Arsenal and Manchester City faced off in a high-stakes match at the Etihad Stadium last weekend. For the past two seasons, both teams have vied for the Premier League title, with City emerging victorious each time.
The Gunners are determined to challenge Pep Guardiola’s dominance, though they know it’s a tough task.
The match presented a chance for Arsenal to assert themselves, but City equalized late in the game. After Erling Haaland opened the scoring for City, Arsenal turned the game around with goals from defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel.
However, after Leandro Trossard received a red card, Arsenal was forced to adopt a defensive strategy, ultimately failing to hold their lead when John Stones scored an equalizer.
City players expressed frustration with Arsenal’s defensive tactics, often referred to in the media as “dark arts.” According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal players have been joking about the annoyance they caused to their City counterparts, with one reportedly saying, “They are fuming!!”
Despite facing criticism for their approach, Arsenal’s strategy was a pragmatic response to the challenges of playing away against title rivals, especially while down to ten men. They nearly secured a vital victory, but Stones’ late goal dashed their hopes.
