Cazorla stars as red-hot Arsenal stun struggling City at Etihad
Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla (2L) is congratulated by team-mates Arsenal's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez (2R) and Arsenal's French striker Olivier Giroud (L) after scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 18, 2015. AFP PHOTO | OLI SCARFF
What you need to know:
- Victory avenged Arsenal’s crushing 6-3 loss on their last visit to this ground in December 2013 and left Manuel Pellegrini’s City five points adrift of leaders Chelsea, who they play at Stamford Bridge on January 31.
- For Arsenal, wins against major rivals have been few and far between in recent years, but having closed to within a point of fourth-place Manchester United, and 13 points of Chelsea, they will approach the run-in with renewed ambition.
- It was City’s first defeat in 15 games and gave Arsenal a first win at the Etihad since a 3-0 success in October 2010, which was the last time the home side had lost by a two-goal margin on their own turf in the league.
Santi Cazorla scored one goal and made another as Arsenal damaged Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge with a brilliant 2-0 victory at a chilly Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The Spanish midfield scored a 24th-minute penalty and teed up Olivier Giroud for a second-half header to re-energise Arsene Wenger’s side’s push for a top-four finish, and maybe more.
Victory avenged Arsenal’s crushing 6-3 loss on their last visit to this ground in December 2013 and left Manuel Pellegrini’s City five points adrift of leaders Chelsea, who they play at Stamford Bridge on January 31.
For Arsenal, wins against major rivals have been few and far between in recent years, but having closed to within a point of fourth-place Manchester United, and 13 points of Chelsea, they will approach the run-in with renewed ambition.
It was City’s first defeat in 15 games and gave Arsenal a first win at the Etihad since a 3-0 success in October 2010, which was the last time the home side had lost by a two-goal margin on their own turf in the league.
City have now conceded two or more goals in three successive home league games for the first time since October 2002, which will deeply concern Pellegrini ahead of their trip to Chelsea in two weeks’ time.
Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero both made their first City starts since December after injury, but though much had been made of the anticipated showdown between Aguero and Alexis Sanchez, it was Kompany who unwittingly took centre-stage.
City were quick to force Arsenal back, with Laurent Koscielny booked for felling Fernandinho, but with five players strung across midfield, the visitors were content to soak up pressure and attack on the break.
Sanchez gave City a warning with a dart to the edge of the box, before an alert intervention from Kompany prevented Giroud from testing Joe Hart with a near-post header.
It was authoritative defending by the City captain, but mid-way through the first half he handed Arsenal the chance to go ahead.
