I'd have picked Boyata; Pleat praises 'bold Mancini'. City 0 - 3 Arsenal: Match report

Arsenal are one of the last teams in the world you would want to face with a numerical disadvantage - especially for the vast majority of the match.  They are renowned for their intelligent passing and moving style, so when the red card was shown - the angry reaction from the fans was more a foreboding of what was to come rather than a disagreement with the actual decision.

The inconsistencies are infuriating, as Mancini pointed out after the game.  If Boyata is sent off, why wasn't Williamson against Newcastle when he was deemed to have fouled Tevez for the penalty - is the penalty considered punishment enough?  Or there is Vidic in the Carling Cup final last season -  with similar timing to this one, where the referee presumably didn't want to ruin the spectacle of a cup final.  But in the rules of the game, it is hard to put up an argument.  Boyata didn't act out of malice or gamesmanship, it was just a clumsy and costly moment for the young lad. 

Unfortunately, I have no 'match preview' to back this up, but I would also have picked Boyata before the game - and, as such, it is impossible for me to join those happy hindsighted few who blame Mancini's selection here.  Generally speaking, I have far fewer nervy moments watching Boyata than I do Lescott, and the Boyata/Kompany partnership has always looked strong and reliable on previous occasions.  There is definitely a great future for that partnership, but they have always looked assured enough right now, when it matters, as well.  People will say that it is too big an occasion to test this theory - but this is a young man who helped stop Chelsea earlier this season, has played in big games against United, and excelled against Juventus a few weeks ago.  A number of the same people would probably also complain if the young players weren't getting their chances.

Boyata made a mistake, and a large one, but football is full of mistakes and it is just one of those things.  As well as Micah played yesterday, or Bridge for that matter, it is hard to say the potential for mistakes isn't there.  Even Joe Hart has had his moments this season.  Boyata is a very promising player for us and he should continue to get the chances to prove himself in the big matches. 

City worked til the legs wouldn't move anymore and Arsenal had all of 85 minutes to make sure City tired enough for them to take advantage.  David Pleat's tactical focus in the Guardian this morning was in praise of Mancini's seeming determination to still have a go with ten men: 

Nine out of 10 managers would have fallen back on a 4-4-1 system and isolated a forward. Boldly, however, Mancini challenged his players to work a 4-3-2 structure with the skilful and tireless David Silva and Carlos Tevez charged with occupying Arsenal's back four.  The home side maintained a level of attacking threat by keeping two players up front and Mancini merits praise for his outlook. His side rarely sat back, even if their efforts demanded maximum energy. Yaya Touré was initially switched to centre-back to partner Vincent Kompany, with City going narrow – dragging Silva from the touchline – just as Arsenal, with their numerical advantage, were attempting to stretch the pitch using the full width with Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri pinned wide...  As a tactic, with Arsenal's own back line ever conscious of the threat posed by Tevez and Silva, it succeeded until City ran out of legs.

Even though Arsenal were comfortably in control of the ball, it is testament to this approach that Fabianski got the Arsenal website's official man of the match.  It started to show at around the hour mark, as players such as Micah Richards lost their legs - this was Micah's second ninety minutes in four days after a few weeks on the sidelines.

It was hard to expect much after the sending off, and Arsenal used the advantage well in the second half, but considering the first goal was preventable (as Barry, in a makeshift role, failed to follow his man), the third goal was a mixture of out-of-play and offside, and the red card - it probably wasn't as bad as the scoreline looks. 

It was good to see the return of Mario Balotelli, who, despite looking a bit off the pace and a little intent on showing what he can do on his own, will be a welcome option - especially if Tevez's knock is anything more serious than expected.  Boateng looked a lot happier in the centre of defence - with the pace to cover any lapses at the back. 

It is a blow to lose heavily to a rival but circumstances changed the face of the game as a contest.  Now it is time to pick ourselves up for the next encounter.