Arsenal strike out

Division 1

Emirates Stadium

Attendance: 60,403

The business end of the season is very much upon the entire football league no more so then in division 1 where the best of the best live. Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all fighting it out to be named English champions a feat only today's opponents Manchester City could boast.

The current top three all with a realistic chance of claiming the prize Liverpool on 76 points with Chelsea and Arsenal 2nd and 3rd two points behind with 74 points. Everything still to play for, arsenal had already negotiated a tricky tie against spurs could they do so again tonight ?

A loss for any of the top 3 could spell the end to any title dreams the three teams all harbour. In a recent vote Liverpool were tipped as the favourites coming into the final 3 games. While it could be argued Chelsea's season has been considered a success with second and a cup win, and if Liverpool do indeed win the league where does that leave Arsenals season ? Another third place finish a cup final loss, would a SMFA Cup final victory be considered a successful season ? another final appearance perhaps not.

First Half

Kick Off ! Arsenal clearly motivated going into the final three games of the season, Man City man Aguero in good company with fellow international team mates Higuain and Messi featuring for Arsenal. Only international friendly banter was thrown aside in the first minute. Aguero's poorly miss time challenge on Higuain resulted in a very early yellow the man city target man had to be very careful for the remaining 89 minutes.

The game flowed with both teams having early chances poor finishing the only thing keeping this game scoreless, perhaps Man City's biggest problem this season. Last seasons title win hardly even defended and sitting in 13th place calls for manager Craig's head have been coming in from many a different direction.

In the 21st minute a sloppy free kick given away by Arsenal and ex Man City man Kyle Walker. Only one man for the job as far as city were concerned step up Kevin De Bruyne, a man Arsenal have very publicly chased after for much of the season. Bending in a wonderfully taken free kick up high into the top right hand corner, Lloris left without a hope of getting anything to it. Manchester City 1-0.

Arsenal were left stunned having been the team starting the strongest in the last handful of games this was the first time they had been behind for a long while. The fans fully aware of the implications this would have on their title hopes and dreams. Arsenal tried to hit back with Neymar coming close before half time the city keeper matching the effort however.

Second Half

The longer the match went on the more tense the crowd began to feel, with news of Liverpool's and Chelsea's winning positions coming in the crowd demanded action and action is what the Arsenal players offered up.

Que a onslaught - A Manchester one anyway ! another sloppy free kick given away, again the same man standing over the ball this time the wall doing there job. Aguero look dangerous throughout the match coming close a few times. Arsenal tried to respond and Mbappe forced the city keeper into a excellent save. Time was running out and Arsenal needed a goal even a draw would perhaps be damaging enough.

Arsenal were awarded a free kick 10 minutes from time, Higuain elected to step up and take the result a poorly executed effort the ball going high and wide into the home crowd who quickly started to disperse not sensing a goal forthcoming. How right they were the game fizzled out without much drama something Craig at Man City would have taken all day long. The whistle signalling the end of the game Arsenal shut out at home. Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City.

Where exactly do Arsenal stand now ? To the naked eye 3rd. With two games remaining they can do no worse then 3rd so no worse then last season, however with 6 points now the maximum on offer a Liverpool draw at home to Burnley rules them out completely regardless of what Arsenal do next up at Stoke.

Having lead the title race at one point this season by a 13 point margin where did it go all wrong. Many will point to Clifford's "obsession" with a league and cup double perhaps foolishly believing the points gap couldn't be overhauled. The reality of his decision making now looks to have resulted in Arsenal ending up totally empty handed. Will a European triumph be enough to keep the stone throwers away ? Surely not ?

#Arsenal #Division1 #ManCity