***Official City v Arsenal Match Thread***

[Jaymz]

You've lost me :(

Nevermind, at the game!!! I got you haha! Took me a while!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

You've lost me :(

Nevermind, at the game!!! I got you haha! Took me a while!

I was going to say you get lost easily :)

[Douglas Higginbottom]

So considering we were one up and Arsenal were a bit desperate wasn't it just a little surprising at how often we were light in defence in the last 20 minutes.I know the best way to kill the game is to score a 2nd and more but I was still surprised at how often they broke and it almost seemed we were outnumbered.

And that was after Milner came on and he mainly just sat back which gave Yaya more freedom to get forward with a little less defensive responsibility. I was screaming at the telly and I was assuming Mancini would have been screaming as well.It was anything but a classic 1 nil win.I think 4 or 5 two would have been about right.

[Beefymcfc]

Well, what can you say, brilliant, a real good game aas well. The 1st half seemed to be a matter of missed chances with Sergio having the best. Zab's played an excellent game, along with Vince and Gaz Barry and I thought Kolo had his best game for a while. Micah worried me though when he didn't seem to want to get back but all was good. Beating Arsenal was a major trophy for me after their current run of league form (what was it, won 7 out of 8 and drew the other?), they were confident but we put showed that we had the mettle.

A cold night and it was good to see that there weren't many vacating their seats early at the end. We were very vocal, as were the Arsenal supporters at times which all added to a very good game that we emerged victors.

Top of the Table going into the last game before Xmas and a clean sheet to boot. More than happy after today.

Bring on the Stokies.

[Beefymcfc]

So considering we were one up and Arsenal were a bit desperate wasn't it just a little surprising at how often we were light in defence in the last 20 minutes.I know the best way to kill the game is to score a 2nd and more but I was still surprised at how often they broke and it almost seemed we were outnumbered.

And that was after Milner came on and he mainly just sat back which gave Yaya more freedom to get forward with a little less defensive responsibility. I was screaming at the telly and I was assuming Mancini would have been screaming as well.It was anything but a classic 1 nil win.I think 4 or 5 two would have been about right.

Oh, Mancini was screaming mate and most of us could see the problem. He spent a 10 min spell screaming at players to cover their positions as he could see we were being over-run on the break but it was if they just didn't care. When you start seeing Yaya, Dave, Samir and Micah all in the final 3rd in the corner you just know there's got to be lots of space elsewhere on the pitch.

[Flixton Blue]

Barry was outstanding today and has been for most of the season.Vinny was great as was Zabba and Joe in goal.

[gillie]

Great win today against imo the best team we have played all season.MOM for me was Zabs best game he's played in a long time and out of position to boot.

[DoomMerchant]

All in all, a fantastic three points earned today.

My biggest concern today was how many times Silva gave the ball away with horrific passing when we were in solid attacking positions in their third, leading to Arsenal running out on the break. There were probably 3 in the last 20 mins or so, and each time his passes looked either lazy or "too" simple...it's almost as if he was trying to play the odds for the simplest most direct option because people expect some trickery from him, and each time the efforts came off weak and half-hearted. He was making my head hurt.

I'm sure some may say that it's a little silly to have a gripe about the man with the match-winning goal, but honestly, he and Kun need to show some sharpness, because i feel both are off their games of late and need to get some focus if we're to push on and win the league.

[Dameerto]

So considering we were one up and Arsenal were a bit desperate wasn't it just a little surprising at how often we were light in defence in the last 20 minutes.I know the best way to kill the game is to score a 2nd and more but I was still surprised at how often they broke and it almost seemed we were outnumbered.

And that was after Milner came on and he mainly just sat back which gave Yaya more freedom to get forward with a little less defensive responsibility. I was screaming at the telly and I was assuming Mancini would have been screaming as well.It was anything but a classic 1 nil win.I think 4 or 5 two would have been about right.

