Arsenal Title Hopes Comes Alive After Defeating Man City At The Emirates.

30 minutes into the action on Monday Night Football, Man City were the better side as they looked to close the gap on league-leaders Leicester, but at the end of 90 minutes it was Arsenal who enhanced their title challenge as two first-half goals proved to be enough for victory.

Theo Walcott opened the scoring with a spectacular, curling effort before Olivier Giroud drilled past Joe Hart with Mesut Ozil as usual providing assists for both goals to continue his impressive run of form this season which as seen him involved in 17 goals from 16 games. City generated more possession after the break and was able to pull one back when Yaya Toure guided the ball into the top corner but that wasn't enough for Manuel Pellegrini's side as Arsenal held out to sit second in the table going into Christmas, just as they have been on the last two occasions they have won the league.

City did not necessarily dominate possession or opportunities, they had the better of both without stamping their mark on the game. David Silva and Fernandinho were both off target before Kevin De Bruyne went much closer with a low drive. That chance seemed as though it might be a prelude for a goal and indeed it was, but not at the end many would have expected. Just as City were starting to genuinely threaten, it was Arsenal who edged ahead against the run of play through Walcott. Ozil passed to Walcott inside the penalty area and at first it looked like the ball might get caught under the England international. Walcott steadied himself superbly before bending a fantastic curling strike beyond the reach of his international colleague Joe Hart.

Eliquiam Mangala played a sloppy cross-field pass and when Ozil eventually took possession, he once more supplied for Giroud to drill through Hart's legs and in. Being two up going into the second half gave Arsenal confidence and City were slow to muster any kind of reaction. City introduced Raheem Sterling at the start of the 2^nd half then later came in Wilfried Bony but neither made much impression. Toure's attempt to win a free shot on goal from 12 yards was also dismissed by the referee and again it looked as though the correct decision was made.

As time started running out, City were at their most threatening since it was goalless but Jesus Navas panicked and tried to square rather than taking a shot himself. There was no such problem for Toure, who passed a magnificent effort into the top corner to reduce the deficit and change the complexion of the match with eight minutes left but the visitors were unable to clinch an equaliser as Arsenal prevailed.