City struggling to maintain any possession in the mid-field. Reyna had a nice steal, but there is little time and space for them to operate.
Reyna with a nice outlet pass to SWP but he's alone up top and loses possession. Reyna with a back pass as City have a rare moment of possession around Arsenal's box. Offside kills it.
Crap - Reyna has a bad back pass which is intercepted by Pires -- he makes up for it by stealing back and then breaks forward at full speed -- has a nice 1-2 with Anelka and sends Anelka forward with a nice pass, but Anelka loses it. Nice sequence.
"Reyna having a cracking game". Anelka should have let fly with his left foot on the previous play, but he tried to work it onto his right and lost the ball.
29th minute 0-0. Reyna passes to his teammates and they lose it. Foul on Bosvelt. Henry sends it into the box but Sun Jihai heaads clear. Reyna with a nice outlet pas to Anelka, who plays it back to him -- then Reyna sends a hoepful ball forward that is easily claimed by Lehman.
Reyna getting a lot of touches, and his last 2 or 3 have been poor. Sends a back pass that almost goes out for a corner - tries a cheeky backheel pass that is intercepted, and then passed the ball to Arsenal.
Reyna looked like he might have fouled Pires, but nothing called. Sun Jihai does get called for a foul on Pires. Henry to take as rain is coming down in buckets. Free kick into the box misses everyone out for a goal kick.
Really pouring right now. City playing well for a team well down in the table against a superior opponent. 37th minute 0-0. Anelka losees the ball again to kill a break. Goal Arsenal.
City have lost some life now that they are down a goal. Heads are down a bit -- hard shot by Arsenal is spilled by James, but he is able to reclaim it just as Arsenal player arrives.
Half time - 1-0 disappointment for City who put a lot of effort into the first half. This could get ugly in the 2nd.
Do you hear the guy talking before hand - it was funny. "Oh crap - I guess I'm going to have to play some music."
Dunne clips a leaping Pires who falls to the ground and wins a free kick. Resulting free is cleared easily by City. Quick shot by Dennis right to James.