A hit-and-miss player among City fans, Samir Nasri has had a topsy-turvy Manchester City career to date. Arriving from Arsenal in the summer of 2011, Nasri was accused of being economically motivated in his move to Manchester – what did he have to say about that? ‘’I’ve come to win trophies’’ he said…and so he did. With speculation of a move away this summer or marginalisation from the starting eleven, with the arrival of Kevin De Bruyne rumoured, I’ve decided to muse on Samir Nasri’s top 5 Manchester City moments.
5. Chelsea FA Cup Semi Final/Sunderland Capital One Cup final
Love him or loathe him, the Frenchmen is undisputedly a talented footballer and is most definitely a big game player. I’ve combined two games here for number five because his goal against Chelsea was of vital importance, as it broke the deadlock in a huge game, but it wasn’t as important or as aesthetically pleasing as his goal against Sunderland in March of 2014 during the Capital One Cup final. Just as Yaya Toure had done the impossible, by somehow turning a 5 yard pass into a first time, curling shot that sailed past Mannone in the Black Cats goal, a few moments later Nasri turned the game on its head. As Kolarov burst down the flank to whip one of his trademark balls across goal, the ball fell kindly to Nasri on the edge of the area – he struck the ball with ferocity and venom using his laces, and saw his shot take a curling trajectory to evade Mannone at his left-hand post. Having been in attendance, the place went bat-s**t and Nasri was simply topping off what had been an already impressive season thus far for the Blues.
4. Goal vs United (2013)
I was apprehensive about this one at first, as there are obviously some other excellent Nasri performances to his catalogue, but this was a Derby so had to be included. The 28-year-old also went from zero-to-hero among City fans by putting to bed what had been a forgetful season under Mancini beforehand, to run riot against our bitterest of rivals. As well as rounding off the scoring by netting our fourth goal, in a game that was simply too easy for City, Nasri was simply sublime. He was involved in City’s first, via an intricate back-heel for Kolarov to latch onto before crossing to a superb Sergio Aguero to sweep home, provided the corner for Yaya Toure’s goal and our second, slipped in Negredo who crossed home for Aguero’s brace and notched a cool volley for our fourth. It had been a fantastic performance from the ex-Arsenal man and one of his best in a blue shirt.
3. Last game of the 2013/14 campaign – West Ham
This game stood out to me for an obvious reason, that being that we finally secured our second Premier League title since the takeover in 2008. In terms of our man Samir, I chose this one because we had gone into the game very precariously, and in doing so were asking one of our players for a moment of magic against a West Ham side that would be very hard to break down. Luckily for us Nasri provided exactly this with a low, hard drive that put City’s noses in-front in a game that was simply too big to lose. Nasri had stepped up and shown everyone why Pellegrini had put faith in him that season, he deserved it.
2. Chelsea at home (2011)
In a game that marked maverick Carlos Tevez’s comeback from his unwelcomed hiatus from footballing duties, it was Samir Nasri who took centre stage this time. As the game petered out into a 1-1 draw and what looked like the end of City’s title ambitions, Tevez slipped Nasri in late on…the French midfielder then chipped coolly over Cech. City fans hopes of a long-awaited first title in 34 years were back intact again. After a bit of shirt-swirling above his head, in the same place Aguero would funnily enough take his off for THAT goal, Nasri was mobbed by his gleeful teammates. City would go on to win six, draw two and lose only one of their remaining games, before clinching the ever-coveted Premier League title. Nasri had played his part, an important one, once again.
1. Roma away (2014)
Although the season was viewed by most as fruitless and was fairly understated for Nasri himself, he provided us with fantastic strike against Italian giants AS Roma. The goal was of large importance as City aimed to make ‘the great escape’ from a group that had proved very tough for the Blues and at one point had looked almost impossible to get out of. Picking up the ball on the edge of the Roma area, Nasri jinks inside before unleashing a marvellous strike that hits the upright before alluding De Sanctis in the Roma goal. Everything looks better when it hits the woodwork. The goal had set City on their way to a controlled 2-0 victory in the Italian capital. Once again Samir Nasri had made the difference, a paradigm emerging perhaps? Always there when it matters the most.
