Man City Vs Arsenal | Premiership 02/02/08

[RosickyRox!!]

I know i m going waaayyyyyyyy off topic but is it just me or does Eduardo remind u of Wilmer Valderrama who played Fez in "that 70's show" u know the one with Ashton Kutcher...

[niko197]

we called him fez 4 years ago......WHERE IS MY CANDY YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!!

[Zoki]

I know i m going waaayyyyyyyy off topic but is it just me or does Eduardo remind u of Wilmer Valderrama who played Fez in "that 70's show" u know the one with Ashton Kutcher...

he does remind me of fez

[arseman]

At some points in the second half one would have been forgiven for thinking that we were 10-0 up against a conference side, the sloppiness in our attacking play was unbelievable, thankfully we didn't get punished thanks to one Mr ADEBAYOR!!!

[rodney]

That was a bloody nerve racking game today. City never really came close to scoring, but I always had that feeling that all it would take was a mistake, or a lucky goal and we would blow a 2-0 lead and three points out of the window. This was a massive game, as I have feeling that one of the other three title contenders will slip up today and I didn't want us to slip up on a day we could gain an advantage on one of the other two. It was a game when we needed another big performance from Ade and he delivered.

We began the game very comfortably and was controlling the possession it was at one stage 71% in our favour and for an away team that is a huge amount. I watched both of City's previous home games against the big four and in both games they stuck nearly everyone behind the ball and didn't show enough going forward. I expected a similar performance today and bar a few odd moments it was as I expected. For all our possession we only had a weak shot from Diaby to show for it. We got our noses in front though after a lovely through ball from Hleb to Sagna who was making a typical surging run down the right hand side, he cut inside Michael Ball and played the ball across where Ade poked home via a deflection from Micah Richards. A deserved lead and I was hoping that would force City out and we could hit them on the counter attack.

The game continued very much in the same vein, with us dominating the play and all City could manage was a shot from distance from Elano that Lehmann comfortably dealt with. We needed a second and we got it after more good work from our full back on the other side in Gael Clichy. He provided a good ball in and Ade leapt highest to nod the ball back across for Eduardo to control on his chest and fire superbly home to put us 2-0 up. A wonderful finish from Eduardo, question marks over offside, but definitely not imo and we were in charge with a well deserved lead.

However, we let City back into the game with some very poor defending from Gael Clichy. It is something we've done too many times this season, over elaborating in clearing the ball from danger. Corluka stole the ball from Clichy and put the ball on a plate for Fernandes to put City back into the game, which they definitely didn't deserve. We came close to restoring our two goal lead with a header from Ade, but Joe Hart made a good save. We'd made things far more difficult than they needed to be by conceding a poor goal, but I was still confident we would come out and have enough to kill the game off.

We changed the formation at the start of the second half moving Diaby into the centre and Eddy onto the left of midfield. I don't like it when we do this, as we always end up seeing Ade isolated up front on his own. Diaby had an awful first half on the left hand side and didn't do much better in the centre. Cesc is given more freedom to go forward when we play 4-5-1 and he nearly put us clear with a half volley from just outside of the area which he sent well over and probably should have done a lot better with. We needed that third goal to kill City off and were putting more and more pressure onto City.

I was very impressed with Senderos and Gallas today. Both made vital tackles in particular Gallas who was superb today and his leadership qualities have been vital this season, we will need more big games from him if we're to end the season as champions. Vassel nearly got through after Diaby gave the ball away very poorly in the middle of the park, but Lehmann came out and cleared. It was a sign that all City needed was one chance and that would be our lead gone and we were looking edgy for periods after that.

Cesc had another very good chance. The ball fell to him about 30 yards out and he struck it on the half volley and sent it just wide. That would definitely have ended the game and we need more of them to go in from Cesc as the season goes on. We had a couple of chances on the break to kill them off, but were lacking the killer ball to end the game. Eduardo twice should have done better and only last ditch defending stopped us from killing City off. We broke away again and Elano hacked Ade down, but the referee played a great advantage. Cesc and Hleb exchanged passes and the ball broke loose into the area and who had made up the ground to fire home... the man that never missses Adebayor.

A superb goal from the big man and sum up a superb performance. Two goals, a superb assist and he worked his nuts off up front on his own in the second half. He now has 18 goals in the EPL and 21 goals in all competitions can he beat Thierry's best of 30 EPL goals? At the moment I wouldn't put it past him he has been superb lately and is keeping us in the title race. I have to praise Bacary Sagna who had a magnificent game on the right hand side. Many right backs have had trouble against Martin Petrov, but a combination of superb storming runs and excellent defending kept Petrov quiet all game.

A great result and see's us go three points clear at the top of the table.

[Trina]

Great report rodney. I didn't see the game as I got rid of Sky and have Virgin with Setanta now

Top of the league by 2 points as both Man U and Chelsea drew. Great stuff

Do you want to post it in the Match Report section as I don't think we have one for it?

[Yorkyblue]

Man City haven't lost a game at home this season

Sorry sis but Spurs have beat us at home this season. They beat you to it.

