Nightmare in Manchester Part Deux

After the heartbreaking loss to United at Old Trafford Arsenal had the pleasure of making a return trip to Manchester to take on City.  City is a funny team.  A few years ago they were nothing, caught up in a Thai owner scandal (literally their prior owner was the former PM of Thailand and was arrested upon returning home), City managed to entertain some people (myself included) and brought somewhat disgraced manager Sven Goran Erickson (ex England coach) to the team.  Despite marked improvement, Erickson was fired and City was put up for sale.  And then City struck gold, or should I say oil?  Purchased by obscenely wealthy Arab Sheikhs (more money than they know what to do with) City found themselves overnight the wealthiest club in the world.  In two seasons the owners have spent over 250 million pounds on new players.  Think of that number, 250 million pounds! THAT IS ABSURD!  Not 250 on contracts, rather 250 million pounds to have the right to a players contract.  Most city players are making well over 100,000 pounds a week!  They have a star studded dream team because they throw money around like it is nothing making the Yankees look cheap. 


Almost every commentator has predicted Manchester City will take Arsenal’s place amongst the English “big four” (United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal).  Personally I think this is garbage and although City could crack the top 4, Arsenal is winning everything!  That being said, Saturday’s match was massive and the result even more crushing. 

Arsenal 2-Manchester City 4
While the score line may tell one story, watching the game tells a completely other one.  Just as they did against United, Arsenal blew a match they should have won due to a combination of terrible luck and some impressive goalkeeping by Shay Given.  Although the first half did not have much to it another freakish own goal was our undoing.  As Arsenal controlled the first half and looked good value for a lead, disaster struck once more.  A free kick lofted into the area saw Micah Richards strike a floating header towards the back post.  Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia scrambled back to his far post and managed to get a hand on the ball.  Unfortunately, he tipped the ball against the post only for the cruelest of bounces to take the ball back against Almunia’s head and into the goal, 1-0 to City.  At this point I was hungover and angry (game kicked off at 7am PST).  Another important match and another freakish own goal, little did I know my morning was about to get much worse.

The second half began with a flurry and some persistent Arsenal work saw Van Persie take an impressive equalizer.  Van Persie has arguably the best left foot in Europe but what made this goal even more impressive was that he was outside of the area and managed to beat Given with his right foot!  I fooled myself into thinking all would be ok and had a smile on my face and sat down for an eventful final 30 minutes. 

Adebayor, who up until this point hadn’t done much of anything, brought the match to a boiling point when he literally kicked Van Persie in the face after a challenge from my favorite Dutchman.  Adebayor escaped a card and afterwards the ref admitted that had he seen the fowl Adebayor would have been red carded.  Nevertheless, Arsenal continued to pour forward and Given denied Arsenal time and again.  And what happens whenever Arsenal dominate a game? You guessed it, City score on a counterattack, with in all fairness was a really well taken goal from everyone’s favorite Welshman Craig Bellamy, 2-1 City.  Another weekend, another goal down, and another object thrown across my room.  What made all of this worse was my throbbing headache and these stupid pigeons that want to hang out on my balcony (I hate pigeons, rats with wings).  They won’t shut up and make everything worse.  I literally run out on the balcony and try to scare them off every day. 

Back to the game, down a goal Arsenal pour forward again.  Thinking to myself ok we can salvage a draw on the road and that wouldn’t be so bad was a mistake.  Right when it seemed that Arsenal would equalize (and it really did, Given was a bad ass and I give him props for some inspired goalkeeping) Adebayor hit us with a sucker punch on the counter.  To make matters worse, the (insert profanity here) ran a clear 70 yards to the other end of the field to celebrate in front of the Arsenal away supporters.  This is when craziness broke out and Arsenal fans nearly rioted.  One supporter ripped his chair off and threw it at the African.  Bottles, beer, food, anything and everything was throw onto the pitch and unfortunately a City security official was knocked unconscious.  Now I don’t necessarily condone this kind of behavior from our supporters but Adebayor’s actions were absurd.  He clearly provoked the crowd and the FA has charged him on 2 counts of violent and improper conduct (whoo 10 match ban to come!!). 

Despite being down 3-1 Arsenal continued to attack and (until I can think of an appropriate name to give Adebayor who takes the mantle as my most hated footballer, please leave comments giving suggestions) Ade managed to knock a goal bound effort off of the line.  Van Persie followed by hitting the post and Shawn-Wright Phillips added a 4^th for City on the counter again.  I don’t understand how everything went so wrong in a matter of minutes.  I am still dumbfounded by the events at the Eastlands.

The only plus I can think of from this game was the return of Thomas Rosicky.  The Czech international had been out of football for 18 months and it was feared his career was over.  He came on in the second half and grabbed a late consolation goal for Arsenal, 2-4 final. 

Parting thoughts, I used to have a soft spot in my heart for City.  It had to be hard playing in the shadow of that other team from Manchester.  Who can forget their promotion run culminating in Paul Dickov’s wonder goal?  Not to mention they are supported by Noel and Liam Gallagher.  Nevertheless, despite any past affections I may have had for the Citizens, Manchester City is now on my shit list.  As far as I am concerned they are nearing Tottenham status in my eyes and I can’t wait to see them get what’s coming their way! 

Champions League tomorrow, we go to Belgium to take on Standard Liege.  Should be a straightforward encounter although Van Persie, Almunia, Arshavin, Denilson, Nasi, and Djourou are all out injured.  Eduardo had his diving ban lifted so he should partner Bendtner up front and I don’t see Arsenal encountering any real resistance. 

Until next time, Cheers!