Silva goal wins game as Arsenal lose to league leaders

Arsenal lost their first game in the league for over two months on Sunday afternoon as league leaders Manchester City grabbed a 1-0 victory thanks to a second half goal from David Silva. The game was fantastic to watch for the neutral as both sides attacked each other and Arsenal even had a goal ruled out for offside, and a strong claim for a penalty turned down. However it was Manchester City who managed to bounce back from their defeat against Chelsea the week before to take all three points. Arsenal were unchanged for the visit to the Etihad as once again all recognised full backs were out of the game with injuries so Vermaelen continued at left back. However the Gunners did suffer another defensive setback as Djourou limped off (expected to be out for 3 weeks) and was replaced by Ignasi Miquel. Ex-Arsenal players Kolo Toure and Samir Nasri started for City.

Samir Nasri was playing for Mancheser City against the club he left in the summer

The first chance of the game came to Manchester City as Zabaleta was played down the left hand side, before playing the ball into the middle into the path of Aguero who one on one with Szczesny put his shot over the bar when he should have at least hit the target.

Arsenal's first chance fell to Gervinho as Song played him in but the Ivorian's shot was straight at Hart who saved rather unconvincingly but still managed to put the ball out for a corner. From the resulting corner the ball was layed all the way back to Ramsey on the edge of the box who struck a curling effort which Hart had to get down well to keep the score level. 

City then were gifted a great chance to take the lead but Szczesny saved brilliantly to stop them. Richards cross looped up off Koscielny's head straight to Balotelli who brought the ball down between Djourou and Mertesacker before turning and firing an effort which was kept out. 

The hosts then managed to create another chance as Aguero played a one-two on the edge of the box with Silva before cutting inside and hitting a shot which Szczesny was forced into making another save from. 

The score at half time was 0-0.

Seven minutes into the second half Man City took the lead. Nasri played the ball out wide to Balotelli who cut inside and hit a shot which was too hot to handle for Szczesny and then the ball broke to Silva who tapped the ball in from close range.

Arsenal responded quickly as Koscielny found Walcott who from just outside the box struck a fierce shot with the outside of his boot bringing out a brilliant save from Hart to deny Arsenal from equalising. 

The Gunners then had a goal disallowed as Ramsey fed Van Persie who dinked the ball over Hart and into the back of the net, however the linesman judged the Arsenal captain to be offside when he looked to have been on. 

It was end to end football and City then came within inches of doubling their lead as the ball came out to Aguero who hit a shot with his left foot which curled just inches wide of the far post. 

Arsenal were playing with confidence and Van Persie had a decent chance to equalise. Gervinho beat his man before cutting the ball back to Van Persie who struck a shot which was saved easily by Hart.

The Gunners were then saved by the post as Koscielny gave the ball away to Zabaleta who then broke forward and smashed a shot which hit the post and bounced back out. 

Vermaelen then had two shots which troubled Hart and almost found the net. The first came from a free kick as Arteta layed the ball off to the Belgian on the edge of the area before striking a powerful effort which Hart saved well. The second was also struck from outside the box as he looked to curl a shot from distance but went just wide. 

The final score finished Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal. 

The teams lineups:

Manchester City: Hart, Richards, Kolo Toure, Kompany, Zabaleta, Yaya Toure(86), Barry, Nasri(86), Aguero, Balotelli(73).
Subs: Pantilimon, Lescott, Savic, De Jong(86), Milner(73), Johnson, Dzeko(86).

Arsenal: Szczesny, Djourou(47), Mertesacker(82), Koscielny, Vermaelen, Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Walcott(69), Gervinho, Van Persie.
Subs: Almunia, Miquel(47), Frimpong, Rosicky, Benayoun, Arshavin(69), Chamakh(82).   

My man of the match: Thomas Vermaelen 

Referee: Phil Dowd
Attendance: 47,303