1) Manchester City’s title challenge is still on
Before the game Pep Guardiola said: “Today we can make further progress by beating one of the best and most consistent sides in the league. Today’s match is our last here in 2016 and we want to say goodbye with a great performance. If we can do that we have moved back above one of the big rivals for the title.” After a torrid first half this was how the contest ended as City transformed from an aimless bunch to a menacing proposition that steamrollered Arsenal in the second period. Given that Guardiola’s men were watery despite defeating an insipid Watford on Wednesday here and before that were hammered 4-2 at Leicester City, a victory was required for morale and to keep up the chase of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League. Now they are second.
2) No Stones but still no clean sheet
John Stones was dropped following the 4-2 debacle at Leicester City and in the following outing against Watford no goals were conceded for the first time since the end of October. That 2-0 victory may have appeared vindication of the decision to leave out the £48m central defender yet after five minutes of this match Arsenal had sucker‑punched Manchester City to lead 1-0 via an Alexis Sánchez-Theo Walcott combination. Of the need to keep sides out, Stones said: “Some people are claiming that defending is a dying art but we are defenders first and foremost. We need to get back to keeping clean sheets again and winning matches.” City did the second part and, given that they failed the first bit, Stones may be recalled for the trip to Hull City on Boxing Day.
3) Was the Gündogan tribute over the top?
As the City players strolled out for the start each wore the shirt of Ilkay Gündogan, which features his name and number, back-to-front. This was to send best wishes to the midfielder who will miss the remainder of the campaign because of cruciate knee ligament damage sustained in the win against Watford. How City – or any side – wish to show solidarity with an injured colleague is their choice, of course, but it did jar a little. Especially given that players, unfortunately, are continually struck down and have to come back from the maladies which are part of the hazards of being a professional footballer. Was this over the top? The reaction on social media, particularly Twitter, suggested so, though this is hardly an arena of calm and considered opinion.
4) Will Arsenal do an Arsenal again this term?
Arsène Wenger said before kick-off: “At Everton our performance was there but we paid a little bit physically. We want to bounce back straight away after a disappointing result.” That was also a faltering display at Goodison Park as they were defeated 2-1 and Wenger’s hopes for domination in this match were dashed. Before half-time Arsenal ran through City with ease, posing them questions for which Guardiola’s team had little answer. After the break this all changed. City were the pacy, devilish bunch and Arsenal the side who lacked direction and the spirit to arrest it. This Jekyll-and-Hyde persona has become the story of the Gunners’ 12-year title drought. Is this about to happen yet again? The auguries are not good.
5) City bespoke striker-less
Guardiola’s latest configuration had the dedicated No9, Kelechi Iheanacho, on the bench and Raheem Sterling, a career wide-man, spearheading the XI. Beforehand the manager said: “To win we must attack, control what we try to build. The way we want to play, with these players, adapting to the absence that we have.” The glaring miss in attack was the suspended Sergio Agüero. Yet in Iheanacho and Nolito, also a replacement, the head coach had two players accustomed to operating there. Sterling did play at centre-forward when at Liverpool but the way he scooped a header wide with the goal gaping may have had Guardiola rueing the decision. After the break Sterling was moved out to the right and the result? From his natural berth he scored a fine winner.
