football

Yesterday saw another game fly by at such a speed that it was over before it began, but not in the way you may expect. All the games nominated by SkySports as their game of 2011 have been high scoring affairs, with Arsenal's draw at Newcastle and win at Chelsea featuring, but the game yesterday between Arsenal and Manchester City was a game to behold.

The attacking prowess and defensive frailties of both sides was exposed as the game was played from the first minute to the last at a relentless and unyielding speed. Manchester City played with Gareth Barry and Yaya Toure supporting the four-pronged attack, leaving the defensive lynchpin of last season Nigel De Jong on the bench, a position he has become accustomed to over the last two months. But they were stretched to all lengths by Aaron Ramsey's endless movement, Mikel Arteta's precision passing and Alex Song's tenacity in front of the Arsenal defence.

The ball glided over the surface and it was as though it was attached to the players' feet by elastic. Balotelli dragged the ball from the heavens with a superlative touch before forcing a save from Szczesny whilst Ramsey tested Joe Hart at the other end. Sergio Aguero blazed over as Robin Van Persie saw his deft chip chalked off by the linesman.

It was the first fifteen minutes of the second half when Arsenal momentarily lost their shape that City scored the winner with Silva scoring past Vermaelen's lunge, when the Spaniard should have been marked by either Arteta or Ignasi Miquel. City deserved their lead but a draw would have been a fair result.

A cross from the right was handled by Micah Richards but Phil Dowd decided it was unintentional, before Walcott lashed an effort on target which was tipped over. Arsenal's pressure in the final minutes should have been rewarded with Vermaelen, an inspiration at the heart of the defence curling two brilliant shots goalwards, one of which was pushed over and one that curled agonisingly wide of the far post, with Hart scrambling.

The game may have finished one nil but it will be remembered for the energy and finesse that these sides bring to our league. Both sides were winners yesterday but the real winner was the Premier League.

By Luke Lambert

Let us look at Nasri. Last season he was seen as a god by Arsenal fans, who watched him dismantle the opposition with his close control and precision passing. Although he faded into the second half of the season he was still one of the most important cogs in the Arsenal machine. His expected move brought with it gloom at Arsenal and a sense of promise for those in the blue half of Manchester. His display against Tottenham at White Hart Lane was spell- binding. He was involved in all the goals and made a very good side look less than ordinary in that 5-1 rout. Since then, Nasri has predominantly been a spectator, watching as the other creative wizards cement themselves into the place he surely thought was meant for him.

Although he has started the last four matches, it remains to be seen if he will play against his former club tomorrow when Arsenal visit Eastlands. He got barracked terribly in City's Carling Cup victory two weeks ago and looked far below par. Mancini said today that Nasri's form must improve for him to get a regular spot in such a talent ridden squad, and what better time to start than tomorrow? One former gunner, Gael Clichy, will miss the match after his red card against Chelsea but it is Nasri's chance to show his worth and show he is just more than Samir Na$ri.

By Luke Lambert
Twitter: @luke_lambert1

Rooney was deservedly sent off for kicking Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic during England's final qualifier in October. However, always keen to show just how stupidly nonsensical and out of date an organisation it is, the FA leapt to Rooney's defence to launch an appeal that they themselves would reject and further punish due to its frivolous nature.

Whereas UEFA's disciplinary process is quite flexible, the FA's own is a rigidly antiquated order that offers very little explanation for its actions and assumes that it deserves utter respect.

The Rooney appeal is yet another example of the FA's ‘do as we say not as we do' mindset. If the exact same incident had happened in a Premier League match you can bet the FA would not have been so keen to let the player off. But how dare ‘Johnny Foreigner' decide one of our boys deserves punishment?! It's enough to make one hurl their monocle at a swan.

Presumably the FA hierarchy hadn't been that appalled at a decision since they found out women had been granted the right to vote.

By Peter Simpson

Yes it's January transfer window time again and who's that coming down BBM's chimney? Why it's Father Wishlist! So what better time to pick his brains about the rumours currently circulating at the bottom of every manager's festive transfer sack. Marvelous.

First up, Chelsea, who think the answer to their problems (their main problem being they're already out of the title race) is Bolton's Gary Cahill, also known as John Terry Mk II. Depending on which rag you read, the general consensus is Chelsea will bid around £7million for him come January, with Spurs their main competition. This clearly means Chelsea think they don't have enough John Terrys in their team. Ironically, England's problem is they have too many.

Another player linked to Chelsea is Palermo midfielder Josip Ilicic, who's agent has recently come out to say he won't be going anywhere in January. In agent speak, this translates 'please pay a ridiculous sum of money for my client so I can have my tidy 10 per cent.'

Meanwhile, perennial also-rans Arsenal are reportedly interested in Dortmund's 19-year-old starlet Mario Gotze.

Having only just gone through puberty, he certainly fits the Arsenal bill - so will Arsene Wenger for once have the courage to back his instincts and pay the £30million Dortmund reckon he's worth? Almost certainly not.
Funniest rumour so far? Rooney to Madrid for £55million. Remind us never to read the International Business Times website again. It even sounds like a made-up paper.