Oh, Mancini was screaming mate and most of us could see the problem. He spent a 10 min spell screaming at players to cover their positions as he could see we were being over-run on the break but it was if they just didn't care. When you start seeing Yaya, Dave, Samir and Micah all in the final 3rd in the corner you just know there's got to be lots of space elsewhere on the pitch.

I could hear him several times on the TV feed - I heard him yelling Kolo's name when he tried to run the ball out and play a one-two.

[Dameerto]

All in all, a fantastic three points earned today.

My biggest concern today was how many times Silva gave the ball away with horrific passing when we were in solid attacking positions in their third, leading to Arsenal running out on the break. There were probably 3 in the last 20 mins or so, and each time his passes looked either lazy or "too" simple...it's almost as if he was trying to play the odds for the simplest most direct option because people expect some trickery from him, and each time the efforts came off weak and half-hearted. He was making my head hurt.

I'm sure some may say that it's a little silly to have a gripe about the man with the match-winning goal, but honestly, he and Kun need to show some sharpness, because i feel both are off their games of late and need to get some focus if we're to push on and win the league.

I seem to have a feeling they're both being played a lot this season - they certainly play in almost all the games I can remember. It's worrying because January is a busy month packed with some important matches.

[freshie]

All in all, a fantastic three points earned today.

My biggest concern today was how many times Silva gave the ball away with horrific passing when we were in solid attacking positions in their third, leading to Arsenal running out on the break. There were probably 3 in the last 20 mins or so, and each time his passes looked either lazy or "too" simple...it's almost as if he was trying to play the odds for the simplest most direct option because people expect some trickery from him, and each time the efforts came off weak and half-hearted. He was making my head hurt.

[highlight]I'm sure some may say that it's a little silly to have a gripe about the man with the match-winning goal, but honestly, he and Kun need to show some sharpness, because i feel both are off their games of late and need to get some focus if we're to push on and win the league[/highlight].

I compeletely agree with this and am glad we won despite our 2 best players being off their game. Silva and Kun have not been up to their usual standards for a few games now - maybe this is the stage of the season where we might have to grind out a few results?

[Beefymcfc]

Did anyone mention Phil Dowd? Thought he was more Dyer than Dowd!

[Slim]

Did anyone mention Phil Dowd? Thought he was more Dyer than Dowd!

I mentioned during that he had a touch of the yellow fever, but he is usually quite good so might have been a blip.

[Beefymcfc]

Did anyone mention Phil Dowd? Thought he was more Dyer than Dowd!

I mentioned during that he had a touch of the yellow fever, but he is usually quite good so might have been a blip.

Just thought he was awful mate. He's usually yellow card happy but from what I saw of certain Arsenal players going through Vinnie then it should have been definately a 2nd yellow for Arteta. Also, those little niggly ones to break play up or giving one way but not the oher.

Overall, I feel we won against 12 men again. Not to take anything away from the game, even though a 1-0 it was probably one of the best of the season for me.

Edit: PS. Dixon, you're a cock and getting paid to talk about Arsenal. Take a second and actually think what you're doing and saying.

Night all.

[phips]

All in all, a fantastic three points earned today.

My biggest concern today was how many times Silva gave the ball away with horrific passing when we were in solid attacking positions in their third, leading to Arsenal running out on the break. There were probably 3 in the last 20 mins or so, and each time his passes looked either lazy or "too" simple...it's almost as if he was trying to play the odds for the simplest most direct option because people expect some trickery from him, and each time the efforts came off weak and half-hearted. He was making my head hurt.

[highlight]I'm sure some may say that it's a little silly to have a gripe about the man with the match-winning goal, but honestly, he and Kun need to show some sharpness, because i feel both are off their games of late and need to get some focus if we're to push on and win the league[/highlight].

