Gunners punish shot-shy Blues

PREMIER League reigning champions Manchester City might be feeling a little anxious about their current second position in the table following their comprehensive home defeat by Arsenal.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men had wiped out an eight–point deficit to pull level with Chelsea at the top of the table, but a patchy run of form capped by yesterday’s 2-0 defeat to the Gunners has left them five points adrift again.

The pressure is now on with a crucial trip to Stamford Bridge to face their title rivals in a fortnight’s time.

Pellegrini said: “The game we must play at Stamford Bridge is a very important game. We must close the gap to two points. I hope we are going to recover and play the way we have been playing so far.”

City failed to spark despite the return of Sergio Aguero to their starting line–up.

Aside from a brief spell early in the second half when Aguero and Jesus Navas went close, the Arsenal back line was rarely extended.

Pellegrini said: “With the ball we didn’t have clear ideas. I think we didn’t play a good game.

“We ran a lot and had a lot of possession, but we didn’t have creative ideas to try to find the space against a team that defend very well.”