Last update 16 November, 2012 by Julio Muñoz
Manchester City beat Swansea this Saturday at their stadium (1-0) with a goal from Argentine Carlos Tevez, in match of the ninth day of the English league, in which Arsenal beat Queens Park Rangers on their land (1-0) with a goal from the Spanish Mikel Arteta.
In the first half the match between City and Swansea had alternatives for both sides and the brave Welsh team, combinative and electric with the ball, was able to get ahead.
But the Spanish Michu, his great threat, could not overcome Joe Hart when he was left alone against the international. El portero, quick on the way out, covered the scorer's shooting angle.
Nor his compatriot Pablo Hernández, in a well braided move, he knew how to find a solution when he was inside the area and Michu was crying out for the cross at the far post.
In the second part, already with the Italian Mario Balotelli in the field, the City approached the goal.
But it was again Michu who, in another good move from Swansea, was about to score with a close-range header from the penalty spot, but it went loose into the hands of Hart.
With the meeting less intense than in the first half, slight local dominance got its prize. In a routine cast of the game, in which there seemed to be no danger, the ball came to the Argentine Carlos Tévez, who released a right hand from three quarters off the post to give City the victory (minute 61).
Swansea's goalkeeper was injured on the play, Danish Michel Volm, who had to be replaced by the German Gherard Tremmel.
Another injury forced the game to stop for several minutes. On this occasion it was the Manchester City side Micah Richards who had to go out on a stretcher and with a respirator after one of his knees was hit by the ball in the minute 80.
The interruptions anesthetized the shock and deactivated Swansea. City comfortably managed the game in the final minutes.
The referee extended 12 minutes the match due to Richards injury, which makes this match the longest in the history of the Premier League with 102 minutes and 42 seconds.
With this victory the current champion is second in the provisional classification with 21 points awaiting the clash played on Sunday by Chelsea, leader with 22, and Manchester United, what's wrong with it 18.
Arsenal also win
In the other outstanding game on Saturday, Arsenal received Queens Park Rangers, bottom of the league, and suffered to defeat him thanks to the great performance of his goalkeeper, Brazilian international Julio Cesar. The team led by Frenchman Arsene Wegner had plenty of chances, especially in the second half, when he turned to seek victory. But the local mistake, even the Spanish Santi Cazorla threw high when he was only a few meters from the goal, and the agility of Julio César took the goalless draw to the final stretch.
Finally a cross from Russian Andrei Arshavin, who had entered the second part, was taken advantage of by Arteta who, after several rejections, managed to push the ball into the goal (84). With this victory Arsenal is fourth in the provisional standings with fifteen points, while Queens Park Rangers still do not react and close the table with only three.
In addition to the win, Arsenal received the good news of the return of two of its most beloved players. Frenchman Bacari Sagna played the entire match at right back while Jack Wilshere, one of the great promises of English football, entered the minute 66 and received a standing ovation after more than a year injured.
In the other games that opened the day, Aston Villa tied at their stadium with Norwich City (1-1) and the stoke, also on your land, equalized with Sunderland (0-0). Reading and Fulham played an entertaining match in which they finally tied (3-3). One of the away team's goals was the work of Costa Rican international Bryan Ruiz (61).
Besides, Wigan beat West Ham at their stadium (2-1) with a goal from the Spanish center-back Iván Ramis (8).