Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Rocky7 
Date:Sunday December 18 2011
Time: 3:59PM
UK time is: 18:28:27
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Team News: Man City vs Arsenal
As we enter a very busy festive period our Christmas kicks of with a real crack, away to Manchester City.
After a horrible start to the season we`ve really picked up the pace with 7 wins in our last 8 games, but today will probably be one of the biggest tests of the season, indeed our performance will tell us how far we`ve really come.
City will start the game without a recognised left back due to injury and suspension. However we`re in the same position, however we can call upon the much experienced Thomas Vermaelen to fill the void.
Here`s the teams.
Man City
• 25 Hart
• 02 Richards
• 04 Kompany
• 05 Zabaleta
• 28 K Toure
• 18 Barry
• 19 Nasri
• 21 Silva
• 42 Y Toure
• 16 Aguero
• 45 Balotelli
Substitutes
• 30 Pantilimon
• 06 Lescott
• 15 Savic
• 07 Milner
• 11 Johnson
• 34 De Jong
• 10 Dzeko
Arsenal
• 13 Szczesny
• 04 Mertesacker
• 05 Vermaelen
• 06 Koscielny
• 20 Djourou
• 08 Arteta
• 14 Walcott
• 16 Ramsey
• 17 Song
• 10 Van Persie
• 27 Gervinho
Substitutes
• 01 Almunia
• 49 Miquel
• 07 Rosicky
• 23 Arshavin
• 26 Frimpong
• 30 Benayoun
• 29 Chamakh
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Your Comments
A really big one with two Arsenal old boys in the mix. Patience will be the key; no need to go gung ho with this City side rather a use of our speed at the flanks when the opportunity comes is what we expect to see.
Naijagunner
Yaya Toure just pulls back Ramsey and Phil Dowd didn't see it as such. Joke Ref.
Naijagunner
It is hard going, but we are doing the intelligent things, bar Johan Djourou (so far). The man doesn't seem to recall he is a full back. Nasri getting too much room. Good, so far.
Naijagunner
unlucky guys i thought you did well really put up a fight you just seem to lack a bit of creativity from the middle. gervinho was the best i have seen him. again unlucky
jljyid
miguel's positioning was bad. he left vermealen alone to take on both aguero and silva and he lost richards later which almost resulted a goal.
Joe_@**
Joe Hart kept City from being pegged back today. I am not too sure Gervinho was at his best today. I would have expected him to go for it with two of his kinsmen on the other side. Still a lot to play for going into December.
Naijagunner
Proud of our team
Sajit
I was counting on the Gooners keeping at least two points from Citeh today, but seems not. As the American basketballer, Michael Richardson, once said, "Ship be sinkin." If RVP goes down, there really isn't much of a team left at Emirates, is there?
Total knobhead
Things are so depressing for Arsenal that your Vital site has been virtually abandoned, it seems.
Total knobhead
City won a tight game in which we can take some pride home but no points. Can't really grumble about the result. It was just about right though I don't think there would have been too many grumbles had we taken a point either. Loved the spirit Vermaelen showed and RvP. If they can keep that for the games to come then we'll do fine. We've played all the teams around us away now apart from Liverpool. We can take some comfort from that in the second half of the season. Especially if we can get some full backs back. As someone said in the commentary we've lost something with the departures of Cesc and Nasri but we've gained something to. I'm feeling that on balance we've gained more than we lost.
Amos.
Dont think anyone would have complained if we came off with a point for the effort we put in..
Sajit
the glory hunters and plastic fans have vanished, even they have vanished fm VS
123spurs
Cheers for providing what was probably the best game of football so far this season. Great chances from both sides, and as a biased Blue I obviously feel that we just shaded it - but massive respect to Arsenal you're a lot better than I was expecting.
fifthcolumnblue
I actually feel happy with that game. We played well and considering we have no creativity coming from the full backs we did very well indeed. I honestly thought at the time that RvP was on side for that little chip - just confirmed on MOTD. And I thought a good penalty claim at the end...we were unlucky not to get a point, away from home against the best team in the league.
Man City fans on here giving honest opinions - well done. You guys have a great squad and are playing lovely football. See you in April.
No 10
Would have loved the points but we fought till the end. TV had two really great cracks at goal, and could have stolen the game. Thought they started to tire in the latter stages. Really did not see the point in using Asharvin. I still think he is playing so that we get rid of him. Theo seemed to have lost his way and thought he was just getting it back when he was subbed. Liked the fact he was angry to be subbed.
alwaysgunner
We needed a calm presence in midfield to help knock it around while City pressed. A year ago with Fabregas and Wilshire we'd have walked it. Today we were just overpowered by City's physicality until they ran out of steam.
Wyn Mills
I've been a strong defender of AA but he had two great opportunities to justify his inclusion and he failed both times. I agree that Theo had just started to play when he came off and I was a little disappointed not to have seen the OX on the bench but I understand why he wasn't.
It was a real shame that Ramsey had an off day but we know that will happen occasionally, remember the Cesc had off days too.
I think we can be proud of our team and I'm happy with that today.
No 10
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