Arsenal 0 Manchester City 2: Toure and Zabaleta strike in the Bird's Nest

Posted Saturday, July 28, 2012 by Dailymail

They may have played on a different continent, in the midst of a Chinese storm, but a familiar script unfolded as Manchester City’s muscle and lethal edge crushed Arsenal’s fluent passing style.

Both teams are in Asia with depleted teams but, encouragingly for Roberto Mancini and frustratingly for Arsene Wenger, the usual pattern was in evidence.

Wenger saw his side move the ball nicely, even when the pitch was drenched, but fail to find the net, a concern with Robin van Persie seemingly set to leave.

Arsenal 0 Manchester City 2: Toure and Zabaleta strike in the Bird's Nest
Winning in the rain: Manchester City's Yaya Toure celebrates with teammates after scoring against Arsenal

Arsenal 0 Manchester City 2: Toure and Zabaleta strike in the Bird's Nest
And they were opened-up too easily and too frequently at the back, but this is not a new problem for the Arsenal manager.

Mancini, meanwhile, watched as his expensive firepower clinched a game his team were unable to dominate.

Pablo Zabaleta struck first, in the 41st minute, and Yaya Toure added the second before the break.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain went closest for Arsenal, rattling the woodwork in the second-half.

Wenger selected a strong midfield of Abou Diaby, Alex Song and Mikel Arteta in a team with three English starters, compared to City’s none.

They dominated in terms of possession and controlled long periods of the first half, but failed to stop City galloping into a two-goal lead at the interval.

Gervinho was given a rare opportunity to play at centre-forward, where he flickered but rarely threatened, much as he has done when playing wide since his arrival from Lille, last year.

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