Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

The actual time that i start typing this entry would be in the 2nd minute of the first half extra time. So like my previous entry, this would probably be another rant about the match rather than a structured commentary. A real time rant that i would publish directly without any editing at the end of the match.

At the time of writing this paragraph, the first half has just ended and the game is deadlocked, both team scoreless. Arsenal are the more threatening team in the first half, coming up with better chances. The main point for the first half would be that Mario Balotelli is still on the pitch when he shouldn't be after a horrific tackle on the shin which luckily didn't injure Alex Song.

Anyone who didn't wanna punch him is my mortal enemy.

In the 14th minute, Van Persie had a penalty shout waived away by the referee. It almost make me think, whether the referee really is a closet Spurs. Decision after decision went City's way, luckily the referee did issue Balotelli a yellow card after another foul. Boy, Mario is really pushing his luck isn't he?

Another point of discussion is Samir Nasri. You know the classic cliche, star moved to a rival club, get booed upon return. Nasri certainly weren't spared here. Every touch were greeted with choruses of boo, and to his credit, he didn't let it go to him. Instead he kept on playing with this smile on his face:

Picture this face next time you gonna boo a rival player.

The second half is gonna start any moment now - and the ball has just been kicked. Silva isn't playing and Toure (Yaya) has been substituted in the first half. That makes City depraved of their two best players. Arsenal on the other hand, have a virtually full squad on hand, with the Ox waiting on the bench.

So now i'm waiting for something interesting to happen. One thing that struck me is that Clichy didn't receive the same treatment reserved by the fans for Nasri. No boos, probably only a chorus of meh from the home crowd.

The collective Arsenal fans when Clichy touch the ball.

52nd minute. A header that went over the ball from Aguero after a teasing ball from Nasri (boos). Arsenal is taking back possession now (55th minute, i just spend three minute attaching that pic of lolcat). Kieran Gibbs has just been substituted for Andre Santos,and Mini Gerrard has just been yellow carded.

It's quite interesting to see this match between two teams with different style of playing. City generally tries to get the ball upfront as fast as possible, reminiscence of German World Cup 2010. Arsenal on the other hand, move the ball around more because you know, Wenger.

He's so artsy, even his photo is in monochrome filter.

59th minute. Andre Santos turn to be yellow carded. Wow. Four minute ago he's on the bench and he have one foul to his name already. Since then, nothing of importance had happened until RVP scored an offside goal in the 70th minute. Nothing controversial. He's already offside and it's already out of play.

73rd minute. Arsenal is attacking (meaning they are moving the ball around in City's half). And in the 75th minute, the most WTF moment of the match. Arsenal hit the post, and from the rebound, Benayoun managed to miss from two feet. Seriously, guys? As i am posting this right after the match end, i won't have the vid, but please look it up later.  Seriously, you won't believe the miss.

78th minute. Benayoun got punished for that miss by being substituted with Aaron Ramsey. Nasri was also subbed, Alexander Kolarov taking his place. So is City playing for a draw, or does Mancini has a specific instruction for Kolarov?

82nd minute. TEVEZ is warming up. Whoa, whoa. He's the man City turns to now. With eight minute left, he's taking Aguero place. Just why didn't Mancini play both of them together in front of Nasri?  Remember, Man Utd won earlier and there's an eight point gap between them. They should really throw caution to the wind and went for broke. Arsenal also made their own substitution, Walcott (he's been playing the entire match?) going off for the Ox.

GOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! Arteta scored with a shot from outside the area in the 86th minute after robbing the City defence of possession! And that almost is totally against the run of play. Joe Hart is shown on the screen kicking the goal post in anger. The title is slipping away from them. There's few minute left to salvage their season.

89th minute. It's really the end for Manchester City. Balotelli receive a second yellow card for (another) stupid foul on Sagna. Wow, it's his 22nd yellow card for the club in 59 games. Swallow that fact for a moment. Four minute of extra time is added to the match, and the match is currently in frantic final minutes mode.

93rd minute. City final chance. They've got a free kick and yes, i'm really a fast typer. Tevez looks like he's gonna take this free kick, but Kolarov takes it instead. Which ended up nowhere in the thick Arsenal wall. Arsenal  even had time for one counter attack, with Ramsey fluffing a shot over the bar.

And the match ended at 96th minute mark, with Arsenal back at third spot. There's an eight point gap between United and City now, and truthfully the title is now the Devil's to lose. Arteta has made a crucial difference to Arsenal's season, and his contribution will go a long way toward helping the Gooners forget a certain Catalan. So it's Arsenal 1, Man City nil. And now it's time for me to write that score as the header for this post. Adieu, Mancini.