City’s week of strife ends with Silva lining

NEWS of Manchester City’s demise appears to have been grossly exaggerated.

Those who doubted their title credentials following their defeat to Chelsea last week should stop doing so immediately after they responded to their first league reversal by all but extinguishing Arsenal’s challenge before the midway point of the season.

These have been a testing few days for the Premier League’s big-spenders.

Having been eliminated from the Champions League and then overwhelmed by Chelsea, City started against Arsenal having been replaced at the summit by neighbours Manchester United following their 2-0 win at Queens Park Rangers.

Could City respond against an Arsenal side which had won seven of the previous eight league games? The answer was an emphatic yes.

It required an exceptional performance by goalkeeper Joe Hart to deny Arsenal at least a share of the spoils in a pulsating match, played at a frantic pace, as Roberto Mancini marked his second anniversary in charge on a winning note but in the end, David Silva’s fifth Premier League goal of the season ensured normal service was resumed after the Stamford Bridge hiccup.

Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal played their part in a wonderful game but the London club could have few complaints as City were denied a second goal when Pablo Zabaleta hit the post.

This was Arsenal’s first return to the city since suffering an 8-2 thrashing against Manchester United on August 28.

That Old Trafford defeat sent them to 17th in the Premier League with the prospects of qualifying for the Champions League appearing difficult and their ability to mount a title challenge remote.

Yet Arsenal had recovered from that humiliating experience to win nine of the following 12 league games, and they returned to Manchester in fifth position and back in contention for a berth in the top four.

In recent seasons Arsenal have lost Samir Nasri, Gaël Clichy and Kolo Toure to City as their billionaire Abu Dhabi owners have built a squad capable of being serious contenders for the Premier League.

Nasri, who scored in Arsenal’s win at City last season, and Toure started against their former club while the match began with travelling fans reminding their City rivals that the Gunners still possessed Robin van Persie, the most in-form striker in the top-flight after 12 goals in his previous eight league games.

“Van Persie is ours, you are our feeder club, Van Persie is ours,” they chanted before Sergio Aguero snapped at the game’s opening chance following a fine delivery by Zabaleta.

Aguero and Silva teased and tormented the Arsenal back four in the opening stages while Nasri, who was booed throughout by Arsenal fans, looked in the mood to prove a point to Mancini, who has used him sparingly on the Premier League stage.

Yet it was Hart who was the busiest keeper in the opening 20 minutes.

In the space of 60 seconds he frustrated Gervinho, Aaron Ramsey and defender Thomas Vermaelen as Wenger’s side reminded the hosts of the threat they posed in attack.

But City appeared determined to regain top spot from neighbours United.

It required a fine save by Wojciech Szczensy to deny Mario Balotelli his ninth league goal of the campaign after Per Mertesacker failed to deal with a delightful cross from Micah Richards midway through the first half.

In a compelling free-flowing game, Van Persie was anonymous in the opening half an hour yet the Dutch striker flashed a 32nd minute header narrowly wide from 12 yards before referee Phil Dowd waved away Arsenal claims for a penalty after Toure’s challenge on Ramsey.

City had not dropped points on their home turf for 10 months and Silva’s goal seven minutes into the second half ensured their impressive form at the Etihad Stadium continued.

Arsenal’s defence was exposed down the right flank as Balotelli cut inside the area before gliding past Alex Song and forcing keeper Szczensy to spill the ball.

Aguero got a touch and Silva was next to react — the former Valencia player hooking home from close range to claim City’s 50th Premier League goal of the season and 150th since Mancini took charge.

Like an epic boxing match, Arsenal refused to hit the canvas as Theo Walcott and Van Persie were denied by fine saves from Hart.

But City should put the game out of sight with Aguero and then Nasri spurning chances before full-back Zabaleta rattled the Arsenal post from 25 yards in the 66th minute.

Yet the hosts were forced to survive a couple of late scares before victory was confirmed — Vermaelen twice going close to an equaliser in the dying moments of a game that will live long in the memory.