Manchester City vs. Arsenal: Winners and Losers from Premier League
Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday took UEFA Champions League qualification out of their hands. If Manchester United win both of their remaining games, they will leapfrog their city rivals into fourth place.
The hosts started superbly, and Sergio Aguero gave them an early lead, but Olivier Giroud equalised minutes later. Kevin De Bruyne, who played superbly, scored a wonderful solo effort to haul the Citizens back ahead in the second half, but a great Alexis Sanchez goal levelled things up once again.
Here, Bleacher Report picks its winners and losers from the game.
Winner: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
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Manchester City may have slumped to a draw against Arsenal, but you can’t fault Sergio Aguero’s attempts to ensure that didn’t happen. He went at it hammer and tongs all game, never slowing down in his pursuit of goals.
He netted the opener with a wicked shot after spearheading City's brutal initial assault, penning Arsenal in and causing them to wobble severely in defence. It was a just reward for early dominance.
Although the Gunners grew into the game and levelled matters twice, “Kun” continued to probe and push for openings, threatening over the shoulder in particular. “Aguero [is] roughly 15.843 times better than everyone on the pitch,” ESPN FC’s James Dall tweeted—only half-jokingly.
Loser: Kelechi Iheanacho, Manchester City
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Sadly for Manchester City, where Sergio Aguero starred and excelled, Kelechi Iheanacho did not. He’ll want to forget this performance quickly—one would imagine.
The Nigerian striker has been a ray of shining light of late, putting in brilliant showings against both Stoke City and Southampton, but this weekend, nothing went his way. Bad touches, under-hit passes and some criminal decision-making squandered quite a few great Citizens chances, and he was rightly hooked after 70 minutes.
It’s nothing to get unduly worried about—young strikers experience these growing pains—but it may end up costing City come next week.
Winner: Olivier Giroud, Arsenal
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Olivier Giroud scored his first Premier League goal since January to draw Arsenal level in the first half, powering a nice header into the net after Gael Clichy had given a ridiculous corner away.
In the second half he produced a lovely lay-off to tee up Alexis Sanchez to make it 2-2, and moments before he’d slid Theo Walcott in on goal only for the Englishman to blaze over under pressure.
This was a good, strong performance—a target man’s performance. He linked play, held the ball up, scored one and created another. He has rightly been receiving flack for his goal drought, but this was a perfect, timely response to those fans who might just be wishing for a summer exit for the former Montpellier man.
Loser: Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City
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After watching his side put in an awfully limp, languid performance at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, exiting the UEFA Champions League as a result, Manuel Pellegrini will have sent his team out on Sunday with one clear instruction: make sure you’re back in it next year.
They started superbly but eventually faded, conceding two goals Fernandinho described as “easy” in his post-match interview with Sky Sports’ live broadcast. The point means their top-four destiny is out of their hands. If Manchester United win both of their remaining games, City will finish fifth.
Given City’s squad, on paper, is the best in the league, that eventuality would be absolutely disastrous. Pellegrini would leave the club after three years having delivered three trophies, but that achievement may just be ignored if they’re playing Thursday nights in 2016-17.
Winner: Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
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B/R’s James McNicholas tweeted on Sunday: “17 goals for Alexis [Sanchez] this season. Decent tally given that he’s widely perceived to have had a bad year.
It has been a bit of a struggle at times for the Chilean, who appeared to suffer from a serious Copa America hangover and also did his hamstring just before Christmas, but his production cannot be argued with, and he delivered a vital goal when his team really needed it. Again.
Of the 17 goals scored, 13 have been in the Premier League. That’s a decent haul—a haul you’d welcome from any player who hasn’t really managed to hit his peak.
