Premier League Sterling sinks Arsenal to reignite Manchester City

The Manchester City boss faces the Arsenal manager on Sunday with both sides desperate for three points to keep up with runaway leaders Chelsea, who beat Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Leroy Sane equalized two minutes into the second period before Sterling netted a 71st-minute victor, lifting City above Arsenal into second place, seven points adrift of leader Chelsea.

“It’s a terrible week but it’s part of the season as well”.

Arsene Wenger has bemoaned the poor refereeing decisions which have cost Arsenal victories in their last two Premier League matches. ‘It was a good comeback.

But he hailed Yaya Toure, who has become an increasingly vital cog in City’s midfield despite Guardiola initially freezing him out.

“I know I can still get better”. “Every time we stopped them from creating chances they looked short of ideas”. But I don’t want to make the referees the subject of a press conference.

“He looks like a boy”. Replays suggested the German may have been marginally offside but, racing forward in a central position, he took David Silva’s lofted ball in his stride with a clever turn.

Adam Lallana, who scored twice at the Riverside Stadium, said Liverpool’s display was “not too far off the complete performance”, but revealed manager Jurgen Klopp was not fully satisfied. Seeing the Arsenal’s defensive line, Chris can be the player they need to improve their level.

Arsenal contained City comfortably in the first half after Theo Walcott had put them ahead, but they simply couldn’t match Pep Guardiola’s side when they raised the intensity after half-time.

Sterling, deployed as a lone striker by Guardiola, came close to instantly cancelling out Walcott’s goal when, stretching to meet Kevin De Bruyne’s cross, he could only head wide from six yards.

He then made his next opportunity count to some effect two minutes into the second half. The result dropped Arsenal to fourth place.

“I was tempted to go for an Arsenal win because if they’re going to be in title contention this season, that’s when you have to have a bit of bottle and come back after a defeat”, Parlour said.

“Since September 17, we’ve won just one game here [at the Etihad]”, he said.

City, who wore shirts before the game bearing Ilkay Gundogan’s name after a serious knee injury sustained against Watford, began to play with a renewed spirit as a frustrated Arsene Wenger watched his players offer very little fight in the second half.