Manchester City progressed to the Carling Cup semi-finals thanks to Sergio Aguero's late winner at Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
An uninspiring game looked to be heading for extra time until, after a superb counter-attack from Edin Dzeko and Adam Johnson, Aguero side-footed the winner with just seven minutes remaining.
History
The last time City won at Arsenal, Brian Kidd was playing for the Gunners and sporting a huge afro hairdo.
When the Blues ended that 36-year hoodoo here, it came through a goal electrifying enough to make Kiddo’s current conservative crop stand on end as he watched from the Blues bench.
A sweeping, length-of-the-field move started by Dzeko, pivoted by Adam Johnson and finished by Aguero lit up an otherwise dogged but plodding City display.
But it means City go in the hat for Wednesday’s Carling Cup semi-final draw – and a possible reprise of the meeting with United from two seasons ago.
Mancini made ten changes from the side which started at Anfield, with Samir Nasri – who only played 65 minutes on Sunday – making his first return to the Emirates since his £25million move in the summer.
But his side still had enough experience and quality to handle a young Gunners side. The starting eleven was made up of ten full internationals and an England under-21 defender in Nedum Onuoha.
Aleks Kolarov was on the left of midfield, Pablo Zabaleta at left back, while Nedum Onuoha – with one game in six months – was recalled at right back.
With Owen Hargreaves in the heart of midfield, and still woefully short of match practice, the advantage City had in experience was swallowed up by dearth of games and lack of shape.
Given that, it was no great surprise that there was a disjointed look about the Blues in the first half.
That was a shame because 7,000 City fans had taken the trouble to make their way to the Emirates.
With Arsenal also leaving their big guns out, the first half became a battle of Arsenal’s youthful enthusiasm against City’s dogged desire not to lose.
The travelling support thought they had the advantage with the first real attack of the game as Adam Johnson cut in from the left, in familiar fashion, and dipped a vicious shot onto the roof of the goal.
The ripple of the net had some believing the ball had sneaked below the bar.
But, just as it was on Sunday, the Blues keeper became the key figure as the game evolved.
Romania international Costel Pantilimon has had to be patient since his low-key move from Timisoara in the summer, only getting outings in this competition.
But he showed his ability in spectacular fashion when Arsenal carved some space on the right and Francis Coquelin’s wicked cross found Ju Young Park at the far post.
He seemed odds-on to score but scuffed his shot. It was still heading goalwards, but the six ft eight ins keeper, going to his right, flung himself back to his left to push the ball as far as Stefan Savic, who smuggled it to safety.
It was a stunning save, but there was more to come as the enterprising Gunners showed the kind of determination which means they not lost at home in the League Cup since 2004.
Star
This time it was there latest rising star, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who fashioned a shooting chance and let fly with a wicked, dipping bender from 25 yards.
Pantilimon needed all of his gargantuan height to stretch and tip the shot over the bar.
It was clear the Gunners were getting on top, while too many of City’s counter-attacks were half-hearted and unsupported.
Not afraid to make early changes when something isn’t working, Mancini hauled off Kolarov and replaced him with Sergio Aguero.
That instantly gave City a perkier look up front and in the first action of the first half Edin Dzeko almost curled a shot inside Lukasz Fabianski’s post.
But Arsenal were soon back at it, and suddenly Pantilimon didn’t look so assured, flapping away one stinging drive from Oxlade-Chamberlain and then diving to punch clear a cross as City were starting to reel.
Much of the second half had been about calm resistance to Arsenal’s attacking efforts, but when City fashioned a rare chance, Dzeko got under Zabaleta’s cross and headed tamely wide.
The big Bosnian is an unpredictable character, however. Playing with his back to goal, he had fluffed and fudged his way through the game – until he chased a loose ball on the edge of his own box from an Arsenal corner, with seven minutes left.
Suddenly, those long legs were carrying him downfield, and he picked out Johnson’s smart run.
The winger, also anonymous for long spells, swivelled and nudged the ball beautifully for Aguero, and the little Argentine finished with typical precision.
What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.
Arsenal 0 Manchester City 1: Stuart Brennan's Carling Cup verdict
November 29, 2011
Comments
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As Our Reserves Go Marching On !!!!!!.Can't wait till we hit Top Gear,been waiting a long time......!.
That will do for me! ok an unsp[iring goal but then again its the MUEN mode kicking in again. What a great goal from Sergio Aguero, superbly taken, now for the rags or Liverpool in the semi final...
Well done lads it was a professional performance I am pleased very very pleased...
Enjoyed this game a lot and especially that counter attack! Edin Dzeko is like a Swiss army knife, he does it all!!!
Dreadful performance but one moment of brilliance and our only effort on target wins the game. Sign of a great team!!
'mmmm. we have been a little unconvincing in the last few games. Hopefully just a hiccup. Great to get the good results whilst hiccuping though. Looking forward to the semis.