[rodney]

Great report rodney. I didn't see the game as I got rid of Sky and have Virgin with Setanta now

Top of the league by 2 points as both Man U and Chelsea drew. Great stuff

Do you want to post it in the Match Report section as I don't think we have one for it?

I'll post it in there now

Man City haven't lost a game at home this season

Sorry sis but Spurs have beat us at home this season. They beat you to it.

Which says how shit you really are to lose to that scum

We handed you your first league defeat anyway

[Yorkyblue]

Great report rodney. I didn't see the game as I got rid of Sky and have Virgin with Setanta now

Top of the league by 2 points as both Man U and Chelsea drew. Great stuff

Do you want to post it in the Match Report section as I don't think we have one for it?

I'll post it in there now

Man City haven't lost a game at home this season

Sorry sis but Spurs have beat us at home this season. They beat you to it.

Which says how shit you really are to lose to that scum

Yeah but we can take defeat and arn't up our own arses about how you should win because you are Arsenak.

PS You calling yourself shit? They scored 4 past you.

[CLS]

very nervous in the last 20 mins thought city were going to get one ,but ade came good again ,ive been a knocker of him in the past but i have to say he is really playing some good stuff and i hope he beats ronaldo to top scorer

great day for arsenal im sat here drinking moet as we speak

[Gunflash]

I said earlier in the season that we couldn't win the league with Adebayor as our main striker because I felt he misses too many easy chances. But he's in an unbelievable goalscoring streak now and I may have to change my prognosis! We're not fans of Drogba here but Adebayor is doing for us what Drogba did for Chelsea last season, keeping us afloat with goals, leading the line and scoring headers, volleys, tap-ins and screamers. He's becoming the complete striker, free from the encumberance of Henry, perhaps? It was a good time to play Man City. Despite their unbeaten home record before the game, they look like they've run out of steam. Eduardo's goal was a nifty effort from a striker with great awareness in the penalty area. We're two points clear now which is good because every pundit has presented Man Utd with the trophy already. Let's make sure we fight them all the way. They were lucky against Spurs but they've already lost three league matches to our one. So, as good as they're playing, they are clearly not invincible.

[Yorkyblue]

Despite their unbeaten home record before the game, they look like they've run out of steam.

Once again that isn't true. Spurs have beat us at home this season. We're missing Michael Johnson, that's when it went downhill. We've looked very average since he got injured.

[whee]

I think he means in the League Jon, Spurs did you in the League Cup didn't they?

Your lot have been a credit to themselves this season, and I meant that genuinely.

SGE bought in 2 exceptional players in Elano and Petrov, who give you a dimension you've not had since Kinkladze became decrepid. He also added a couple of others all over the place who've slotted in well.

You've got the best young centre back in the league, I don't care about Carra, Terry, King, Dawson or Woodgate, Micah Richards is a different breed.

I just hope your season doesn't fizzle out, you'll still pick more points up, and a top 6 finish isn't out of reach.

I think when you look back on this season, at the end, you'll appreciate what a good job Sven's done at the club.

[Yorkyblue]

I think he means in the League Jon, Spurs did you in the League Cup didn't they?

Your lot have been a credit to themselves this season, and I meant that genuinely.

SGE bought in 2 exceptional players in Elano and Petrov, who give you a dimension you've not had since Kinkladze became decrepid. He also added a couple of others all over the place who've slotted in well.

You've got the best young centre back in the league, I don't care about Carra, Terry, King, Dawson or Woodgate, Micah Richards is a different breed.

I just hope your season doesn't fizzle out, you'll still pick more points up, and a top 6 finish isn't out of reach.

I think when you look back on this season, at the end, you'll appreciate what a good job Sven's done at the club.

Good post mate. Sven has done an awsome job and I'm so proud of him. we are still missign a striker though, there is no end product.

[SE13]

Dear Supporter,

Overall, we controlled Saturday's game and scored some very good goals.

It's true that we lost a fraction of concentration after our second goal and Manchester City came back to 2-1. From then on it was a case of not making a mistake at the back and trying as quickly as possible to get the third goal.

Man City waited until the last 15 minutes to bring their strikers on but then the game opened up and we got the third goal and overall, I think it was a deserved win.

Emmanuel Adebayor scored two more goals and, I must say, I’m glad in every match that he stayed at home with us after Togo failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations.

I have been asked whether I would swap Adebayor for Ronaldo right now but I don't consider issues like that. I have a lot of respect for Ronaldo but I am happy with the players I have.

Anyway, they are different types of players. I believe that Ronaldo is more of a winger type and Adebayor is a real centre forward. He has made a big improvement this season and has been remarkably consistent. He scored twice and had a big impact on two very good Man City centre backs on Saturday.

How has Adebayor improved? His movement off the ball, his finishing, his calmness are all better. Perhaps when he first came to us he was not really composed in front of goal. Now he looks really composed. He has great stamina plus great strength and power. He just loves to play.

When you have been in the job a long time you don't set limits on players like Adebayor. Human beings can always surprise you and you accept that. His form is linked with his mental state and he is happy.

Above all there is a great understanding in the team. That makes people more comfortable and confident and that is where you see the best of the team.

Thanks for your support.