Arsenal 2 City 1

The result didn’t tell the full story however with City dominating long periods of the play, especially in an all action first half.

Kevin Keegan had promised to have a go at Arsenal and his team selection gave every indication that he would stick to his word. For the fourth game in a row the team remained unchanged, the temptation to strengthen the midfield dismissed on the strength of the attacking option.

City went at Arsenal from the off and it was they who crafted the first opportunity, Ali Bernabia almost catching David Seaman unaware with a cross shot from a short corner that rattled the bar. City dominated the play for long periods and had the majority of the possession but were unable to find the killer ball often enough.

On 26 minutes Arsenal managed to raise their game and it was Dennis Bergkamp who found a way through the City defence, his slide rule pass finding Wiltord who placed his fifth goal of the season beyond Schmeichel in the City goal.

Anyone who expected City to fold was mistaken, within 2 minutes the blues were level. City captain Ali Bernabia found himself with space to cross on the right, the cross evaded the Arsenal defence but found the impressive Anelka who headed past Seaman to silence the Gunners boo boys with his third of the season.

City’s equaliser raised the tempo of the game with both sides trading counter attacks without creating any clear cut chances. All that changed on 42 minutes when a slick passing move found Henry free on the edge of the City box. The Frenchman rarely misses such opportunities and unfortunately for City he didn’t on this occasion, finishing neatly giving Arsenal a half time lead.

The second half failed to live up to the spectacle that was the first, Arsenal having a goal wrongly ruled out for offside and City forcing a save from Seaman through Nicolas Anelka’s individual effort.

City found themselves down to 10 men for the final 10 minutes when Bernabia upset the linesman and was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for foul and abusive language. The decision clearly enraged Kevin Keegan with the City boss accusing the linesman of bias in his decisions. KK will face an FA charge for his outburst but you could sympathise with him after losing his captain in what was far from a dirty game. Should common sense have prevailed? I’m afraid those two words don’t exist with referees and their assistants these days.

All in all City came away with a lot more credit than they did on there last visit to Highbury, a 5-0 thrashing two years ago. Not many teams will go there and have a go and only lose 2-1. The fact remains though that City have failed to get a point away from home this season and have only 6 points from 15. Given that defeats at Arsenal and Leeds could have been expected, they are perhaps 3 points behind what they would have liked at this stage of the season. That is not reason to panic at this early stage as points will come away from home but 3 points on Sunday is vital to keep the confidence high and the bandwagon rolling.

Get your Premiership Predictions in for this week.