Joey Barton praises Arsene Wenger’s tactics after Arsenal beat Man City

Joey Barton says Arsene Wenger got his tactics spot on to give Arsenal the advantage in the Premier League title race on Monday night.

The Gunners eased to a 2-1 victory over title rivals Manchester City at The Emirates thanks to goals from strikers Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud.

The England striker edged Arsenal into a 33rd-minute lead after the 26-year-old striker curled a finish past his Three Lions team-mate Joe Hart in north London.

Giroud scored his sixth goal in four games in all competitions for Arsenal against their rivals after the France forward poked a finish past the City goalkeeper.

And although Yaya Toure halved the deficit to ensure a nervy final nine minutes at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal held on to move to within two points of surprise leaders Leicester City.

Barton, who spent five seasons at City before he joined Newcastle United in 2007, heaped praise on Arsenal manager Wenger following the Gunners’s morale-boosting victory over the Citizens.

Wenger got his tactics spot on. Advantage Arsenal going into the Christmas period. City desperate for a striker and centre half in Jan.

— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) December 21, 2015

Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League title since 2004.