If anything, he was understating the case.Nash used to be a model and Royle might as well have tossed Claudia Schiffer the gloves for all the protection City’s defence gave their goalkeeper.On Arsenal’s last visit to Manchester, for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final, they were criticised for not making the most of a vast number of chances. Their manager, Ars? Wenger, made six changes to the side that had crushed Tottenham by a single goal and this time they were perfect in their ruthlessness.The first two goals came from long balls into the box that City’s defence was quite unable to cope with. In the seventh minute, Wiltord chested down to Ljungberg, who gave the hapless Nash not the slightest chance, and 30 seconds later Wiltord did much the same when receiving Ray Parlour’s cross from the right almost unchecked.City’s 11th home defeat of the season was thus guaranteed with the match eight minutes and two seconds old; not even Bradford have conceded as many goals in front of their own supporters.It was not the end of City’s suffering, not by a very long way. In the 16th minute, Kanu drilled a pass through what purported to be City’s defensive screen and Ljungberg slipped his shot past Nash.

The mood of embarrassment was heightened 20 minutes later when Wiltord, profiting from a delightful back-heel, cut in from the left. Steve Howey should have cut out his square ball for Kanu but it went through his legs and the Nigerian still had time to turn 360 degrees and shoot into a virtually unguarded net.A spectator who had missed the first half and not known the score would have assumed City were at the very least holding their own. The home side was passing slickly and attacking, Alfie Haaland’s 53rd-minute header flashed past David Seaman’s post and choruses of “Blue Moon” thundered around Maine Road. At least a fig-leaf of pride had been restored, although the announcement that Henry was coming on provoked a huge, hollow laugh.A glance at the scoreboard would have reintroduced reality but the fact remained that despite the second-half fightback this had been a disastrous, almost terminal defeat. It is mathematically possible that City will be the team Manchester United defeat to claim the championship on 21 April and will be relegated at the same time.

For those at Old Trafford who remember Denis Law’s back-heel that condemned United to the drop in 1974, this would make for an entirely suitable revenge.Manchester City (4-4-2): Nash; Haaland, Howey, Dunne, Granville; Whitely (Charvet, 73), Wiekens, Tiatto, Kennedy; Goater, Wanchope (Huckerby, 73) Substitutes not used: Ostendstad, Kanchelskis, Weaver (gk).Arsenal (4-4-2): Seaman; Luzhny, Stepanovs, Keown, Cole; Parlour (Vivas, 78), Lauren, Edu (Vieira, 69), Ljungberg; Wiltord (Henry, 73), Kanu. Substitutes not used: Silvinho, Manninger (gk).Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).. Nick Barmby is in danger of missing Liverpool’s FA Cup Final against Arsenal due to an ankle injury. Nick Barmby is in danger of missing Liverpool’s FA Cup Final against Arsenal after picking up an ankle injury.The influential midfielder was hurt in Sunday’s 2–1 semi–final win over Wycombe Wanderers.The England midfielder had hoped to play again next week but his ankle has now been placed in plaster.Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier said Barmby would be out of action for at least three weeks The FA Cup Final is next month.. The Barcelona captain, Pep Guardiola, says he will be leaving the Catalan club at the end of the season to finish his career abroad. The Barcelona captain, Pep Guardiola, says he will be leaving the Catalan club at the end of the season to finish his career abroad. The 30-year-old playmaker, who is in his 17th season at Barcelona, yesterday ruled out a move to another Spanish club, citing England, France, Germany and Italy as possible destinations when his contract ends on 30 June.