A disappointing game for the neutrals, as a high scoring game was anticipated with quality players such as Nasri, Fabregas, Tevez and Milner on show. Arsenal started off brilliantly with Wilshere having a couple of good chances, one of which was a comfortable save for Hart, whereas on the second instance he rolled it across the face of the goal as Van Persie came inches from making contact to knock it in.
There were only eight minutes on the clock by the time Van Persie had hit the post. The Dutch International created himself enough space to strike fiercly with his left foot. Walcott saw plenty of the ball and was brought down in the penalty area by Jo. No real appeals by the Arsenal players, more importantly Walcott got up and carried on, presuming the honest-natured youngster realised he'd gone down easily.
Man City had a free kick on the far right where Barry was able to deliver an in-swinging cross to evade the Arsenal defence as Tevez was alone at the back post to disappointingly, scuff his volley.
Fabregas struck the post after some quality possession from the Gunners. Nasri played it across for Fabregas to shoot towards the near post as the rebound fired back out for Walcott to then smash the opposite post, albeit in an offside position.
On numerous occasons throughout the match Tevez was having to protect the ball as he held it up to bring others into play. David Silva was a noticable absentee as they lacked any real imagination going forward, four shots on goal with neither of them hitting the target.
Arsenal begun the second half the way they begun the first, by playing their typical intricate style of football. They continued to dominate up until the hour mark where Van Persie managed to force a brilliant save out of Hart. From around twenty five yards out he blasted the ball towards the top left corner as Hart flung himself across the goal to stop it from going in.
The last half an hour of play had become scrappy, although Wenger's side were having the better of the ball, neither team created a clear cut chance. De Jong played well protecting his back four, where Kompany and Kolo Toure also had good games. The Ivory Coast International intercepted a good ball in from Walcott as Van Persie was behind him ready to pounce. De Jong cut out a number of Arsenal attacks, frustrating them more and more as the game wore on. Fouls were being conceded by both teams and in the eighty eighth minute a tangle of legs between Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna led to a clash of heads where Sagna appeared to be the more aggressive. Referee sent both players off although Zabaleta didn't do an awful lot to even receive a booking.
Ultimately Arsenal were unable to break through the tough Man City defence. Mancini's team were happy to sit back and absorb the pressure, hoping to pinch a goal on the counter attack.
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