I compeletely agree with this and am glad we won despite our 2 best players being off their game. Silva and Kun have not been up to their usual standards for a few games now - maybe this is the stage of the season where we might have to grind out a few results?

thats what ive been saying. Silva was superb in the beginning of the season but hasnt been anywhere near that same form as of late..i dunno whats going on with him. its a long season though.

[Ted Hughes]

I agree about Silva; he's not been upto his own high standards recently. It's not surprising though as he's really been pushed to the limit. Aguero I thought was superb apart from missing the chance.

Dzeko btw needs to be told to start working with him imo. When he came on, he had a great chance to lay it on a plate for Aguero & didn't bother. I've noticed that to be the case on many occasions recently & I think it's down to Aguero being greedy a couple of times & Dzeko stopping working with him because of it. When they make an effort to play together, they are unstoppable imo & we will need to see them together a fair bit in the coming months. Bob needs to give them a poke.

Today I thought we did really well. Great workrate (especially from Yaya) plenty of class. On the downside, as Bob said, we were wide open after the goal. We should have tightened up & picked them off once we scored & we gave them too much space in our half. We missed loads of chances too. Showed great character to come back from Chelsea in the face of the rag propoganda machine though.

Dare I say: title winning qualities ?

Zabba was fantastic btw & my MOTM.

[kinkylola]

Am I the only one who thought Balo had a good game? He played that match with more intensity than I've seen from him before, attacked arse directly and made song look like a standing statue when went by him on the shot that set up the goal.

Besides that I thought he was popping up in good positions and laying off/holding up well. All in all had a better game than silva and Nasri and looked out most dangerous attacker most of the time. Aquero put a lot of effort in but seemed a bit toothless, Dave gave it away a bit too much for my liking.

[Ted Hughes]

Am I the only one who thought Balo had a good game? He played that match with more intensity than I've seen from him before, attacked arse directly and made song look like a standing statue when went by him on the shot that set up the goal.

Besides that I thought he was popping up in good positions and laying off/holding up well. All in all had a better game than silva and Nasri and looked out most dangerous attacker most of the time. Aquero put a lot of effort in but seemed a bit toothless, Dave gave it away a bit too much for my liking.

I thought he was fine; worked hard created a goal & should have been picked out on several other occasions when in dangerous positions.

[zuricity]

Why is everyone saying we're going to be top at Christmas, everyone plays midweek don't they?

Just sayin'.

This is so true, we have Stoke at home on the 21st.....

They have Fulham away..I know which game I'd rather be involved in..

This touches on something i was talking about at the mike summerbee bar before the game.

When united beat arsenal, the arse were at sixes and sevens. A mess. Their form has improved upto yesterdays game quite significantly.united met a chlsea side, not at one with the manager and his new tactics.

Other teams have let united have their way with them. Wolves didn't even tackle them !

We appear to have met teams either already in form ( newcastle, liverpool, arse) or teams getting their form back, ie chelski,

It makes for great football for us, but we know that united must meet some teams that aren't going to roll over for them

I think Fulham will be one of those teams. When i saw the qpr manager give his pre match interview i knew qor would diappear in that game

I fully expect stoke to try and kick s off the park on wednesday. Pulis doing fergie a favour.

However i do expect to see fulham have a go. Mind you, united's luck has to break sometimr soon.

Perhaps the fa cup .....

[freshie]

Am I the only one who thought Balo had a good game? He played that match with more intensity than I've seen from him before, attacked arse directly and made song look like a standing statue when went by him on the shot that set up the goal.

Besides that I thought he was popping up in good positions and laying off/holding up well. All in all had a better game than silva and Nasri and looked out most dangerous attacker most of the time. Aquero put a lot of effort in but seemed a bit toothless, Dave gave it away a bit too much for my liking.

No, I though Balo had a great game. He seems to revel in the big matches and yesterday's game was no different. The way he brought down Micah's cross in the first half and then swivelled and managed to volley a shot on target was exquisite skill that only a handful of players could pull off - and he is only 20!!