Arsenal v. Man City 0-0 24/Apr/10

Hero and villain, hailing and booing.
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet Photo Gallery]


After one of the most dreadful capitulation of the last seasons, the Gunners returned to the Grove to face the Citizens in a highly anticipated match. Previous events do not need to be recounted, particularly by the Togolese in pre, in and post-match actions.

After all the hype, the match unfortunately was a dull draw which had its best moments on an injury and some occasions by the Gunners in the later minutes. This match just mathematically confirmed that the Gunners were out of the title contention way long before, probably before the Spurs game. Toure's comments on Gallas were interesting to say the least.



Shay Given out injured for the season.
[Photo: Getty Images via Guardian]


The first minutes of the match were tough for the home team, since they were unable to compete in the same physical battle as the Citizens; the Gunners overcame this disadvantage with the passing of time and by the fifteenth minute van Persie proved luck on target. The midfield, composed by Diaby and Song, was extremely opposite; were the Cameroonian was adamant in recovering every single ball, the French made a host load of mistakes, usually giving away the ball.

Mancini substituted Bridge in the 27th, who seemed to have an knock. Onwards, the panorama did not appear brighter for both sides, since the following twenty minutes were a mere exchange in possession: Nasri and van Persie generated several chances that went wide or were saved by the Irishman Given. Astonishing was the zero amount of shots on target that the Mancunian team had. Not a single shot was made by Tévez, or the attacking part of the visitors.



Theo Walcott and Pablo Zabaleta battle.
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet Photo Gallery]


If the first forty five minutes did not produce a wide range of opportunities for both teams it was in the final instants of the second half, as well as the somewhat emotive reception of Adebayor. Before that, in the 50th, Arsenal's Dutchman headed wide from a Nasri cross. Patrick Vieira was substituted by the famous Togolese in the subsequent minutes. As it was expected, the reception was not a homecoming statement, it was rather a declaration of hatred and also war. From the first touch of the striker a tremendous amount of booing from the entire 60,000 seater was heard well within.

Nasri's ambition for the win was recognised with a fierce shot ten minutes after Adebayor's entrance; Rosicky tried luck too. Even when the Citizens' attack seemed dead and buried, the afore-mentioned African striker brought a completely different dimension for his team. With two substitutions made from Wenger in the 68th the Londoners were all in for the win. Diaby tried luck also when a fierce shot was palmed away by Given; the Irishman injured himself from that intervention and was substituted.

The Gunners did not took any advantage of this premature exits they kept moving the ball sideways. Eventually by the final minutes the desperation was such, that even with eight minutes added there was no positive outcome for the Londoners. Robin van Persie nearly scored from a couple of yards outside the box, in a great freekick that went wide inches away. The match ended as the Citizens felt grateful enough for the shared point.