Arsenal 0-1 Man City: 6 talking points as Gunners prove that the chosen champions do not match

Manchcester City scored their 18th consecutive victory as they won a routine 1-0 win over Arsenal in north London.

City wasted little time watching in the Emiraes Stadium and scored the winning goal within the first two minutes.

Pep Guardiola’s men had already taken note of their intentions in the first 60 seconds, only for Raheem Sterling to kick wrong when an opportunity opened up.

But the English star made no mistake the second time and got up to nod home, an accurate Riyad Mahrez cross found just six yards from goal.

City seem to be playing a different game at the moment than their rivals in the Premier League, and they dictated and dominated the first 20 minutes, a period in which they created opportunities to double their advantage, but they did not have the murderous feeling had not.

Gradually Arsenal play in the fight again, but fail to test Ederson before the break.

Returning Kevin de Bruyne almost drove home a wonderfully cheeky drive to double the lead early in the second half, just for the Belgian’s attempt to drive the wrong side of Bernd Leno’s left post.

Although City faced more and more threats, their level of performance dropped markedly during the second period, while the midfield turned and did not pass as sharply as it was. It was sloppy and gave Arsenal more confidence that they would be able to stop City’s winning run.

Emile Smith Rowe and Alexandre Lacazette enter the fight with 17 minutes left, replacing the quiet Martin Odegaard and Nicolas Pepe. Arteta turns to his bench in his quest for more punch and incision.

But City kept them at arm’s length throughout and eventually won again.

The chosen champions continue to march. Here are six talking points from the Emirates …

Arteta’s pragmatic move

After being in the Europa League action on Thursday night, Mikel Arteta made five changes to the Arsenal team that drew 1-1 with Benfica in Rome.

They meet the Portuguese team in Athens this week in the second match of their last 32 match, and although he will not admit it, the changes here suggest that the much more lucrative encounter had a reason for his changes.

And in fact, the quality and form of this city person – who himself showed the changes before returning to European action this week – can you blame Arteta for the more pragmatic approach?

Arsenal started the match 11 points from the top four. Yes, they want to be back in the Champions League as soon as possible, but maybe the Europa League is their best choice.

Of all the Arsenal defenders to be used, City go for Tierney

When you watch Arsenal and Kieran Tierney start on their left wing, opponents usually focus attacks on their right. This is how good the Scot has been (when he was fit) since arriving from Celtic in 2019, and because the parties very much want to exploit Hector Bellerin.

City did not do it here and are just off to Tierney from the start.

In the first five minutes, quadrangular diagonals went from left to right to Mahrez; Each time, the Algerian was able to bring it down and run to his husband, with one of those leading to Sterling’s opening goal.

Tierney is defensively a setback to old-fashioned backs who, as play develops on the other side, cover the blind side of their centers.

This is apparently something City noticed, and since he may have compensated too much and come too close to Pablo Mari, Mahrez was able to keep the width – while doing so well – and stand free in the space around the switches of to receive the game.

Following his recent injury, Tierney may not be fully up to date yet. Perhaps the period that played as a back three had a previously unseen impact on how he positions himself.

Maybe the impact everyone saw … except Pep Guardiola.

3. De Bruyne’s back

Nothing else. No ingenious words needed. It’s just good to see him do what he does best again: play football.

A solid 63 minutes under his belt on his return.

4. Arsenal change leads to a known problem

I wrote in early January about how Arteta resolved Arsenal’s creativity issues, in part by switching Bukayo Saka from left to right wing.

It took them to be in a relegation battle from Christmas – in the eyes of Sam Allardyce – to three consecutive victories with eight goals, and back to 11th.

The move effectively spread the threat from Arsenal and the ability to move the ball on the field across the field, rather than focusing everything on the left – because Saka and Tierney are their best players in the fall.

So it was strange to see the couple start again here on the left in the left. It was not surprising to see a well-known problem sticking out.

In the first 45 minutes, Saka and Tierney got 17 passes in their last third place between them. Between them, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe and Martin Odegaard received only six.

The two are the strong points for this Arsenal team separately. But when put together, it makes the opponents’ lives easier, because they know that if you stop on the left, you will have to stop Arteta’s men with great offensive impact.

This encounter, especially in the first period, merely provided further evidence.

5. Bernardo is at his best

In his first two years in the Etihad – while City won rugby titles – Bernardo Silva was outstanding.

Week-in, week-out, he was one of Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenants on the field, and his performances never dropped below a 7/10, but more than just eight or nine. He blended his ridiculous ball-on-a-string talent by being an absolute printing press.

Last season, however, he had quite the dive. Yes, like a collective city, but he may have suffered more than any other individual. He was never really injured – he has played 52 games in the last quarter, after 51 and 53 in the previous two years, but was just not the same.

However, make no mistake about it, he is now at his best again. The small touches and body movements, the ability to work through tight spots and then find the ball that opens the whole game – it’s all there again.

As City wants to work for more local and European glory in the coming months, the best version of the Portuguese could be very important.

6. Rock-solid Ruben

Let’s be honest here, City never really looked like giving in.

They have hardly given up an opportunity worthy of being described as one. They kept Arsenal at arm’s length throughout and Ruben Dias was once again excellent in defense.

What a sign he was not only for his own abilities, but also for what happened to him with John Stones.

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