Arsenal 2 - 1 Manchester City

Reyes makes debut, Henry scores blinder, Anelka tries to rip Ashley Cole’s head off, Arsenal re-take top spot

Those were some of the headlines from todays Premiership match at Highbury. However, since today is Super Bowl Sunday, I’m going to be lazy once again, and use the official site’s version of events to tell the tale:

2 - 1

By Richard Clarke

Arsenal welcomed new-signing Jose Antonio Reyes to the club by returning to the top of the table with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Highbury on Sunday.

Visiting defender Michael Tarnat diverted Thierry Henry�s cross into his own net six minutes before the break to give Ars�ne Wenger�s side the lead. The Frenchman added a thunderbolt of his own seven minutes from time. City�s Nicolas Anelka did score from close range at the death but, bizarrely, saw red straight afterwards as he clashed with Ashley Cole while trying to get the ball back.

Although never at their fluent best, Arsenal deserved their victory. It put them two points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table. The victory also ensured Wenger�s men matched George Graham�s 1990-91 side, who started that League campaign by going 23 unbeaten. And by scoring, they made it 96 out the last 100 Premiership games in which they have hit the net.

New boy Reyes came on for the final 21 minutes and only the anticipation of Manchester City keeper David James stopped him scoring.

Although the game had a strange end, in most respects, it was a very satisfying day.

By way of contrast, the whole of Highbury, visiting supporters included, stood in unison before kick-off. They gave rousing reception to David Seaman who strode out onto familiar turf one last time with the two teams forming a guard of honour.

The ex-England No 1 had joined Manchester City in the summer after 13 trophy-laden years at Highbury and seemed to enjoy the opportunity to say goodbye.

But today was about new as well as old faces. Jose Antonio Reyes, signed from Seville on Tuesday, was named on the bench, Elsewhere, captain Patrick Vieira was suspended so Ray Parlour joined Gilberto in central midfield. Henry was up front alongside Dennis Bergkamp. The Frenchman had missed last Saturday�s FA Cup victory over Middlesbrough.

The wind had buffeted North London earlier in the day and Arsenal did likewise to Manchester City in the opening stages. Robert Pires� low pass pottered across the area without ever finding a final touch. Then, in the 10th minute, Freddie Ljungberg sent Lauren racing into the area on the right-hand side. He clipped the ball back for the tumbling Henry to stab his shot again the post.

However, that was the best it got for a while. City had come with a defensive formation; five in midfield with Anelka the lone attacker. But they created a couple of moments of panic in the opening quarter of the game. Nothing really came from it, apart from Anelka�s dribble and low shot in the 22nd minute. And Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann always had it covered.

As the half went on, City started to grow in confidence with Wright-Phillips darting forward to good to effect to join Anelka. Arsenal, on the other hand, undermined their early impetus with a litany of misplaced passes.

As if realising this, Arsenal lifted their game and were rewarded with a goal in the 38th minute. Parlour robbed Anelka in midfield and fed Bergkamp whose pass sent Henry sprinting clear in the left channel. Too wide to shoot himself, he slipped a pass across towards Ljungberg at the far post. Fearing the danger, Tarnat slid in but only succeeded it diverting the ball into his own net

Five minutes later, Seaman�s successor for club and country, David James, spilled Pires� shot but recovered just before Ljungberg could follow up.

The rain that had begun late in the first half started to affect the game after the interval. Lehmann smothered a low from Sun Jihai and beat away a cross from Wright-Phillips.

The German then displayed sure handling to hold Sylvain Distin�s firm header on the line.

By this time Ljungberg had made way for Edu. The Swede had needed treatment early in the half after a clash with Joey Barton.

Arsenal were again starting to drift along a little. They were not under pressure but, by the same token, not in full control. A fillip was required.

Right on cue, Wenger played his trump card. He brought on Reyes for Bergkamp with 21 minutes to go. The little Spaniard with the big reputation joined Henry up front.

The lift was immediate. Within a minute, the South Stand started to sing �Jose Antonio�. They then cried �ole� at his first touch � a drag-back trick. The move ended with Pires having a shot blocked and Edu thumping a long-range effort narrowly over the angle of post and bar.

It was a Reyes of sunshine on a showery day.

Campbell�s excellent block on the galloping Anelka�s shot with 16 minutes left proved that City still had ambitions. The immediate introduction of Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman off the bench also bolstered their attack.

With 11 minutes left, James rushed out to block Reyes as the former Seville star closed in on a debut goal.

That chance was provided by Henry. The Frenchman teed up himself up for a strike seven minutes from time and this time his thunderbolt effort arrowed into the corner of the net. An incredible goal from a player who specialises in such strikes.

Anelka prodded home a reply in injury time but was dismissed as he tussled with Cole to get the ball afterwards.

But the result was never in doubt.