Balotelli lets Mancini down as City slump
Occasionally inspirational, frequently frustrating and too often a liability, Balotelli has provided an engaging sideshow but, as he demonstrated at the Emirates Stadium yesterday, his contribution is too often painfully flawed.
On this occasion there was none of the attacking flair that encourages indulgence from his manager, but there was an 89th-minute red card, a terrible challenge that went unpunished after 20 minutes, and a display of self-centred sulking that betrayed his side’s cause.
Trailing leaders Manchester United by eight points after Alex Ferguson’s side had beaten Queens Park Rangers earlier in the day, City needed to deliver a cohesive and determined display if they were avoid being cut further adrift with just six games of the season remaining.
They failed on both counts, spectacularly so in the case of Balotelli, exposing the weaknesses that rendered them also-rans behind a United side of a decidedly average vintage.
Members of City’s Abu Dhabi-based hierarchy watched from the stands at the Emirates Stadium as Mancini’s side imploded, falling eventually to Mikel Arteta’s 87th-minute winning goal after Arsenal had struck the woodwork three times.
Mancini’s own position will inevitably come under scrutiny although the manager made a compelling case for his retention in the wake of this defeat. The manager is right to highlight the progress made by the club under his leadership, but the case against will be led by the suggestion Mancini has indulged Balotelli for too long.
Leaving aside his capacity to court controversy away from the pitch — and there were yet more lurid headlines about Balotelli’s private life in yesterday morning’s newspapers — the forward’s contribution to City’s efforts has become increasingly peripheral. Alex Song, however, might have another word altogether to describe the player who left an imprint of his studs on his knee after 20 minutes of this game.
The challenge was simply awful and Balotelli was fortunate referee Martin Atkinson’s view was obscured or a red card would surely have followed. Quite how Atkinson’s assistant missed it as well is another matter altogether but the failure of the match officials to spot the incident means it will be reviewed.
He eventually made his way to the dressing room in the final minute after a second yellow card for a foul on Bacary Sagna, but in between he had done little to redeem himself. Not that many of his team-mates offered more threat. For a team chasing the title this was a limp, unconvincing display that confirmed they remain a work in progress.
By contrast, Wenger’s work this season is maturing nicely and while the manager has ruled out challenging for the runners-up spot, their standing two points clear of Tottenham gives them a valuable advantage in the battle to finish third and avoid the Champions League qualifying round.
They weren’t at their fluent best, and got bogged down after an enterprising start but as ever, Robin van Persie provided a telling focal point to the attack and their persistence drew reward when Arteta dispossessed David Pizarro before striking an excellent right-foot shot past Joe Hart from 20 yards.
Wenger will spend in the summer, and the arrival of Germany international Lukas Podolski from Cologne will provide Van Persie with valuable support, assuming the Holland striker stays. The presence of Samir Nasri in the City line-up provided a reminder that money often talks loudest in these matters.
Had Van Persie’s header not been deflected onto the City crossbar off the back of team-mate Thomas Vermaelen in the 14th minute, the game might have opened up.
But City soaked up early pressure before gradually imposing themselves before the break.
They lacked the spark, however, to press on and could have few complaints when Arteta struck three minutes from time.
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