Arsenal draw is a start to City’s ‘week of death’

Manchester City ended the first part of their ‘week of death’ probably about par.

After all, a point away to Arsenal, expected to be one of your nearest rivals for the Premier League title, is no bad result, especially given City’s woeful record down the years.

Yet City will come away from The Emirates with more than a sense of frustration at how matters played out. They came into the game on the back of a surprise defeat at home to Stoke followed by a seemingly interminable international break (was it really only one weekend?!) with more than an eye on a visit to Bayern Munich and entertaining Chelsea looming large on the horizon.

The enormity of the week ahead may have played a little into Manuel Pellegrini’s thinking, certainly so in his team selection. There was a surprise debut handed to Frank Lampard, whilst there were starts for Jesus Navas and James Milner.

Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko were on the bench, while Yaya Toure nowhere to be seen.

City certainly started the brighter of the two sides, banishing any suggestion of a Community Shield hangover, and deservedly took the lead through Sergio Aguero, his metronomic precision in front of goal evident once again. Rarely does Aguero spurn opportunities.

The second half though saw Arsenal find a way back into the game and they struck twice to provide hope of an all-too-rare win over a top four side. With time running down though an ever rarer occurrence – a City goal from a corner – hauled them back into the game to earn a point.

The frustration on the part of Pellegrini was more directed at the match officials, Mark Clattenburg in particular. Pellegrini clearly hasn’t forgotten his display in the Liverpool game last season, immediately referencing it in the post-match press conference on one of the rare occasions where a trace of emotion is detected with him, saying: ‘We have very difficult decisions, today was unbelievable.

‘Clattenburg had a very bad day today. Both goals by Arsenal were very clear fouls, the first one, two or three continuous fouls and the second one Welbeck on Vincent Kompany.

‘Wilshere had two hands in front of the linesman and it is a clear penalty, so in that case I must be very happy with the draw.’

Interestingly – and perhaps not unsurprisingly – Arsene Wenger took the contrarian view to that of Pellegrini by lamenting City’s persisting fouling.

I wrote after the Stoke defeat that whilst by no means terminal, defeat had reduced the margin for error City has down the line. In isolation, a point at Arsenal is a not something to be scoffed at.

With Chelsea maintaining their 100% record later in the afternoon, City go in to the game with a five-point deficit, one that defeat would further widen and would not be insignificant even at this early stage.

It may not be the end of Pellegrini’s frustration.

Source: Metro UK