Manchester City's trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal was a key test of their Barclays Premier League title credentials, and it was a game they couldn't afford to lose, given Manchester United's 2-1 win at home to Liverpool earlier in the afternoon. It was a test they passed with relative ease, running out comfortable 2-0 winners to reduce their deficit to seven points, but the key talking points of the afternoon came away from the result.
The game was changed significantly inside ten minutes with the sending off of Laurent Koscielny for his last-man foul on Edin Dzeko. While referee Mike Dean was criticised for the decision to issue a red card so early, the call was entirely correct, and for me a red card offence is the same in the 1st minute or the 91st. It wasn't Dean's fault that Koscielny was as silly as he was to commit the foul. Wojciech Szczesny produced an excellent save from Dzeko's ensuing kick to limit the punishment, but from that point Arsenal were facing damage limitation.
Speaking of correct decisions, Vincent Kompany was also right - in the letter of the law at least - to be sent off for his two footed lunge on Jack Wilshere. Kompany did play the ball, but the nature of his lunge, where both feet left the ground, and where he did make contact with Wilshere, did for me mean that Dean was right to issue his second red card of the afternoon. The problem lies in that he got the ball. Years ago it wouldn't have even been a foul, but the game has moved on. Maybe the law does protect players too much from what look like good, honest challenges, but at least it means that studs-up lunges half way up players' legs are slowly but surely being eradicated from the game. City have appealed against the decision, but in all honesty the red card is very likely to be upheld.
The travelling supporters from Manchester faced an expensive day, with the much-publicised cost of their Emirates ticket being £62. Everyone knows that City are amongst the richest clubs in the world, and of course they possess a championship-winning team worth the entrance fee alone, according to the cliche. But Arsenal - and other clubs, it must be said - have forgotten that doesn't mean that their fans are the richest, and for nearly 1000 fans, it was too much. No wonder Joleon Lescott was politley reminded to thank them after the game by none other than the assistant referee! The problem is this, however. For as long as there are fans willing to pay the hefty price, despite their protests, teams will think it's ok to charge it. Maybe more fans should vote with their feet, but football is too priceless for many to miss.
