Manchester City vs. Arsenal

No chance, fcb.

COYG

Sagna is going to have his work cut out for him trying to get back his RB shirt. Jenkinson is playing so well and linking up well with the attack.

Mannone error! 1-0 City.

Gervinho's poor touch looking costly now.

Deserve to be ahead not behind but it's a tough place to come and I'm happy with the performance if not the scoreline. Think we can turn this around still and we have some good options on the bench in the Ox, Walcott and Giroud if some of our players start to get tired in the second half.

Gervinho's not been that bad, his touch should have been better yes for that great chance but he is working hard and his movements been quite good. Podolski should have also done better with his chance if we are going to be critical but I don't hear anyone giving him flak.

bowie - i think criticism for Gervinho's first touch is fair, you need to be doing better at that level

bowie - i think criticism for Gervinho's first touch is fair, you need to be doing better at that level

we're looking like we're running out of ideas here. time for some kind of change. Diaby looks tired again.

I am not sure I unrest and the import of the changes we have just made. Taking off two hard working players when just one should do it and then either of Gervinho or Ramsey off?

*understand*

Koscielnyyyyyyy!!!!

koscielny!

gervinho is so wasteful today

Great game of football by both sides. Gervinho plays better and we might have all three points. Still don't think we have enough for the title but we certainly could challenge for the domestic cups.

Have to say United have gained 3 points today, courtesy of some dodgy decisions by the ref.

*described as* **manager**

Good to see an Arsenal side more organised and not to have too many jitters when we don't have the ball.

i'd say, gervinho got into great position in the first place for his two sitters. he missed them but he was more significant than podolski today

I agree with Joe, both Podolski and Gervinho weren't at their best. Unfair to blame just Gervinho just because he is one of our whipping boys. Same thing happened with Ramsey where he was blamed for everything going wrong at one point last season but he has shown his quality when he has played this season. Jenkinson was a beast as well and if he continues to improve I can't see Sagna getting his first team spot back.

The similiarity with Rambo & fivehead is that neither hide, both are always trying, always making themselves available, therefore both high profile when their respective moves break down, to be fair both sides had players making poor decisions and passes, I thought by his standards yaya was poor today.

The first half was an accomplished midfield yet we were punished on a set piece that Gibbs shouldn't have conceded in the first place. That said, cant praise our full backs enough for the improvement they have shown this season - Gibbs looks like an Arsenal left back and no words are sufficient to praise the leaps in quality Jenkinson has taken. Good point from Joe about Mertesacker benefitting from our new defensive shape this season. While Bould is no doubt doing a stellar job coaching our defense, the whole defensive system itself is much like the one AW had forged in the years 2002-2005. The team is defending from the front, the midfield is tracking the runners and the defenders are closing the gaps opposition forwards could otherwise exploit. The speed of transition we are showing from defence to attack is also vintage Arsene Wenger. Decent result overall but some regrets remain because of the profligacy of our forwards - another day we could have won but on the other hand Mannone did well for us barring the goal as well.

Well said, Niko, on both counts. City players made more forced and unforced errors than the Arsenal players, which is saying something. Overall, the team had a good game and it is hard to criticize, looking back. Even Giroud came on and instantly made his presence felt, dominating Kompany and Lescott in the air a few times and generally, keeping them on their toes. Another day and it would have been 3 points, but a draw at the Etihad does us little harm

Gervinho played like his boots were two sizes too big today. He had the 3 best chances for us but just can't shoot for peanuts.

Great game from the back five, amazing to thing that we had three 1st choices unavailable! Also it was so good to see the whole team, including Walcott, celebrate our goal in that way.

Did anyone hear Freddie on MOTD2 say he thought our squad was too small to compete? Am I missing something? We have 3 genuinely top CB and possibly the best 4th choice in the league. A great understudy to the best RB, Santos as cover at LB is very strong and with Yennaris and Coq as cover not many can boats that quality. In MF Wilshere, Rosicky & AA haven't even played and up front Walcott and Ox can't get a start. I'm not saying I wouldn't be happy if we signed David Villa in January but that looks like strength in depth to me.

I'm not about to start a Gervinho fan club but I think he gets a lot more criticism then he deserves. Yeah his finishing definitely needs work but his movement and work rate is good. He already looks much better than last season and I think he will continue to improve. He seems to have a lot of energy and never hides even when things don't go his way. Lets show some patience and I'm sure he will come good.