Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Rosicky, Flamini, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud
Subs: Fabianski, Bellerin, Jenkinson, Kallstrom, Gnabry, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanogo
—
Arsenal restored some pride with a 1-1 draw against Man City at the Emirates this evening. Arsene Wenger made just one change to his side after the 2-2 draw with Swansea in midweek, bringing in Lukas Podolski in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while City were unchanged from their derby win over Man United.
The confidence of the visitors was obvious in the way they started the game with both Zabaleta and Navas threatening in the opening minutes. The Gunners had to be alert when City broke from an Arsenal corner, but Gibbs and Rosicky got back to snuff out the danger.
The oily billionaires had plenty of the ball but Arsenal got back into it for a spell with Tomas Rosicky going down in the box looking for a penalty, but in fairness to referee Mike Dead (ugh), the Czech went down looking for it.
But City’s pressure told in the 18th minute when they went ahead. Lukas Podolski lost the ball in the City half, they broke forward, played it into Dzeko whose shot cannoned back off the post and into the path of Silva. The ball seemed to just rebound off him and over the line. 0-1.
Arsenal had the ball in the net moments later but Flamini’s effort was rightly ruled out for offside, but they did show a response without ever really troubling Joe Hart in the City goal.
Samir Nasti found himself with a sight of goal after a poor Gibbs pass but Wojciech Szczesny was equal to the effort, before Yaya Toure picked up a booking when he hauled back Rosicky as the midfielder drove towards goal.
He was joined in the referee’s notebook by Vincent Kompany for a cynical block on Mikel Arteta, as Arsenal tried to get that equalising goal. Podolski broke down the left only to see his cross cut out by Demichelis.
Rosicky tried to drive Arsenal forward but his energy wasn’t matched by his teammates, and the Czech picked up a booking when he kicked Gael Clichy but the referee was a twat because Clichy deserved it for having stupid hair.
City were very much in control, however, and took their one goal lead into the break. There were no changes on either side at half-time.
City seemed content to sit back as Arsenal tried to make things happen, but in the early stages not much did. Tomas Rosicky tried a shot from distance which went well wide, before the game went mental.
Arsenal were lucky not to be 2-0 down when Szczesny got a hand to a low cross which rebounded just wide off Per Mertesacker, but moments later they were level.
Olivier Giroud did great in the corner area, Arsenal worked the ball over to the left hand side, Podolski whipped the ball in and Flamini hit it first time into the corner of Joe Hart’s net. 1-1.
The goal chance reinvigorated Arsenal and it could have been 2-1 a few minutes later when Lukas Podolski’s shot from a tight angle went between Hart’s legs but clipped his heel and deflected just wide.
Flamini then shot over, again from wide of the goal, as City made their first change, bringing on James Milner for Jesus Navas. The game settled down into a midfield battle, with few clear cut chances. Giroud headed a Cazorla free kick wide but the ball was just too high for him, while Arsenal had to survive a scramble in their area which posed real danger.
The Frenchman dragged a shot from distance wide, then Arsene Wenger made his first change, bringing on Oxlade-Chamberlain for Podolski in the 78th minute. Javi Garcia replaced Samir Nasti for the visitors as Pellegrini looked to be settling for the draw that City’s games in hand made acceptable.
Yaya Sanogo replaced Giroud with five minutes to go, as Arsenal really had a go at the rich boys. Joe Hart punched away a Cazorla free kick and a Gibbs cross floated just too high at the back post.
Fernandinho shot over for City as three minutes of injury time kicked in, but neither side could find another goal.
Arsenal certainly deserved at least a draw from the game after a great second half performance, and after the week we’ve had you can’t ask for a great deal more than that.
I’ll have whatever Flamini’s on
He laughs at fear…..
he snorts fear for the rush
Now! Thats some pride! I always knew we were never united!
Great spirit from the lads today – especially Flamini (our best signing for a long time)! If we had a striker as well I’m sure we would have won this one.
I am sure we would have won the league
He tweaks the nose of terror
Where the fuck was this effort last week?
Come on man, enjoy the good performance before we start with the negativity again. Flamini <3
With key 1st team players returning. (hopefully!) we can WIN all our remaining matches.
