterling facing a free open post couldn't make contact with the ball. 'How could he have missed that?' Must have surely been the question on the lips of Pep Guardiola..
Man City were playing patient football now, knowing that it was just a matter of time before the Gunners opened up. De Bruyne shot, Cech punched.
Another counter attack fell upon Man City and a good one two pass orchestrated by Kevin De Bruyne allowed the Belgian to shoot into the bottom right corner with his left foot in the 18th minute, Cech stretched all he could, but it was way too much for him.
Wenger was furious on the touchlines, Guardiola could be seen jubilating with his technical team .
 
Man City 1-0 Arsenal  ('De Bruyne)
Arsenal tried a counter after Koschielny disposed Sane off the ball but the final ball was lacking from Arsenal's front three. 
Man City fans still had the feeling that they could still punish Arsenal still early in the game all it needed was some quick counter from Sterling, Aguero and the ever amazing De Bruyne, who was unstoppable in the game.
Arsenal needed to be careful as they were beginning to fall behind with their final passes and second balls, Man City, like a roaring lion, were willing and waiting for the right opportunity to counter and devour Arsenal and it came as David Silva's pass inside the 18 yards just needed a touch to enter inside the net but there was no City man there.
City countered again, this time a two versus one situation in Arsenal's 18 yard but Sterling, wasted the final ball, a move that seriously infuriated Guardiola.
Another counter led by Sterling resulted in a nasty miscommunication between Arsenal's defenders after a Kylie Walker cross.
Honestly, Man City should have been 3-0 up by this time, such was their voracious attacking display through out the first half.
Arsenal in the last minute of the first half had a great chance to score but Ramsey's shot was saved by Ederson.
-Half time-
Man City 1-0 Arsenal
Second half began with no changes, and just three minutes later Man City were awarded a penalty after Sterling was brought down following minimal contact with Monreal. 
Man City 2-0 Arsenal
It began to look like the world was crashing down on Arsenal, 2-0 down with 35minutes to go was just too much for Wenger's men with the way Man City were playing. 
On the 55th minute, a shot from Iwobi was sloppily saved by Ederson and Ramsey then fouled the keeper into crossing the goal line with the ball- mischievous act from the Welshman, but the referee was having none of it.
Aguero, on the half hour mark was replaced by Gabriel Jesus as Guardiola wanted more intensity in attack, Arsenal then started prodding in attack with Lacazette now introduced.
Then just minutes later , Iwobi to Ramsey to Lacazette, who then slashed the ball into the net.
-Man City 2-1 Arsenal.
The goal injected fees confidence into Arsenal's attack and the gunners sensed they could get something out of the game.
Both teams were attacking each other then a moment of shock came . 
Silva on an offside run tipped a pass for Jesus who slotted in . The Arsenal defense were stunned- this should have been called off as offside.
-Man City 3-1 Arsenal 
Arsenal introduced Wilshere and Giroud seeking to change the direction of the game, or at least try to.
Arsenal tried scoring, Man City were content passing the ball and delayed time in the process. At the end of the day, Man city ran out deserving winners and Arsenal could only have themselves to blame!!!
Full time 
Man City 3-1 Arsenal

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