Arsenal 0 Manchester City 2: match report

Manchester City maintained their pursuit of Manchester United with a 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates with an ultimately comfortable performance defined by the early dismissal of Laurent Koscielny. First half goals from James Milner and Edin Dzeko settled the match before half-time, and City maintained their lead despite seeing captain Vincent Kompany sent-off for a studs-showing sliding tackle on Jack Wilshere in the second half. Arsenal fans were furious at referee Mike Dean’s decision to send off Koscielny, and the free-kick that led to Milner’s goal, but both decisions were proved to be correct. The Kompany dismissal will reignite the debate over tackling as he won the ball, but under the current interpretation, the challenge with both feet off the ground was bound to attract the referee’s attention.The game turned on Koscielny’s dismissal in the ninth minute, after he crudely dragged Dezeko to the ground in what amounted to a rugby tackle.