It was hammering with rain as we left Cambridgeshire on a dreich Sunday morning. The rain continued as we stopped for brunch (full English for me, a burger for my son) at the American diner near Newark on the A1. Suitably fuelled for a day at the football, we continued on our way, cutting across the top of the Peak District (with some stunning views) and into Manchester. Parked up 10 minutes from the away end, we made our way into the ground.
We were in the third tier at the Etihad and rather than climb all those steps I asked to use the lift as I had last year. The lift is shared with home fans and a well refreshed gaggle of City fans rushed into the lift just before the doors closed. I have mentioned before that the City fans are the lippiest on the circuit and the sight of me in my Arsenal scarf started them off. Three floors of “banter” followed, the nicest which was “you’re too old to be at football, why don’t you just stay at home and die?” Thanks for the advice lads, I’ll take it under advisement. As you get out of the lift, you enter a City concourse and are led to the away one, attracting a few aggressive looks on the way (or so my so my son told me, I was oblivious). Into the ground proper, and a long climb up to row DD which proved to be the second row from the top.
The team made a couple of changes from Thursday, Calafiori for White and Trossard for Jesus. Right from the kick off Rodri and Havertz clashed, leaving Rodri clutching his face. Cheating little fuck. The tone was set.
City made a good and fast start. After nine minutes, Servino (who I really rate, they’ve found one there) spun off Calafiori and made ground before playing Haaland in with a great ball. He adjusted his body position and toe poked it past Raya. Bugger.
It was all City in the first 20 minutes but then Rodri bumped into Partey and collapsed holding his knee. This time it was for real and he limped off to be replaced by Kovacic. One of several turning points in the game as from that point we had the better of the first half.
We won a free kick in the centre circle. Walker dawdled getting back as he shouted instructions to his team and Partey pinged it over his head to Martinelli in space. He got to the bye line cut it back to Calafiori who, from outside the area hit an absolute beauty into the top corner. Scenes. Pep was so thrilled he tried to destroy his chair 😂😂.
Arsenal won a free kick on the half way line. Doku kicked the ball away. Yellow card ? No of course not. From the free kick Saka won a corner. The tactical genius Pep put Jeremy Doku on Gabriel. Men against boys. Saka put in the perfect ball to the back post, big Gabi climbed and put the ball just over. We won another corner. This time Walker was on Gabriel. He was jabbing away at Gabi, presumably getting touch tight. To no avail. Total repeat of the previous corner. Perfect ball, Gabi climbs at the near post and scores!
Have I ever mentioned that I love it when we score from corners?
2-1 to the Arsenal. Whole atmosphere had changed and we were the better team. And then after eight minutes of injury time, Tross is sent off for kicking the ball away, just before the half time whistle. Was he stupid, was he unlucky? I’ll leave it you to discuss.
We reorganised of course at half time. Saka came off for Ben White so it was clearly “what we have, we hold”. From my spot in the Gods I had the perfect view of the 3D chess that was the second half. We formed two lines, one of six and one of three. City passing it round the semi circle of doom and hitting shots from 25 yards. Every Arsenal player heroic, blocking, tackling, hacking clear. This was the lowest of low blocks. And yes, some time wasting. A man down against the best team in the world. What other tactics were there? And we carried them out magnificently to defend that lead.
And then, just as we dared to believe, in the 98th minute, City equalised. A short corner, a shot, a deflection and it fell to Stones who scored. A gut punch. 60 seconds later came the final whistle and it finished 2-2. Yet it felt like a massive victory.
The away fans, magnificent throughout, cheered the team to the echo. Some handbags at the whistle with Haaland, who had thrown the ball at Gabriel after the equaliser, taking out Lewis-Skelly (who had been booked before coming on for his debut – that boy will go far) and Gabriel fronting up to protect the lad.
We’re in City’s head. It brings back the rivalry with Man United in the 90s. They celebrated their draw at home with wild abandon. They haven’t beaten us in four games now (2 wins, 2 draws). Rude words after from Stones and Silva about negative football. Err lads, when we had a man sent off we were winning, remember? We are living rent free. Mark my words, the rivalry and dislike is real.
