Manchester City 1 - 3 Arsenal

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Saturday Feb 02 2008 12:45

Arsenal strengthened their title challenge after inflicting Manchester City's first home defeat of the season.

The Gunners maintained their remarkable record against City as this was their 18th victory in 22 Premier League encounters.

It was an important win for Arsene Wenger's side - their seventh on their league travels this season - and was secured by the strike duo of Emmanuel Adebayor and Eduardo.

While Arsenal had plenty to celebrate, City were left to reflect on a worrying dip in form as they have collected only eight points from their last eight league games.

And this disappointing sequence of results could cost City the chance of securing a top four place and maybe even a UEFA Cup spot if they cannot arrest their slide.

Predictably, it was the in-form Adebayor who fired Arsenal ahead in the ninth minute.

Right-back Bacary Sagna made a dangerous overlap on the right and cut the ball back for the Togo international to force home from close range via a deflection off Micah Richards.

There was further misery for City when the Gunners doubled their advantage midway through the half.

This time it was left-back Gael Clichy who made an overlap and his far post cross was headed back across the face of goal by Adebayor for Eduardo to chest down and score with a spectacular overhead kick from six yards.

City were handed a lifeline when they halved the deficit within two minutes.

Clichy was dispossessed by right-back Vedran Corluka, who made a forward burst before cutting the ball back for Gelson Fernandes to score with a shot from eight yards low to the right of keeper Jens Lehmann.

Arsenal would have restored their two-goal advantages but for a fabulous save from Joe Hart to keep out an Adebayor header.

And Adebayor could easily have completed a first-half hat-trick as late on Elano cleared his header off the line.

The second half failed to hit the heights of the eventful opening period, though Arsenal remained the more dangerous side.Cesc Fabregas twice shot over and wide when well placed and a penalty appeal was waved aside after Adebayor was sandwiched between Richards and Richard Dunne.

City brought on Darius Vassell, Geovanni and Emile Mpenza to try and conjure an equalising goal, but it was to no avail and it was Arsenal who sealed victory in the 88th minute when Adebayor scored his second goal of the game and his 21st of the season.

Referee Andre Marriner waved play on after Adebayor was tripped by Elano and from the resulting breakaway, the striker appeared in the box to shoot low past keeper Hart.

Live Commentary

90
FT:Man City 1-3 Arsenal: All game the two sides were going toe to toe but the Gunners superior quality in the final third sees them victorious in a tricky game.

89
In the build up to the goal, Elano's trip on Adebayor sees him cautioned by referee Marriner.

89
A break from Arsenal leaves them with men over and a square pass from Fabregas breaks kindly for Adebayor and he slots home his second to kill City hopes. Game over.

86
Arsenal seeking the killer goal commit men forward and almost create a chance for Fabregas, this could backfire if City and put together a counter-attack.

84
Superb individual play from Diaby almost creates a chance to kill the game but last ditch defending keeps City in it.

83
Mpenza replaces Ireland for the home side as the manager looks to add more strength and numbers to the forward line.

82
Another pacey attack results in the ball breaking to Fabregas around 25 yards from goal, and his strike is a good one but it bends away from the corner.

81
As we go into the last ten minutes Arsenal look confortable with their lead but this could all still change.

78
This is end to end stuff now with both sides breaking and attacking at pace and almost finding that final killer pass, this is the type of play Arsenal thrive upon.

77
A comical incident as a ball boy collects a ball in the field of play thinking it had gone out though replays show it was still in play. Nobody in the game seemed to notice however.

75
A period of City possession results in a corner. With the height of Dunne, Richards and Corluka they can be dangerous from these and Dunne almost gets his head on this one.

75
Geovanni is coming on to replace Hamann as Sven tries to bring in another creative player to try to pry open the Gunners' defense.

72
Elano is getting back into the game now with a majestic crossfield pass almost finding Ireland's run and causing problems for Lehmann and his defense.

70
The away side's defense is starting to look a little shaky as Eriksson's men look to find that elusive equaliser.

67
Vassell looking to redeem himself for his wasteful performance at Derby in midweek breaks in behind but Lehmann clears only as far as Elano who tries to lob it back over Lehmann but the shot goes over.

66
The tempo of the game has quickened with both sides looking to find another goal, the tackles are starting to become more fierce.

63
Petrov is cautioned for his protests over the offside decision going against him.

62
Confusion over the offside rule continues to cause problems as Vassell is offside but appears to be retreating as Petrov flies thorugh from an onside position only to be flagged.

61
The home side's more creative influences are starting to get a little frustrated by the wateful nature of the midfield play. Petrov in particular has been quiet but Elano has barely got his foot on the ball in the second period.

57
The substitution is yet to change anything as Arsenal seize the initiative and press on - No end product as of yet but they are starting to create good chances.

