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Man City, Arsenal rebound

Scrape out wins after midweek setbacks

By: Rob Harris

Posted: 10/28/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Sang Tan / the associated press Arsenal�s Mikel Arteta celebrates his goal against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

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Sang Tan / the associated press Arsenal�s Mikel Arteta celebrates his goal against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. (CP)

LONDON -- Manchester City and Arsenal responded to midweek Champions League setbacks by scraping unconvincing 1-0 wins in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Carlos Tevez secured City's victory over Swansea, putting the champions a point behind Chelsea before the leaders host Manchester United on Sunday.

"They sat quite deep and made it difficult for us to get the ball forward," City midfielder Gareth Barry said.

It took Mikel Arteta's late scrambled goal for Arsenal to overcome winless, 10-man Queens Park Rangers and rise to fourth -- seven points behind Chelsea.

While Arsenal's attack lacked cutting edge, the team was boosted by midfielder Jack Wilshere successfully returning after 17 months out of competitive action.

"It's been a long journey but I'm back now ... we didn't underestimate QPR and knew they were going to be strong, especially from midfield and the wingers," the 20-year-old Englishman said.

The match at Etihad Stadium was the longest since the Premier League's inception in 1992, with more than 12 minutes of stoppage time after potentially serious injuries to Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm and City defender Micah Richards led to them being carried off during the second half.

The only goal came in the 61st minute, with Tevez sending the dipping shot into the bottom corner of the net beyond Vorm, who was injured while stretching to save.

Richards was later running down the pitch when he went down in agony holding his right knee. He was carried off.

At Emirates Stadium, Arteta's winner came four minutes after QPR defender Stephane M'Bia was sent off in the 80th for kicking out at Thomas Vermaelen while on the ground after being fouled by the rival defender.

Olivier Giroud's initial header from Andrei Arshavin's cross was saved by Cesar but Arteta pounced to head against the bar and he prodded the rebound into the net.

The win lifted some of the gloom after successive losses in the league and Champions League.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 28, 2012 B13

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