This was the first match between the top two teams in the Premier League, and Arsenal fell short as City moved on in the FA Cup.
This was it, Arsenal vs. Manchester City, master vs. apprentice, the match so many had been waiting for. However, the first meeting between the top two teams in the Premier League was not, in fact, in the Premier League, but in the FA Cup. Thanks to some scheduling changes originating months ago with a Europa League game involving Arsenal, the two sides have still yet to meet in the Premier League so far this season. Don’t worry, that matchup is coming up soon, on February 15th if you must know.
As Arsenal couldn’t quite find an equalizer in this game, they went on to lose 1-0 to an Ake goal. It was an unusual goalscorer that made the difference in this game, and while it was a tale of two halves, here are 3 things we learned after the first meeting between Manchester City and Arsenal.
1.) Arsenal does need that backup midfielder
The price they pay for said backup midfielder, well, we can argue about that until the cows come home, but the dropoff between Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga was clear for all to see. In the first half, Partey did his job; properly shielded the defense from any oncoming attacks, plugged gaps, and made it difficult for City to find space.
In the second half, Lokonga entered in the 46th minute and didn’t exactly impress. It was that same space that would have likely been occupied by Partey, that Julian Alvarez found where Manchester City’s goal originated from. Lokonga looked unsure of his positioning constantly, and Manchester City made sure to make Arsenal pay for it.
The Gunners do in fact, need that backup midfielder who can assure the dropoff between Partey and his replacement is less of a worry. It may seem harsh to harp on this issue given Lokonga has seen so little game time, but in a title race against a team like Manchester City, against a manager like Pep Guardiola, margins are so thin.
Just ask Jurgen Klopp, he can vouch for this very fact, and Arsenal won’t want to miss this chance to pounce on a Premier League title with Liverpool stumbling, and Chelsea so far behind the pack, you get the point. Arteta and co. will have other chances if their trajectory stays the same, but you do get the feeling that this year is as good a chance as ever to add another title to their club’s history.
2.) Mikel Arteta Has Eyes on the Prize
I don’t think Arteta will ever admit to this, but it seemed clear with 6 changes in the squad that faced Manchester City, his attention was on a larger prize, one Arsenal hasn’t won in a long, long, long time.
City went with what can be considered their in-form squad, leaving players like Ruben Dias (returning from injury), Joao Cancelo (out of favor), Kyle Walker (out of favor/returning from injury), and more on the bench.
While Arsenal was very much in charge of the first half, Manchester City took control of the second half and found the difference maker in Nathan Ake’s goal. When Partey came off and Lokonga entered the game, everything changed. Space was there to be had by almost any City player who wanted to exploit it, and they did just that.
Was Arsenal truly sacrificing the FA Cup for the Premier League, or was Arteta just setting himself up for excuses after a loss? Regardless, Arteta still holds the aces in the Premier League, and by rotating 6 players for this FA Cup tie, Manchester City only got a little taste of what Arsenal will look like ahead of their first meeting in the Premier League.
Unless injuries start to pile up, and in particular Thomas Partey gets injured, it certainly looks like Manchester City is the only obstacle for Arsenal in this Premier League title race.
3.) Guardiola has gone against his philosophy
You hear it all the time from ex-players that have played under Pep Guardiola; if somebody can’t fit his system, they don’t play. It’s simple. Whether it be attitude, positioning, or lack of willingness to learn and change, Pep will find somebody else.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said it, and even Manchester City club legend Sergio Aguero faced this same wrath during his later years at the club under Guardiola when Jesus was quick to impress and Aguero had to face a spell on the sidelines.
However now, things seemed to have changed with Haaland. It seems Guardiola’s system has been made to fit Haaland’s style. Adding an extra man into midfield to help with build-up play, and more crosses into the box than in years past, I’m not saying that Haaland has made City worse, but City just isn’t as dynamic as in years gone by.
The goal is clear, get the ball to Haaland and let him do his thing. With 25 Premier League goals already, it’s hard to argue that the plan isn’t working. Although you look around the rest of the City squad at the moment, nobody has more than 7 goals, with Phil Foden the second leading scorer in the team.
In years past, goals came from everywhere, and teams could never put too much attention onto one player, or another would end up scoring. Now, all attention goes towards Haaland, but because of the role he plays, the spaces he occupies, and the lack of involvement in any build-up, it limits others from getting into goalscoring spaces. Time will tell if this is the right move.
It just seems odd that Guardiola does seem to have deviated from his normal style of coaching and man-management. Against Arsenal, Haaland had 37 touches, but hardly had an impact on the game, which is not uncommon for him. The man only needs one touch though, to exercise his lethal form in front of goal.