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  • Fabregas (80)
  • Date:2007-08-25
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:Emirates Stadium
  • Attendance:60114
  • Referee:Foy, C

Live Commentary

90mins

Arsenal run down the clock and claim the three points in an entertaining game, as City lose their first game of the season.

89mins

Schmeicel almost amazingly snatches an equaliser with a header from a corner, but Almunia collects on the goal line.

88mins

It's been a brave display from City and they possibly deserve something from the game, but it looks unlikely now.

87mins

With the midweek Champions League qualifier in mind, Arsene Wenger replaces Robin van Persie with Alexandre Song.

86mins

City make another change with Michael Ball coming on for Stephen Ireland.

84mins

Schmeicel is called into action again, this time keeping out a striker from Rosicky and Hleb's follow up is wide.

82mins

A good run from Eduardo but he doesn't get his head up, instead of pulling the ball back to Van Persie he shots and it's saved.

80mins

Arsenal have finally broken down the stubborn City defence, with Fabregas firing in from a tight angle over the head of Schmeicel.

77mins

Arsenal are getting more and more frustrated and they can't find a way through this stubborn City backline, Richards and Dunne have been excellent.

75mins

Emmanuel Adebayor has struggled in front of goal this afternoon and is now replaced by Eduardo Da Silva.

74mins

Sven Goran Eriksson makes his first change with Rolando Bianchi coming on to replace Emile Mpenza.

74mins

End-to-end stuff as Elano is tackled right on the edge of the Arsenal area by Fabregas, then Adebayor breaks at the other end but volleys well over the bar.

72mins

Great football from Arsenal but again they can't break City down, this time Vedran Corluka does enough to put Fabregas off in the area and the midfielder sees his effort go wide.

70mins

Flamini and Hleb combine and Flamini lets fly, but Richards this time is in the right place at the right time and blocks the effort.

67mins

Fabregas lets fly with a stunning 25-yard strike which moves in the air, but Schmeicel keeps his eye on it and tips it over.

65mins

Richards slides in to try and deny Hleb on the break and Chris Foy's assistant flags for a penalty. Van Persie steps up but his driven spot kick is denied by the legs of Schmeichel.

62mins

City are now on top and Mpenza is denied the opening goal by a good block by Almunia, who's had little to do before that.

60mins

A good move involving Elano and Johnson, with ball eventually falling to Petrov but his cross is cleared in the six yard box by Gilberto.

58mins

A rare chance for City and they could have snatched the lead. Elano and Petrov link up and the latter sees a shot whistle just past the far post.

55mins

Again Dunne blocks, this time from Adebayor, and he will be covered in bruises tomorrow morning!

54mins

Rosicky gets the ball from Van Persie and lets fly but it's blocked by, guess who.....Richard Dunne. Arsenal look like being frustrated, that can't find that final pass.

52mins

Van Persie comes deep and threads a ball through for Adebayor, but the striker is caught on his heels and can't collect the pass.

50mins

Hleb beats two defenders and gets to the byline, but Dunne is on hand again to clear his lines after the pull back into the area.

49mins

Arsenal try another defence spliting pass, but Fabregas' through ball towards Van Persie is just over hit.

47mins

A quick break from City but with options in the area, Petrov can't pick out a blue shirt with his cross from the right.

46mins

The home side almost take the lead 30 seconds into the second half, but Adebayor sees his shot deflect wide.

45mins

City kick off for the second half with no changes from either manager at the break.

45mins

Arsenal have won the territorial battle, but the league leaders are defending well and look dangerous on the break.

43mins

Van Persie plays a one-two with Fabregas, breaks into the box but the Dutchman can't pick out anyone with his ball accross the area.

42mins

Tomas Rosicky breaks clear and his cross is flapped at by Schmeical, but Alex Hleb can't get the ball out of his feet and City clear again.

40mins

Schmeical comes for a cross and under pressure from Adebayor drops the ball, but the City keep redeems his mistake.

38mins

Arsenal swing in another corner and Schmeical punches under pressure, but Chris Foy says the keeper was fouled.

