ARSENAL DRILL DOWN THE CITY SLICKERS 3-0

ARSENAL send megabucks spenders Manchester City licking their wounds when they went down crashing to a 3-0 defeat at the Eastlands last night. Goals by Samir Nasri (20th), Alexander Song (65th) and substitute Nicklas Bendtner in 87th minute was enough to avenge their 4-2 loss last season.

Before the match Manchester City players and supporters paid an emotional five minutes tribute to their former ex-manager Malcom Allison who died last week. 


It did gave some sort of inspiration to the home side who gave the visitor no chance to settle their nerves. In such on two quick succession Roberto Mancini sides nearly shocked the Gunners to take the lead as early in the second minute. 

Carlos Tevez jinking runs outpace Johan Djourou on right flank. The  City skipper race into the box finds David Silva but the Spaniards cleverly cheeky back heel was well read by Lukasz Fabianski.

Then came City disaster, with just four minutes into the match the home side were down to 10 men when Dedryck Boyata brought down Maroune Chamakh as the striker was running towards the goal and referee Mark Clattenburgh flashed a straight red card for a last man foul outside the box.

Defender Johan Djourou nearly put Arsene Wenger side into the lead with a free header but fails to knock it down from Bacary Sagna lovely cross.

Samir Nasri scoring Arsenal first goal

In the 20th minute the visitor broke the deadlock in a typical Arsenal moves with three players involved. Bacary Sagna started from the right finds Nasri. The midfielder played a neat one two with Andre Arshavin before the Frenchman finished it off into the roof of the net.

Manchester City down to 10 men began to throw their men forward. In the 27th minute they had a glorious opportunity to strike back when Micah Richards side footed two Arsenal defenders but saw his effort swirled beyond the far post.

Arsenal stood firm and working very hard to hold their ground despite with all their midfield men down with a yellow. Six minutes before the break, they had a chance to double the scoreline when they were awarded a penalty. Vincent Kompany brought down Cesc Fabregas inside the box but Joe Hart made a superb saves to deny the Arsenal skipper from the spot.

Two minutes later City had a another chance to get even but Kompany header flew over the bar.

In the second half the City side are still much in the match thanks to Joe Hart wonderful penalty save earlier and they regroup and looks much more alive. Ten minutes into the game they had two great chances with David Silva was again involved but his toe poke shot was well stop by Fabianski. Followed by substitute former Arsenal's Manuel Adebayor header just fail to knock it down when he was brought in to replace Carlos Tevez who was injured.

Alexander Song then paved the way for Arsenal a little breathing space when he struck the Gunners second goal in the 65th minute. 

Substitute Nicklas Bendtner coming in for Maroune Chamakh had the finals word. He perfectly placed the ball past the onrushing Joe Hart when he was put through by Samir Nasri. Bacary Sagna could easily made it four but saw his shot just a fractions wide of the far post.