ART OF NOT CONCEDING
Arsenal tough it out with defensive masterclass as City fail to score at home for first time in 47 matches
AT THE final whistle, Mikel Arteta led the Arsenal players across to the away end to celebrate with the travelling support.
In contrast, Pep Guardiola trudged off the pitch scratching his worried brow after a pretty woeful stalemate at the Etihad.
You could almost hear the cheers from down the M62 as a draw definitely makes it advantage Liverpool in the three-horse title race. But it was Arsenal who will be much
happier with the result at the Etihad and it also felt like something of a turning point for boss Arteta.
Arsenal had lost all seven previous visits to City in the Premier League – conceding 21 goals in the process – and decided to park the bus the time.
Gunners centre-halves William Saliba and Gabriel were magnificent throughout, limiting City to just one effort on target when Nathan Ake should have scored but fluffed an early header straight to keeper David Raya. Arsenal
hardly threatened at all but in terms of progression as a team it felt like a major step forward with a mature, solid controlled performance which kept City at arm’s length.
When you consider Arsenal were battered at City 4-1 in this fixture last season, this result shows how far they have come.
It also raised more questions about whether City are as good as last season’s all-conquering treble-winning team.
Incredibly, it is the first time City have failed to score in a Premier League home game since a 2-0 defeat to Crystal
Palace in October 2021, a run which stretches back 47 matches.
No one will be fooled into thinking the game was anything but a letdown considering the hype and expectation for a crunch game billed as a title showdown.
It created little drama, even fewer chances and not much quality. City were the more dangerous team who just could not build up a head of steam to roll Arsenal over.
Arsenal could not take advantage of their openings as Martin Odegaard, for once, did
not seem to have his radar turned on and a couple of times just failed to play in Kai Havertz who was ready to make a run.
They also missed Gabriel Martinelli’s pace as the Brazil winger was only fit enough to come on as a substitute while, worryingly, Bukayo Saka hobbled off towards the end looking fatigued rather than injured.
Ake went close early on but then went off injured and, while his replacement Rico Lewis was excellent, they just did not carve open the visitors enough. Gabriel Jesus hit the sidenetting for Arsenal and the Brazil forward could not get on the end of Saka’s low cross at the start of the second half.
Referee Anthony Taylor let fouls go, kept bookings to a minimum and gave it every chance to flow but it was Arsenal who stifled the game.
Erling Haaland just could not get on the end of chances, failing to make a connection on Josko Gvardiol’s flick-on in the dying minutes.
It is City’s seventh draw of the season – their most since 2016/17 when they drew nine – and they are not used to not having things go their way. In the context of the title race, it is hard to believe any of the three remaining challengers will win all of their last nine games.
But City’s advantage is their experience and knowing what it takes to win, as they chase an unprecedented fourth consecutive title.
But perhaps the biggest difference is in their opponents.
Liverpool are looking far more dangerous while Arsenal have closed the gap.
But surely if anyone can finish above City then they will be champions.