Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City sees Mikel Arteta extend his unbeaten run against Pep Guardiola to six games.
Notably, Arteta now stands alone as the only manager to go five league games unbeaten against Guardiola, who is arguably the finest modern-day football coach.
While Gooners may feel they were simply unlucky not to have taken all three points, beyond that spirited performance, there was plenty to take away from this contest.
Arsenal dominate but lack a clinical edge
Arsenal entered the match at full strength. City struck early, but beyond their goal, they were second-best across the board.
The Gunners dominated outright. With 67 per cent possession, 11 corners to City’s one, and 515 completed passes compared to City’s 224, it was all Arsenal. Had they been more clinical, the outcome could have looked very different.
City leaned heavily on their defensive solidity to see the game through. This was obvious, with Guardiola subbing off goal threats such as Erling Haaland and Phil Foden for defenders.
Last season, low blocks were Arsenal’s undoing, but City soon realised this was a different Arsenal: unpredictable, fluid, and bold. Martinelli’s clever run between the lines caught them off guard, culminating in a stunning injury-time lob to level the score, with summer signing Eberechi Eze providing the assist.
A new look for Arsenal’s attack?
Arteta has hinted at a positional shift for Bukayo Saka, potentially paving the way for a new-look Arsenal front three.
Saka, traditionally deployed on the right, spent much of the match operating from the left, particularly after Martinelli, the goalscorer, was introduced.
With Madueke proving influential on the right, Arteta’s decision to trial Saka on the left could be a signal: it might now be Saka’s turn to elevate the left wing, with Madueke continuing to thrive on the right.
Sooner or later, we could see Arteta unveil a Saka–Gyökeres–Madueke front line, one that could spell real danger for opponents if it clicks.
It was great to see Eze in a central role today and happy to see him log his first goal-involvement for the Gunners. He looked a lot more comfortable and creative today than he had out on the left. Eze also cleared the ball at the other end of the pitch when Haaland took a shot that rebounded off a Raya save and back into play.
Madueke really needs to work on his finishing though. He gets the ball through into great positions and he’s doing great work down the right wing, but he had more than one chance to put the ball in the back of the net today and he went over and wide – though to be fair, Donnarumma did save one attempt.
And Gyokeres.. Either Arteta isn’t setting the team up well to supply him or he’s really still finding his feet in the Premier League – either way, I hope he finds his feet and his shooting boots soon.
That’s what I picked out from the match.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
YET AGAIN Artetas fear of going for wins against top teams has cost us.
A mid of 3 engines lacking any creativity was a clear sign of Artetas fear of loss overriding desire to win.
Eze is a natural replacement for Ode but yet again Arteta needed the pressure of defeat to finally move Eze to his natural position.
Said it time and again we will win nothing with Arteta
Fair take outs in the header article. Another one is, Noni crocked so early on, he played on looking like our best threat again despite being crocked.
After unrealistically high expectations of blowing this seasons Man City and Haaland away, the dust is settling now on what was a good battling point and a continued strong start to the season.
The argument Arteta picked a defensive and unambitious side today falls apart on stats. Trossard and Merino have goal involvement stats in their favour. And as for those insisting Merino is merely a DM, they are just embarrassing themselves. Also if fans genuinely don’t like the type of football and system under Arteta – just 2 goals conceded from 6 tricky fixtures – you are digging yourself into a hole with the “he can’t win us anything” line – for what happens if we win the title this season? you would have no choice but to convert and go back and renounce all your comments and can never again criticise this system? For we are very much in a title race, have looked solid as a rock in tricky run of opening fixtures.
Fans who say “so and so injured/we didn’t sign/benched today would have made a difference” is just the laziest thing to say. It’s nice to have Eze here for the foreseeable. But when people say “Eze is a world beater at LW” and “Why don’t Arsenal start Eze at 10” it’s like a trigger moment. By that I mean Trigger from Only Fools… let’s have a more realistic understanding of Eze.
Is Eze the best 10 in world football or at least the Prem? Nope, the stats he always produces each year scream otherwise. More importantly when was the last time Arsenals system deployed a bona fido 10?
The system is two 8’s, 8a and 8b, and Eze filled in for the team Captain at 8b today. Eze was signed as cover/rotation for both Rice and Ode – he started as left wing in Europe but was anonymous, just as he’s always largely anonymous at LW. The only time anybody has seen Eze look good is when given a free role – but a whole load of players can look world class afforded a free role – like in cycle sport when a leader is served by the team to win stages for them.
