Source: Man_City
Arsenal 0 City 0
FULL STRETCH: Patrick Vieira controls the ball against his old clubManchester City earned a valuable point at Arsenal with a grinding performance - but the draw came at a cost. Shay Given was stretchered off in the second half with a serious looking shoulder injury and his involvement in the rest of the season must now be in doubt. He sustained the injury making his only real save of the game from Abou Diaby after 73 minutes and his departure meant a debut for little-known Faroese stopper Gunnar Nielsen. The game itself was tightly contested with very few chances of note. City started with Emmanuel Adebayor on the bench and he was roundly booed when he came on in the second half. City are now a point behind fourth-placed Tottenham, who lost earlier to United. Given wasn't City's only casualty, as Wayne Bridge limped off early on with a thigh problem. He was replaced by Micah Richards - himself just fit again following a four-match absence with a knee injury. Arsenal pressed in the first half and Theo Walcott skewed his first-time effort as the ball dropped at the edge of the City area. At the other end, a crunching tackle from veteran Sol Campbell blocked Vieira as the former Gunners captain burst into the penalty area. Adebayor introduction After a low-key opening to the second half, the introduction of Adebayor on 52 minutes was greeted by a cacophony of boos - despite manager Arsene Wenger having called for the former Togo striker to be shown the same respect as all old players. Vieira was clapped off, the home fans delivering a clear message to their one-time star man Adebayor, who left for City in a £25million summer move. With the temperature raised, there was a flashpoint when Craig Bellamy and Alex Song squared up, with referee Mike Dean calling the respective captains together in an attempt to restore calm to what had been a well-contested but not overly physical game. Rosicky drilled a low shot from 18 yards straight at Given after a neat one-two with Nasri as Arsenal upped the pace again. Adebayor capitalised on a slip from Silvestre to dart off down the left, but ran the ball out - much to the delight of the home fans. City were having a much better spell, and continued to press Arsenal back. Substitute Nicklas Bendtner flashed a low cross through the six-yard box, before Diaby created space to shoot from 25 yards. Given tipped wide at full stretch but damaged his shoulder and, after several minutes of treatment, was carried off on a stretcher taking in oxygen. Faroe Islands goalkeeper Nielsen replaced him for an unexpected debut. Bellamy was booked for tripping Bendtner and Van Persie followed after a late sliding challenge on Adebayor as City broke quickly. It was becoming a busy afternoon for Mr Dean, as Pablo Zabaleta was also shown a yellow card for stepping across Eboue and conceding a free-kick some 25 yards out. Van Persie chipped his effort over the wall, but just inches wide of the top right corner. There were some eight minutes of stoppage time, during which neither side were able to find a winner. What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.| Submit Comments| Comments (8)| PrintWhat's this? Emaildel.icio.usDiggredditFacebookStumbleUponNewsvineGoogle BookmarksNetscapeTechnoratiWindows LiveYahoo! MyWebMa.gnolia
