Thierry Henry’s winner six minutes from time gave Arsenal a 2-1 win over Manchester City here at a rainswept Highbury on Sunday that saw the Gunners go two points clear of champions Manchester United at the top of the English Premiership table.
But the game was mired in controversy towards the end after former Arsenal striker and Henry’s fellow Frenchman Nicolas Anelka equalised in the 89th minute.
Anelka’s attempts to regain the ball in order to effect a quick kick-off were frustrated by Arsenal’s England full-back Ashley Cole in a clear time-wasting manoeuvre.
As Cole held onto the ball, he and Anelka became involved in a shoving match. But with Anelka putting his hands into Cole’s face he was sent-off while the Arsenal man was merely booked. Earlier Michael Tarnat’s own-goal gave Arsenal a first-half
lead.
The match also saw the debut of Arsenal’s multi-million pounds Spanish striker Jose Antonio Reyes, the 20-year-old coming close to scoring after coming on as a 69th minute substitute. – Sapa-AFP