'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Arsenal announced their title credentials in style as they beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Emirates on Monday night. Goals from Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud were enough for the Gunners to snatch all three points even as Yaya Toure’s excellent long-range effort late in the second half turned out to be a mere consolation.
With this crucial victory, Arsenal now have 36 points from their 17 games and sit second in the League table hot on the heels of leaders Leicester City who are on 38 points. They have opened up a four-point lead over title-rivals Manchester City which gives them a psychological advantage going into Christmas.
Trending
We shall take a look at the reactions of players, managers and pundits to Arsenal’s win over Manchester City.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was understandably delighted with the result and his team’s performance.
"It was a vital game for us. We are very happy because we showed all the ingredients you need in big games - good organisation, strong solidarity, high work-rate, moments of brilliance and moments when we needed to hang on,” said Wenger. "It's too early to say if we can win the league, but this win strengthens our belief. There's a real life and togetherness in the team, so let's take care of that."
He also reserved special praise for German playmaker Mesut Ozil who came up with yet another brilliant outing despite being ill which saw him set up both his team’s goals. Ozil now has 15 assists to his name in just 17 games in the league this season.
"Ozil had a chest infection this weekend and he was in bed, basically," Wenger said. "He had only one training session. For a guy who could not prepare well, he has done extremely well physically.”
"In football you need one guy who gives the ball to the one who scores the goal," the Frenchman said. "In our team, most of the time, Ozil is this player. The guys who sees makes you win, and he is that. Ozil is much more mature now, much more keen to take responsibility. I believe he's developed his physical attributes and commitment. You can see his desire to win. He plays to win the game.”
"His talent is exceptional and he realises he can help us in every single game," said the 66-year-old.
Meanwhile, Wenger’s counterpart Manuel Pellegrini claimed that his side did not deserve to lose and praised his side’s character as they fought til the end despite going two goals down before halftime.
"It's not a significant defeat because we have to play for many more points. But of course, it was important to try to win," he said.
"I think we didn't deserve to lose I think we did better than Arsenal, we had more possession, more attempts, more shots at target. Unfortunately, we made an important mistake for their second goal.”
"I'm very happy with the character and personality of the team because we never give up. We demonstrated character by continuing to try and score when we were losing 2-0."
Theo Walcott, who opened the scoring for the Gunners last night also heaped praise on teammate and ‘assist king’ Mesut Ozil.
"Mesut Ozil is very modest! He sees things that nobody else does, you just have to make that run. When you have special players on the pitch it makes our jobs so much easier."
Television Pundit and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher felt that Arsenal have established themselves as favourites for the title and have a great opportunity to win the league.
"I think they're just favourites," said Carragher. "They will need the four-point cushion because of the away games they've got coming up. At this moment, what they've got is performing better than anyone," he said.
"The other teams have dropped off and Arsenal have maintained the level they've had.”
However, he was highly critical of City skipper Yaya Toure’s performance at the Emirates and called him ‘selfish’.
"It's like he comes alive, he goes 'ooh we've got a goal, we've got a chance of me getting a bit of glory and being involved'. They lost the game tonight and one of the major reasons was the space [Mesut] Ozil had behind him.”
"It's nothing new, it's nothing we haven't said in the last two or three years but it comes back to the fact that he just wants to switch it on when he thinks he can get a goal. You're talking about one of your major players, your leaders in the dressing room, that's unbelievably selfish the way he has played tonight.”
Former Gunners striker and legend Thierry Henry was equally critical of Yaya Toure.
"Tracking back is not his forte anymore and was never actually his forte. But he doesn't even try to come back anymore. I thought that he was going to play as a 10 and Silva wide and Delph inside.”
"I think if they carry on playing Yaya Toure as a holding midfielder - especially away from home - they will struggle. At home, you can get by but he has to play high," he said.
