MX23RW : Friday, November 22 11:06:15| >> :60:112:112:
[monks data]
Manchester City logo
Premier League
Jan 18, 2015 at 4pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

0-2

FT(HT: 0-1)
Cazorla (24' pen.), Giroud (67')

Arsenal pull off memorable victory to end Manchester City's unbeaten run

Manchester City fall to their first Premier League defeat since November having been brushed aside 2-0 by Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium this evening.

Arsenal have inflicted a first defeat in 15 outings on Manchester City by claiming a 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium to maintain their top-four ambitions.

Goals in either half from Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud helped the North London outfit claim a first victory in six against the Citizens as Arsene Wenger's side moved back within one point of a Champions League spot.

An assortment of Manchester City players look downbeat after Arsenal score their second on January 18, 2015© Getty Images

It was a rather slow start to the contest, with the hosts boasting more of the ball in the opening stages but failing to truly trouble their opponents in an attacking sense.

The Gunners soon found their feet, though, and they came close to making the breakthrough when Giroud latched onto Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross inside the box, but he could not quite direct the game's first shot goalwards.

Just five minutes later Arsenal did manage to edge ahead through Santi Cazorla's well-taken spot kick, which had been awarded by referee Mike Dean following returning skipper Vincent Kompany's bodycheck on Nacho Monreal.

Thirty-six minutes had transpired before City managed to work away their first attempt on goal, yet Sergio Aguero's flicked header did little to trouble David Ospina between the sticks.

Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla (L) scores the opening goal from the penalty spot past a diving Manchester City's English goalkeeper Joe Hart (2R) during the English Premier League match on January 18, 2015

Chances proved to be few and far between for the remainder of the opening 45 minutes, ensuring that Arsenal went into the break holding a slender advantage over their rivals.

The league champions came out strong following the restart as they went in search of an equaliser, and they came close to finding one when Jesus Navas forced a solid save out of Ospina, before Fernandinho saw his volley from inside the box deflect over the bar.

Aaron Ramsey, returning to the Arsenal side this afternoon for the first time since limping off against Galatasaray last month, failed to make the most of a big chance for the visitors when he fired over, while up the other end Aguero and Stevan Jovetic squandered openings of their own.

Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring Arsenal's second against Manchester City on January 18, 2015© Getty Images

The Gunners found an all-important second with a little over 20 minutes left to play when Giroud, played onside by Frank Lampard, guided Cazorla's dinked free kick beyond Joe Hart.

It could have been even better for Arsenal shortly after if not for the intervention of Hart, who pushed away Alexis Sanchez's effort to keep the scoreline at 2-0.

Wenger's men were able to comfortably see out the remainder of the contest to condemn their opponents to a first Premier League defeat since November, meaning that City now sit five points behind leaders Chelsea.

ID:199707: cacheID:199707:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6833:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Aaron Ramsey takes on Sergio Aguero during Arsenal's 2-0 win over Manchester City on January 18, 2015
Read Next:
Live Commentary: Man City 0-2 Arsenal - as it happened
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Steelers
19-24
Browns
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!