The team performance was magnificent and yet again our goalkeeper was superb. They deserved the win. 10 v 11 for well over 53 minutes of the second half. It was so near to being the perfect away day.
After the most difficult two weeks of the season, away to Villa, Spurs and City we have taken 7 out of 9 points. We have lost our Captain to injury. We didn’t land until 3am Friday after an away game in Europe. City played the day before at home. After all that we are just two points behind them.
Arsenal, I salute you. You did us proud.
An excellent summary of an Arsenal performance for the ages. Their celebrations and indiscipline after their flukey equaliser and at the final whistle illustrate their recognition of our superiority with 11 men and the challenge our legally built squad represent to their continued run of illegitimately bought titles. The ultimate ironies of Haaland telling MA8 to “just stay humble!” after bouncing the ball off Gabriel’s head and challenging Lewis-Skelly to a fight (love that boy) and Stones and that snivelling little cheat Silva complaining of dark arts are high comedy. Their humbling is coming for their dark arts both on and off the pitch.
Cheers C100! Shades of RvP at Camp Nou in that sending off for me.
Great report, you’ve managed to somehow cheer me up a little after the anger/devastation of that equaliser.
Also, yes, at some point during the match I was brought back to that United rivalry too.
Excellent report C100, and I share your pride in the team over the last week. We have stood up, been counted and not found wanting.
My own thought was that Oliver like Kavanaugh chose to take that decision, there was no need and it would have been very easy to extend the same benefit of the doubt that he gave to Doku. The apologists are already trotting out their mealy mouthed justifications and no doubt Webb will be along soon to « explain » why it was the right decision. However, when I add up two and two and reach 20grand then something stinks.
Indeed Matt. Somehow I think I twice won 4 or 5 euros at the Euromillions and that sort of sum did not materialise on my account.
I cannot believe (well I can) that some people think that second yellow was logical/justified etc.
It would be so easy to see that a simple last warning in the ear of the player would have done the job.
Terrific , atmospheric report. Your experience of Manc fans is wider than mine but they are arrogant, entitled…and frightened. Just say what are you going t9 do when your trophies are taken away from you?!
I differ from many on here in that I was disappointed with Leo. It’s easily done but his impulsiveness cost us hugely. But referees have to be consistent and Oliver had previous in both favouring Citeh and sending off Arsenal players . But we put up a magnificent rearguard action . I was enormously proud. This was in the spirit of Mercer, Mclintock , Adams and Vieira .
We’ve survived an enormously difficult period very well
A heroic report to match the performance on the pitch, C100. Oh, that it had been the perfect away day!
An equaliser in the eighth minute of seven minutes of added time is another echo of Fergy days.
The hypocrisy of the City camp is beyond words. It is like a Victorian bully complaining that his victim won’t stand still to take his beating like a man.
The latest GHF Predictathon leaderboard has been posted, along with the first form guide of the season. You know where to find them…
Tremendous write-up C100. I agree totally with Ned@6 about the double standards or lack of self-awareness displayed by the opposing players and manager.
There have been a couple of articles on the Grauniad site over recent days about the Pannick Tribuneral. The first, from Friday, https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/sep/20/win-or-lose-manchester-city-case-poses-perilous-threat-to-the-premier-league seems to argue that some accomodation must be found to prevent the Permier League either becoming a laughing stock or getting tied up in tens of years of litigation. The second, from today, https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/sep/23/there-can-be-no-goldilocks-result-manchester-city-should-either-be-vindicated-or-damned argues that while the PL might find such a compromise particularly desirable, it is in fact impossible.
I commend the above couple of well-witten articles that come to slightly different comclusions. It’s good to see that, for all the general silence on the subject in the media, there are some journalists who are thinking about this subject.
Thanks Ned, I am a truly terrible predictor.
And thanks Pangloss for the links
Thanks for the links Pangloss. I will study with interest . The Grauniad have been more prepared to comment on this issue than most papers . I think this is a pivotal moment in English football . If Citeh are banished they will start their own Super League but if they win many other clubs may be tempted to start theirs .
Two good articles . I’m not convinced a Goldilocks penalty is possible . A 20 point deduction would look derisory after Everton and Forest’s punishments and it would lose Citeh the title . They wouldn’t accept that
Many thanks for the kind words.
