Arsenal are title favourites as Ozil inspires win over Man City

Arsenal 2 Manchester City 1

Arsenal are the new favourites to win the Premier League after they staked their claim for a first league title in over a decade with vital win over Manchester City at the Emirates on Monday night as Mesut Ozil added two more assists to his tally as he teed up Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud.

The Gunners weathered a City storm in the opening half hour before striking twice at the end of the first period to go into the break with a two-goal lead.

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Walcott whipped in a fine opener from the edge of the box, curling the ball past Joe Hart, and Giroud ran on to Ozil's through ball to fire home the second goal on the stroke of half time.

It was a fair reward for some solid defending and was proof that the Gunners now have the kind of cutting edge up front which has often been missing over the last few seasons.

Their most impressive spell came in the second half when they had numerous chances to kill off the visitors. But City held out and then pulled a goal back through a sumptuous Yaya Toure first-time side-foot strike from 20 yards, which sailed into the top corner.

That set up a frantic finish, but last season's most potent attacking force couldn't find their way through for an equaliser despite firing off 20 shots over the course of the match.

The result puts Arsenal in the driving seat in the title race, with the expectation that Leicester's form will begin to drop off. The Gunners are two points behind the Foxes, but are now four points clear of City

Ozil was once again the toast of the Emirates and Barney Ronay of The Guardian writes that he has been "the season's most notable creative attacking presence" alongside Riyad Mahrez.

"There may have been more light-touch, gossamer periods of creative dominance in an English top-tier season," he said. "But none that springs to mind."

City will worry more about their own frailties than Arsenal's strengths though, having started without the injury-hit Vincent Kompany for the 16th time in all competitions this season - and failed to keep a clean sheet in his absence for the 16th time.

Another defensive mistake led to Giroud's goal, and it's almost impossible to imagine Manuel Pellegrini's side winning the title if the Belgian doesn't get fit soon, and stay fit for the final run-in.

Kompany's frequent partner on the physio's table, Sergio Aguero, came back from injury in the match but looked short of sharpness and has now scored in just three of his ten Premier League starts this season - a product of the stop-start nature of his campaign.

City will be hoping that they find an industrial sized roll of bubble wrap under the tree on Christmas morning to keep the pair safe, or risk limply surrendering the title they seemed massive favourites for earlier in the season.