Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal (31 Mar, 2024) Game Analysis،
Arsenal showed their title credentials by holding reigning champions Manchester City to a 0-0 draw on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium, allowing Liverpool to take top spot on a pivotal day in the title race at three from the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, seeking their first league title in 20 years, are second in the table with 65 points with nine matches remaining, while City are third with 64. Liverpool, with 67 points, have taken the lead with its 2-1. comeback victory against Brighton earlier on Sunday.
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The match did not live up to its battle of the titans interpretation. City dominated possession with 72.2% and came to Arsenal in waves.
But the visitors frustrated Pep Guardiola's men – including Championship top scorer Erling Haaland – with a classic defensive display to extend their unbeaten league run to nine games and end their eight-game losing streak at the Etihad.
The usually prolific Man City were limited to just one shot on goal and it was the first time in 58 games that they had failed to score at home.
We obviously want the three points, and we did our best to get the win… but we'll take the point and move on,” Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard said.
“We had to defend a lot, a little deeper than we would have liked. It was a close and difficult game. So many things can happen before the end of the season, we have to take it game by game.”
Gabriel Jesus had Arsenal's best chances, firing two shots just wide in the first half and then narrowly failing to meet an inviting cross from Bukayo Saka.
City's best opportunity was Kevin De Bruyne's early corner which deflected off the shoulder of Nathan Aké but fell to goalkeeper David Raya.
City parked themselves in Arsenal's half for a tense final few minutes, but the visitors held on.
The normally reliable Haaland failed to make contact with the ball as he appeared to have a simple finish from Josko Gvardiol's header late in the match, holding his head in his hands in frustration as supporters of City moaned.
While Arsenal lacked the firepower of recent weeks – they had scored 33 goals in eight successive league wins – stopping City was mission accomplished for the Gunners, who were beaten 4-1 at the Etihad last season before City ran away with the title.
“We can't be satisfied when we draw,” said Arsenal defender William Saliba. “We come away with a point, but we are not satisfied. We know they are the best team in the world, so we have to be focused.
“We didn't score but we didn't concede, so we're happy. We defended well. We have to continue like this.”
This match marked the final clash between two of the top three teams of the season.