This will not be very popular. If we hadn’t been mauled last week & had the heart-break against Swansea, we would have had the confidence in the 2nd half to go for it. This was a game to get us back with a chance in the race. Chelsea had already dropped points & if we had beat ManC, it would have meant two of the contenders would have dropped points. That’s were our injury situation has hurt us bad, there was much on the bench. With the pervious week results, AW was worried about using what he had on the… Read more »
And, this effort better be there next week against Everton. Collapse there and we will put our top 4 hopes in jeopardy despite having had a generally good season (compared to recent years; apart from the 3 disastrous pummelings in the league). Let’s see off Everton, secure a Champions League spot and win the FA cup.
Everton have played 30 games and are on 57 points, we have played 32 and are on 64 points. Even if Everton win their next two, they’ll still be a point behind us. Our next game is Everton away, after that the games are ones we should win, or at least not lose, the only potential stumbling block being Newcastle, but that’s at home. By contrast, Everton must still play us, Manure, Southampton, Man $ity. We won’t be in a scrap for fourth this year. Compare that to the remaining games of $ity, which include Southampton, Liverpuddle, Everton. Chel$ki have… Read more »
Math is wrong here. If Everton win their next two (their second game is against us), they will be on 63 points with a game in hand and we will be on 64 points. That would mean we would no longer control our own destiny for fourth. True, Everton has some tough fixtures, but Arsenal can also drop points in the run-in.
My mathssssssssss is not wrong. What is 57+3+3? Is it not 63 as I said? And will we not still be on 64? I never said anything about ‘destiny being in our hands’ or whatever, I just pointed out that we have the easier run-in.
WengersNoseHair, what Witoldo is saying is that one of Evertons next two games is against us so if they win their next two (includes beating us) then they are on 63 points after 32 games and we are on 64 points after 33 games as we play them. That means that our destiny is not in our hands if we lose to Everton as even if we win all after they can too and then get 4th. Think about what ur saying before u slag off someones comment.
What? £60 grand a week? 🙂
Seriously, gotta agree, its great we signed another attacking midfielder this summer — on a free as well.
Best for me today thought was Mr ‘I’m 23, Honest’, he was everywhere.
He probably had a drink from that ‘Fountain of Youth’ Rosicky drinks from. Love their spirit.
Probably pure shark adrenaline or something. Battled hard today and played well!
I heard he is wrestling gators and sharks in his pool to psych up before a match 😉
Obviously not the same pool Bendtner uses
A bit off-topic but if he opened a sandwich shop it would be called Flamini’s Panini’s.
Wouldn’t it be ‘Buy my sandwiches or else…….’
(Alternative options removed for legal/I’m terrified of him reasons)
more like it gunners, why is flamini not the first name on the team sheet
Mathieu Flamini, he equalizes when he wants
hehe, i see what you did there.
Lol even funnier when you consider the role he had in Swansea 2 Arsenal 2.
That forced a painful smile.
Because Rosicky’s is?
Seriously, somewhere around the 20th-25th thought we were teetering on collapse again and just by sheer effort Rosicky seemed to will everybody else back in the game. Maybe started when he got Touré yellow carded. Fucking excellent shift.
can’t argue with that, Says it all, that when we need energy, we look to a 33 year old
Because Tomas Rosicky’s already there..
Good draw. I fucking love Flamini!
i actually enjoyed watching that. I’m amazed. Fair play boys, clawed back a bit of pride today. Giroud needs to sort his shit. How many times a game do we see him holding his head, lying on the floor, lying on the floor holding his head? Looks well and truely off the pace.
I enjoyed watching that as well. Felt a lot of positive vibes. I thought HFB was less of a lamppost than usual and his touches were far less ‘clumsy’ than previously.
I honestly can’t see how Giroud sorting his shit is going to help us.
Agreed, I thought that was surprisingly enjoyable – for the first time in a long time. And yeah Giroud isn’t at his best right now but he looks well and truly shattered. I miss that spring in his step and the cheeky near post runs from earlier in the season.
And I fucking love Carzola. He was a magician today
who the fuck thumbs downed this comment?
People who think magic is witchcraft?
Car Zola…
THAT is a very good point for Arsenal. Title race was over for us but we can push on for third (maybe second). City, Chelsea have to visit Anfield.
Also, that should help the confidence and ensure we’re in the right frame of mind for the FA Cup. Things are looking up, and Ramsey back in training this week!
Loved Flamini’s goal celebration! Gooner!
Totally, his passion is second best to none…just gotta love the guy.
Decent result . Now fuck off city!
