Match from the Past: When Manchester City Gunned Down The Gunners
Today at 12:30 PM
Blues March Past Arsenal on the Way to Premier League Glory
After a dismal defence of their first Premier League title, Manchester City had installed a new manager and a new attitude at the Etihad Stadium. In came Manuel Pellegrini and City started scoring for fun.
By the time Arsenal arrived on 14th December 2013, City had recently hammered Norwich City 7-0, CSKA Moscow 5-2 in the Champions League, Spurs 6-0 and came back from 2-0 down at Bayern Munich to win 3-2.
But, for all City's goalscoring prowess, they'd scored 41 before Arsenal arrived, the Blues still sat six points behind the Gunners, who were top of the Premier League table. Conceding just seven goals in 15 matches, Arsenal had the best defence in the league, but they now faced the most potent attacking force. It wasn't a battle to decide the destination of the Premier League title, however, it was a straight fight between attack and defence. And, the Blues attack won it at a canter.
Sergio Aguero had already bagged himself 18 goals so far and when Samir Nasri's corner was flicked on by Demichellis at the near post, the Argentine lost his man perfectly to volley home on 14 minutes.
The goal rocked Arsenal, who had bee resolute in defence up to that point, but ultimately, couldn't match City's firepower for the whole match.
Just after the half hour mark, Arsenal drew level thanks to a deflected goal from Theo Walcott. Yaya Toure was robbed of possession in his own half and Arsenal charged forward. Ozil teed up Walcott and his side footed strike caught the defender and outfoxed Costel Pantilimon in the City goal.
Not to be deterred, City continued to press and re-took the lead eight minutes later. Toure's ball out to the right found Pablo Zabaleta, who produced an inch-perfect cross for Negredo to guide home and make it 2-1 to City.
A delicately poised first half would turn into a goal-fest in the second as City ran riot and Arsenal simply had no answer.
An error is the Arsenal defence allowed Fernandinho to collect the ball deep inside the Arsenal half. The Brazilian charged forward and curled his shot around the keeper and into the back of the net to score his first goal for Manchester City five minutes after the restarts.
The Gunners tried to make a fightback and when Walcott scored his second, it gave the visiting supporters hope. Ramsey found Walcott just inside the City area and his lofted shot found its way into the corner of the goal in the 63rd minute.
If the visiting Arsenal fans thought this was the start of a comeback, they were gravely mistaken.
Three minutes later, Jesus Navas played the ball into the penalty area and David Silva made it 4-2 with a one-touch finish that flew past the keeper. The Spanish magician was unmarked inside the box and Arsenal reacted far too slowly to prevent him from scoring.
The following twenty minutes yielded no further goals, but a glut of strikes in eight minutes left both sets of supporters wondering what the hell just happened.
First, City robbed the Arsenal defence and Nasri set up Fernandinho to get his second and City's fifth, before the visitors had another goal disallowed for offside. Per Mertesacker headed home four minutes into injury time.
There was still time for another and when James Milner was brought down by the keeper two minutes later, Yaya stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way as the Blues hammered the league leaders.
Final Score: Manchester City 6-3 Arsenal
