• Premier League

Arsenal beat ten-man City to move up to second

October 24, 2010

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Arsenal underlined their title credentials as they beat ten-man Manchester City 3-0 at Eastlands.

Samir Nasri, Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner were on the scoresheet as the Gunners moved ahead of City, Manchester United and Tottenham into second on goal difference.

In a high-octane game City were reduced to ten men after just five minutes when Dedryck Boyata was sent off after he bundled over Marouane Chamakh on the edge of the box after Cesc Fabregas had threaded the ball through.

Nasri made Arsenal's numerical advantage count on 20 minutes, scoring his third goal in as many games after a classy one-two with Andrei Arshavin. Arsene Wenger's men, who scored five goals past Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek, should have been 2-0 up at half-time if it were not for the heroics of City keeper Joe Hart.

Fabregas won a penalty after he was felled in the box by Vincent Kompany, but his penalty was well saved by Hart - a third penalty Arsenal have missed this season. At the other end, Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski maintained his side's lead after a reaction save from David Silva, and after a spell of pressure from City, former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor blazed his header over.

Arsenal established breathing room between themselves and City, with Song reacting quickest to fire past Hart. After a well-worked Arsenal move, Fabregas threaded the ball through to Nasri, but the ball got caught under the Frenchman's feet, and Song pounced to poke the ball into the top left-hand corner.

Adebayor, who started on the bench despite a hat-trick in midweek, had a hatful of chances to score against his old club, but he was continually frustrated by the Arsenal defence. Substitute Bendtner sealed an impressive Arsenal victory when he slotted past Hart for the Gunners' third, although City's defence had reason to feel aggrieved when Nasri appeared to run the ball out of play.

Javier Hernandez struck a late winner to ensure a turbulent week for Manchester United ended with a morale-boosting 2-1 victory at Stoke City.

After the farcical developments of the Wayne Rooney saga, Sir Alex Ferguson was desperate to leave the Britannia Stadium with three points.

And, with the match heading for a draw, his wish was granted. Patrice Evra showed great tenacity to force a cross and Hernandez was on hand to coolly slot home with five minutes remaining.

Ferguson rung the changes, seven in all, in a bid to get United's stuttering campaign back on track but Stoke typically bludgeoned their way forward in the early exchanges to keep the match finely poised.

The visitors took the lead when Hernandez headed home, though the Mexican striker did not appear to know much about it. Nani swung over a cross from the right and, after Nemanja Vidic nodded the ball back across goal, Hernandez used the back of his head to guide the ball past a despairing Thomas Sorensen.

Tuncay threatened to spoil the party, cutting in from the right before unleashing an unstoppable rocket past Edwin van der Sar but Hernandez came to the rescue to prevent United dropping two points for the sixth time this season.

Fernando Torres scored his first Premier League goal since August as Liverpool claimed their second win of the season to beat Blackburn 2-1 at Anfield.

Roy Hodgson's decision to leave Torres and captain Steven Gerrard out of the team who drew 0-0 at Napoli in midweek was justified as both players played a crucial role in the victory. Torres' 53rd-minute winner sealed all three points for Liverpool when he sidefooted the ball past Paul Robinson from Joe Cole's ball into the box.

Gerrard provided the cross for Sotrios Kyrgiakos's opener, the Greek's powerful header beating defender Martin Olsson on the line. But the Reds' lead was shortlived when El Hadji Diouf's strike was cleared off the line by Paul Konchesky, only for the ball to hit Jamie Carragher and rebound into his own net.

The win is the first victory under new owners New England Sports Ventures and will lift some pressure off Hodgson, but his side remain in the relegation places on goal difference.

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