Arsenal 1-2 Man City: 4 talking points from heartbreaking defeat

A gallant Arsenal side has gone down 2-1 to Manchester City at the Emirates. After Bukayo Saka put the Gunners ahead in the first, all seemed well for the north London side. However, a second-half penalty from Riyad Mahrez and an injury-time winner from Rodri secured three vital Premier League points for Pep Guardiola’s men.

Mikel Arteta named a virtually unchanged lineup from the side that demolished Norwich 5-0 last time out. Rob Holding was the only change, coming out for Takehiro Tomiyasu who recovered from Covid in time to feature.

The first half was perhaps Arsenal’s best half in the last three or four years. It had everything that fans wanted to see from the team: energy, determination, defensively solidarity, and most importantly, a goal.

Bukayo Saka’s strike capped off a sweeping move that involved Kieran Tierney sliding in an inviting ball for the 20-year-old, who hit his shot first time and past Ederson to give the Gunners the lead just past the half-hour mark.

Arsenal 1-2 Man City: 4 talking points from heartbreaking defeat as Rodri snatches Premier League win for Guardiola’s side in injury time

It was an outstanding first half showing from the home side as they caused all sorts of problems for Pep Guardiola’s side as they headed into the sheds a goal to the good.

The second half was rife with controversy. Granit Xhaka was adjudged to have brought down Bernardo Silva in the area and after a VAR check, referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot. Riyad Mahrez stepped up and slotted home.

Arsenal was then down to ten men after Gabriel was sent off after collecting his second yellow in as many minutes. It was an uphill battle from there as City dominated possession and their dominance told with just minutes remaining as Rodri poked home from close range to give City a vital win.

The first game of 2022 provided plenty of talking points.

1. VAR Again Causes Controversy

Say what you want about VAR but at the Emirates, it was again a huge talking point coming out of a match.

Martin Odegaard had his shout for a penalty turned down early in the first half with no sign of Stuart Attwell going to the monitor for what was a close call. It could have gone either way with the Emirates crowd in full voice.

However, in the second half when Granit Xhaka brought down Bernardo Silva, Attwell was then instructed to go to the screen. These days when that occurs it’s a foregone conclusion. Referees don’t stick to their on-field decisions anymore.

This left many scratching their heads as to why he did not do that for Odegaard’s incident. Whether Xhaka’s foul was a penalty will be debated until the early hours, but it is again a game where many feel VAR left a lot to be desired.

The case is there for both being penalties in similarly low contact situations, but the total lack of consistency in how the technology is applied continues to baffle.

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2. Thomas Partey Delivers Masterclass

This is the kind of performance from Thomas Partey that warrants his price tag. The Ghanaian was sensational in the middle of the park. His best ever display in red and white.

Combative, tough in the tackle, dynamic, and expansive, he was everywhere at the Emirates.

His ability to find others in space and create openings for himself under heavy pressure was a constant feature. Some his feints in central areas were delightful and his tackling broke up countless City attacks while his positioning often forced the visitors out wide.

A proper performance from Arsenal’s No.5 as he largely had his way with the extremely talented City engine room. He was sublime.

Unfortunately, Partey is now off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana so the Gunners fans will have to wait to see him in action again. The timing is desperately unfortunate with him hitting this level, but good luck to him and Ghana.

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3. Bukayo Saka Continues Finding a New Level

What can you say about Saka that has not been said already?

The 20-year-old tormented Nathan Ake in the first half as Arsenal put their best foot forward, largely in part to the constant driving runs from Saka in wide areas. He won just about every one-on-one contest with the City defender and the quality of his control in tight areas never ceases to amaze.

His pace, power, willingness to run at his man and put the City backline under pressure was something Arsenal fans have become accustomed to this season. Exactly three days on from his debut he’s made immense progress in his development.

The goal was supremely well taken after a good ball from Kieran Tierney in the first half, and the amount of effort to put in understandably saw him fade in the second half before being substituted late on with Arsenal down to ten men.

This world is his oyster. He keeps finding new levels that players his age rarely ever hit.

He’s just 20 years old.

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4. Arsenal Trending in the Right Direction

At the end of the day, it will go down as a 2-1 loss. But Arsenal showed what they are about for large spells against the best team in the land.

The Gunners enjoyed prolonged periods of joy against City and pinned them back in their half. It was total dominance at times. The consistent pressing and willingness to cover every blade of grass along with a very combative attitude had City fooled and scampering back to goal with their tails between their legs.

The Arsenal rearguard kept City to zero shots on target in the first half and their total of two in the match included one from the penalty spot.

The second half told a different story and if Gabriel Martinelli doesn’t hit the upright just seconds after City equalized, then maybe the result could have been different as Gabriel’s red card followed moments later.

Make no mistake, Arsenal made a statement despite losing that they are a team on the up and have what it takes to go toe to toe with the best in the league. Only 17 matches separated this defeat and the one at the Etihad earlier in the season.

It could easily have been years. An incredible improvement.