Arsenal Shoot Themselves In The Foot - What's New?

There are a couple things believed to be true in life:

- You can’t outpizza the hut

- You can’t outplay City at their own game

Yet for 55 minutes an Arteta-less Arsenal did. We held possession beautifully, dominated the game and played the way we wanted to play. We had all the momentum and control, giving City not even a shadow of hope.

The only problem with that is there are 90 minutes in a football match.

Immediately Arsenal looked to work themselves into the game. A high-intensity press put City on the back foot from the first whistle. The press paid off when the Gunners first countered, working the ball from the left of the pitch to the right. Odegaard’s touch into the box invited Ederson for a 50/50 tackle, resulting in cries for a penalty echoing all around the Emirates.

Was it a penalty? In my opinion, no. Was it checked by the referee because it was too close to decisively call with VAR? No.

Arsenal didn’t let this kill off their momentum as they kept their foot on the gas. The back 4 let nothing through. Ramsdale had nothing to do. Thomas Partey decided he’d turn into Patrick Vieira in the middle of the park. Xhaka was all over the pitch. The front 4 played with so much pace and intent it was electrifying to watch.

Then the Arsenal broke through.

Ben White wins the ball. Kieran Tierney receives it in the attacking half and sends the ball into the box, where Bukayo Saka checks off his man and drills the ball into the bottom corner. City had conceded just their second first-half goal this season.

It was bliss.

Half-time came and for the first time in what seemed like forever, City hadn’t registered a shot on target. Not a single one.

Arsenal quickly picked up where they left off in the second half, until Bernardo Silva found himself in a mismatch with Granit Xhaka. Silva takes the ball across Xhaka’s body, where the Swiss leaves a leg out and Silva goes down.

Was there a shirt pull? Yes. Was there contact? Yes. Was Bernardo Silva already halfway down to the ground when these happened? Yes. Did the referee go and check? Yes.

And there lies the problem.

No consistency. Both this penalty shout and Arsenal’s one before were vital moments of the game. They both needed examining. Stuart Atwell and Jarred Gillet decided against Arsenal… shock horror.

Mahrez slotted the penalty home but not before Gabriel picked up a yellow for scuffing the penalty spot – a cheap yellow card to receive, really. What are the odds it even makes a difference?

Seemingly straight away off kick-off Arsenal were in behind again, with a miscommunication between the City defence and goalkeeper resulting in a goal-line clearance. The ball fell to Martinelli, who had nothing but the open goal 8 yards in front of him.

The ball hit the post. It went out for a goal kick.

For someone who had been so inform and so dangerous in the game as well to miss that chance – pathetic.

Then came the point where Arsenal really lost the game. Gabriel steps up and takes out Jesus in the middle of the park, receiving his second yellow and being sent of the pitch.

Foolish.

Down to 10 men, Arsenal defended with their lives.

In the 93rd minute, Rodri struck gold when the ball dropped at his feet and he scored.

2-1, City win.

It was a collapse on par with England’s batting order in the Ashes.

It was a collapse that seemed all too familiar to Arsenal fans everywhere.

They threw away the game. Arsenal played the best 55 minutes anyone has seen against the league champions.

The only problem with that is there are 90 minutes in a football match.