Arsenal vs Manchester City
Match pulse
ARSAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Arsenal 2-1
Arsenal beat Manchester City 2-1 on Sunday, February 1, 2004 at Highbury. Goals for Arsenal: Michael Tarnat (own goal) (39') and Thierry Henry (83'). Goals for Man City: Nicolas Anelka (89').
Play by play
- 90'
Final whistle goes and Arsenal return to the top of the table. What had looked like a straightforward win for the Gunners looked a bit precarious in the final minutes. City had come to frustrate Arsenal and try and sneak something. They stuck to their task well enough but in the end Arsenal were just too good for them. Promising cameo from Reyes and Anelka unlucky to be dismissed after a bit of pushing and pulling in an engaging if not quite classic game. Final score 2-1
- 90'
Loose throw back gives Reyes the chance to get to James as he is clearing. James gets it away but a real scare
- 90'
Henry stands in front of tarnat trying to take a throw-in as the atmosphere turns sour on the pitch
- 90'
Now Reyes gets himself mixed up in something as he and Tarnat go eyeball to eyeball after the Spaniard is fouled
- 88'
Handbags between Anelka and Cole as Cole stops the Frenchman from collecting the ball to restart quickly. Anelka is the first to raise a hand but it is all started by Cole. Referee's verdict is red for Anelka and just yellow for Cole
- 87'
Anelka benifits from a great ball into the area from Wright-Phillips breaking to his feet in the box and he finishes well. 2-1 and City back in it
- 86'
Tarnat swings a leg at it but it misses the target
- 85'
City throwing men forward now and win a second free-kick out on the right, level with the penalty spot
- 84'
Twisting and turning out by the left corner flag 'Tricky' Sinclair is fouled by Cygan
- 83'
Pires makes way for Pascal Cygan as Arsene Wenger looks to shore up the defence and preserve the lead
- 82'
Arsenal play through City's midfield until the ball is played out wide to Henry. He cuts back inside onto his right foot and unleashes and arrow of a shot into the top right hand corner of the net. James can't get anywhere near it. Great goal - 2-0 Arsenal.
- 81'
Game opening up now
- 80'
Reyes plays a lovely weighted pass for Pires to get round the City back line. Pires tries to tee up Henry, a deflection sees Reyes and Henry in a position to shoot but James is out bravely to pull off a point blank save from the Frenchman
- 78'
First sight of goal for Reyes as the ball breaks just inside the box. James pulls off a cracking save to stop a goalbound effort
- 77'
Reyes plays a one-two with Pires but the return pass, in the air and in the box, is not controlled
- 76'
pitch now starting to break down in places creating mud patches
- 75'
Double substitution for City: Fowler and McManaman on for midfielders Reyna and Bosvelt
- 74'
Anelka gets city's best chance running at Campbell one-on one. The big centre back is up to the task though and a strong block challenge steers him away
- 73'
Henry shows his class by getting the ball out from under his feet and a shot away despite the attention of several blue shirts. James does well to get down and hang on to the slippery ball
- 72'
Edu the next to try his luck from distance and, while the shot is dipping, it is always going over
- 70'
Pires has a real chance just inside the City box with rare space. Fires over after snatching at it when he had more time
- 69'
Impressive first touch from the youngster as a drag back and quick pass draws a cheer
- 68'
Reyes makes his entrance to a raptuous response from the home crowd. Bergkamp makes way for the young Spaniard to make his debut
- 67'
Scrappy passage of play as both side swap possession in the centre of the pitch
- 65'
Some area's of the pitch getting very heavy in the rain and restricting either sides passing game
Leaders
ARSMNC 
