Arsenal are set to face Manchester City in a crucial Premier League title clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, and this has not been a happy hunting ground.
Mikel Arteta will hope to end a nine-year winless streak at Man City with a statement victory on Sunday, which would send Arsenal four points clear of their title rivals.
This will be easier said than done, as Arsenal have never even earned a point at the Etihad since Pep Guardiola’s arrival, with a 2-2 draw in 2015-16 the last time they avoided defeat there.
Arsenal’s last win came in January 2015 in a surprisingly excellent 2-0 victory under Arsene Wenger, despite some key players missing and some surprise changes to his lineup.
The Arsenal XI from their last win at Manchester City in 2015
David Ospina continued in goal, having replaced Wojciech Szczesny a few weeks prior to the game after a disciplinary incident meant Wenger dropped the Poland star.
Hector Bellerin started at right-back in what was a breakout few months for him at the club, with Mathieu Debuchy injured.
Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny revived their outstanding centre-back partnership from the previous season, with Koscielny missing significant chunks of the first-half of the campaign with injury.
Nacho Monreal impressed at left-back, earning a penalty early on which was converted by Santi Cazorla.
Francis Coquelin had been recalled from a loan spell at Charlton, and trusted straight into the starting XI just a few games before the trip to the Etihad, but he delivered a masterclass as he helped shield the defence well.
Santi Cazorla was the player of the match, oozing class throughout and playing a part in both goals, in what many regard as one of his best-ever performances for the club.
Aaron Ramsey lined up in midfield alongside Cazorla and Coquelin, with Mesut Ozil on the bench having only just returned from a long-term injury in the previous game.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain lined up on the right wing, with Theo Walcott an unused substitute as he continued his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.
Alexis Sanchez started on the left wing, but could not continue his fine start to the season in what was a difficult individual performance for him against Pablo Zabaleta.
Olivier Giroud led the line, and nodded in the second goal from Cazorla’s excellent free-kick delivery, to help seal all three points for Arsenal.
How Arsenal beat Manchester City in 2015
Wenger earned praise after the game, which was City’s first loss in 13 games, as he defied accusations about stubbornness and set his side up differently.
Instead of playing their usual open, attacking style, Arsenal sat deep and let City have the ball, registering just 35% possession, and Coquelin proved vital in the middle of the park as the perfect foil for Cazorla.
A masterclass from Cazorla meant the likes of David Silva and Fernandinho could not get anywhere near him, and his technical excellence was on full display in what was something of a landmark victory for Arsenal, who had struggled in tough away games prior to that trip.
Arteta himself missed this trip to the Etihad with injury, but will be hoping for a similar result on Sunday in the top-of-the-table clash.
