Ozil has eclipsed David Silva and Arsenal must be title favourites – Five things we learnt from the Emirates

Following Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Manchester City, Standard Sport examines what we've learnt from the clash at the Emirates.
Crucial win: Victory over Manchester City sees Arsenal keep second spot for Christmas
Simon Johnson21 December 2015

Manchester City can't win the title without Kompany

It has been well documented for weeks, but Manchester City continue to struggle without their captain.

Since Kompany last's appearance against Aston Villa six weeks ago, Manuel Pellegrini's side haven't kept a clean sheet in eight matches.

Once again his replacements Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi were found wanting.

Arsenal's second goal summed it up, with Mangala giving the ball away carelessly inside his own half and the home side capitalised with ease.

But for some woeful finishing after the break, Arsenal could have won much more comfortably.

Chelsea can't consider Manuel Pellegrini a worthy candidate

Supposedly on the bequest of technical director Michael Emenalo, Pellegrini has emerged as a shock contender to be a permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho next summer.

One wonders why given he has now contrived to slump to five League defeats with this superb and expensive Manchester City squad.

The negative decision to start Fabian Delph rather than £49m summer signing Raheem Sterling backfired spectacularly.

By the time he recognised his mistake and swapped them at half-time, it was too late because they were two goals down and left them with too much to do.

City should be walking away with the League this term, instead they are six points behind Leicester and four behind main rivals Arsenal.

Ozil has taken Silva's mantle as best creative player in the League

Two of the most skilful players in the top flight went head to head and it ended up being a very one sided contest.

Ozil used to be anonymous on the big occasion in an Arsenal shirt, but that's not the case anymore.

The Germany international added another two assists to his collection to take his tally to 15 for the League season - which is just five behind Thierry Henry's Premier League record.

Granted the first was only a minor contribution to Theo Walcott's stunner, but the pass for Olivier Giroud was perfectly placed and timed.

As for Silva, he was on the periphery for long periods and in contrast, didn't supply one penetrative ball into the area for Arsenal to worry about before he was taken off with 18 minutes to go.

Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Manchester City

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Arsenal look so assured with Petr Cech in goal

No-one should need a statistic to know the Cech is the best keeper to grace the Premier League.

Yaya Toure denied him a 170th clean sheet in the top flight and the honour of overtaking David James with the highest in the competition, with a superb chip late on.

But Chelsea's decision to sell him to their rivals for £10m in the summer continues to look like one of the biggest own goals in the League's history.

How Arsenal are laughing now. Whereas the likes of Wojciech Szczesny or David Ospina would always have a costly error just around the corner, Cech is an imposing figure in Arsenal's goal.

Arsenal's back four look far more confident knowing the Czech international is behind them.

He may not have been tested too many times tonight, but the home side never had much to worry about with his calm handling to the fore.

Getty

Arsene Wenger's side must be title favourites now

This result was the perfect Christmas present for all Arsenal fans but a greater gift could await them in May.

The achievement of the 2004 Invincibles has weighed heavy around the club's shoulders for the past 11 years.

But their long wait for a League title could finally be ended this season after this huge boost to their morale.

Beating a main title rival means their challenge has to be taken seriously and while Leicester still lead, the fairytale will come to an end sooner or later.

Perhaps most encouraging of all is that Arsenal didn't play their best but still claimed all three points.

Sure there were a few nerves after Toure's stunning effort late on, but the fans jubilant celebrations after the final whistle betrayed the belief that the agonising wait to be champions again could finally be coming to an end.

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