Manchester City 0-2 Arsenal: impeccable

Introduction

Looking back at our comprehensive 2-0 win at the Etihad, I'm starting to question how we could have undergone such a complete transformation in the space of mere seventeen days. I say "seventeen" because we've lost to Southampton 2-0 on the 1st of January. At the time I've written this, questioning the ability of the team in general and dreading our next away game. I had serious misgivings at how our campaign might go after that toothless performance and a visit to the reigning champions in just over two weeks did little to calm my nerves.

But that's football for you. It's fickle, a lot depends on chance and, though no one in their right mind would say we were lucky to beat City, it just goes to show how quickly things can change and how complete turnarounds can happen in a matter of days.

A plan with three phases

The second thing I've carried out of this game (bear with me, I'll get down to an actual review soon) was no less enlightening: we had a plan, not just for this game, but for all away games against the big teams this season.

The first part of it was our visit to Stamford Bridge at the 5th of October. We set out not to concede first and foremost and try to hurt Chelsea on the counter. Our plan went to pieces due to several factors, I suspect:

1. The team had barely entered a third month of playing together. Welbeck, Sanchez and Chambers all started (the latter at RB), while the introduction of a rather unfamiliar 4-1-4-1 with Ozil on the wing did little to help matters of gelling
2. A moment of magic from Hazard. Had the Belgian not taken three or four players out of the picture single-handedly and forced Kos to foul him, we would not have found ourselves a goal down this early. Which, in it's turn, would not have led to our frantic search for an equaliser

Nevertheless, we looked very good defensive-wise. Very compact and solid. That's why I christened the result "A dignified loss". It didn't even feel that much of a loss.

The second part of our "sit-back" plan unfolded at Anfield. Then I wrote this:

"After some consideration and a two days reflection period I've come to the conclusion this is the worst I've seen Arsenal perform this season. And when you have defeats to Borussia and Stoke to consider, well, that's saying something.

We made a disjointed and toothless Liverpool side with Sterling up top look good. Had Szczesny not been our goalkeeper that day, or had he just been as out of form as the rest of the team, Liverpool would have won the game. They had 27 shots, 10 on target and enjoyed 64% of possession. We only pulled off three shots on target and our respective 36% possession is the worst in eleven years."

That day something went awfully bad and our defense was a leaky cauldron (Harry Potter fans anyone?), but, amazingly, we still could have won the game. We SHOULD have won the game.

Two days ago our plan was put in action once again and this time we've pulled it off impeccably.

The squad

Too little happened for an actual review, so I'd stick with discussing the interesting things only.

First of them, of course, was squad selection. Astonishingly, I guessed everyone right. Ospina continued in goal (and had so little to do, I'm starting to think we'll never find out how good he is. And I'd prefer it this way), Bellerin started at right-back with Monreal at left-back (the system is actually real), Coquelin was handed a 4th consecutive start with Ramsey alongside him, while Cazorla and Oxlade were both picked ahead of Ozil and Walcott respectively. We deployed a 4-1-4-1 yet again and this time both the system and the players implementing it worked wilke clockwork.

The stats

We saw very little of the ball - just 35% (like against Liverpool) - and only pulled off three shots on target (like against Liverpool!) - and (like against Liverpool) scored twice. The only major difference to the Anfield game was the "shots allowed" stat (4 against 10). But this particular bit resembles our encounter against Chelsea (we've only allowed 3 shots on target against the Blues, two of which happened to be goals). Meanwhile, City had only one shot on target to bolster in the entire first half, despite dominating possession and territory.

Our goals

The first one was a penalty, coolly tucked away by Cazorla. However, the build-up to the goal is of more interest. Monreal played a one-two with Giroud and burst into the box to receive the return pass, where he was unceremoniously stopped by Kompany. Mike Dean awarded us a penalty (first time he did that since a 4-0 win over Blackburn in 2010), Cazorla stepped up and made no mistake. This goal allowed us to fall back and defend with vigour, knowing we had the lead.

The second goal happened as a result of a foul on Alexis Sanchez, after the Chilean's run was stopped with a foul. Cazorla curled the free-kick into Giroud's path and the Frenchman nodded home without anyone even trying to stop him. We even could have scored a third in injury time, but Flamini failed to pull the ball back for Giroud, who was ready for a simple tap-in.

The defensive performance

We rocked. Arsenal have made a total of 108 defensive actions during the game, 25 more than anyone else this season. However, the most important thing was how we shut out City's players and thus nullified their threat. Bellerin dealt with Milner like no one's business, Monreal stopped Navas time and again, Sanchez terrorised Sabaleta all day long and Aguero was last seen during the warm-up. There were conflicting reports of either Koscielny or Mertesacker finding him in their back pocket later in the dressing room, but these reports are unconfirmed. Please let us know if you've seen Sergio, his family members are worried.

However, the stand-out defenders on the day were Coquelin and Cazorla. The Spaniard made three interceptions, 10 ball recoveries, completed 10 dribbles (out of 14) and 54 passes (out of 59). He also blocked three crosses, though I don't know how many tackles or clearances Santi has made. Oh, and let's not forget he has a goal and an assist to his name.

Coquelin, meanwhile, had two successful tackles (out of two), made 6 interceptions, 11 clearances (6 of them headed) and 10 ball recoveries. Francis also completed 33/38 passes. Frankly, he had a screamer of a game. For more stats, look here. It's my preferred source of info for these things.

The aftermath

We have (deservedly and comprehensively) beaten the reigning champions at their place. Our defensive display was the best since that against Bayern almost two years ago. We took our chances in attack. The players who needed to step and produce (Bellerin, Monreal and Coquelin) stepped up and produced. We are three points off Soton, one behind United and still in front of the likes of Spurs, West Ham and Liverpool. Moreover, if we win our next game (Aston Villa at home) and City loses to Chelsea away, we'll be a mere five points behind the Citizens. The race is on.

I'll leave it here. Oh, and one last thing. Tomorrow I'm going away and won't be back till Feb 5th, but, as of yet, I'm not sure how it will affect the frequency of my writing here. Check back here every couple of days anyway, in case something interesting pops up and I'll be able to report it.

Until later

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