Eze aint a left winger, and Arsenal don’t play a 10 or give a free role in our system. All the ex Arsenal players and pundits who warned Eze not to sign for Arsenal because he don’t fit the system were right. He would have thrived in the archetype 10 position Spurs wanted him for, so all the bench time Eze gets in coming seasons is Eze’s call, for choosing a pond with fish much the same size as he is, and shorn of the free role smaller ponds can allow him.
In the match thread, someone I won’t name to save their embarrassment posted we should have signed Sesko instead of Gyokeres. I watched yesterday’s game – where I thought Chelsea played excellent Tbf – and my impression was Sesko played like a goat. I don’t mean greatest of all time – I mean an actual goat.
Is Gyokeres as good as Haaland? Nope. Is Eze as good as Florian Wirtz? Nope. Etc etc when we come up against RM, Barca, Bayern, Liverpool, Man City etc we are up against teams with better players than ours – it doesn’t mean if we keep battling away like we have this season, we can’t win one of the two big prizes, but it does mean why do you expect us to blow stronger sides and better players away at every meeting?
I am sorry, it is well known in football that this Arsenal squad is the strongest in the prem. Many ex professionals saying it. Lets not make excuses. Also MANY!MOST ex professionals saying Arteta is getting it wrong. But you don’t have to be Einstein to see that. He got it completely wrong today. He cost us. He cost us at Anfield and he cost us today. By NOT picking the best team and not playing the best tactics.
You think you know football, how it works, and not embarrassing yourself with these forthright opinions? Gary Neville – who you are parroting – played a million times in big tough fixtures where Ferguson kept it tight for 70 minutes, and then went expansive – don’t listen to Neville, don’t repeat his rubbish, he’s conning you.
You don’t read enough football media or books do you? Even Coach on Ted Lasso read Inverting the Pyramid. The famous Marseille side who won France its first CL was literally 8 defenders 2 attackers. You win titles through being miserly and unbeatable. The Inter side who dominated the sixties very similar set up.
You only getting teeny bit of joy with your theory right now because if we agree on the 7 most difficult fixtures this season, we got given 3 of them in first 6 games!
The manager who messed it up yesterday was Guardiola. Rather than matching up with Arsenals duel monsters like Merino, 5 attacking players was too much – Foden and reindeers about as useful as someone on a bus stop waiting for late carriage. First half City did not chase us down and press us, they held shape marked space, made life difficult for us – bizarrely Pep changed that half time, straight away they had the press switched on, this made them easier to play through. And then then the schoolboy error – shocking from Gaurdiola – 5 across the back sitting deep inviting constant pressure. What game were you watching?
And will everyone stop talking about Arsenals number 10 – we don’t use a 10, it’s left sided 8 and right sided 8.
@ Moon girl, your defence is admirable, but crumbles when you reflect on the fact that we had a much more dominant and exciting second half than the first after the introduction of Eze and Saka. Both are difficult to get the ball off of and are adept at playing neat combinations and layoffs which are essential for sustained pressure up the pitch. Eze is one of the most exciting midfielders in the league and his general play and pass for our equalizer is also a pointer to his quality. We need to be finding ways to get him in the lineup, especially as Odengard is absent. In my opinion, the starting selection was wrong, but the subs and tactics for the second were top tier including encouraging Martinelli to run more centrally. Gyokares’s lethargy inside the box was a bit concerning, but ultimately, the game was a chance missed.
It crumbles, when she waffles.
If Eze is that bad, why did the club waste £70m to buy him in the summer?
Had wanted to stay away from commenting about today’s game, for me there’s nothing new I want to say. It’s the same thing I’ve been saying for close to two seasons now.
I’m responding specifically because of your comment about Eze.
@MoonGirl, at the moment I’ll pick Eze ten times for my No. 10 role over Odegaard. Odegaard over the past season hasn’t been the same we saw two to three seasons ago.
He’s become too slow, takes too much unnecessary touches instead of quick passes when needed and has become backwards/sideways pass merchant (maybe that’s the impact of the coach though).
And for a fact, I doubt Odegaard would’ve made that kind of over-the-top pass that found Martinelli for our equalizer. He most likely would’ve played safe by passing sideways to Saka or any player close by. He just doesn’t take those risks any more. Arteta has brainwashed him.
