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 150 - 169 of 209
WHO IS A FIGHTER?
nad gallas doesnt command the respect like an Henry can, no disrespect to gallas he is a brilliant player its just that he lacks that x factor that only the greats should have....i mean he could be a great player but maybe he is a mornic dingbat off the pitch and that doesnt command respect from your peers, when your captain its a 24 hour a day job and screming and having a fit like a gorilla that has had scolding hot water thrown on it doesnt command anyones respect either....if he is toxic in the dressing room sack him there is plenty of talent out there....and because of the sorry state of the economy even billionaires are hurting so look for some team to unload some overpriced talent...its should be an active transfer mkt imho
its not over its better they get this nonsense out of their system now than have another abortion of a month like they did last march when they all imploded. Wenger cant be fully blamed but arsenal seems to have more than its fair share of injuries, get these kids in a weight room and make em more resilient to injuries.....enough is enough and arsene just because its fackin hull or stoke doesnt mean you should take a more relaxed approach, always use your best weapons from the star fack resting them for some euro game or something else, there is better way to manage your talent.....
it's not about how many you lose, it's about how many you win, a loss and a win are better than 2 draws... it's between United and Chelsea to win the title, they show no mercy to weak teams
I love people sometimes. Two losses on the trot, quarter way through the season, 5th in the toughest league in the world, beaten by (today) a great man city performance, no captain, no theo, ade, or cesc and you lot think we should sack Wenger!! Its a laughable suggestion. You really are mad. Stupid.
Mike, I guess that's your only pleasurable outlet - "winding" up other fans, it's a shame you don't enjoy being on the receiving end, but then that's your lot all over, isn't it? Lets hear you laugh as your team slips into their lower mid-table obscurity as per usual. Enjoy!
wot's all this @#$% you talking, give city some credit.C'mon blues it's up all the way now. Lets beat that redshite next sunday
mare, take solace from what you can. may i suggest drowning your sorrows? if you cant see a wind up as obvious as that then you deserve for your team to keep slip sliding away. spurs will be top half soon enough, particularly when top half teams aren't exactly keeping the pressure on. the only silly c**nts around here are you, mark 958 and anyone else getting riled by such simple wind ups. still luvvin it!!
Mike S, you don't half talk some @#$%, you silly c***. When the totts actually join the top half of the table you can shout your gob off, til then I'll take solace in the fact that they've not beaten our first team in...how long? Laughably-pathetic idiot.
arsenal lost the plot has not got the bottle anymore you moaned to much instead of getting on with your football game you like othertop 4 in the p/l i am proud of my team derby county fc up the rams
Well I have been a supporter of Arsenal for 51 years and my fathers before me and I am so suprised at the team now - we need men in the team boys give up too easily Mr. Wenger needs to listen to people now, he seems very ignorant.
Mr. Wenger your ideas are just not working you're gonna have to change or else all those years of greatness will count for nothing.
..U all people are hella dumb!!..
..Don't u know that Gallas..is a player that really demands alot from his team..
..That is a REAL!!! cAptain!!..He is way to good of a player to be in Arsenal...
..He should go to a stronger team..Lyk Barcelona or Real Madrid....
give up mark 958. chesterfield fc would beat your lot these days. hope we get you in the 3rd rd of the FA cup. as for accusing me of having had a raw nerve hit.. stones, glasshouses and all that mate. how does it feel to have spurs be the best team in north london? ahahahahahahahahaha! luv it!
I have supported Arsenal since 1986 ish. In regards to current affairs, we have a average of 5-6 first team players out, Arsenals rough average age is 21-24? No other team in the first 1/4 of the league would be where Arsenal are now. The utter planks that Yahoo and BBC (general media) employee to propagate twisted news serves nothing more than to propagate weekly sales targets. Lug something around and get a proper job. AIC 4ever. Regards.
I think as far as arsenal are concerned,its time to get rid of wenger,4 years without a trophy with all that talent is unforgivable.
The cracks were there for all to see.On their day they are frightingly good and can give anyone a good beating,but they look leaderless when things don't go to plan,and wenger should have worked it out by now,so the buck stops with him.
Nothing lasts forever and wengers had his time but can't find the formula.so its time to move on and give someone else a shot at it,its not like its just this seasons results,their chances of making thechampions league next year are dimishing by the week.
SACK WENGER!! AND GALLAS YOUR NEVER WIN ANYTHING UNLESS YOU DO
The word is 'sank' not 'sunk'
DAm.............but I dont care. Gunners forever. Win or lose they always look beautiful and thats the main thing for me.
And Arsenal thought that getting Gallas would be helping their cause.... It seems that Arsene Wenger took on another Arsenal winger!
Come On Chelsea!!!
Please Wenger should stop playing with people's emotion and life. I am an Asenal 4 life but can't watch our match b/cos i don't want to have heart attack. We need at least four new exprience faces in january please Wenger and let me at least start enjoying my weekends. I beg u in God's name.
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