Emirates 0-2 Etihad: Man City win battle of UAE airlines

RESULT: Arsenal 0 Manchester City 2 (Milner 21', Dzeko 32')

Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City secured a 2-0 win at Emirates Airline-supported Arsenal to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.

In a battle of UAE-financed clubs, goals from James Milner and Edin Dzeko ensured a first league win for City at Arsenal in 38 years, but the sending off of Gunners defender Laurent Koscielny during the early stages of the clash is sure to dominate tomorrow morning’s headlines.

Although Dzeko missed the resulting penalty, City exploited their numerical superiority in ruthless fashion with goals from James Milner and Dzeko before half-time.

City had captain Vincent Kompany sent off in the closing stages, but it was too late to spark an Arsenal fightback and Mancini's men, who have won five of their last six league games, will believe they can still overturn United's seven-point lead.

In contrast, Arsenal's spluttering attempts to qualify for the Champions League look more unconvincing by the week and Arsene Wenger's side remain six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham.

City benefited from those frailties in the 10th minute when Koscielny rashly grabbed hold of Dzeko and hauled the Bosnian forward to the turf as the pair contested a high ball in the Arsenal area. Dean immediately awarded a penalty and sent off Koscielny for his rugby tackle.

It looked like advantage City but Wojciech Szczesny came to Arsenal's rescue as he deflected Dzeko's spot-kick onto a post with his legs and then clasped the ball to his body as it rebounded along the goal-line and into his arms.

But City didn't need to rue Dzeko's profligacy for long as Arsenal were caught cold by a quick free-kick from Gareth Barry in the 21st minute. David Silva took Barry's short pass and moved possession onto Carlos Tevez and, with Arsenal's defenders responding far too sluggishly, the Argentine had time and space to find Milner 10 yards from goal and the England midfielder lashed a superb strike into the far corner of Szczesny's goal.

Arsenal's defence is fragile at the best of times and, with an extra man at their disposal, City were able to pick them apart for their second goal in the 32nd minute.

Pablo Zabaleta brushed Kieran Gibbs aside to steal possession and the City defender released Milner into the space down the left. With Arsenal completely exposed, Milner whipped over a low cross and Tevez's shot was pushed out by Szczesny only as far as Dzeko and the Bosnian tapped into the empty net from close-range.

Javi Garcia almost killed off Arsenal just before half-time when his looping header was nodded off the line by Jack Wilshere.

City were content to sit on their lead for much of the second half and Dean gave Arsenal a glimmer of hope in the 75th minute when he ruled that Kompany's two-footed tackle on Wilshere was worthy of a red card. But the visitors had to survive only one scare when Joleon Lescott cleared off the line from Theo Walcott.

 

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