Manchester City came within seconds of earning a vital win at Arsenal on Sunday but it was a performance we’ve rarely been accustomed to from Pep Guardiola’s side.
City’s opener arrived via the inevitable Erling Haaland, as the Citizens cut apart Arsenal on the counter attack. The home side’s defence had no answer for the pace and power of Haaland, who surged through to slot in his sixth goal of the Premier League campaign already.
With City still ahead in the closing stages, Guardiola was happy for his side to concede possession to their hosts. John Stones and Nathan Ake were both introduced from the bench in a bid to protect the lead, but a late Gabriel Martinelli goal ultimately rescued Arsenal a point.
City had just 32.8% of the possession at the Emirates, as Arsenal dominated the ball. According to BBC Sport, it’s the lowest possession a Pep Guardiola team has ever recorded in a top-flight league match. Given the Spaniard’s managerial career has spanned 17 years and three different countries, it’s a staggering statistic.
Is Guardiola evolving from the possession-dominant style his reputation has been built on?
Read –Â Arsenal vs Manchester City – Combined XI
See more –Â Cash ends club goal drought but Aston Villa remain winless
