Hours after Nasri's Manchester City displayed yet another statement of intent, rattling five goals past a beleaguered Tottenham the club he left were felled by City's biggest rivals, the end result not the shock, but the 8-2 scoreline emphatic in it's definition of a hapless Arsenal. The rise of Manchester City from Premier League also-rans to Champions League contenders running antiparallel to the fall of Arsenal.
Following a run of eight top two finishes six seasons ago Arsenal have become stagnant, the fans frustrated, a description of the mood around the Emirates Nasri himself claimed as one of the factors surrounding his departure from North London. That frustration, however, doesn't seem to extend to manager Arsene Wenger, painfully resolute in his frugal stance, until, that was, the below par start to the season, alongside the loss of two of the clubs most influential playmakers, forced the Frenchman's hand into parting with cash.
South Korean international Park Chu-Young is the target of Wenger's admiration, rumoured to have been purchased for a fee of £3-5Million, his record of 25 goals in 91 appearances for Monaco not especially resounding. Wenger is still in the market for at least two more players, a centre back and a central midfielder labelled as prime targets in order to push back up the table.
The central defender identified by the Arsenal boss was Gary Cahill and yet even in his attempt to purchase a player, so impressive in his fledgling career that many have labelled him the future of England's defence, Wenger has been the subject of ridicule. The reported bid of £7Million lodged with Bolton for Cahill's services scoffed at as worse than derisory by Trotters manager Owen Coyle, fans across the country chuckling into their newspapers all the while.
Alan Hansen once proclaimed that 'you can't win anything with kids', that quote was in reference to Manchester United's youthful squad and was proven wrong once Sir Alex Ferguson's boys won the title that season. If he were to make such an insinuation against Arsenal then there could be no argument, a defence lacking in any experience and a whole lot of quality going down 8-2 to Manchester United.
Emmanuel Frimpong and Carl Jenkinson, two of the younger players who have started for the Gunners this season, have both been sent off, as has Gervinho. Thomas Vermaelen is out injured again, Jack Wilshere has joined him on the treatment table while Bacary Sagna missed out through illness. The loss of Nasri coupled with the money spinning sale of Cesc Fabregas left Arsenal having to field reserve team player Francis Coquelin at the heart of the midfield. The players on the bench could amount just 61 league appearances between them, 57 of those coming from two of the seven. With just three days to go until the door to the transfer market slams shut Wenger has work to do, and fast.
And what of the ship-jumping Nasri?
On the same day he was to make his debut in Man City's title chasing side. Joining up with a squad brim full of attacking talent the like of David Silva and Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Yaya Toure, there was enough reason to believe that Nasri would have to earn his stripes before breaking into Roberto Mancini's starting eleven. Neither he or his manager were having any of it.
The former Marseille winger set up two goals for Edin Dzeko and assisted one for Sergio Aguero for good measure, putting in the hard yards and playing a heavy part in a dominant team performance against a competent Tottenham side, all that despite only meeting up with his new team mates on Thursday.
It may be a case of confidence-breeds-confidence for Nasri. If it weren't for the freak result at Old Trafford City would currently be sat atop the Premier League, netting twelve goals and conceding just three in divisional action, and the squad that will be surrounding Nasri contain a selection of players who know what it is like to win. Having seemingly forgotten how to claim victory with Arsenal at the tail end of last season, the 24 year old looks as though he will slot straight into Mancini's philosophy and ethic. Winning is a habit, City appear hooked already.
After spending three seasons at an Arsenal side that threatened so much but failed to deliver it looks as though Nasri has found a club to match his ambitions. If Sunday's game is anything to go by the flashes of talent shown in the first half last of season may come to fruition in a team that, on current evidence, looks set to challenge the dominance of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League. History really could be in the making.
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