Arsenal 0 - 0 Man City
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By Nabil Hassan
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 Walcott and Zabaleta battle for posession
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Manchester City moved to within one point of fourth placed Tottenham while Arsenal's mathematical chances of winning the Premier League title ended.
In a game of few chances Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri's angled shot forced Shay Given into a routine save.
Given was later stretchered off with a suspected broken shoulder that will almost certainly rule him out of the rest of Manchester City's season.
Arsenal's Robin Van Persie went close late on with his free-kick inches wide.
The first half at the Emirates was pretty much a non-event with Given making just the one meaningful - if not routine - save, while at the other end under-fire Arsenal stopper Lukasz Fabianski, who was at fault for Wigan's equaliser last weekend, was not called into action once.
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606: DEBATE
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It told the story of a poor, turgid first half, with City packing the midfield and getting men behind the ball, while Arsenal enjoyed the majority of possession but failed to break down a resilient defence that was brilliantly marshalled by former Gunners centre-half Kolo Toure.
Carlos Tevez was an isolated figure up front as City continuously pumped long balls up to the little Argentine, which Arsenal defender Sol Campbell lapped up with consummate ease. Tevez needed substitute Emmanuel Adebayor alongside him while out-wide Craig Bellamy and Adam Johnson failed to have any impact in the opening 45 minutes.
Arsenal's solitary chance came from Nasri whose angled shot from Van Persie's fine pass was comfortably kept out by Given. Earlier Nasri had been dubiously flagged offside after again latching onto Van Persie's through ball with replays suggesting he timed his run perfectly.
At the other end, Campbell's last ditch tackle prevented a marauding Patrick Viera from pulling the trigger from just inside the area.
It took City manager Roberto Mancini just six minutes of the second half before he turned to former Gunners striker Adebayor.
He came on for ex-Gunners captain Viera, who left the field to a standing ovation, while Adebayor's arrival was greeted with a chorus of boos following his altercation with Van Persie earlier in the season, as well as his infamous goal celebration in front of the Arsenal fans at the City of Manchester Stadium.
City had claims for a penalty turned down when Toure's low cross was put behind for a corner off the arm of Campbell as the visitors started to get into the game, thanks largely to the introduction of Adebayor.
But Arsenal continued to press and their best chance of the game came with 20 minutes remaining when Diaby forced a fine save from Given with his 20-yard low strike superbly tipped round the post by the Irishman.
Given hurt himself in the process with City's keeper injuring his left shoulder in making the save and play was stopped for five minutes as the former Newcastle keeper received oxygen before being stretchered off the pitch.
Gunnar Nielsen came on for his City debut as the game became stretched for the first time. But disappointingly Arsenal failed to test Nielsen with Van Persie curling a free-kick inches wide of the angle. Substitute Nicklas Bendtner later fired straight at Nielsen as Arsenal tried in vain to find a winner.
Given's injury resulted in eight minutes of injury time but by that stage City seemed content to settle for the point, keeping alive their Champions League hopes, and packed men behind the ball.
Arsenal's attempts to break them down seemed half hearted as the realisation of another trophy-less season finally hit home.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Premier League
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 0-0 | Man City | FT |
| (HT 0-0) | |||
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Arsenal
- 21 Fabianski
- 03 Sagna
- 18 Silvestre yellow card
- 22 Clichy
- 31 Campbell
- 02 Diaby yellow card
- 07 Rosicky (Eboue 68)
- 08 Nasri
- 14 Walcott (Bendtner 68)
- 17 Song Billong yellow card
- 11 Van Persie yellow card
Substitutes
Man City
- 01 Given (Nielsen 73)
- 03 Bridge (Richards 27)
- 05 Zabaleta yellow card
- 28 Toure
- 33 Kompany
- 11 A Johnson
- 18 Barry
- 24 Vieira (Adebayor 52)
- 34 De Jong
- 32 Tevez
- 39 Bellamy yellow card
Substitutes
- 37 Nielsen,
- 02 Richards,
- 04 Onuoha,
- 07 Ireland,
- 08 Wright-Phillips,
- 14 Santa Cruz,
- 25 Adebayor
- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+8:07 The match has reached full-time.
- 90:00+4:54 Bacary Sagna fouled by Craig Bellamy, the ref awards a free kick. Bacary Sagna restarts play with the free kick.
- 90:00+1:02 Robin van Persie has an effort at goal from a long way out that goes wide left.
- 89:13 Nicklas Bendtner takes a shot. Comfortable save by Gunnar Nielsen.
- 86:40 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nicklas Bendtner by Vincent Kompany. Robin van Persie crosses the ball in from the free kick, Emmanuel Adebayor makes a clearance.
- 85:59 Craig Bellamy takes a shot. Save by Lukasz Fabianski.
- 85:17 Free kick awarded for a foul by Micah Richards on Vassiriki Diaby. Samir Nasri delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Gunnar Nielsen makes a save.
- 84:33 The referee blows for offside. Lukasz Fabianski takes the free kick.
- 82:52 Robin van Persie produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
- 82:52 Booking Pablo Zabaleta is booked.
- 82:47 Pablo Zabaleta gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Emmanuel Eboue.
- 81:21 Booking The referee shows Robin van Persie a yellow card.
- 80:35 Free kick crossed left-footed by Robin van Persie, Kolo Toure manages to make a clearance.
- 80:35 Booking Craig Bellamy is shown a yellow card.
