Uchambuzisports

Tuesday 16 August 2016

Sunday 7 August 2016

Arsenal 3-2 Manchester City: Gabriel injured as Gunners beat City

Alex Iwobi was on target as Arsenal beat Man City in Gothenburg

Chuba Akpom scored for the fourth game in a row but Gabriel had to be stretchered off as Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-2 in Gothenburg on Sunday.

With both teams naming strong starting line-ups, it was City who took the lead after half an hour when Sergio Aguero turned in Raheem Sterling's cross.

Alex Iwobi levelled early in the second half before Theo Walcott and Akpom put the Gunners 3-1 ahead.

Kelechi Iheanacho pulled a goal back for City and there was then a lengthy stoppage after an injury to Gabriel, who had to be stretchered off after a clash with Sterling.

Arsenal are already without another centre-back, Per Mertesacker, for their Premier League opener against Liverpool next Sunday, live on Sky Sports, and will wait anxiously to see the extent of Gabriel's injury.

Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey made their first pre-season starts for the Gunners while Aguero and Nolito made the Man City XI, but recent signing Leroy Sane was not involved.

It was the Gunners who created the better early chances, with Gabriel heading over from a free-kick and Ramsey also missing the target from Sanchez's inch-perfect cross.

Sergio Aguero beats Petr Cech to open the scoring

Granit Xhaka then played in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose deft chip over Willy Caballero went wide of the post.

Caballero saved from Ramsey before City took the lead against the run of play on the half-hour mark, with Aguero turning in a brilliant right-wing cross from Sterling.

Arsenal introduced Theo Walcott, Calum Chambers and Mohamed Elneny at the break and it was Walcott who provided the assist for the equaliser, crossing for Iwobi to finish.

Alexis Sanchez battles for possession with Gael Clichy

Sanchez came close to giving Arsenal the lead with a free-kick that crashed against the crossbar.

Joe Hart, on as a half-time substitute, made a fingertip save to keep out a shot from Walcott before Petr Cech denied Jesus Navas at the other end.

But the Gunners took the lead in the 73 minute as Sanchez slipped in Walcott and he coolly chipped over the advancing Hart.

Pep Guardiola gives instructions from the touchline

Yaya Toure missed a good opportunity to equalise when he blazed over the bar from the penalty spot after Kevin De Bruyne's cutback.

Chuba Akpom made it 3-1 when City overplayed at the back and Hart fumbled the ball into the substitute's path.

Kelechi Iheanacho replied for Pep Guardiola's side before Cech saved from Toure and Navas shot over the bar.

Arsenal held out for victory but the result will likely be overshadowed by the late injury to Gabriel.