www.naijatechtrend.com Theo Walcott celebrates his opening goal against Manchester City Arsenal survived a late scare at the Emirates ...
Theo Walcott celebrates his opening goal against Manchester City
Arsenal survived a late scare at the Emirates Stadium to overcome Manchester City 2-1 and make a major statement of intent in the Premier League title race, writes Nick Wright…
In the build-up to kick-off on Monday Night Football, Sky Sports punditJamie Carragher described this as "one of the biggest Premier League games Arsenal have played in three or four years", while Arsene Wenger also stressed its significance. "The title will be won by taking points off the bigger teams," he said. "Maybe more than ever because the championship appears to be very tight."
The circumstances demanded a statement of intent, and Arsenal provided it. The victory put the Gunners four points clear of Manuel Pellegrini's side and two points behind leaders Leicester. They are now the bookmakers' favourites to win the title, and with the Foxes facing Liverpool, City and Tottenham in their next four games, it might not be long until they are top of the pile.
Arsenal have come a long way since the 2013/14 season, in which they were thrashed 6-3 by City, 5-1 by Liverpool and 6-0 by Chelsea. Their ineptitude against top opposition highlighted just how far out of contention they had fallen, but the transformation appears to be complete. In eight games against City, Chelsea and Manchester United in 2015, Wenger's men boast a record of five wins and only one defeat.
Their first half performance typified how Wenger has turned things around. The Gunners used to be known for spurning chance after chance before being picked off by more streetwise opponents, but here they were organised, patient and - when it came to it - clinical.
Just 77 seconds after Kevin de Bruyne had dragged wide, Theo Walcott cut inside and finished brilliantly from Mesut Ozil's pass. Olivier Giroud made it two with a low, angled drive through Joe Hart's legs in stoppage time. Two shots; two goals. In the Monday Night Football studio, Thierry Henry was impressed.