Not sure if this is true or bollocks Time will tell.
https://x.com/espnuk/status/1838241065859461158?s=61&t=cVFjCyGkt4y-Ne45LtfqkQ
I’ve spent an enjoyable day on the internet (well I am retired)
https://x.com/scrapytweets/status/1837893419890319617?s=61&t=cVFjCyGkt4y-Ne45LtfqkQ
It appears that Rodri has a serious knee injury and could be out for the season. Citeh will no doubt demand we sell them Declan Rice
Rodri’s injury now confirmed by Ornstein
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5785327/2024/09/23/rodri-manchester-city-injury-update/
We did indeed start slowly and I thought that Calafiori appeared a little surprised by the pace of his first competitive start. He was easily spun for the 115ers first goal in a way that Timber mightn’t have been. However, he quickly moved up through the gears, scored a fantastic goal and with some superb support from Martinelli, kept the right side of our opponents attack beautifully quiet.
What a delight to see Gabriel leave the aging and addled Walker in his dust for our second goal. What was all that belly-poking about??
I thought that the ‘OK for Doku but not OK for Leo’ fiasco was disgraceful, but not surprising. A man put himself in the spotlight and in so doing, killed a game as a spectacle for millions watching worldwide. I recall Arsene being sent to the stand for a water bottle kick but Petulant Peppie went unpunished for the gross mutilation of a perfectly good seat. Go figure.
As the second half kicked off I predicted that Oliver would either gift a penalty or would play extra time until they scored. He’s nothing if not predictable.
As you say, C100, we’re only two points behind them and frankly, they’re well past their best and there for the taking by teams other than us. We, on the other hand, are in the ascendancy. Martin and Merino will be back in the nearish future, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly will get some well earned game time. And we wouldn’t be two points behind but for Kavanagh and Oliver.
Great to have a report from the ground. I was cooped up in a carriage back into the city with 115ers after we thumped them in the Community Shield last season. Unpleasant bunch with less than three brain cells between them in total in the entire carriage. Avoid whenever possible.
C100, I had meant to say earlier that the comments you relate being directed at you in the Etihad lift go beyond banter and rudeness to borderline abusiveness. Expressing such sentiments would be unacceptable in any other realm of life — and the same should be true in a football ground.
Cheers Ned – but water off a ducks back.
C100@18: CER can probably quote chapter and verse, and in the original Greek, to boot, but I recall that Plato wrote something along the lines of, the man who is calm and happy will hardly feel the pressure of age.
Ned @20.
I wasn’t calm after 97 minutes on Sunday.
Nor was I completely happy after 98!
I’ll have to look that up, Ned!
Thanks c100 for your excellent account of Arsenal’s dominant first half and steadfast second half performances adding up to overall superiority over the corrupt Blue Mancs.
Re: Pangloss @8. Thanks for the Grauniad articles. Here’s one vote for the viewpoint expressed by Sean Ingle in your second link.
C100 @21, I believe I was feeling about the same as you in those particular moments but we did give them a lot to think about for the rest of the season.
Ornstein reports that Rodri “is set to be ruled out for a significant period of time after suffering a serious knee injury in the Premier League draw with Arsenal and there are fears he may not return this season.”
Agree with all of that @16 BtM. The belly poking nonsense with Walker seems to be part of a deliberate and calibrated effort to wind up Gabriel all game. They are worried.
Another Grauniad piece on the game, some of which I even agreed with
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/sep/23/arsenal-defending-beauty-conspiracy-manchester-city-rodri
Great stuff from Clery again. A brilliant reader of a game He underlines how well we defended in the second half especially along their right flank .
On a lighter note instead of counting sheep last night I tried to work out the team for Bolton not knowing who is injured after Sunday . Neto is cup-tied.
How about this?
Setford
Timber / White ( injured?) Kiwior Calafiori Lewis- Skelly
Jorginho Oulad M’Hand
Nwaneri
Sterling. Jesus. Martinelli
Lads like Heaven, Butler- Odeyeji , Kabia will be on the bench
I don’t think Tierney is fit .
TTG@27, maybe Trossard instead of Martinelli? Martinelli was looking a bit tired by the end and Trossard is suspended for the weekend.