A very detailed and confused defence of the status quo Moongirl. Clearly you are a believer and have faith that things are going along in the right direction. If the players you mentioned aren’t the best in the league in their respective positions, then why did we sign them? Then an good squad is the sum of its parts, as well as how much an astute manager can get out of them. Thus over achieving teams like Bournemouth, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Brighton. And at the top end of town Liverpool.
@Joe. S: Agreed
I am afraid after todays total bottle job in team selection Arteta has made that target on his back twice as big as it was. HE got it wrong. HE can not hide behind injuries. HE can not hide behind referring decision. HE just doesn’t see the big picture. HE is not getting the best out of this squad. It should be exciting, it should be ground breaking, it should be irresistible. But it is boring safe (not so safe) football before anything else. YOU messed up Arteta, you let the team and the fans down. You are underwhelming!!!!!
Said it for years, Draws will be the end of Arteta.
Many so called football pundits or experts speak from a point of ignorance I am not defending Arteta but picking 3 midfield engines against city worked in our favour everybody knows Rodri has been struggling against physical midfielders and it’s a well known fact that Merino is a duel monster this why we dominated against City the same mid 3 dominated Liverpool at Anfield an it took a world class free kick to beat Raya in that game now against Man utd at Old Trafford Arteta picked the dream 3 midfield of Ordegaard,Rice and Zubimendi what happened we won the game yes but through rugged defending and Raya’s brilliance because we were played off the park by the devils because our midfield lacked control that’s why in big games Arteta will keep on playing Merino and Rice to give us control against Liverpool he payed Martinelli,Gyokeres and Madueke that’s enough creativity putting in mind Calafiori joins the attack, against city it was Trossard, Gyokeres and Madueke still enough creativity there with Calafiori joining introducing Saka and Eze against a tiring city is a plus and it swung the game in our favour as it did against Liverpool when he introduced Eze late on it’s a very long and tough season keeping each player fresh and fit is so important that’s why squad depth matters a lot and rotation is key
The free-flowing football of a couple of years ago came via an in-form Odegaard. He’s shown glimpses of form recently, hopefully he gets back to full fitness and form. Meantime, surely we utilise Eze there more. Interesting indeed seeing Saka on the left and delighted to see Martinelli regaining confidence.
The free flowing football of 2022/2023 season was down to a fit Jesus, Xhaka, Zinchenko and Partey in that order.
Jesus lost form after the injury during the World Cup.
Xhaka left the next season.
Zinchenko lost form due to injuries too.
Now we are dealing with a slow and negative ball play.
My memory is vague, but was Odegaard not club player of season that year? Not even in your top 4 list?
The personnel wasn’t my biggest problem in the first half. Until City scored a breakaway goal I thought that we had looked reasonably lively and purposeful. My natural reaction to City is that they will find a way to score and they did because of the speed of the move from our box to theirs and our inability to defend it. I expected more oomph afterwards but it was then that the slow sideways passing took over.
I wrote before that I thought too much respect for City was shown. I know that they have had such a stellar recent history but they are not what they were yet, at least. This is where the handbrake context comes in. There was a chance to revitalise the game rather than advancing to the box at a slow pace and reach the inevitable stalemate as City flooded the box.
The fact that Guardiola felt the need to protect the one goal lead says a lot about how Arteta should/could have opened up the play (which did improve in the second half) sooner. He is more pragmatic and I understand that, but the players are there now. A more than decent enough squad to unleash
My takeaway from this game is simple and precise. We now have the squad to compete maybe challenge for said trophies.
But sadly we have a risk averse manager, who is suffocating the creativity in the side with his slow side to side negative football along with his questionable line-ups.
Yes the defense over the past three seasons have been excellent. And it’s just as true today.
But to see the football that we played in the 2022/2023 season where we played a more attacking brand of football while still being sound defensively by the way, it’s frustrating to see the way we’ve played for the following seasons and the start of this.
Just what is Arteta scared of. For me, obviously I would like to see us winning trophies. But if we fail to win any, then at least fail playing a brand of football that we can enjoy and get behind.
Mr Arteta, play a more attacking game, or take your negative football to another club. And then hopefully the owners will get a manager who will at the very least provide us with a team that try’s to play to win rather than not to lose.
It’s just a shame that Poch has gone to Forest.
That last line was just a joke, Honest!.😂🤣👍