If Arsene Wenger was looking for a strong response from the Arsenal, players to the question of their commitment to the cause and to prove the metal toughness that our manager loves to speak about, then he must have been dismayed by the way Arsenal started this game.
From the first whistle we looked tentative and were second best all over the pitch to Man City, who made the most of our poor start with a goal from Sane after one pass left him through on goal. And for a while it looked as though City would put us to the sword and the game to bed but fortunately for Arsenal they did not and them seemed happy to sit back.
There were not too many signs that our creative and attacking players were much threat though, apart from Alexis Sanchez giving Navas a hard time down our left flank, but five minutes before the break we got a chance and Theo Walcott showed good strength and desire in the box to beat the defenders and fire us level.
That should have given the team the lift they so badly needed but instead we played like puddings and let City score an easy second just minutes later, leaving Arsene Wenger’s halftime talk harder than ever. THe Gunners did come out fighting, though, and 10 minutes after the restart Mustafi headed an Ozil corner in to equalise again.
Arsenal had to bring Ganriel on for Koscielny at the break and that did not help but chances for both teams came and went as the game wore on and anyone could have won it but when I saw no Gunners in the box trying to get on Ozil’s 90th minute free kick it seemed clear it would not be us.
No signs of improvement there and the point does little good.
Bob.