Surely given the past few weeks, that was a victory in disguise
Much better! Valuable point earned. Can’t help but laugh at cunTerry and Maureen
Poldi played with real heart today… Have no word for Rociky as always… and have no words for Giroud just like the past few games (sigh..)
and yeah.. flamini was the ramsey of today… cant remember seeing him in the final third so aggressively before..
Vermaelen was also immense, winning so many headers against players twice his size
Yeah, did he even lose an aerial duel?
Giroud was decent. I can’t think of any clear cut opportunities presented to him and he did his job reasonably well.
minus a few flubbed chances I agree. If Mertescielny are our solid axis, Kompany and Demichelis is nothing to sneeze at, and Giroud was pretty much alone in the box all by himself and still won a few corners. Not the best, since he could’ve had more composure against Kompany 1v1 but still, not bad at all.
One of his better games considering the opposition. Still nothing to write home about but I wouldn’t say he deserves criticism for his performance.
Excellent performance. Thought we’d get pummelled. In the end, I’m disappointed we couldn’t get a winner. Well played lads. Pride restored and basis laid for a solid finish and a tilt at the FA Cup.
A tilt! I know this is Arsenal but come on, its got to be atleast a 1 in 4 chance now
Would have bet anything on Podolski finishing that chance. A shame, that lucky save by Hart kept the match a draw.
That was the first time in a while i watched a second half praying we wouldn’t collapse. Nice performance after the break. Still work to be done to hold on to a CL spot.
Oops: “NOT praying we wouldn’t collapse.”
Not saying I don’t like Giroud but we need someone better.
The boys did good today. Positive performance and hopefully restored some confidence. Bring on the toffees!!
With all our injuries and with the amount of money city have spent over the past few years, I think our boys did us proud today.
I was watching with Russian Commentary, and all I could make out in the second half was the repeated list of names: Ramsey, Özil, Walcott, Wilshere.
I’ll never know for sure but it sounded like: ‘with all of these guys missing they are still toe to toe with City.’
What is even funnier is that the Manure starting line up earlier n the week cost more than Citeh’s starting line up.
Absolutely satisfied with our performance overall, especially the second half…We could have won the game had we have had the same level of luck those cunts had with their goal. Brilliant result nevertheless. COYG!
Have to wonder about Mike Dean reverting to type.
Not saying it was a penalty, but if it had been Silva on the ball, you get the feeling it would have been.
And there was one incident where Poldi made a challenge where the foul was blown because he slightly clipped some or other $ity cunt, and you could see Poldi was not happy, because those are the sort of fouls (slight contact) that against us the referees wave away. Now I’m going into full-on conspiracy mode, but there were a number of dubious calls about fouls from the ref that went against us for which there was no television replay, but every foul we committed there were plenty reviews. I’ve felt that in a number of other games too, e.g. Stoke… Read more »
I’d agree that there have been some very interesting decisions that have been ‘disappeared’ this season. Some examples being: the penalty shout on the BFG in the 2nd minute against Villa in the first game of the season (which we lost by 2 questionable penalties.), and the horrible scissor challenge on Jack at West Brom. If the latter had been given it would have been a penalty and (probable) red, when the game was 1-1 with 15 minutes left. Between the two they could easily represent 5 points. If i was really putting my tinfoil hat on, I’d be more… Read more »
Another one. Everyone moaning (quite rightly) about the full time whistle being blown on Swansea when they were through on goal. Same thing happened for us at the end of the first half against Stoke. Nothing was ever said or even replayed.
I’m off to put my tin foil hat on.
May not have won but we certainly played with heart. Great to see!
Proud of the boys, put on a real performance and showed guts and determination. The fact that Citeh brought on Garcia and Milner tells it’s own story
Arsenal has won 3 knock-out round in the champions league in 17yrs (with exception of 2006).
We all love Arsenal. There should not be anything wrong with wanting something different.
You’re a negative prick. Maybe you wanted something different to the invincibles.
OK, right.
So we’ve been crap in Europe throughout Wenger’s Reign (except that one time we were finalists in the CL — which doesn’t count otherwise you might be wrong.)
Only winning 3 knockout games other than that? 4 quarter finals and a semi (different year) kinda blows that idea out of the water. Maths is easy; start with your fingers…
Oh, and one year when we were crap enough to actually get knocked out, we made the final of the UEFA; go figure.
