Mikel Arteta’s faith in David Raya, Erling Haaland problem and history made – Things we learnt from Arsenal’s win over Man City
There could hardly be a bigger match to end this run of Premier League fixtures than Manchester City vs Arsenal, and the result could be profound.
Arsenal sent a title message to the champions with a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, which ends a 12-game winning run City have on the north Londoners in the Premier League.
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There’s only eight matches on the board heading into the October international break, and plenty of time for City to recover, but there’s every indication the fight will be tougher this time around.
Finishing five points short last season with a 4-1 defeat at the Etihad more or less putting the final nail in the coffin, Arsenal were put back in their place by the back-to-back-to-back champions.
Now comprehensively emerging from that box, Arsenal are looking serious, far more so than just a late winner from Gabriel Martinelli would suggest.
Needing such a close margin of victory may suggest the match could have gone either way, but there were plenty of takeaways that showed that wasn’t the case.
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An historic shut out
Arsenal reduced Erling Haaland to zero shots, and City an even more miserly four.
It’s the fewest a Pep Guardiola side has managed in the league since Barcelona in 2010, and a real statement of Mikel Arteta’s tactical prowess.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhas were flawless throughout, but there’s certainly evidence the Gunners’ lack of cohesion to start the campaign may have been them just warming up for this match, particularly in terms of tactics.
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Is Rodri City's most important player?
The statistics speak for themselves, the three-game suspension Rodri received for putting his hands around Morgan Gibbs-White’s throat has seen three defeats.
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Guardiola acknowledged it post-match, saying: “That is a stat we cannot deny. But we put players to control more passes but they [Arsenal] are aggressive in these areas. We will come back and continue. We will move forward.”
Thankfully for the Spaniard, his countryman is back next time out against Brighton, and has an injury record to admire, never playing fewer than 46 games a season in his senior career.
However, goalscoring matchwinner from last season's Champions League final is certainly capable of moments of frustration, so teams will certainly be wise to try and provoke him into another damaging suspension.
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There’s a problem with Erling Haaland
The Norwegian failed to have a single shot for only the second time in the Premier League, and it was even worse than just that.
Haaland looked isolated without Kevin De Bruyne, and has now been kept off of the scoresheet in four straight games.
One moment in particular showcased the problem when a ball forward saw Saliba leave the striker on his backside for a one-on-one, and later frustration was shown.
The Golden Boot winner was involved in a touchline scuffle after the full-time whistle, and will have to stew on a frustrating month while away with his country, who rarely do much better to provide him with goals.
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Arteta backs Raya
An Arsenal victory seemed unlikely when goalkeeper David Raya appeared to let the occasion get the better of him in the early stages.
The first half saw the Spanish goalkeeper look shaky, his worst moment seeing him almost give away a goal when his clearance was charged down by Julian Alvarez and bounced inches past his post.
Although Raya looked more assured in the second half, Arsenal fans will wonder if Aaron Ramsdale will get a run in the starting XI as a result of Raya's uncertain keeping, but Arteta's post-match comments firmly suggest the on-loan Brentford star is still the main man.
"I think he was excellent," Arteta told Sky Sports.
"The way he controlled the ball, how dominant he was and how high he played. I love players with courage and David certainly has big ones."
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Treble winning pressure is different
City losing three from their last four in all competitions is form totally at odds with the wonders of their treble-winning campaign from last season.
But these woes don't surprise Gary Neville, who is all too aware of post-Treble life's trials and tribulations having done the same with Manchester United.
"The reason I predicted Arsenal to win the title is because I felt they got close last year, I thought they'd be close again and I thought there'd be a slight treble hangover for City," Neville told Sky Sports.
"What's City's cause this year? They've achieved utopia, they can't do any more. When you've fought so long and hard to win a Champions League like they have and won the treble and repeated what Man Utd have done, there's got to be that little bit of a sigh of relief.
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"I remember my most difficult season for United was the season after the treble. We did win the league but the other teams weren't very good that season. I had a nightmare, it took so much out of me the previous season.
"I think there'll be an element of these City players just having a bit taken out of them.
"They've taken a couple of punches on the chin in the last couple of weeks, so they might have been woken up early enough and don't write them off - absolutely not. But something's happening, Wolves, Newcastle, now losing a game like this. Things that haven't happened too many times in the past are starting to happen in front of their eyes."
VAR issues haven’t gone away
Yes, unfortunately we still have to talk about those dreaded three letters.
It didn't affect a game like Liverpool's defeat at Tottenham last weekend but more questions were raised about VAR's efficiency in the first half of the blockbuster clash.
Mateo Kovacic received a yellow card for a late challenge on Martin Odegaard, however, it's felt a red should've been given.
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And fans were astounded the City midfielder managed to remain on the pitch as he avoided a second yellow for a similar challenge on Declan Rice.
talkSPORT understands VAR didn't deem the on-field decisions to be clear and obvious errors by referee Michael Oliver but many may feel differently.
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