Verdict: City 4 Arsenal 2

Goals: Richards/Aluminia 20, Bellamy 74, Adebayor 80, Wright-Phillips 84 for City. Van Persie 62, Rosicky 88 for Arsenal.

Prior to the game, Emmanuel Adebayor said he never really understood why the Arsenal fans booed him.  Well, I think it’s safe to say they’ll have a few reasons after the dust has settled on this match.

City lined up as predicted with De Jong coming in alongside Barry to bolster the defensive midfield and Adebayor played as a lone striker. Despite the sense in this approach, initially it didn’t appear to be working very well as Arsenal dominated possession and City struggled to do anything meaningful with the ball.

Then City scored. Sagna blocked Bellamy and Barry floated over the resulting free-kick. Richards won a header and the ball looped over towards the opposite post. A scrambling Almunia may have touched the ball onto the post before it rebounded back off him and into the net.

It was the third game in succession that we’ve scored from a set piece.  Surely this is some kind of record in the modern era.

The goal lifted City and for the remainder of the first half we were breaking up Arsenal’s passing more easily. Wright-Phillips and Bellamy provided vital endeavour on the flanks, but lacked the finesse of Robinho in providing an end product. Ireland suffered similarly when failing to shoot or pass after a surge into the Arsenal area. There was the fear that this failure to make the most of a good spell could come back to haunt us.

Arsenal dominated the start of the second half without creating much, so Wenger brought on Rosicky. It made a big difference as possession was turned into openings. Van Persie duly scored and went off on what wasn’t to be the last provocative goal celebration of the afternoon.

At this point Arsenal were looking the more likely winners, but when Ireland went off (seemingly with a knock), Hughes made the bold decision to introduce Petrov. Given the pressure we were under he may have been tempted to bring on Zabaleta and shore up the midfield.

To make room for Petrov on the left, Bellamy moved up alongside Adebayor and immediately found himself in the penalty area to score the crucial second goal. It was a huge goal that released the pervading fear that the game was running away from us.

City were now overloading Arsenal on the left and Adebayor went on the kind of run not seen since the heyday of Kinkladze, setting up Wright-Phillips for a tap in which he duly missed.

Thankfully, the England winger made up for it shortly afterwards with an excellent cross for Adebayor to score his goal, and set off on a hilarious streak down the pitch to celebrate in front of the Arsenal fans. They were not impressed. Watching FA Chief Executive and Arsenal fan, Ian Watmore was also not impressed.

Even after that City were not done. Bellamy showed fabulous commitment in dispossessing Clichy, before charging upfield. As he approached the penalty area, he played a perfect through ball to Wright-Phillips, who took a touch before lifting the ball over the onrushing Almunia. The composure of the finish was something I’d love to see more of from Shaun. Sometimes he needs to have greater belief in his finishing and show more control. He has the ability.

Three goals down, Arsenal were done for, but it says everything for their quality, that it never fully felt that way. Rosicky added a second and Van Persie hit the post before Mark Clattenburg finally blew for full-time.

Mark Hughes:

“It was a big test against a side used to playing with high expectations and that is used to winning. I sensed as the guys arrived at lunchtime that there was a real sense of anticipation. It was about getting the job done and that it what we did. Both sides contributed to a high quality match.”

Micah Richards:

“That attacking part of the game is something that I am trying to work on. People say that I am strong defensively but that I am perhaps not so strong in the other direction.  I am still only young and I think I am starting to deliver in that department and feel my game is developing all the time.”

The result for City was huge, vindicating Hughes and making a statement that we can challenge the ‘top four’. Whether this is fully the case remains to be seen. Arsenal have Arshavin and Walcott to add to the team we saw today, which looked very good at times. After we beat them last season, they went on a twenty match unbeaten run, and I can see them beating most teams again this season. Last season we beat them by 3 goals and finished 10th. This season we won by 2 goals, but will undoubtedly finish higher. Just how high remains thrillingly unclear.

External reports:

BBC

The Guardian

The Independent

Official site

The Telegraph

The Times

Video:

All goals

The inimitable Phil Thompson describes the goals for Sky

Adebayor to Chariots of Fire

Preview: City v Arsenal

City entertain Arsenal with a 100% record this season, and as the only side in England yet to concede a goal. If City can come through the next two fixtures with those statistics intact, then many will feel the club are truly set to challenge for trophies. However it underlines the strength of the ‘top four’ that in the eyes of most neutrals City will be going into both games as underdogs.

Much of the focus against Arsenal will be on Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor. Prior to kick off, it will surely feel strange for Toure to be shaking hands with Fabregas as captain of the opposing side, even if he is sure to get a warm reception from the visiting fans. The same cannot be said for Adebayor who they used to boo even when he played for them, but it’s the Togolese they will fear more as he’s started his City career in outstanding form. He’s also got a point to prove.

Emmanuel Adebayor:

“These sort of things stay with you in your heart and it will stay with me not just for the rest of my career but the rest of my life.

“What you can see now is a confident player. I feel loved again and that’s why I’m smiling again.”

Against the Gunners, we can’t rely on poor finishing and Shay Given’s brilliance if we’re to keep another clean sheet. They’ll need to be some improvement in the defending, particularly stopping crosses coming in, better cover in front of the back four, and not letting the game get to stretched.

With the majority of players from both sides having featured for their national sides this week, at least Wright-Phillips, Bridge and Lescott will be fresh after watching England’s destruction of Croatia from the sidelines.

Tevez is definitely out with a tweaked knee, while Robinho’s fitness and form are also questionable. If he plays, this could be just the kind of game to bring out the best in the Brazilian. As was the case last year, he’s a potential match winner, not just with the goals, but also with his ability to unlock a defence.

Hughes on Robinho:

“He had a little bit of swelling on the ankle. We do not think there is a significant injury there but it is best to check to make sure there is no stress fracture. Once we get the results we can decide whether he plays tomorrow or not.”

With Tevez injured, there’s a lot of speculation that Nigel de Jong may get his first start of the season, providing a tough tackling barrier alongside Gareth Barry. This seems eminently sensible as we attempt to hold off Arsenal’s pass and move football, and it would allow Ireland to concentrate on the creative side of his game.

For Arsenal, it was a mixed week for injuries with Arshavin now ruled out, but Fabregas expected to return after playing for Spain. Rosicky also played during the week, but it’s doubtful Wenger will rush him back. Walcott is still working on his fitness.

Despite this, Wenger will still have a strong side at his disposal, and it could be one of the few home games we see this season where the opposition have a greater percentage of possession. As a result, concentration and keeping the team’s shape intact will be paramount. Arsenal are a team that can be frustrated, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hughes encourage a more physical approach to our tackling.

Mark Hughes:

“Arsenal are an outstanding side and if you allow them to dictate play and get their tails up they have the ability to hurt you.

“They have outstanding individual talents within a way of playing that allows them to create chances, and if they get it right on the day they can really hurt you.

“Ourselves, United and Chelsea are the only British teams to have beaten Arsenal in the past 10 months, which shows the consistency of results they are able to achieve.

“That’s what we’re aiming to do. We have great respect for what they can do when they’re in full flow.

“But they know we will be a test, certainly at home, where we were outstanding against them last season when we won 3-0.”

Arsenal have started the season in excellent form and could well have beaten United in their last match. A draw would be a good result, but as ever I’m hoping for a win.

Possible line-up: Given, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, De Jong, Barry, Ireland, Robinho, Wright-Phillips, Adebayor.

Prediction: 2-0 to City