Manchester City deserve praise for bold 10-man tactics against Arsenal. Roberto Mancini shows commendable bravery by making his midfield and strikers work overtime after Boyata is sent off Carlos Tevez, who worked tirelessly for Manchester City, tangles with Arsenal's Denílson.

Roberto Mancini deserves praise for his reaction to Dedryck Boyata's early red card, even if the manager's bravery ended up counting for nothing. Once the youngster had been dismissed I wondered what plan Mancini would concoct to counter an Arsenal side always so comfortable in possession. Nine out of 10 managers would have fallen back on a 4-4-1 system and isolated a forward. Boldly, however, Mancini challenged his players to work a 4-3-2 structure with the skilful and tireless David Silva and Carlos Tevez charged with occupying Arsenal's back four.
The home side maintained a level of attacking threat by keeping two players up front and Mancini merits praise for his outlook. His side rarely sat back, even if their efforts demanded maximum energy. Yaya Touré was initially switched to centre-back to partner Vincent Kompany, with City going narrow – dragging Silva from the touchline – just as Arsenal, with their numerical advantage, were attempting to stretch the pitch using the full width with Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri pinned wide.
Cesc Fábregas and Denílson were intent on spreading the play to the flanks but City worked feverishly to counter Arsenal's central dominance. James Milner, Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry grafted in an attempt to cut down passing angles and dissuade Arsenal from making the field bigger by pinging the play from flank to flank. When the visitors were in possession, City's central trio ferried across to try to stop Arsenal working the ball from the right flank to Arshavin on the opposite side, with Silva showing good team responsibility by continually dropping in on Alex Song, the deepest of the Arsenal midfielders.
As a tactic, with Arsenal's own back line ever conscious of the threat posed by Tevez and Silva, it succeeded until City ran out of legs. Nasri's neat one-two with Arshavin, exploiting Barry's brief presence at left-back, had earned Arsenal a lead but it was fatigue that did for City. Up to Alexandre Song's second, Arsenal had arguably not used their one-man advantage as well as might have been expected, but the goal gave them breathing space and an opportunity to exhibit their comfort in keeping possession.
City will feel hard done by, and that their efforts deserved more than a heavy home defeat, but credit to Arsenal for some excellent performances. The impression left by Fábregas was to be expected, as was that of Nasri, whose continued emergence this season has been notable. Yet it was the confidence exuded by Lukasz Fabianski in goal that may just have given Arsène Wenger cause for a quiet smile.
Neville takes swipe at City over Rooney
Last week it looked as though the wheels were falling off for United as Rooney was supposedly on the way out of Old Trafford, with high-flying City one possible destination.
Rooney then signed a five-year contract at United before City dropped to fourth on the ladder on Sunday as Dedryck Boyata's early red card contributed to their 3-0 loss to Arsenal while United - who were lucky not to lose Neville to a first-half red card - grabbed a 2-1 win at Stoke.
In his column for the Sunday Times of Malta, Neville wrote: "When our top players sign long-term contracts it obviously gives us a boost. Wayne is staying and now we look forward to winning trophies with him in our team. The main thing is that after a difficult week the best outcome was reached for all parties. Except perhaps Manchester City..."
Neville is confident that the player will quickly be forgiven for questioning the club's ambition, and added: "He has apologised to the fans and everyone else connected with the club so we have to put it to bed now. While there will always be fallout from an incident like this, as soon as we get back to playing football and Wayne gets back on the pitch it will all be forgotten about.
"The fans have obviously been watching it very closely. While the statement attributed to Wayne last Wednesday didn't go down very well, we all make mistakes in our lives and we've all done things we regret. United fans will accept that. He has always given 100% when he has pulled on a United shirt, and that is the overriding factor. No one can doubt that he loves playing football for this club and I have no doubt the fans will support him through the rest of his career here.''
The Sunday Times of Malta eh ... impressive stuff Gary ...
WAG OF THE DAY
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TRANSFER BOLLOX
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is set to launch a bid to sign Bayern Munich's German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger as a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes. caughtoffside.com
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway says he could struggle to hold on to Charlie Adam if the Premier League's big clubs make offers for the in-form midfielder in January. the Sun
Liverpool are reportedly considering an audacious swoop for Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, whose contract at Goodison Park expires this summer. caughtoffside.com
Stoke and Birmingham are battling it out to sign Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana. Daily Mirror
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is planning a big-money move for midfielder Gareth Bale from London rivals Tottenham this summer. caughtoffside.com
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney did not watch his side's 2-1 win at Stoke on Sunday because he was relaxing in the pool during a holiday in Dubai. The England international - who celebrated his 25th birthday on Sunday - is currently sidelined with an ankle injury.
(Various)
Atletico Madrid boss Quique Sanchez Flores has emerged as a potential candidate to manage Liverpool, who are ready to sack Roy Hodgson following the club's poor start to the season. caughtoffside.com
Former Hull City chairman Paul Duffen is ready to make a shock attempt to buy Portsmouth from new owner Balram Chainrai.
Daily Mirror
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has laughed off claims that Spurs have approached Aston Villa and England winger Ashley Young. Daily Mirror
Redknapp has offered his support to Peter Crouch in the face of criticism from fans over the striker's lack of goals. "He gives you something else," said Redknapp of Crouch, who has not scored in the Premier League since May. "You take Crouchie out of there and you've got to play perfect football to break teams down." Daily Mail
Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has claimed striker Andy Carroll and midfielder Joey Barton are good enough for England. Daily Mirror
England head of football development Trevor Brooking has ruled out Wolfsburg boss Steve McClaren returning to manage the national side as successor to Fabio Capello. the Sun
Former Fifa secretary-general Michel Zen-Ruffinen has called on soccer's governing body to allow an external investigation into the contest to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups following allegations of vote-selling.
(Swiss television)
Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is set to quit Wigan if he remains second choice behind Oman international Ali Al-Habsi. Daily Mirror
West Ham manager Avram Grant insists his job is safe, despite a poor start to the season that has left his side at the foot of the Premier League table. Daily Mail
Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov could be out of action for at least two to three weeks because of a knee problem. The midfielder suffered the injury during Saturday's 1-0 loss at Sunderland.
Daily Mail
Former Blackburn and MK Dons boss Paul Ince is hoping to return to management with Notts County, who sacked Craig Short on Sunday with the club 16th in League One.
Daily Mirror