Arsenal vs. Manchester City

0-2, Premier League, Emirates Stadium, 2013-01-13

This game was more or less settled by a singular event ten minutes into the game. Naturally it is very upsetting to receive a red card that early in the game, especially when you feel as though a yellow would have, by far, sufficed! Anyway, we fought bravely throughout the game but ten men just weren't enough against this City side.

It was Koscielny who was shown off the pitch after ten minutes as he held onto Dzeko in the box, in my (biased) opinion it was definitely not a red card, maybe a yellow but never a red. However, Szczesny saved the penalty! And in quite some remarkable fashion it was: he saved the shot with his legs, the ball then bounced off the post to find its way into the 'keeper arms. Yet the joy of that penalty save proved to be short-lived as Milner scored for City five minutes later and Dzeko added to that lead at the half-hour mark.
   With ten minutes of the half to go Podolski had a shot at goal saved by Hart and just a minute before the break Wilshere headed the ball clear on the goal-line to deny City a third goal.

In the second half we fought bravely to get back in the game, Gibbs had a powerful shot blocked and ten minutes later Cazorla's shot went over the bar. Giroud came on in the second half and had a dangerous header over the bar.
   On the other side of the pitch Szczesny made some vital saves, mainly from a one-on-one situation with Tevez.
   With fifteen minutes left Kompany was given a red card for a dangerous tackle on Wilshere, unfortunately it appeared as though this sending off came to late for us. There was a remarkable difference in possession as we were back to the same number of players, it was unfortunate for us that we failed to capitalise on it.
   During the last couple of minutes we had two chances to score, the main one being a shot from Walcott that beat Hart but was saved right in front of the goal by Lescott. Then Giroud had a shot at goal, but it was rather comfortably saved by Hart.

Injury Update:
- Diaby made his first first-team appearance since September as he started this game.
- Arteta missed this game due to an injury and will most likely be away for 3 weeks.