Arsenal have secured a late draw against Manchester City in the Premier League.
It is always a fascinating battle when Mikel Arteta comes up against Pep Guardiola, and the game at the Emirates on Sunday was no different.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring for the visitors in the first half after some sloppy play by Arsenal, and that looked like it would be enough for City to win the game.
However, a brilliant goal from Gabriel Martinelli in second-half stoppage time levelled the game.
Mikel Arteta made Pep Guardiola break his promise during Arsenal vs Manchester City
When you think about Guardiola’s football, most people’s minds will go straight to tiki-taka.
The Spaniard has always loved possession-based football and has rarely ever surrendered the ball to the opposition over the years.
In fact, just last month, Guardiola vowed never to change his philosophy and claimed that his side would continue to pass a lot in games.
“Never, ever will I change my beliefs in the way we are going to play. But if you regain [the ball] up the pitch, I want to attack quickly,” he said, as per TNT Sports.
“When the opponents do high pressing man-to-man and we break the first press, I want to attack quickly. But after that, I love to pass the ball a thousand, million boring passes. I love it.”
Against Arsenal at the Emirates, Guardiola decided to channel his inner Jose Mourinho and parked the bus against Arteta’s side.
The City boss deployed a back five in the 68th minute and defended extremely deep. They showed no interest in dominating possession and were happy to sit back and invite pressure from Arsenal.
Guardiola’s tactics were so negative that City’s possession – 32.8 per cent – was the lowest ever average by a side he has managed in his entire top-flight career.
You can say what you want about Arteta, but he might just be the first manager in history to make the great Guardiola park the bus.
Mikel Arteta sets a new record against Pep Guardiola after Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City
Arteta should be disappointed to only come away with a point against Manchester City at home.
The Spaniard got his starting line-up wrong. Eberechi Eze should’ve started the game – Mikel Merino worked hard, but he did nothing to threaten City.
That change at half-time swayed the game Arsenal’s way, and it was the former Crystal Palace man who assisted Martinelli’s brilliant goal in the end.
The draw now has made Arteta the only manager in football history to go five league games unbeaten against Guardiola.
That is an incredible achievement.
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