Pep Guardiola admitted he had no alternative however to park the bus in opposition to Arsenal, and praised Manchester Metropolis's defensive resilience regardless of conceding a late equaliser.
An excellent lob from the substitute Gabriel Martinelli within the third minute of stoppage time cancelled out Erling Haaland's early strike as Mikel Arteta turned the primary supervisor to go 5 consecutive league video games unbeaten in opposition to his compatriot. Metropolis recorded simply 32.8% possession on the Emirates – the bottom in a top-flight match for a staff managed by Guardiola – in an uncharacteristically backs-to-the-wall show.
It was not fairly sufficient to safe a primary victory in opposition to Arsenal since April 2023 however the Metropolis supervisor acknowledged his gamers confirmed a distinct facet to their sport.
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“Our resilience was improbable, in any other case we couldn't survive,” Guardiola mentioned. “Final season we misplaced 5-1; right now we have been shut. It's by far among the finest groups in Europe. I would favor to play one other approach, however once we play a variety of video games in 10 years [as City manager], the groups defend deep, deep, deep and take a results of improbable efficiency, mindset, technique … Generally it occurs. It's important to defend, truthfully. It's as a result of the opponent is best. When you must settle for it, you must survive in that approach. And we did it.”
Requested in regards to the possession statistics, he mentioned: “One time in 10 years isn't dangerous, proper? I've to show myself in opposition to one other technique. Now I'm a transition staff.”
Having completed as runners-up for the previous three seasons, Arsenal are 5 factors behind Liverpool, the league leaders, after 5 video games. Arteta refused to just accept criticism over his resolution to pick out Mikel Merino forward of Eberechi Eze after the England ahead got here off the bench at half-time and arrange the equaliser. However he recognised that service should enhance to Viktor Gyökeres, after the brand new £55m striker didn't register a shot through the match.
“To have very massive open probabilities is extraordinarily tough, however he's actually making an attempt his finest and making an attempt to do this, and now we have to supply extra for him,” Arteta mentioned. “There have been a variety of conditions when the probabilities have been there after which particularly the ultimate cross was lacking right now.”
