ON 24TH OCTOBER 2010, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal paid a visit to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City.
Ahead of the clash, the Gunners had lost back-to-back league games so confidence was low. They were also preparing to take on a side that had invested massively in their squad just a few months before.
Roberto Mancini secured the signatures of Yaya Toure, David Silva, James Milner, Jerome Boateng and temperamental striker Mario Balotelli. But it was Carlos Tevez who continued to lead from the front – the Argentine playing a pivotal role in the first few weeks of the season as City easily swept aside Liverpool and beat Chelsea too.
But,they came a cropper against Arsenal.
After just five minutes, Dedryck Boyata was sent-off after a challenge on Marouane Chamakh. Later in the half, Arsenal hit the front through Samir Nasri while City’s struggles were encapsulated by Mancini’s decision to replace Tevez early in the second half.
But, Arsenal ensured the three points when Alex Song grabbed a second on 66 minutes while substitute Nicklas Bendtner scored a third with just two minutes left.
Taking a detailed look at the starting XI’s that day, it says much about the contrasting fortunes of the teams in recent years.
For City, five of the players that started against Arsenal four and a half years ago remain key figures: Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, James Milner, David Silva and Yaya Toure.
For Arsenal, none of the players that started are still at the club.
Worse still, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri now all play for City.
Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Boateng, Boyata, Milner, Barry, Silva, de Jong, Toure, Tevez.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy, Fabregas, Nasri, Denilson, Song, Arshavin, Chamakh.
