Gunners restore pride against City

Arsenal restored some pride after a difficult week with a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Emirates on Saturday evening.
The tribulations of the Chelsea defeat and the late draw with Swansea were clearly evident in the Gunners’ first half performance.
They looked like a team that lacked confidence and belief, and it’s fair to say that City controlled the game for the most part.
Certainly, in terms of chances, the visitors were on top and although their goal had a touch of good fortune about it.
Arsenal were punished again for losing the ball high up the pitch.
This time, Lukas Podolski was careless in possession and City’s quickness of movement left Arsenal exposed at the back.
Edin Dzeko’s 18th minute shot cannoned back off the post and David Silva bundled it over the line.
The goal affected Arsenal throughout the rest of the first half, as the weight of the previous poor results bore down on them.
Unlike the game against Chelsea though, they stayed focused and went into the break with just the one goal deficit.
In the second period, they looked much the better side.
Whether that was the half-time team talk, or the team just getting themselves together, it’s hard to say, but it’s clear they had much more of the game.
They had just one attempt on goal in the first 45 minutes, nine in the second half, and Mathieu Flamini’s equaliser was the result of fine teamwork.
Olivier Giroud held the ball up brilliantly deep on the the right side of City’s half, the Gunners worked the ball over to the left to Lukas Podolski whose cross was tucked home by the Frenchman.
Not the cleanest strike you’ll ever see, but no matter, they all count.
It’s hard to say Arsenal dominated but they definitely looked more like scoring than their wealthier counterparts, and the fact that City have games in hand informed Pellegrini’s decisions.
Bringing on Javi Garcia suggested that he was happy to take a point.
Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, went for it, bringing on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
In a week in which their character has been tested, questioned and found wanting, the players dug deep and restored some pride and showed enough to suggest they can move forward in a positive way.