Man City v Arsenal

[Gaffer]

Sunday, 24 October 2010
Barclays Premier League
Man City v Arsenal, 16:00

[Curt.B]

This is going to be a huge game for us and I really can't wait. We have what it takes to win and to be honest, I think we actually do need to win this game. A draw isn't really enough. I know it's a tough ask as they are a very good side, a side capable of beating Chelsea, but I think we can and do need to win this game. It's been so long since we've beaten a decent team in this league.

[stevedon]

We are good enough to beat them but I don't think we will. They will probably soak up pressure and score on the break or at a set piece, and then when we start chasing the game they will score again. I hope not, but I have seen this movie before....

[Craigie]

I think we will lose unfortunately. They clog their midfield with defensive midfielders all experienced players, have creativity on the wings and an amazing goalscorer up front. Their defense isn't great so if we can get at them we can have a go, but i fear a repeat of stamford bridge. 1-0 down, 10 behind the ball, somehow turns into 2-0 down.

hopefully theo will have a go at them and cesc is a lot sharper than he was against shaktar

[Sp1r0r]

Best performance of the season. We rode our luck at times but in the end were better than Man City.

You could say the red card was crucial, but that' the risk you put when you put a youngster in at centreback. I think we coped well with the midfield and were more crisp with our passing. Fabregas had a big part to play in that, which also allowed Nasri to go out widewhere he was clearly on song.

And for Song, I would say he is my Man of the Match. He scored the crucial 2nd goal and was constantly helping out in defence. Best game from him too.

Everyone played well and the fact that our defence was not troubled too much besides from corners, showed how well we played.

Also talking about mental toughness, how about the penalty miss but still keeping at it ? What I liked though, was how we finally decided to play the ball in the corner for the last 15 minutes.

Fabianski 8
He deserves credit for how he plucked crosses out of the air and made wonderful saves from Silva, Adebayor and Boateng. Shows that when the keeper is confident, the defence is assured.

Sagna 8
Supported the attack time and again and I thought was our best defender on the night.

Djourou 7
Coped with the pressure well and looks like someone who could provide real competition for centreback.

Squillaci 7
Defended well, was assured at the back.

Clichy 7
Was nearly caught out a few times but overall good game.

Song 8.5
Great performance and great goal. Handled the midfield well and supported the attack real well. More to come from him.

Denilson 7
One of his better games. Played the simple passes and provided the perfect foil for the other players.

Fabregas 7.5
Lacked match sharpness, but his influence was evident. Bad penalty miss, but if one player could recover from it, it was him.

Arshavin 7.5
Strong game and worked hard. Still missing that bit of magic from him.

Nasri 8.5
Great game, great goal and overall great play. Our best attacking outlet of the night.

Chamakh 8
Movement was fantastic, though finishing can be better. Growing into his role.

Rosicky 7
Provided assurance and good passing in the closing stages.

Bendtner 7
Great finish and it would do good for his confidence.

Walcott 6
Good chance to get some minutes.

[Sp1r0r]

HAha Fabregas just got Man of the Match, he say how could he have got it when he missed a penalty ?

And Mancini .... he said one of the best teams. I thought he was talking about Arsenal but even the commentator asked him, Man City or Arsenal. He said Man City. 11 v 11 they would have won ? Go shove it.

[Gaffer]

Who needs CASH when you have CLASS!!!

Today Arsenal showed BIG spending City how to play football. And GK Fabianski was outstanding from the 1st min till the 94th making 3 world class saves.

Goals from Samir Nasri, Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner saw Arsenal go 2nd in the league.

Ratings
Fabianski : 10/10 (Fantastic today, Made 3 world class saves, the first after only 2mins. Was faultless and won us the game. Our first clean sheet and MOTM )
Sagna : 7/10 (Looked solid at the back but should have scored)
Squillaci : 7.5/10 (Didnt put a foot wrong, Solid)
Djourou : 6/10 (VERY poor first 45mins, Roasted by Tevez and Richards, But much better 2nd half)
Clichy :7.5/10 (Great game, Solid at the back and always dangerous going forward)
Fabregas : 8/10 (Missed a pen but worked very hard for the team, Pulling the passes and making some great tackles)
Nasri : 9/10 ( He is on a great run of goals, Also had an assist for the 3rd. Playing very well at the mo)
Denilson : 6.5/10 ( Worked hard, But got worried that he was going to see Red)
A Song : 8/10 ( Scored a wonderful 2nd goal and when the game was won he showed some lovley feet, again worried that he was going to get sent off)
Arshavin : 7/10 ( Great assist for the first goal and tracked back well to tackle Tevez, But still not at his best)
Chamakh : 7/10 ( Worked very hard for the team and lead the line very well, But never looked like scoring, Blasted over when clear on goal)
Subs
(Walcott 85) Showed great pace. (Rosicky 70) Keep the ball well. (Bendtner 84) 1 chance 1 goal, Great finish

WELL DONE TO WENGER AND THE AWAY BOYS!!!

[stevedon]

Holy sh1t, I didn't expect that. What's going on?!

Fabianski played like a world beater!
A CLEAN SHEET!!
Song is on a goal spree!!!
We beat a top 4 side away from home!!!!
Bentdner scored!!!!!

Cesc and Nasri were excellent. Just an all round good day - I can't wait to see my City fan work colleague tomorrow
I am also beginning to feel a bit better about the goalie situation - hope Fabianski can keep it up

Arshavin is an enigma - genius and villain in equal measure.

[Craigie]

We got given a good game by a side that had 10 men for 85 minutes. We were saved several times by our own keeper. They didn't just stick 9 behind the ball and no matter the team, a team of Arsenal's quality will always beat 10 men that aren't parking the bus. The amount of times one of our fullbacks had a whole 50 yards to run into was ridiculous. Silly tactics from Mancini.

Apart from one blatant flap at an Adebayor header that should've gone in Fabianski has been great for weeks now. If he keeps this up we are in good shape. My problem with him and Almunia is that they made mistakes but never had good performances. Even if Fabianski flaps one into his own goal next week as long as everything else he does is good and confident we can forgive him the odd mistake.

The only downer was I thought Djourou looked like an amateur in the first half. Could've easily cost us a goal.

[hopefulgunner1]

dont think clichy had the best of games, he was out of position a number of times, and let richards silva and tevez past him too many times for my liking. fabregas and nasri were soo good today, unbelievably good. and then fabianski, well why couldnt he have done this last year? i dont think we need a new number 1 if he can keep this up im actually so happy with todays performance. and fabregas was deservedly motm, he played sooo many great balls, yeh he missed a pen but was soo clever the way he won it. ill forgive him for that one.