Another ghost laid to rest after 36 years-well done you Blues. Anyone doubting Mancini should go and support Oldham or Rochdale etc. Not the most inspring performance but a job done. Frustrated with Dzeko nearly the whole match as his lay offs and passing were abysmal but what a break and pass he made for the wonderful flick by Johnson and sublime finish by Kun. Not sure Nedum put himself in the shop window and for me (probably get slated by his supporters) Nige is not on the pace this season-hardly ever manages a telling pass and missed a number of tackles tonight.
Thank you, dear Blues. Unfortunately, I am in severe danger of becoming an alcoholic, with joy.
Thought after 45 minutes, yea this is good, although not many chances made. Then in the 2nd half the gooners put us under pressure more, however the boys stood up well to the task. Then Edin seemed to decide THE TIME IS RIGHT and what a well worked goal scored by KUN. Nice one BLUES!!
Dippers in semis as rags will get cardiff if they beat palace tomorrow
Well done to the lads that turned out tonight. Now will we play Utd in a two legged semi or will they keep us seperate until a money spinning final?
would be good to meet Palace at wembley
That winner was so surgically clinical that i hope for their sake the Arsenal defence were all under general anesthetic at the time............ouch. Great to see Hargreaves come through nearly 80 minutes of a fast paced game against decent opposition. With Yaya away at the ACON in 6 weeks time he could be an invaluable player - he looked good, build his fitness up and he is a top player. His positioning was excellent tonight...........
Has Mr Weger any more advice for City ?.Another bogey laid to rest.Keep the wheels a rolling.That should shut up some begrudgers for a few days ,or will it ? We don't really care.
Cardiif, Liverpool, Palace or united? City can beat any of them over two legs and even in a final. Blue Magic. To go away to arsenal and come away with a win is absolutely brilliant. Hail the Team, Hail Roberto..
Type your comment here..Brill win ,defended well then smash and grab .If City are looking for a 4th striker/winger in January what about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ???? Arsenals best player tonight .
Way to go lads! Just enough to go through. MOTM? I think it was even between Zabba and Kolo both good in defensive work and timing. I think Dzeko's through ball to AJ was superb, otherwise I think the bosniak gives and takes to much. Panti looked really safe. It was clear that some of the guys missed some match tempo/fitness: Owen (tired in second), Oh-no-a (didn't have the confidence to along the wing either) was rusty.
Controlled the game with a second string. That's the reciept we wanted! This will mean that:
Silvaware is coming!
Poor performance but it hardly seems to matter. fair to say no one on the domestic front can beat us. Rags in the semi hopefully, though they have probably arranged for cardiff to be the warm ball in the draw!
Great goal by Aquero, who I thought looked really battered and bruised after the game against Liverpool, We missed Yaya, Milner and Barry in mid-field But a hard fought win!
A lot of Pantilimon 'experts' who reckoned he would be a weak link for this game, should maybe sample a bit of that good old humble pie!
This club has been changed from top to bottom...they all play to Roberto's style, making the whole 'squad' and even the youngsters totally interchangeable.
We don't have to look back too far before to when we were used to having no chance in matches like these!
Well done to everyone connected to our club...especially our fantastic travelling support, you are an incredible credit to us all, guys!
TTFN
scrappy game and our team was basically a mix of tired players who played at anfield and players who havent played a full game in ages, hence the lack of energy and unity.
However, we won that with heart and desire and a special mention has to go to EDIN DZEKO for his supreme effort, run and inch perfect pass to AJ.
Also worth a shout was NDJ, absolutely faultless in every tackle and interception yet again.
Worryingly was nasri who just didnt want to play or run and Adam johnson who couldnt beat their 19 year old right back if the game was still being played through to tomorrow.
Another semi final.....my how times are a changing!
Well done blues
Great result and load of positives .Savic will be some player next season .Owen class can also when fully fit will be a great signing.Overall great team performance. The one downside for me Nasri, does not do enough ,he looks slow and ball watches . But the goal was brill.
well done MANCINI and our city boys - we are still winiing and unbeaten in league and english cups - just unbelieveable - still dreaming its this real , is this manc city , we used to win one lose 3 - well done city , moon keep on rising ..
Great use of squad by Mancini, strong performances from Zabaleta, Dzeko and the two central defenders. Not a brilliant performance understandably but another SF and job done.
Not happy with the way were playing at the moment it feels like teams have worked us out a bit applying the pressure and picking up our stray balls the slick football has eluded us somewhat but it's a victory and a wins a win! i will say great move for the goal and Dzeko although his his touch was off his work rate was top notch deserved man of the match!
Glad were still doing well but just feel the team really need to dig deep for the games coming up!
COME ON CITY! COME ON CITY! COME ON CITY! COME ON CITY! COME ON CITY!
COME ON CITY! COME ON CITY! COME ON CITY! COME ON CITY! COME ON CITY!
A pretty average performance but a terrific result. Although Dzeko got M.o.M I thought Zabaleta was excellent. Onouha, Hargreaves, Nasri below par, Kolo and Nigel solid.
Another forward step in our fantastic progress.