Lucky City escape with undeserved point

A total of eight points from twelve over the Christmas period, not a bad haul by any means and many of us would have taken that if offered it in advance. Chelsea were outplayed, a weakened side squandered points against Wigan, Birmingham were hammered and then finally City were outplayed, they escaped with a point thanks to far more luck than judgement.

I can't really fault the performance of the lads tonight. The same eleven started and they started well. Several great chances were created early doors. Wilshere shot across the face of goal and RVP couldn't quite reach it to tap it home, RVP struck the foot of the post with Hart nowhere, Wilshere then forced Hart into an excellent low save with a decently struck side footed effort. Our attacking play was mesmerising at times, Nasri, Cesc, RVP, Wilshere and Theo were combining to almost devastating effect.

Then the moment that summed up City's great fortune, Cesc struck the inside of the post with a firm shot from the edge of the box, Hart was again nowhere near it, Theo then followed it up, from a slightly acute angle he hit a ripper which cannoned off the inner aspect of the post and agonisingly across the goal.

The second half saw City defend resolutely and we created far less than in the first half, our best direct effort was from RVP and his twenty five yarder forced a top notch save from Hart when it seemed destined for the corner of the net. There was some neat build up work and some penetrating crosses, but the ball just didn't quite drop for us when it counted.

Sometimes one can play really well, create a lot, outplay the opposition and come away with just a point, this was one of those nights. We should take a lot of heart from the way that we pressed City so effectively as a team, we restricted them to so little and won so much of the loose scraps in the midfield. Wilshere and Song were the engine room, the work of our more attacking players should not go unnoticed too. The only black mark was Sagna's red card for some heady handbags with Zabaleta near the end that saw both men sent off.

We're only four points off United, we're in touch and they definitely have the harder fixtures to come. If we can keep our key men fit then we have a real chance of being top of the pile come May. The new look defence with Johan Djourou at its helm is starting to look solid and clean sheets on the trot is the end result. Come on you Gunners!