Not a great performance but with three defenders and a keeper out, undefeated league leaders as the visitors and winner from Cesc this should give our critics some food for thought. Would that they were capable of digesting it.
Manuel Almunia - 7 - Made an excellent save from Mpenza and a Hollywood one late on for the highlights reel. Shame that his barnet done by an ill-skilled hairdressing graduate showed him up.
Bacary Sagna - 4 - Well and truly Flamini-ed early on.
Kolo Toure - 6 - Copes well with the musical chairs going on around him and was disciplined enough to rein in his charging runs.
Gilberto Silva - 7 - Back in the ranks and at the back he didn't let anyone down.
Gael Clichy - 6 - Not at his best but still a class act.
Alexander Hleb - 9 - Returned to the right, after a quiet first half he was sensational in the second. The difference between 1pt and 3.
Cesc Fabregas - 6 - Really not on top of his game but a vital contribution once again. Never has one man taken so long to return to his own half after a goal - I think he enjoyed it.
Mathieu Flamini - 5 - At right back he was too easily sucked inside allowing the dangerous Petrov too much room. Should stop kicking team-mates.
Tomas Rosicky - 5 - Lively, but another who is finding his way into the season slowly.
Emmanuel Adebayor - 5 - Made a friend in the linesman who kept waving at him. Annoyed most other people. Needs some games.
Robin van Persie - 5 - A disappointing penalty in a disappointing performance, although credit must go to the excellent pair of centre backs he was up against.
Subs:
Denilson - 5 - Great to see him back but he was bit rubbish.
Eduardo Da Silva - 6 - Looked a handful for the two City centre backs.
Alex Song - 5 - Won a header.