Arsenal and Man City hold each other back in the big battle, Liverpool benefits from the top spot

(NLDO) – The match between Arsenal and Man City was dramatic and the result was breathtaking, but clearly it could not satisfy fans who were expecting a different outcome.

Witnessing the "big guys" in the Big Six group such as Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea or Tottenham struggling to overcome extremely difficult rounds, fans continue to look forward to the big battle in London between Arsenal and Man City with the hope of seeing a truly exciting match.

Arsenal attacked overwhelmingly against Man City but...

The "script" of the match between the army of "two old acquaintances" Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola was not lacking in suspense and drama. In the 9th minute, the away team Man City took the lead with a sharp counter-attack and ended with a beautiful opening goal after a smooth coordination between Reijnders and Haaland.

Haaland opened the scoring early for Man City

The Norwegian striker coolly finished past David Raya, creating momentum for the visitors. Taking an early lead, Pep Guardiola's team proactively retreated deep, controlling the game with solid ball retention and organized pressing.

The first half passed in a stalemate for Arsenal as they could not find space against the dense defense of "The Citizens".

Personnel changes help Arsenal make a difference

In the second half, coach Mikel Arteta adjusted his personnel, bringing on Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka to increase creativity in midfield. Eze's speed and dynamism, along with Saka's enthusiasm, helped Arsenal put more pressure on their opponents.

However, it was not until the extra minutes that home team Arsenal did what was expected.

Martinelli scored consecutively for the "Gunners"

In the 90+3 minute, Eze sent a long pass over the line and Martinelli escaped before making a delicate lob, defeating goalkeeper Donnarumma, sealing a 1-1 draw. The final whistle sounded amid the excitement of the Emirates audience.

The match showed Arsenal's mettle and tenacious fighting spirit. Despite being deadlocked for most of the match, Arteta's team did not give up and were rewarded with a late goal.

The 1-1 draw not only maintained Arsenal's unbeaten run against Man City in their last five encounters, but also reflected the balance in this year's title race: a cool, disciplined Man City facing an Arsenal full of desire and relentlessly fighting until the last second.

Man City did not satisfy the expectations of viewers because of Pep's change.

Looking at the statistics, Arsenal dominated the ball, creating constant pressure in the second half. However, that dominance did not translate into many clear-cut opportunities. The Gunners' attacking tactics still focused on pushing the ball out wide to Saka or Martinelli, lacking any breakthrough in the middle.

Several long-range shots or hasty crosses showed Arsenal had plenty of possession but were still struggling against their opponents' dense defence.

On Man City's side, Pep Guardiola showed rare pragmatism. After Haaland's early opening goal, the away team did not continue to press aggressively as usual but instead proactively retreated, prioritizing keeping the goal safe.

This is a tactical change of play, both to preserve strength and to test a different approach in a long season.

However, giving up some of their attacking identity made Man City lose the initiative, creating conditions for Arsenal to press the field.

Man City and Arsenal hold each other back

The draw reflected the tug-of-war between the two title contenders, giving "fisherman" Liverpool the chance to sit back and enjoy the benefits. Arne Slot's team suddenly widened the gap at the top when they saw the two big rivals holding each other back.

That situation signals a tense season, where just one hesitation, both Arsenal and Man City, or any candidate, can lose the advantage to the opponent if they miss the opportunity.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/arsenal-va-man-city-niu-chan-nhau-o-dai-chien-liverpool-huong-loi-ngoi-dau-196250922063031244.htm