The champions were ahead in the first-half thanks to
There were changes aplenty from the team that were beaten so disappointingly by Stoke
...Match report...
Frank Lampard was handed a debut and with Fernandinho, James Milner and Jesus Navas also recalled, City started with a completely new-look midfield, save for David Silva who was given a slightly more advanced role.
It had been a fortnight since the surprise loss to the Potters – a long time to stew for both the players and the supporters - but with a huge week of games ahead, the champions had to get back on the bike and start pedalling fast.
A trip to Arsenal was probably not the fixture Yaya Toure’s arduous schedule meant that he only returned from Ivory Coast duty on Friday and he was rested for the trip to Emirates.
Though the Community Shield defeat to the Gunners won’t be giving the City players sleepless nights, it was a reminder that there was plenty of work to do in this game and that, given licence to play, Arsenal are as good as any team in the land.
And for the first 15 minutes or so, City were under the cosh and a shade lucky to remain on level terms as the pumped-up hosts swarmed around the champions’ box with their high pressing tactics threatening to overrun the visitors’ midfield.
It was only a desperate Joe Hart lunged clearance and a coat of paint as Danny Welbeck’s chip hit the inside of the post that preserved parity early on, but City grew into the game with Aguero, Silva and Navas a constant threat on the break.
Then, the all-important breakthrough came with Aguero winning a 50-50 challenge on the halfway line and the ball span into the path of Navas who pushed the ball to the right before picking out the run of Aguero who lifted the ball over the keeper and into the net.
City should have doubled their lead four minutes later when Navas found Zabaleta’s clever run into the box and he in turn fed Silva who was denied by the keeper’s legs – by that point a two-goal lead wouldn’t have flattered the champions.
But there was always going to be a response from the Gunners and within three minutes of the re-start only a superb last-ditch tackle by Zabaleta denied Welbeck from close range
...Match report..
Though City continued to create chances in the interim, the momentum was with Arsenal and on 63 minutes Jack Wilshere levelled as he skipped past Gael Clichy before lifting the ball over Hart to level the scores.
There was worse to follow as the Gunners went ahead 11 minutes later as referee Clattenburg failed to spot a push on Vincent Kompany by Welbeck as a cross came in and as his headed clearance looped up somewhat, the ball was knocked back in towards there back post where Alexis Sanchez spectacularly volleyed home from close range.
It looked as though that might be enough to ensure the three points went to Arsene Wenger’s side, but City were far from finished and were back on level terms within seven minutes as Demichelis thundered a header home from a corner to send the 3,000 travelling fans wild.
There was still more drama to come in the dying minutes as the champions shifted up a gear and in a spell of almost total dominance, all three second-half subs almost scored the winning goal.
First Aleks Kolarov smacked a shot against the post from Navas’ cross, then Edin Dzeko’s lob also hit the woodwork with Szczesny beaten and a couple of minutes later Samir Nasri was on hand to turn the loose ball from Dzeko’s low shot home – only to see the flag raised for offside.
It was a breathless end to a hugely entertaining game, albeit one City will be scratching their heads wondering how they didn’t actually win it in the end.