37mins

Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas link up, the Spaniard slides a great ball accross the box but Van Persie just can't get a touch on it, he must have been inches away.

35mins

Arsenal create another shooting chance, but Van Persie's strike from the edge of the box is blocked brilliantly by Dunne.

33mins

Arsenal are on top again now but Richards, Dunne and co are standing firm against the wave of Gunners' shirts pushing forward.

32mins

A scramble in the City area and the visitors struggle to get it clear - Mpenza smashes the ball into the air but Hamann eventually volleys clear.

30mins

Adebayor looks like a player who hasn't played a competitive game this season, the big striker can't seem to get his feet working together!

27mins

Another quick City break and the ball falls to the feet of Petrov again, but again the midfielder is wide of the target with his snap shot.

25mins

Schmeichel slides out and gathers the ball but got a bang on his head from the boot of Van Persie and the City keeper needs treatment.

23mins

Dunne has been imperious for City at the back so far, continuing his brilliant early season form.

21mins

Micah Richards is penalised for a challenge on Van Persie, looked harsh and the home side make nothing of the set piece.

19mins

Sagna can not shake that injury off and has to go off, to be replaced by Pereira Neves Denilson.

18mins

Another decent chance for City, as Mpenza breaks inbetween two Arsenal defenders but screws his effort, on the strtch, wide of Almunia's goal.

16mins

The visitors have battled their way back into the game and Sven-Goran Eriksson will be happy with the way they are keeping the ball.

15mins

Dietmar Hamann is the first player in the book, as Chris Foy dishes out a caution for the German after a foul on Van Persie.

14mins

Sagna is struggling with an injury following a accidently collision with team-mate Mathieu Flamini.

13mins

Adebayor is having a hard time against Richard Dunne and again the striker is denied a chance by the City centre-back, blocking the ball behind for a Gunners corner.

11mins

A quick break by City and Johnson feeds Martin Petrov, the Bulgarian should have done better but the shot from inside the box slices just wide of the Arsenal goal.

9mins

Finally a nice passing move from the visitors, Javier Garrido and Michael Johnson are involved and City need more of that.

8mins

Sven's men can't get a kick at the moment and Arsenal look like they mean business this afternoon!

6mins

The first real effort of the game and Robin van Persie sees his shot whistle just over the bar after a good move.

4mins

The home side have started brightly and have the league leaders on the back foot, with both full-backs - Bacary Sagna and Clichy - getting heavily involved.

2mins

A long ball forward by Kolo Toure is for Emmanuel Adebayor to chase, but Kasper Schmeichel is out quickly to head away on the edge of his area.

0mins

Arsenal get us underway in blazing sunshine and Gael Clichy has an early run down the left, but City snub out the danger.

0mins

Senderos has suffered an ankle injury in the warm up and has to be replaced at the back by original sub Gilberto Silva.

0mins

City make two changes, with Emile Mpenza and Stephen Ireland coming into the side with Boijnov and Geovanni.

0mins

Arsenal make three changes to their side, with Emmanuel Adebayor starting up front for the first time this season. Manuel Almunia and Phillipe Senderos replace Jens Lehmann and William Gallas.

Match Preview

Unbeaten Arsenal host a Manchester City side with a 100 per cent start to the new season in a clash of two managerial heavyweights at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsene Wenger and Sven-Goran Eriksson will lock horns for the first time in their managerial careers on Saturday with three Premier League points and early season bragging rights up for grabs.

Wenger will be glad to return to home soil after accusing Blackburn Rovers of having a "desire for violence" after last Sunday's 1-1 draw at Ewood Park.

The Frenchman was angered by some of Rovers' play, but unlike previous seasons when the Gunners have crumbled under the pressure of a more physical approach, they secured a point - and should possibly have claimed all three after Jens Lehmann's error handed David Dunn and unlikely equaliser.

Lehmann looked more composed during Germany's friendly with England on Wednesday, but Wenger's patience must be wearing thin with his veteran goalkeeper after a similar howler against Fulham on the opening day of the new season.

