Gary Neville thinks he knows what Man City players were ‘saying’ about Arsenal on the pitch

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Gary Neville thinks Manchester City sussed Arsenal’s set-piece tactics out on matchday five at the Emirates.

It was a game of tactical mastery, as Pep Guardiola changed his philosophy to combat Arsenal’s dominance. 

Man City’s defensive approach almost worked out, until Gabriel Martinelli saved the day with a 93rd-minute equaliser. 

There will be mixed views from both sides in the wake of the contest, but Gary Neville believed the visitors ultimately felt more comfortable. 

• READ MORE: Micah Richards and Gary Lineker ‘couldn’t believe’ what they saw in Arsenal’s draw vs Man City

Gary Neville thinks Man City players loved Arsenal’s set pieces

Arsenal dominated possession, giving City just 33% of the ball, but that didn’t seem to matter.

The lack of creativity in Mikel Arteta’s style has been heavily spoken about this season, and the clash at the Emirates just cranked up the volume. 

Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast after the draw, Neville shared his belief that the Man City players were enjoying Arsenal’s approach to predominantly threaten from set-pieces.  

“Every time a long throw-in and a corner came in, it was almost as if they [Man City] were saying, ‘more, more, we’ll deal with that’, there were no problems whatsoever.”

Neville made it clear that City were comfortable with Arsenal’s over-reliance on set pieces, which, when looking at the numbers from the game, rings true.

Arsenal had no luck from set-play against Man City

As Neville mentioned, it wasn’t only corners that the Gunners looked to catch City out with.

Arsenal have implemented long throw-ins this season, but they didn’t trouble the visitors either.

As seen above, Arsenal’s set-play routines generated four shots on goal during the contest, with none of the efforts truly threatening goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The biggest expected goal threat Arsenal recorded against City from set play was a 0.12xG chance from a throw-in, which says all that needs to be known about the lack of trouble City were caused. 

It’s been a real talking point that the Gunners haven’t created much from open play, given how strong they are from corners; however, things were different this time.

No, Arsenal didn’t create chance after chance, but City’s style of play was incredibly hard to break down, with Guardiola’s unfavourable tactics paying off.

Arteta was handed a taste of his own medicine against his former teacher, with a lot to break down from the fixture for both sides.