Arsenal and Manchester City played out a 1–1 draw in the Premier League, but the post-match numbers suggest the Gunners could feel they left points on the table against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Manchester City and Arsenal played out a 1–1 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, a result that lifted City to 9th in the Premier League table, while the Gunners moved closer to 2nd place, five points behind leaders Liverpool.
The post-match statistics indicated that Mikel Arteta’s side had the chances to claim all three points against Pep Guardiola’s men. Guardiola later admitted that City’s approach was shaped by player fatigue, with the congested fixture schedule across competitions limiting their intensity.
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City, unusually for them, had just 33% possession compared to Arsenal’s 67%, completing 229 passes against Arsenal’s 517. Despite this dominance of the ball, Arsenal struggled to turn territory into clear superiority.
Both sides ended with almost identical expected goals — Arsenal 0.88, City 0.87, reflecting the lack of cutting edge in front of goal.
Arsenal managed 12 shots to City’s 5, with 3 on target each. The Gunners created 11 corners compared to City’s 1 and made 39 touches in the opposition box to City’s 7, yet the finishing touch was missing.
Defensively, City leaned heavily on clearances, registering 60 to Arsenal’s 18, as they absorbed long spells of pressure. Arsenal completed 148 passes in the final third at 78% accuracy, but with just 5% crossing accuracy (5/32), much of their attacking play failed to threaten.
City’s approach was economical: two big chances created, four shots inside the box, and an equaliser that matched their low-possession strategy. Guardiola’s men relied on efficiency rather than volume, reflected in their 100% crossing accuracy (though only 4 attempted).
For Arsenal, the stats underline the missed opportunity. With overwhelming possession, territory, and set-piece advantage, they could not convert pressure into goals.
Their inability to exploit City’s deep defending — particularly through ineffective crossing and lack of variation in the final third — cost them a potential statement victory.
The draw keeps both sides level in terms of chances created, but Arsenal may look back at this as two points dropped rather than one gained.
Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