Elsewhere, William Gallas will be replaced at the heart of the defence by Phillipe Senderos after picking up a groin injury against Blackburn that will sideline the newly-installed captain for three weeks.

Emmanuel Eboue is expected to shake off an ankle knock to return at right-back, but Emmanuel Adebayor (groin) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) are rated doubtful.

Manchester City arrive in the capital still on a high following their 1-0 derby success over Manchester United last weekend.

City rode their luck at times during a one-sided match at Eastlands but claimed the points after Geovanni's deflected 31st minute winner.

Three successive Premier League victories have left the Citizens sitting pretty at the top of the table and led to Eriksson - much-maligned during his time as England boss - being proclaimed as a managerial genius.

However, the ice-cool Swede suffered a blow in the aftermath of the derby victory after learning £5million striker Valeri Bojinov will be out of action for five months after damaging knee ligaments.


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Match Report

Table-toppers Manchester City suffered their first defeat of the season to end their three-match winning streak, losing 1-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Cesc Fabregas scored the only goal in the game in the 81st minute to secure all three points for the Gunners.

A warm and sunny day in North London saw and equally bright starts for both Arsenal and Manchester City began the encounter positively in an attack-minded mood.

Robin Van Persie had Arsenal's first notable effort on four minutes when a shot from 25 yards fizzed just over Kasper Schmeichel's bar.

City were playing well on the counter-attack and a promising break on ten minutes ended up with Martin Petrov firing a shot from the edge of the box narrowly wide of the left upright.

Arsenal had to re-adjust on 19 minutes when the injured Bacary Sagna was replaced by Denilson, with Mathieu Flamini switching from midfield to right-back.

With Gilberto already playing in an unaccustomed centre-back role, Arsenal's defence, had a makeshift look about it. Manchester City may have had that as the source of their expansive thinking.

They came close to a break-though on 22 minutes when Elano was put through on goal by Emile Mpenza, but his well-struck effort from just inside the area was well claimed by Manuel Almunia.

Arsenal's best opportunity of the first half came on 38 minutes and was as a consequence of lighting fast passing and intelligent movement. Emmanuel Adebayor received possession on the right side of the area from Fabregas, who then took a return ball on the overlap to drill in a low cross that had all the Manchester City defence and keeper beaten.

Unfortunately for the Gunners, the ball was just too quick for Van Persie who was millimetres away from connecting as he slid in on the far post.

Within five minutes it was Van Persie driving in a cross from the right. Again, City were all beaten and once again, an Arsenal striker, Adebayor this time, could not get toe to ball.

Cracks were beginning to appear in the visitors defence and the half-time whistle came just in time.

The Gunners began where they finished after the re-start, with Adebayor firing just wide of the left post with Schmeichel desperately scrambling across goal.

Petrov went close again for the visitors on 57 minutes when he was left unmarked on the left flank. The Bulgarian fired a well struck drive across goal that flashed past Almunia and his left post.

The Gunners keeper was on hand five minutes later to come out bravely to save an Mpenza shot from point-blank range.

At the other end the Gunners couldn't quite find a clinical finish. Adebayor's back-heeled effort bounced wide on 64 minutes. A minute later Micah Richards hauled down Alex Hleb on the right side of the area and after a brief exchange of glances with his assistant he pointed to the spot.

Even then, Arsenal could not find the net. Van Persie's penalty kick was a poor one allowing Schmeichel to save with his legs. The City keeper, then made two fine saves within a minute, one from a Van Persie shot and then palming over a 25-yard Fabregas effort.

It was the young Spaniard who did eventually make the breakthrough on 81 minutes. He exchanged passes on the edge of the area with Flamini before firing high into the net from five yards out to be the first payer to score past the City keeper this season.

The youngster did well to keep Arsenal's lead to a single goal with a great save from Tomas Rosicky with Hleb firing the rebound wide.

The young keeper even had a header on target as he went up to meet a corner in a bid to secure his side a point.

But, the Gunners held out to continue their own unbeaten run and climb up the table.

Arsenal

Manchester City

Corners

82

Fouls

89

Goal attempts

169

Shots off target

64

Offsides

45

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