"I believe we have shown... spirit, organisation, brilliance and
altogether they gave us the three points," a beaming Wenger told Sky
Sports.
Walcott and Giroud fire Arsenal to victory over Man City(Reuters)
Arsenal landed a meaty blow in the Premier League title race with a 2-1 win at home to rivals Manchester City on Monday that swept away a few more doubts about their title credentials.
Arsene Wenger's side certainly had the swagger of potential champions as they picked City apart with first-half goals from Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud while the visitors looked forlorn until Yaya Toure netted with eight minutes remaining.
Toure's goal sparked a late resurgence from Manuel Pellegrini's
side, but they could not find a leveller, meaning City have now not won
away in the league since September and have lost three of their last
five on the road.
Arsenal, who have not lost at
home in the league since their first match of the season, stay second in
the table, two points behind surprise trailblazers Leicester City, but
four clear of Pellegrini's side.
"I believe we have shown... spirit, organisation, brilliance and altogether they gave us the three points," a beaming Wenger told Sky Sports.
"You
could see that there is exceptional life in this team and when we did
not have the legs anymore, we relied on spirit and that got us through
in the end."
City have now lost five games
and no side has won the title having suffered so many league defeats
before Christmas since Everton in 1986-87, although Pellegrini was
unruffled.
"It was an important game but we have 63 more points to play for so I think we have the same option to win the title," said the Chilean who claimed his side played better than Arsenal.
The goal the game needed arrived after 33 minutes, but only after City had wasted their only chance of the first half.
Kevin
De Bruyne, who was freed down the right flank by Sergio Aguero, back
after a four-match injury lay-off, cut in on goal but could only flash
his shot wide, prompting an exasperated look from David Silva who was
waiting for a cross.
That decision was punished
less than two minutes later when Mesut Ozil fed Walcott on the left edge
of the penalty area and the England forward turned and curled the ball
exquisitely into the far corner.
DEFENSIVE ERROR
Arsenal's
second arrived in first-half stoppage time as a defensive error from
Eliaquim Mangala gifted possession to the hosts who, via Ozil again,
worked the ball to Giroud.
The Frenchman had
little goal to aim at but fired his left footed effort low beneath
England keeper Joe Hart for his 10th league goal of the campaign.
Defensive
lapses have been commonplace for City this season, especially in the
absence of injured captain Vincent Kompany, whose presence was again
sorely missed.
"We took more risks and created chances but you cannot make mistakes in these important games," Pellegrini told the BBC.
Arsenal
should have put the contest to bed early in the second half but Joel
Campbell blazed a great chance over and then stubbed an effort at Hart
while Aaron Ramsey was also thwarted by the City keeper.
City
pulled a goal back when Toure powerfully found the top corner with his
left foot, prompting a late surge from the visitors. But Arsenal held
firm and go into the hectic Christmas period with confidence booming.
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