55
City make their first change - Sturridge has been lively upfront but they bring on Vassell to provide more experience leading the line.

52
City start to show some attacking promise with Sturridge taking on Sagna with pace and skill to cross but Ireland loses possession and Arsenal break to win another corner.

49
Another sloppy Petrov pass is typical of his untidy performance today - City need him to find his form if they are to get a result here today.

47
Arsenal start very brightly, Eduardo almost being put through by an exquisite ball from Fabregas over the top of the City back line.

46
Arsenal press early in the second period and win an early corner - which in the end is cleared comfortably.

46
The second half has begun and with the support of the home fans City will look to press but with the Gunners ever dangerous on the break they must be sure not to over commit men forward or Adebayor and company will look to punish them.

45
HT:Man City 1-2 Arsenal: Arsenal have dominated the possession but Clichy's error means City are still in the game but Adebayor and Eduardo look dangerous and could add more to their tallies.

45
A good move by the home side almost results in an equaliser via hte left boot of Petrov but he uncharacteristically fails to strike it properly and it bobbles well wide of goal. A decent chance wasted.

44
Adebayor rises to meet an Eduardo corner at the back post and only the fact that Ball was waiting on the line to clear prevents Arsenal doubling their lead.

42
After a bright start Elano has hardly had a kick in the last half hour here and that is one of the reasons City are struggling to really create chances. However, they are still well and truly in this.

39
Gallas almost makes sure they can't do so as he picks up the ball in acres at the back post and flashes a shot across goal that goes just wide, although Eduardo was inches from heading it in unchallenged.

38
Arsenal are beginning to turn the screw once more and are again enjoy the lion's share of possession. Can City hold them out until the break?

35
The game has got a little scrappy and the tackles are beginning to fly in from both sides.

31
Joe Hart makes an outstanding save to deny Adebayor his second and with Fabio Capello in the crowd that will have done his future England chances no harm at all.

30
That could prove to be a turning point because suddenly the home fans have found their voices and are looking to drive Sven's men on.

28
GOAL:Man City 1-2 Arsenal: (28mins) Clichy is robbed criminally by Corluka and he gives Gelson Fernandes a simple tap-in. Game on!

25
GOAL:Man City 0-2 Arsenal: (25mins) Arsenal break after Petrov almost gets City level and Adebayor heads Clichy's centre back across goal and Eduardo finishes it off acrobatically.

23
Eduardo, Adebayor and Fabregas combine to create a half chance for the Spaniard on the edge of the box but he is crowded out by defenders and the end result is a corner - which Eduardo wastes.

21
Sagna is enjoying a free reign down the right as his pace is getting him beyond Petrov and Ball and although this time his cross is poor it looks like a real outlet for the Gunners.

17
Arsenal are enjoying more than 70% of the possession in the opening 20 minutes but City are starting to get a foothold of sorts now.

14
City have responded well and Corluka would have had a free header six yards from goal if it wasn't for a vital header by Diaby to clear.

13
Elano, unsurprisingly, musters City's first shot of the match with a left foot effort that bobbles comfortably through to Lehmann.

11
Adebayor just can't stop scoring at the moment and even though it took a deflection of Micah Richards it is no surprise he has found the back of the net once more.

9
GOAL:Man City 0-1 Arsenal: (9mins) Petrov gives it away easily and Sagna escapes to the byline and Adebayor forces it over the line.

6
Wonderful play from Brazilian playmaker Elano who chips the ball over the Gunners back four and Ireland is in but he seems to almost stop thinking he is offside and the ball is collected easily in the end by Lehmann. A lucky break for the visitors.

4
Both sides passing is a little sloppy early on but the play has been almost wholly contained in the City half of the pitch.

1
Arsenal get possession early and a good move involving Fabregas and Eduardo gives Diaby the chance to shoot from range but he scuffs it wide.

0
Andre Marriner is today's match official in the early kick-off and he gets us underway at Eastlands.

0
Arsenal: Lehmann, Sagna, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Diaby, Adebayor, Eduardo

0
Man City: Hart, Corluka, Dunne, Richards, Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Gelson, Petrov, Elano, Sturridge

0
The big talking point for the Gunners is the return of Jens Lehmann between the sticks as Manuel Almunia is out with a thumb injury, it will be interesting to see how the German performs, remember he has not started a league game since August.

0
After scoring two goals in a week young City striker Daniel Sturridge makes his second Premier League start as the lone striker while Elano returns in the hole behind him.

0
Welcome to the City of Manchester Stadium where title contenders Arsenal look to continue their assault on the Premier League summit but Manchester City are still fighting for the final Champions League place.

Statistics

Manchester City

Shots on target	2
Shots off target	3
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	7
Offsides	2
Corners	1

Arsenal

Shots on target	9
Shots off target	5
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	7
Offsides	5
Corners	9

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