David Silva sent Manchester City back to the top
of the Premier League with the only goal in a pulsating
clash with Arsenal.
The Spaniard slid in his sixth goal of the season after
53 minutes at the Etihad Stadium to finally give City
reward for some brilliant attacking play.
Yet Arsenal, although perhaps lucky not to have Alex
Song sent off, threatened on a number of occasions and
Joe Hart saved well from Thomas Vermaelen late on.
City settled quickly and had a chance to launch the
ball into the Arsenal box after Mario Balotelli was
tripped by Mikel Arteta.
Samir Nasri, booed heavily in the Carling Cup tie between
the clubs earlier this month, was again barracked by
the visiting fans before lobbing his free-kick straight
to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Nasri tried to slip in Sergio Aguero but his ball was
too strong for the Argentinian.
Aguero spurned a good opportunity when he took a Pablo
Zabaleta cross in his stride and fired over.
Aguero went through again moments later but was denied
the space to shoot and could not find Balotelli.
Referee Phil Dowd then booked Song for an earlier foul
on Silva and made a big call moments later when the
same player felled Yaya Toure. Dowd again allowed City
to play advantage but this time did not go back to speak
to Song when the ball went dead.
Gervinho had Arsenal's first serious opportunity but
Joe Hart saved well and the goalkeeper then tipped behind
an Aaron Ramsey effort from the resulting corner.
Balotelli almost gave City the lead with an opportunistic
acrobatic shot after Per Mertesacker misjudged a bounce
but Szczesny reacted quickly.
Ramsey appealed for a penalty in the 35th minute after
a scuffed shot from Robin van Persie was deflected into
his path and he went down under a Kolo Toure challenge.
Dowd saw nothing untoward and the ball was scrambled
clear.
City midfielder Gareth Barry was booked after a risky
tackle on Arteta from behind.
Aguero showed great close control on the edge of the
box to create another chance for himself five minutes
before the break but Szczesny saved again.
City caught Arsenal on the counter-attack to take the
lead seven minutes after the restart.
Nasri found Balotelli in space down the left and the
Italian charged forward to cut inside and shoot.
Szczesny parried but Aguero reacted quickly to head
across goal for Silva to slide in and score.
It was a lead which was almost wiped out within a minute
as, with City fans still celebrating, Arsenal powered
forward and Theo Walcott forced Hart to tip over from
18 yards.
Van Persie thought he had equalised when he deftly
chipped Hart three minutes later but the flag was raised
for offside.
City stepped up the tempo with Aguero firing narrowly
wide from distance and Nasri going through but opting
to pass instead shoot when well placed.
Play quickly switched to the other end where Van Persie
shot straight at Hart but City were soon back on the
attack.
Zabaleta almost made Arsenal pay when he seized on
a poor pass from Laurent Koscielny but drove against
the post with Szczesny beaten.
Walcott appeared unhappy when he was replaced by Andrey
Arshavin with 20 minutes remaining while City attempted
to tighten up by sending on James Milner for Balotelli.
Song survived for a second time after clashing with
Vincent Kompany as Dowd again chose not to show him
a second yellow card.
Advantage was played and Szczesny saved low from Aguero.
Dowd was also lenient with Arteta after fouling Yaya
Toure and Barry in quick succession, the referee only
booking the Spaniard for the first offence.
Richards enjoyed some luck when a Koscielny cross caught
his arm in the box and Dowd deemed it accidental.
Arsenal pressed until the end with Arshavin driving
wide and Thomas Vermaelen forcing Hart to make a brilliant
save with a well-struck shot following a short free-kick.
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