Arsenal 0-1 Man City: Pep Guardiola's 'new' City, Fernandinho, Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith-Rowe
Manchester City’s processional stroll to the Premier League title continued as they swept aside Arsenal in a 1-0 win at Emirates Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side have played far better this season, and Mikel Arteta’s side far worse, but this was another reflection of City’s strength as they extended their winning run to 18 games.
- Manchester City's 1-0 win at Arsenal landed a big profit for readers of Mark O'Haire's Super Sunday tips after he successfully staked 3pts on City to win and under 4.5 goals at 17/20 as well as 1pt on Hector Bellerin to be carded at 9/2
The only goal came after just two minutes, when Raheem Sterling headed home a Riyad Mahrez cross.
That hinted at a potential mauling, but City failed to build on their opener. They didn’t need to, though, as they held the Gunners at arm’s length.
Here are four things we learned from the match.
How much tougher are Man City this season?
While the attacking form of players like Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan have caught the eye recently, the biggest difference between Manchester City this season and last can be found in the improvements they have made at the back.
Long questioned for his defensive methods, Guardiola has now forged a rock solid unit.
Ruben Dias, John Stones and, especially, Fernandinho were exceptional against Arsenal.
The Brazilian midfielder played like a younger version of himself, showing a level of physicality many believed to be beyond him. The protection he provided was invaluable while Dias and Stones added more steel to their partnership.
This was the sort of game City would have dropped points in last season.
They were compact as a unit and with that basis Guardiola’s team only needed to take one opportunity to claim all three points. While this match might not feature highly in the list of City’s best games this season, it showed why they are currently the best.
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The role Joao Cancelo plays in this City team is unique, with the Portuguese full-back frequently driving into central midfield to allow Gundogan to push higher up the pitch.
This, however, leaves a lot of space on the right side of Manchester City’s defence for opponents to exploit - Arsenal recognised this.
Bukayo Saka and Kieran Tierney were a danger throughout.
Indeed, Tierney received more passes in the attacking third in the first half (11) than any other Arsenal player. Saka received six, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Odegaard and Nicolas Pepe received six combined. Had Arsenal had someone to spring the counter attack into the area vacated by Cancelo, they would have caused City more damage.
Saka and Tierney tired in the second half, but this was a performance that might just have provided opponents with a template to follow.
There is a clear area to pinpoint when facing the Premier League table-toppers.
Martin Odegaard no good without Emile Smith-Rowe
While the January signing of Martin Odegaard on loan from Real Madrid was undeniably exciting for Arsenal fans, there was a question over how the Norwegian would fit into the same team as Emile Smith Rowe.
Some answers were provided in the 4-2 win over Leeds, when the pair thrived as a fluid, interchangeable duo.
For this match, though, Odegaard was preferred, but he looked lost without the 20-year-old to play off and form passing triangles with.
Odegaard allowed the game to bypass him, failing to notch a single shot, key pass or through ball before he was replaced by Smith Rowe.
This was the worst of the Norwegian, who appeared lightweight throughout. Even when Arsenal enjoyed spells of possession, Odegaard couldn’t find the angles to make himself an option.
He can still be a key figure for Arsenal between now and the end of the season, but this will make Arteta think twice about dropping him in without a creative partner alongside.
Is this new system now Man City’s permanent formation?
At first, Guardiola had no other choice but to deploy one of his wingers or attacking midfielders as a centre forward.
Injuries to both Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus forced his hand and so Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Ferran Torres were all, at one point or another, played as the attacking frontman.
Now, though, Aguero and Jesus are out of the City team purely because Guardiola believe’s his side stand a better chance of winning without them. Both forwards are fit and available, yet they started this match on the bench with Silva picked to play in the central attacking position.
City’s striker-less system is no longer a short-term solution. Instead, it is a shape and approach that gets the best out of the intelligent space-readers at the club.
While this wasn’t City at their most potent in attack, there is nothing more difficult to track as an opposition defender than a player without a clear position.
City are currently playing with three or four of these players.
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