Oh and I know, if you look as 2000-01, we didn’t actually win a knockout game, but the last 16 was the 2nd group stage, so we had to play 6 more games just to get to the quarters (and we won 2 of them)….
Really?
There is something wrong with someone who has nothing but that to offer after a hard fought game with a decent result. Try putting away your whingeing and have a smile. It’ll do you some good.
Past performance in the knockout rounds of CL has fuck all to do with the rest of this season.
Let’s go get a trophy.
COYG
I would settle a 1 goal defeat by city gladly. And we’ve got a draw, I am so proud, feels like victory.
*Would have settled
That Podolski chance was it no? Great game, very proud of the boys. Can’t wait for the by the numbers section, Vermaelens aerial duals must be fucking immense.
Good to see us making a decent try to go after it in the end, and also good to see us coming back from a somewhat early goal. At least now we have the 4th place in our own hands even if we were to lose the early kick-off at goodsion
just realized we don’t. math was never my thing
Proud of the lads today, and Wenger’s far improved tactics were spot on. Commanding performance in the second half and for once this season sensible defending against a big team. We were unlucky to concede the jammy goal but otherwise held well at the back. Great runs forward by several players but never at the cost of defense. Finally saw a bit of energy in the game with a few darting runs and it was unfortunate for Podolski not to score after a bit of luck went our way. Nonetheless didn’t think we’d even get a single point from this… Read more »
Not sure the tactics were much different, at least I hope Wenger didn’t say to play tentative two or three touch football in the other games before telling us to play it quicker this match!
Unlucky lads. Proud of them. Let’s push on and see where we end up. Play like that and we won’t lose many.
Was that so hard? Was it so hard to actually turn up for a game?! You see, we almost won it. What was missing in the last 10-15 games was there and we took them on. Apart from the first 15 minutes, I felt that we had the game completely under control. Let’s push through this season and sort everything out BEFORE the next one starts. We have momentum since the team is improving (skill and maturity-wise). BTW, Blogs you’re 5 mins and 36 seconds late.
If that chambo overhead kick had gone i would have murdered some cunts out of pure joy.
Great point against Arab Money. Back on track with the injured lads back soon. Everything’s coming up Millhouse!
“with the injured lads back soon”? yeah next season maybe 😉 but then there are 5 others injured probably, sigh!!!
also: last seasons Cazorla was back and it was glorious
Flamini is a fucking beast!
Pleased with that, the second half was probably the best bit of sustained football we’ve played in ages.
Beat Everton next week and we have a relatively easy run in where maximum points are easily attainable. Oh a FA Cup as well!
And that’s all we ask for y’know. A bit of fuckin pride.
Gibbs was immense today , but this season has left me wondering what if , what if our squad stayed fit , what if we got that striker. to be close to the top with nearly 6 players out the whole season just shows how good we are. The title race aint over till its over , The teams above us will drop points against smaller teams its all about us beating smaller teams and seeing whether or not they actually drop enough points . COYG!!!
Very proud of the boys today! Great heart shown by everyone of them. I thought Cazorla had a disappointing first 45, but bossed the midfield in the 2nd. Maybe not a win, but defenitely the performance we were all hoping for! Like I said before the Chelsea game, the title is far from decided. After Everton we have the easiest run in, heads up boys who knows how it will turn out!!
Shit boring game… At least we didn’t lose… We huffed and puffed in the second half – but where was the quality?… Depressing to see Sanogo come on when we were desperate for a goal… At least we are consistent against the big sides: get beaten away, but draw at home…
I can’t wait to do this all again next season when Wenger gets his nice new contract.
I’ll tell you what’s boring, your trolling mate.
Ohh Fat Gooner, you never fail to be utterly predictable.
@ Fatgooner: You may strategically place your wonderful lips upon my posterior and kiss it repeatedly. Now piss off!
Dont think anybody will complain if you leave mate, if ever there was a negative influence around here your it
Well, fat gooner, you got your attention for the day. Happy?
Out of all that, all I can agree with is that at least you don’t see Liverpool and the Neighbours as big sides. There is hope left.
Consider this, next season, if we draw at home to the three other best teams in the league and lose away, and if we win all the other games we would still end the season on 102 points. The league is about 38 games, not 6. Now go away Fatgooner.
Hopefully we can beat Everton and then by the time West Ham comes around the injured lads will start to filter in and help us finish strong.
