Boring tag no concern for satisfied Mancini
EMIRATES STADIUM
ARSENAL 0 vs MANCHESTER CITY 0
MANCHESTER CITY boss Roberto Mancini shrugged off ‘boring’ chants from Arsenal fans after his side’s negative tactics kept the Gunners behind them in third place.
Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas both hit the post as City survived an onslaught, leaving Arsene Wenger’s men four points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.
The Emirates echoed with boos and chants of ‘Boring, Boring City’ at full-time, but Mancini said: “It’s not important for me. I prefer to go with one point.”
Both sides finished the game with 10 men after a late flare-up, and Wenger said: “I think we had the performance but not the result. I take a lot of encouragement form tonight even if mathematically we are frustrated.”
Arsenal should have been ahead in two minutes, but Jack Wilshere dragged his shot wide with Van Persie and Theo Walcott lurking, before the Dutchman thwacked the post from 18 yards. Fabregas did likewise, with City goalkeeper Joe Hart bamboozled, before the half hour was up.
Hart tipped over a Van Persie howitzer from distance after the break but City stood firm as Arsenal grew increasingly frustrated.
Tensions boiled over in the last minute when Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta were shown red cards for squaring up and butting heads.