Three things we learned from Arsenal FC draw as Gunners force Pep Guardiola to abandon his principles

Sport | Football

Three things we learned from Arsenal draw as Gunners force Pep Guardiola to abandon his principles

A rare move from Mikel Arteta and an even rarer switch by the Manchester City boss

All change: Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta

REUTERS

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Gabriel Martinelli struck in injury time as Arsenal left it late to snatch a point against Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side had looked on course to claim all three points, thanks to an early goal from Erling Haaland.

Arsenal dominated possession throughout the game and they were rewarded in the dying moments, when Martinelli struck.

The Gunners, however, have lost ground to Liverpool in the title race and now trail them by five points.

And, here, Standard Sport looks at three things we learned from Arsenal’s draw with Man City…

Action Images via Reuters

Martinelli to the rescue

After a difficult start to the season, Martinelli has had a dream week.

The winger came off the bench on Tuesday to open the scoring in Bilbao and he came to Arsenal’s rescue, again, against City.

Martinelli has looked low on confidence in the first few weeks of the campaign, but you would not know it from his finish, here.

Read More

Man City injury update: Marmoush, Cherki, and Ait-Nouri latest news and return dates

Arsenal injury update: Odegaard, Madueke and Hincapie latest return dates

Neville gives damning assessment of Arsenal tactics and Arteta belief

Sponsored

How three Red Roses fought for their place on the pitch

Eberechi Eze picked the winger out with a long ball from deep inside Arsenal’s half, and Martinelli raced onto it before dinking Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The stands at Emirates Stadium became a sea of limbs, and Martinelli was mobbed by his team-mates.

The competition on Arsenal’s left flank is, perhaps, greater than anywhere else on the pitch after Eze’s arrival; however, this was a reminder of what Martinelli can offer.

Against tired defences, his pace is a lethal weapon off the bench and - as he showed against City - he can finish, too.

Action Images via Reuters

The end of the Merino-Rice combination?

It is rare for Mikel Arteta to make a half-time substitution, let alone two, and his decision to do so against City was, perhaps, an indication that he got his team wrong.

Just like at Anfield last month, Arteta opted to start Declan Rice and Mikel Merino in midfield as two No8s ahead of Martin Zubimendi.

The duo have both performed well in that role for club and country, but when playing together for Arsenal they are yet to click.

Both players are at their most comfortable playing with their backs to goal and, in the first half, Arsenal suffered from a lack of creativity.

In the past, with Martin Odegaard being out injured, Arteta could be justified going with Merino and Rice together - but not now.

Arteta can call upon either Eze or Ethan Nwaneri to stand in for the Arsenal captain, and the second half, here, showed the value of playing one of them. It was Eze’s pass that created the late goal.

Getty Images

Arsenal force Guardiola to abandon his principles

Arteta has come under fire for how he has set his teams up in big games, but it is hard to remember a Guardiola side ever playing quite like this.

City’s early goal may have changed their plan, however they finished this match with just 32.8 per cent possession.

Guardiola’s substitutions in the second half included Haaland coming off for Nico Gonzalez and Phil Foden being hooked for Nathan Ake.

That summed up City’s happiness to sit deep and soak up Arsenal’s pressure, rather than bossing the ball.

In the past, Guardiola’s side have come to the Emirates and outplayed the Gunners - however this time they abandoned their principles.

Arsenal should view that as a mark of respect and also an indication of how far they have come as a team under Arteta.

MORE ABOUT

Click here to read article