- 80:16 Unfair challenge on Robin van Persie by Craig Bellamy results in a free kick.
- 77:32 Adam Johnson fouled by Gael Clichy, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Gareth Barry.
- 69:47 Short corner taken by Robin van Persie from the right by-line.
- 69:47 Substitution (Man City) makes a substitution, with Gunnar Nielsen coming on for Shay Given.
- 69:47 Vassiriki Diaby takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save made by Shay Given.
- 67:42 Mikael Silvestre takes the direct free kick.
- 67:42 Substitution Emmanuel Eboue is brought on as a substitute for Tomas Rosicky.
- 67:42 Substitution Nicklas Bendtner joins the action as a substitute, replacing Theo Walcott.
- 67:42 Pablo Zabaleta challenges Vassiriki Diaby unfairly and gives away a free kick.
- 66:48 Free kick crossed right-footed by Craig Bellamy from left channel, clearance by Vassiriki Diaby.
- 66:48 Booking Alex Song goes into the book for dissent.
- 66:31 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nigel De Jong by Bacary Sagna.
- 60:27 Corner taken by Adam Johnson from the left by-line, Header by Micah Richards from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
- 59:48 Free kick awarded for a foul by Alex Song on Emmanuel Adebayor. Free kick crossed left-footed by Adam Johnson, clearance by Vassiriki Diaby.
- 59:00 Effort from 25 yards by Tomas Rosicky. Save made by Shay Given.
- 58:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Micah Richards on Tomas Rosicky. Direct free kick taken by Gael Clichy.
- 57:01 Emmanuel Adebayor takes a shot. Blocked by Mikael Silvestre.
- 56:39 Foul by Robin van Persie on Nigel De Jong, free kick awarded. Nigel De Jong takes the free kick.
- 54:53 Craig Bellamy concedes a free kick for a foul on Alex Song. Direct free kick taken by Mikael Silvestre.
- 50:54 Substitution Patrick Vieira goes off and Emmanuel Adebayor comes on.
- 50:54 The free kick is swung in left-footed by Adam Johnson.
- 50:54 Booking Vassiriki Diaby booked.
- 50:52 Free kick awarded for a foul by Vassiriki Diaby on Carlos Tevez.
- 49:33 Robin van Persie produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.
- 45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
- Half Time
- 45:00+2:07 The ref blows to end the first period.
- 42:46 Shot by Robin van Persie from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
- 41:03 Patrick Vieira takes the direct free kick.
- 41:03 Booking Mikael Silvestre receives a caution.
- 40:57 Mikael Silvestre gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Carlos Tevez.
- 40:08 Nigel De Jong gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Samir Nasri. Lukasz Fabianski restarts play with the free kick.
- 39:37 Samir Nasri takes a shot. Save by Shay Given.
- 39:24 The referee blows for offside against Craig Bellamy. Lukasz Fabianski takes the indirect free kick.
- 38:03 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Patrick Vieira by Vassiriki Diaby. Kolo Toure restarts play with the free kick.
- 37:03 Effort from outside the penalty box by Theo Walcott goes wide right of the target.
- 32:53 Inswinging corner taken by Robin van Persie from the right by-line, clearance made by Patrick Vieira. Samir Nasri takes a inswinging corner.
- 32:02 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Robin van Persie by Kolo Toure. Mikael Silvestre takes the free kick.
- 31:37 Vassiriki Diaby challenges Patrick Vieira unfairly and gives away a free kick. Patrick Vieira restarts play with the free kick.
- 29:20 Corner taken by Robin van Persie played to the near post, Pablo Zabaleta manages to make a clearance.
- 28:29 The assistant referee signals for offside against Samir Nasri. Shay Given takes the indirect free kick.
- 26:34 Substitution Micah Richards replaces Wayne Bridge.
- 20:34 Nigel De Jong fouled by Vassiriki Diaby, the ref awards a free kick. Patrick Vieira takes the free kick.
- 19:17 The official flags Carlos Tevez offside. Free kick taken by Alex Song.
- 19:04 Unfair challenge on Robin van Persie by Vincent Kompany results in a free kick. Bacary Sagna takes the free kick.
- 17:52 Kolo Toure concedes a free kick for a foul on Robin van Persie. Samir Nasri crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, Shay Given makes a comfortable save.
- 13:09 Vassiriki Diaby challenges Patrick Vieira unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gareth Barry restarts play with the free kick.
- 12:35 The referee blows for offside against Robin van Persie. Vincent Kompany restarts play with the free kick.
- 9:54 Robin van Persie concedes a free kick for a foul on Pablo Zabaleta. Shay Given restarts play with the free kick.
- 8:02 The ball is swung over by Robin van Persie.
- 6:59 Adam Johnson challenges Vassiriki Diaby unfairly and gives away a free kick. Samir Nasri crosses the ball in from the free kick, Gareth Barry manages to make a clearance.
- 2:52 Vassiriki Diaby challenges Patrick Vieira unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Patrick Vieira.
- 1:52 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Robin van Persie from the right by-line to the near post, Bacary Sagna has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the goal.
- 1:22 Vassiriki Diaby fouled by Patrick Vieira, the ref awards a free kick. Tomas Rosicky takes the direct free kick.
- 0:54 Robin van Persie challenges Vincent Kompany unfairly and gives away a free kick. Vincent Kompany restarts play with the free kick.
- 0:00 The match gets underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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