Premier League - City heap more misery on Arsenal

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.

FOOTBALL 2008/09 Premier League Manchester City's Stephan Ireland celebrates scoring against Arsenal with Vincent Kompany and Darius Vassell. - 0

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.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

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  1. c.herridge824 - god you're funny and frightening. i think it's past your bedtime tw*t

    From Mike S, on Sat 22 Nov 10:25PM

  2. Again we lose not looking to good for us but its not over yet lets hope we get better

    From alanblight@..., on Sat 22 Nov 10:25PM

  3. bendtner is as good as aids

    From c.herridge824@..., on Sat 22 Nov 10:17PM

  4. can I just say I hope walcott's injury worsens

    From Mike S, on Sat 22 Nov 10:14PM

  5. namzynau bettr watch his back

    From c.herridge824@..., on Sat 22 Nov 10:13PM

  6. namzynau is a @#$%

    From c.herridge824@..., on Sat 22 Nov 10:10PM

  7. vyas453 - you really are an idiot. Turd.

    From Mike S, on Sat 22 Nov 10:08PM

  8. City are garbage Arsenal you are in trouble . Spurs in disguise

    From Glenn T, on Sat 22 Nov 10:02PM

  9. DAMN!!! :D
    I didn't expect that to happen! after all it's football!! nice win city congratulations!

    From ceko_tc, on Sat 22 Nov 9:50PM

  10. oops!

    From henry, on Sat 22 Nov 9:47PM

  11. philipward123, you are still talking about winning anything? You remind me of the boxer who when knocked down unconscious was still throwing punches in the air while on the ground. Game is over dude. And next week you are visiting Chelsea.. Not looking good.

    Gallas should be sacked. Full stop. Wenger is a good coach.

    From Half A Brain, on Sat 22 Nov 9:45PM

  12. So after saturday. The Top four clubs drew....Chelsea, man u, liverpool, and......ASTON VILLA! Sorry but arsenal is finally OUT. Sorry gunners :'( CHELSEA FOR LIFE

    From namzynau, on Sat 22 Nov 9:33PM

  13. In fact vyas453 looking back at the comments made so far, you need to put you dummy back in, pick your rattle up, get back in the pram and stop whinging like that ARSE(n) you call a manager..!.

    From uselessmofu, on Sat 22 Nov 9:31PM

  14. So after saturday. The Top four clubs drew....Chelsea, man u, liverpool, and......ASTON VILLA! Sorry but arsenal is finally OUT. Sorry gunners

    From namzynau, on Sat 22 Nov 9:31PM

  15. So after saturday. The Top four clubs drew....Chelsea, man u, liverpool, and......ASTON VILLA. Sorry but arsenal is finally OUT. Sorry gunners

    From namzynau, on Sat 22 Nov 9:31PM

  16. i am an arsenal fan and in my eyes we are not going to win anything more with arsene wenger and gallas we need to give them the boot we have great players just they are to young we should sign a few old classics maybe veira and henry bring em back.

    From philipward123, on Sat 22 Nov 9:29PM

  17. thats what wenger deserves for not buying any expereniced players in the summer what dose he expect. to compeit with man u and chelsea with out spending money whos he trying to kid the moneys there so @#$% spend it look at the players we used to have 4 5 years ago compared to now

    From GRAHAM, on Sat 22 Nov 9:28PM

  18. europeAn child, if you are going to call people spell the word's right tart.

    From uselessmofu, on Sat 22 Nov 9:25PM

  19. liverpool loose at the filth, the shed get beat by the kops,the scummys get beat by the kop and the gooners and what happens media go deaf. The gooners loose a match and sky cant wait to show the match. you why, Beacause they cant wait to knock a team which play better football then any one in the world.

    From god wenger, on Sat 22 Nov 9:23PM

  20. been arsenal all my life but they are @#$% and we need new players

    From TERRY, on Sat 22 Nov 9:21PM
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