And that means we’ll finish fourth again! Cor! Wow!
What did everyone think of True Detective? Decent show eh?
according to you at the beginning of the season we weren’t even going to compete for that.
dont worry all this tart passing their time complaining always move the goalpost like that they can continue to moan
Think we could have just one it..dont think we,ll loose another game now good performance in the second half
Saw flamini ask the verm to go back sometime after our goaal, just as the verm back bombing forward. Loved it. U r awesome flame.
Oh yeah….that Sagna bloke too. Well played my friend.
Sigh.. That was a relief after couple of poor performances. Though still thinking poldi should have hammered it in.
The belief should be back after that. We bossed the Middle East Oil Baron’s Select XI (Man city you say? Mwwwhahahahahah I don’t think they are somehow. They are just part of a billionaire’s dick measuring contest).
Real team. Ral pride. Now get behind the manager and the team.
Is it highly unlikely we will win the title at this point? Yes, but the people saying we can only hope for third piss me off beyond belief. Until its mathematically impossible for us to win the title I will be daring to dream right until the end.
Im sorry but i just feel disappointed. Not gutted like i would be if we lost but just disappointed because no matter how good a result the draw was for us today…we pretty much needed to win after the Swansea game. It also means we have only beaten liverpool out of the top 6 so far. I expected nothing less than straight wins until the finish. If we don’t beat Everton, well then it’s time to start facing Thursday nights. Well done to the lads at least tonight for soldiering through and not allowing themselves to get pussywhipped. Liverpool for… Read more »
Everton still have to face southampton, Manure and City, I wouldn’t be so sure that they’ll win all the games like people seem to be presuming
We just stood toe to toe with probably the strongest team in the league right now, a team with bottomless pockets and a squad the size of the mothership from Independence Day, just be proud of them of gods sake.
Especially be proud of them after the week we’ve just had.
Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham.
Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal.
(Oh, and Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham FA Cup.)
Tottenham are sixth.
Giroud sex face after every failed attempt is wearing thin now. Decent point after a better display. At least we showed a bit more fight. Let’s see what the game against Everton brings before we get to excited about a home draw though.
Bit of off topic news. We seemed to have signed Josip Drmic from Nurnberg. One of top scorers in bundesliga for one the weakest teams.Really exciting player, perhaps not a big name just now. Watched a little bit of him this year and he’ll add a much needed alternative up front, really good signing. Acting early it seems. Exciting signing.
Good performance today as well. King Flamini.
source?
Now why can’t Wenger recieve a bit of credit for this hard fought performance just as he recieved criticism for the last week? It works both ways. Btw Jose is a specialist in failure. Two seasons with the richest clubs in England and Spain trophyless? Failure.
Exactly. If Arsenal had lost 0-1 to Palace today, Wenger would have been crucified in the press. Same old Arsenal, blah, blah, blah. Mourinho? They’ll cream over his provocative questions about the title being lost already. This despite the fact they’ve dropped 3 points to both Aston Villa and Crystal Palace in their last two away games.
If we have pace next season we will be unstoppable.
Very good result, If only we had won that fucking swansea game. Got to give it to Flamini, the guy is one of the least talented players i’ve ever seen but his heart and passion is 2nd to none. Literally drove the entire team foward. I was sitting watching the game wandering when he was going to stop but he never did Much improved performance, guys were scrapping and fighting for the 2nd balls. This is what the fans wont to see. Cant help but be irritated by Wenger. Matched Man City today without any pace or power. Ramsey and… Read more »
I still find Giroud was nowhere near the quality required for this football club, but good point, Arteta and Flam were very good
I reckon Wenger thought he would be better but he seems to have plateaued. It doesn’t help that he’s clearly knackered and a lot of the times stuck on his own out there.
It’s fine when we have players making the runs from midfield, he’s easily good enough for Arsenal but not having any backup, or even something a little different (except a 20 year old with very little experience) is a mistake but we’ve seen what happens when you try to scrimp and not get THE guy that you want so I have some sympathy.
Ok, so I missed this game, but is it bad that my first thought after reading the match report is “why didn’t you just do that against Chelsea you cunts?!”
I’m like delighted and exasperated all at once…
Wasn’t expecting anything from this, but the draw felt like a win for us. Keep working hard boys, we shall all smile at the end of the season
We totally deserved to win this game, we outplayed city, so proud of the lads in red and white!Keep the faith!Coyg!