The Gunners have held the Indian sign over the blues for so long that looking for a City win that wasn’t in the last few years is more difficult than Joey Barton keeping out of trouble. However, we uncovered this little gem of a game when David White was on a bit of a goal scoring run.
It was December 1991 and Peter Reid was in charge and City had finished in fifth place the previous season. City had already had some decent results; an opening day win at Coventry was followed by home wins against Liverpool and Crystal Palace to send City top of the league. However, City were going through a little blip and had only won one league game since recording a 3-0 win at Southampton on 2nd November. The blues had been knocked out of the League Cup by second division Middlesbrough.
When Arsenal arrived at Maine Road in the final match of 1991, they found David White in magical form, having scored in each of City’s last five league games, including a brace during a thrilling 2-2 draw at Liverpool.
City had not beaten the Gunners in any competition since April 1987 but a 3-0 home win failed to prevent their relegation to the second division. Following their return to top flight football in 1989, City failed to record a win in six attempts until this game.
A goalless first half gave hope to City fans that the blues could snatch a win, but Arsenal were notorious for scoring the first goal before shutting up shop and running out 1-0 winners. However it was David White who was to prove the difference between the two teams and it was City’s turn to score first. White collected the ball and turned the defender before firing low past the keeper to score the only goal of the game. Arsenal pressed for an equaliser but City closed ranks and kept the Gunners at bay.
A 1-0 win for City, who would go on to finish the season in fifth position with an incredible 70 points, which was only twelve behind league champions Leeds United and six points ahead of Liverpool in sixth. Arsenal finished one place above the blues on 72 points