• Date: Sat 25 August 2007
  • Venue: Emirates Stadium
  • Ref: Foy, C
  • Attendance: 60,114

Arsenal vs Manchester City

Team Lineups

Arsenal

Manuel Almunia
Gael Clichy
Bacary Sagna (Pereira Neves Denilson, 19)
Kolo Toure, K
Cesc Fabregas
Tomas Rosicky
Aparecido Gilberto Silva
Alex Hleb
Mathieu Flamini
Emmanuel Adebayor (Da Silva Eduardo, 75)
Robin van Persie (Alexandre Song, 87)

Manchester City

Kasper Schmeichel
Vedran Corluka
Javier Garrido
Richard Dunne
Micah Richards
Dietmar Hamann
Blumer Elano (Deiberson Geovanni, 75)
Stephen Ireland (Michael Ball, 87)
Michael Johnson, M
Martin Petrov
Emile Lokonda Mpenza (Rolando Bianchi, 75)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

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

89

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

88

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

87
Substitution
 

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

86
Substitution
 

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

84

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

82

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.

80
Goal
 

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

77

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.

75
Substitution
 

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

74
Substitution
 

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

74

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.

72

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.

70

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.

67

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.

65
Penalty
 

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.

62

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.

60

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.

58

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.

55

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

54

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.

52

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.

50

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.

49

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

47

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.

46

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

Second half
 

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

Half time
 

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

43

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.

42

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.

40

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

38

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

37

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.

35

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

33

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

32

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.

30

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!

27

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.

25

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.

23

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

21

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

19
Substitution
 

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

18

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

16

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.

15
Yellow Card
 

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.

14

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

13

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.

11

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.

9

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

8

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

6

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

4

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.

2

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.

Kickoff
 

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

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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.