Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal: Disappointing Result but Good Account

Disappointed but not ashamed: Captain & Vice Captain

Match report here.

A game that we could not afford to lose was lost under very disappointing circumstances. I said in my preview of the match that if we played anywhere near our best we would win the game. And on the evidence of the game itself, the game could have gone either way.

In the first half, Aguerro shot over the bar when he should have atleast hit the target. He would later hit the target but Szczesny caught his low drive. Balotelli managed to control a high ball between Mertesacker and Koscielny, swivel and hit it 5 yrds from goal but again the Arsenal keeper was there to block the effort and the Arsenal defence mopped up.

Arsenal too had their chances. Ramsey nearly scored, Gervinho fired a shot that went under the City keeper and unfortunately for Arsenal, out for a corner. On another day, that would have gone in. Theo had a fierce drive on target that was parried over the bar by Joe Hart.

In the second half, some poor positional play by Arsenal saw Balotelli find space on our right. Koscielny, the player who should have been busting a gut to get back into position, lazily run towards goal, leaving Song to go and close down Balotelli. The Italian, easily skipped inwards past song, fired a hard shot that Szczesny failed to handle. Vermaelen, being the top notch defender that he is, reacted quickly to nick the ball away from Aguerro but it fell into the path of silva 3 yards in from of our goal. Ignasi Mikel was caught cold and didn't anticipate the danger enought to get goal side and attempt to block Silva. Silva tapped in. 1-0 to the hosts.

To be fair, Arsenal responded and again Vermaelen was the stand out player in  the team. He had a fierce shot on target saved, another went wide of the post, much to the relief of Hart in the City goal. And so the match ended, Arsenal losing 1 nil.

I observed throughout the game, and Arsene observed it too in his post match interview that we lacked ''something'' for the big games of this nature. That something we lacked was a creative midfielder in the Fabregas, Wilshere mould. A player who can get past people, can produce a moment of sheer individual brilliance to lift the team when the going is tough. We lacked such an attacker midfielder. Ramsey, for all his endeavour was not having a good game yesterday. Yaya Toure and Barry were having the better of him. Toure was actually physically bullying him like a little kid in the school yard.

Arshavin and Chamakh were brought on, but they did themselves shame if anything. Chamakh might as well not have entered the pitch. Arshavin had two good opportunities to atleast hit the target, but he messed up terribly on both counts. His lack of confidence is fast becoming lack of form and quality.

Theo too had a bad game. Zabaleta marked him tightly and kept him quiet for most of the match. Yes, we lacked the stability and balance that a fit Sagna, Jenkinson, Santos and Gibbs would have brought, but City hardly caused us any problem on the wings. We managed to fight toe to toe with them for 90 minutes. We simply lacked a bit a magic in the attacking third of the pitch.

Now, we all know Wilshere and Diaby are soon to return, so the most likely new additions to the team will be on the wings and up front. We might just see the Russian leave in January with a new face coming in. We know Gervinho and Chamakh are playing in the Africa cup so we shall be very light up front. Ryo Miyaichi has not featured at all and I don't expect to see him in the second half of the season but you never know with Wenger.

Perhaps the Ox, Benayoun and Ju will come into the team but its very clear that we definitely will need some new blood to give the team a lift in the second half of the season lest we fade away. Lets wait and see what the Manager is thinking.

Onwards march the Arsenal!!!