Manchester City humbled Arsenal in an epic goalfest 6-3

Spanish teammates David Silva and Jesus Navas ecstatic
after Silva scored ManCity's 6th goal from Navas cross

Manchester City is tough at home.  Not even the league leading Arsenal was able to withstand the pressure of Manchester City as it suffered humility with a 6-3 drubbing at Etihad Stadium.  Manchester  City playing an inspired game was dominant in possession all throughout.  In contrast, Arsenal's seems lackluster and slow. Gone is the trademark free flowing game which Arsenal is known for.

As expected, Manchester City broke the ice in the 14^th minute when a wrong Bacary Sagna clearance resulted in a side volley by Sergio Aguero from a Samir Nasri corner.  Arsenal responded in the 31^st minute. Jack Wilshere stole the ball from Toure Yaya who square it to Mesut Ozil. Ozil released a probing cross that found Theo Walcott who fired just outside the penalty box. Dimechelis deflection helped as the stunned Pantilimon just look as the ball finds the back of the net.  However, less than 10 minutes later, Manchester City took back the lead in the 39^th minute when Yaya Toure found Pablo Zabaleta on the right hand side of the penalty box.  Zabaleta's ensuing cross set up for an Alvaro Negredo tap in and Manchester City is up 2-1.

Manchester City up the lead 3-1 into the 50^th mark of the game. Mathieu Flamini missed a Mesut Ozil pass. This error was pounced upon by Fernandinho who rushed to the box and rifled a goal.  Arsenal hopes however is revived when in the 63^rd minute,  Theo Walcott scored his second goal with a chip shot from a chip pass by Aaron Ramsey.  But it seems that for every Arsenal goal, Manchester City has ready answer.  Three minutes after the Walcott's goal, Manchester City responded and virtually dash hopes for Arsenal to salvage a draw. Samir Nasri slide the ball to the right to Jesus Navas. Jesus Navas then slide a cross which a waiting David Silva side footed for a bullet like shot that stunned Sczcesny.

Samir Nasri tried twice to score in the later part of the game. His first attempt missed but the same was picked up by James Milner who again found Nasri lingering in the box to give the perfect pass. Nasri latched on to the ball but his attempt went wide high above the net. Nasri's persistence however paid off as minutes later, he squared Fernandinho who scored an easy goal after an Arsenal defensive miscue. 

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker scored a consolation header at injury time to reduce the gap to 5-3.  However, for an Arsenal goal, Manchester City seems to have an answer.  Manchester City is gifted a penalty after Sczcesny fouled James Milner to set up a Yaya Toure penalty. Toure's conversion made the final count at 6-3. 

Neymar's double lifted Barcelona over Villareal 2-1

A very relieved Barcelona overcome a tough Villareal side to eke out a slim 2-1 victory.  Barcelona started the game again without Lionel Messi, Danny Alves and Adriano Correa.  Without their superstar, Gerardo Martino fielded Cesc Fabregas in his stead with Alexis Sanchez and Neymar Da Silva as wingmen.

Both teams find little chances in the early goings. But Barcelona was poised to take the lead but Alex Song's shot hit the near post denying the host the opening goal.  The break came in the 28^th minute when Jordi Alba's cross hit the hands of Mario in the penalty box. That set up the first Neymar goal to give Barcelona the lead before the break.

In the 48^th minute, Villareal evened up after Mateo Mussachio beat Marc Bartra to squeeze a bullet header from a Mario Trigueros corner kick.  Barcelona tried to  shake off the shock with that score but finds Villareal defense impenetrable. 

Things went differently when Xavi replaced Alex Song in the middle of the second half.  Just as Barca seems headed to another draw and split points with its visitors, Cesc Fabregas curled a cross near the back post which was chested by Alexis Sanchez who set up for a fine Neymar tap in to the relief of the anxious crowd. Barcelona protected the lead until the final whistle for that important three points.

Had Barcelona settled for a draw it could have given up the overall lead in the league as it is already tied up with Atletico Madrid.  It could have also ring alarm bells already as Barcelona has been suffering two straight losses. In the last round, it lost to Athletic Bilbao. Previous to that, it lost its  second round outing with the Dutch side Ajax in the Champion's League.  

Manchester City hammers Tottenham Hotspur 6-0

Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas ecstatic
after scoring goals in a game their team dominated

Manchester City hammers Tottenham Hotspurs with 6-0 victory. The rout started barely 14 seconds into the game when a poor clearance from Hugo Lloris allowed Jesus Navas to collect the rebound and fired a chip shot that was out of Lloris reach. The Spurs was about to counter with an Erik Lamela shot but it was timely stopped by Martin Demichelis. 

 The Citizens scored again in the 34th minute when Sergio Aguero's latched on from a Samir Nasri cross before his volley was cleared by Hugo Lloris. The rebound, however, went to Alvaro Negredo who volleyed the ball before it bounced to Spur's Sandro and into the net. Then, just before halftime, Jesus Navas feed Sergio Aguero with a cross which Aguero calmly tapped in as the host virtually wrapped up the game at the time. 

The goalfest continued in the second half. Alvaro Negredo released Toure Yaya in the left side and surged into the Tottenham box before squaring it to the streaking Sergio Aguero on the right who scored his second goal of the night. Then in the 55th minute, Alvaro Negredo made a drag back to catch a Fernandinho through ball before rifling a shot for his goal. 

Just as the Citizens was about to wrap up the game, Jesus Navas received a lob from James Milner and beat defender Jan Vertonghen before Navas slotted the goal to the very helpless Hugo Lloris.