Eurosport - Sun, 23 Nov 10:05:00 2008
Manchester City piled more pressure on troubled Arsenal by beating them 3-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Goals from Stephen Ireland, Robinho and a late penalty from Daniel Sturridge handed the Gunners - still reeling from the comments made by defender William Gallas and the Frenchman's subsequent exclusion from the squad and sacking from his role as captain - their fifth league defeat of the season.
City began to take the initiative as a stuttering first half drew to a close, and they took a deserved lead in stoppage time when Ireland's drive forward ended with him calmly knocking the ball past Manuel Almunia - who had been given the captain's armband in Gallas's absence.
The Gunners created chances to equalise following the break but a swift City counter-attack culminated with Brazilian Robinho latching on to a Shaun Wright-Phillips through-ball and chipping a perfectly weighted effort over the stranded Almunia to double the lead.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger threw on two of his young attacking players in an attempt to prise something from the match, but first Aaron Ramsey and then Carlos Vela could not make a telling contribution on the match, although Ramsey released Nicklas Bendtner with virtually his first touch, only for the Dane to dither in front of goal and see the chance lost.
The Londoners' nightmare 24 hours was completed by Sturridge in second-half stoppage time. The young striker was on as a substitute for Robinho, who appeared to hurt himself after missing an excellent one-on-one chance with 10 minutes remaining.
The 19-year-old was brought down in the area by Johan Djourou and coolly sent Almunia the wrong way from the spot himself to give manager Mark Hughes his first league win in five matches.
In addition to Gallas, Arsenal were missing injured duo Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor and the suspended Cesc Fabregas, thought the latter at least will be available again for the match at Chelsea next Sunday.
Comment 191 - 210 of 210
Great win for City against an Arsenal side that was at sixes and sevens on several occasions. Defeat against Chelski next week would be the final nail in their coffin for this season's title challenge and it'll be back to the drawing board for Arsene Wenger. Arsenal will have to rely on a good cup run if they're going to win any silverware at all.
City they played terrific football and richly deserved the 3-0 scoreline but it'll be an altogether different prospect against United in the Manchester derby. As a United fan, I hope United win to end the recent bogey against City. Should be a pulsating match with plenty of goals from two teams that play open attractive football so I'll say 3-2 United. This is one match I definitely don't want to miss! The atmosphere will be electrifying and ex-United striker and current City coach Mark "Sparky" Hughes is sure to get a "rapturous" reception from the United fans on match day.
arsenal will bounce back against chealsa in positve way next week but first we must beat kiev then win from next sundays game to may god will guide them all the way
Arsenal are a developmental side not champion material, this fact must be accepted.
Looks like the gunners shooting themselves in the foot again.Oh dear,never mind.Maybe you'll win the premiership next season.
Nice one, City...but would hate to think the win was down to Arsenals current bother. Despite being a City supporter, hope Arsenal clean up on their ills soon.
What kind of people write on this page? Bunch of ill-informed hypocrites. ARSENAL FOREVER.
this makes me laugh a couple of bad games and it seems like wengers managerial role is being questioned and when will they sack him?? i think this is stupid the players are to blame get rid of gallas he is bringing moral down! it is so clear when u watch a game of arsenals(last 3 months) they just aint working together...the problem is resolved with a few new quality signings and get the young guns in more,.. for more confidence u aint gonna win the league with poor players
ars wenger must choose the rite team.
i like ur young team policy
but make sure select the rite players and buy an experience striker and hard working man.
dont always hope on adobayo and stupid van persie.
buy foward like teves,johnson, eto or other skill full foward.
keeper:aluminia
center:galas and silvestre/toure
side:my lovely boy clicy and sagna/eboiu
winger:nasri and walcott or other boy who have skill and speed like nasri and walcott.
midfiller:
song and fabregas and denilson
foward:hullcity foward.
Arsene, needs to seriously think about buying someone in the January transfers, we need good defenders, midfielders and we also need someone good upfront as the likes off Theirry Henry Arsenal are really missing that talent that Henry had to shoot score goals and not affraid to take chances.
arsenal lost 3-0..
so funny..
what the hells??
hahaha..
arsenal must buy some england's players...
OK!!!
Sack Arsene and exit all french in UK too
(re 173 ) ......this is the squad Arsene Wenger needs to win,....Wilson, McNab, Kennedy, Roberts, Barnett, Marinello, Simpson, Nelson, Storey, Radford, Rice, George, McLintock, Kelly, Graham and Armstrong..........the great team of the early 1970's........any old fans out there agree?
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With a deep sense of loss but with total submission to the will of the Almighty,We the erstwhile fans of Arsenal F.C(1886-2008) regret to announce the timely demise of the Club.Burial arrangements are as follows:Service of Songs will be held in their North London residence on Tuesday,November 25th,by the Dynamo Kiev Choir.Interment follows on Sunday November 30 2008.To be presided over by Chelsea F.C at the Same North London residence(Emirate Stadium)
May her soul rest in the bosom of the Lord.Amen.
Signed
All Gunners
a.w. arsenal fans everywhere your team took one hell of a beating aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
arsenal r good but arsen wenger nots potting on a good team
I hope somebody that can do something is reading these blog, because the youth policy of A.W has failed to land us any trophy in the last 4 years and will not get us anything in the nyears to come either. Its a blend of youth and experience that brings trophies. Our defense is poor, we need a major overhaul in that regards come january. Also the policy of only buying young talented forwards and has been defenders must stop
Anyone would think that it is the end of the seaon! Yes we have a bad patch, all teams do, look at Tottenham and Manchester United at the start of the season..... I see all the worms are coming out of the woodwork when Arsenal aren't doing too well, this is very rare and theiy'' dig themselves back into the the wood very soon.
Arsenal and Wenger will be fine, but its gonna take a while to steady the boat. Gallas doesnt deserve the captaincy, but not playing him yesterday cost us. Mind you to teach him and those in the club a lesson of dont speak out of turn i dont care about the result. We are a team in turmoil just now and thats the way it is. Things will come good and then all the haters will be shutting up again and the supporters will be sitting smuggly again safe in the knowledge that we play the best football and no one can touch that. The youth poilcy of Wenger is admirable but even he now has to rethink and come up with an alternative, still bring the kids through, but just not so many at one time. There is something to be said that Arsenal are an incubator club but get a few heavy weights in and you will see tose that love arsenal and those that are merely mercinaries for money. Thats life. We'll be back and you all know it. :)
Wenger picked young talented players for Arsenal in the hope of developing them into real players but by the time they become ones they are tired of Arsenal and transfared or sold to other teams. Arsenal is just an incubator.
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