Monday 14 January 2013

Match Report: Manchester City vs Arsenal

Manchester City remained seven points adrift of leaders Manchester United after a 2-0 win away to Arsenal. 

First-half goals from James Milner and Edin Dzeko put City in a commanding position against Arsenal, already reduced to 10 men after Laurent Koscielny was sent off in the 10th minute for bringing down Dzeko inside the box. 

Although Dzeko's penalty following Koscielny's red card was turned onto the post by Wojciech Szczesny, with the Arsenal goalkeeper gathering the rebound, it was not long before Milner and Dzeko himself made the man advantage count. 

"I don't know about the sending off, but it was a penalty 100 per cent. I told myself after missing the penalty I had to score," said Dzeko. 

The visitors too were a man down at the Emirates Stadium when, 15 minutes from time, City captain Vincent Kompany was dismissed by referee Mike Dean for a challenge on Jack Wilshere. 

"It was a good result for us because to play here is always difficult," said City manager Roberto Mancini. 

"Today, we started the game well with a good attitude, but the sending-off (of Koscielny) made a difference." 

The Italian confirmed City would appeal Kompany's red card, saying: "It was not a sending-off, he went in with his left foot in front and I think the referee made a mistake." 

Arsenal, without a major trophy since 2005, remained sixth in the table as City enjoyed their first league win away to the Gunners since 1975. 

No comments:

Post a Comment