THE DAY WAS billed as a Christmas cracker but it took while to provide any bang.

Eventually though, after Manchester United and Liverpool had made easy work of QPR and Aston Villa in two atrociously one-sided games, City overcame Arsenal in a scintillating game at Eastlands.

Despite proving one of the most open matches of the season, however, it only saw one goal: just after half-time, David Silva knocked in a rebound after Mario Balotelli had caused Arsenal big problems with a powerful shot from the left.

And, ultimately – as even as the game was – it encapsulated the difference between the two teams. City always looked like they had a little too much for Arsenal – Sergio Aguero in particular troubling the defence. While Arsenal looked like they never quite had enough to get beyond City’s defence. Although the game was end to end for about 70 minutes, City were admirable in the manner they closed up the space and then closed out the game as it reached its most important stage.

Arsenal, though, were unlucky with Thomas Vermaelen twice going close and Andriy Arshavin squandering a decent opening. Arsene Wenger might also feel slightly aggrieved at a possible penalty call for a handball by Micah Richards and some tight offside decisions.

There were no such margins in the game involving City’s main rivals, United. Indeed, their win over Arsenal was all the more admirable given the pressure Alex Ferguson’s team had piled on after going temporarily going top by convincingly beaten QPR. The score at Loftus Road was only 2-0, but it might have been six as United were the better team for the very start.

Indeed, they were also the leading team from the very start. Wayne Rooney converted Antonio Valencia’s cross within the first minute.

The striker was generally brilliant and looks to be embarking on the kind of streak that has characterised his last few seasons, but he didn’t add any more in the game itself. Despite United ripping QPR apart, the only other goal came in the second half through Michael Carrick. The midfielder dispossessed Joey Barton, drove forward and then struck home. Radek Cerny, however, might have done better with the save.

Good start

Aston Villa can have no such regrets. They were atrocious, offering Liverpool an easy – but nonetheless impressive – win. Two early first-half goals killed the game as a contest with Craig Bellamy central to both. First, he converted a chance from just yards out before almost immediately sending over a corner for Martin Skrtel to finish. Thereafter, Liverpool’s performance could be described as “professional”.

They dutifully did their jobs with few frills other than Luis Suarez. He twice hit the frame of the goal, once through a rampaging run and powerful drive, next through a delightful chip.

Tottenham Hotspur, by contrast, were made work much harder for their win. It took a 61st-minute goal from substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko to finally seperate teams as Sunderland already looked more dogged under Martin O’Neill.

AS IT HAPPENED: Manchester City v Arsenal

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