ECG
I think Trossard will be suspended?
Leo is suspended against Bolton and available for Leicester
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/trossard-suspension-premier-league-carabao-cup-2024-b1183572.html
@19 Brilliant summary.
The inimitable Mike McDonald
Thanks Ned. Keep these Adam Clery links coming, please. If there are any closet (or other) lefties out there, they may like to look at this article by Jonathan Liew in a certain once Manchester-based organ – https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/sep/24/footballers-fixture-congestion-strike-action Even the non left-leaners may enjoy the imagery of the first few paragraphs.
…and thanks, C100, for the Mike McDonald link.
Pangloss@33: In the unlikely event of elite footballers coming out on strike, they would probably keep warm by retreating to their Dubai condos.
It seems that Raya is the mystery injury from Sunday that Arteta refers to; knee injury.
The sick room at Colney could field this team, based on reported injuries and Trossard’s red card suspension:
Raya (knee)
White (knee) — Tomiyasu (knee) — Calafoiri (thigh) — Timber (thigh) — Tierney (thigh)
Merino (shoulder) — Zinchenko (calf/shin/heel)
Ødegaard (ankle) — Trossard (suspended)
It’s only a ten-man side, but that is how we seem to have to play these days, so no problem.
Excellent on the spot report, C100.
I’m very late getting to it as I have a batch of appointments to get to this week. Pre k er surgery.
Manchester City have become utterly detestable from top to bottom – from cheating owners to play acting, rotationally fouling players to unpleasant, arrogant fans who have short memories.
As a sports physio I never wish serious injury on a player but I’m willing to make an exception for Rodri (and Kovacic).
Re: Ned @36, I assume (?) that by mystery injury it is the same as this reported by the BBC:
Reporter: No serious injuries picked up on Sunday?
Arteta: “We have to wait. One of them.”
Against Manchester City four players [Riccardo Calafiori, David Raya, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli] went down during the game to receive physio treatment.
If so then we could be relying on an unproven keeper (to my knowledge) as our number one for an extended period.
Ned @37 – I’m not getting too worried about that injury list at this stage. Some of them are already known about and in treatment. As for the rest, I’d be surprised if anyone playing on Sunday didn’t ache from head to toe after , I believe, a total of 109 minutes of Herculean effort. I doubt many of them would be mentally ready to play again tomorrow – the concentration and discipline of that game on Sunday were phenomenal.
The arguments have all been made already but the more I think about Michael Oliver’s performance the more angry I get. After Rodri’s pathetic attempt to get Havertz sent off after 3 seconds, the aerial assault by Haaland on Saliba actually was dangerous but, of course, attracted no punishment from a referee in the employ of the home team. That is, any way you want to look at it, a conflict of interest and should not happen in this, or any other, league in a million years.
Talking of a million years, that seems to be when Haaland’s ancestors ceased to develop human characteristics.
By the way, it seems if you kick a water bottle in Manchester you get a red card and sent to the stand if you happen to be the Arsenal manager. If you are the Manchester City manager you can boot the back off your Recaro seat and walk away scot free. The strange thing about that contrast is that no-one is surprised.
bt8: Based purely on what I am reading, Raya would likely be fit for the Leicester league game next weekend, but is a doubt for tomorrow’s Carabao Cup tie against Bolton.
The third-choice first-team keeper, Tommy Setford, has played up through the England age group teams. However, Jorge Bird reports that he, too, is an injury doubt. That could mean a game for the highly regarded England U-17 keeper, 16-year-old Jack Porter, who has been with the first team for the past three games, or 18-year-old Alexei Rojas. Terra incognita.
One more thing. I read in the paper today that VAR could not step in over Haaland’s cowardly throwing the ball at the back of Gabriel’s head and running away while he wasn’t looking because Michael Oliver did not see it.
Sky Sports News banner yesterday said the FA could not punish Haaland because the VAR had looked at it and cleared it of any violent conduct.
Another pile of made up shite. But something seems to be making Manchester City untouchable. I wonder what ……
Trev@43: …er…isn’t picking up on egregious acts that the ref missed one of the things that VAR is there for?
Best wishes for the surgery.
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