Cabin BLV: Arsenal failed to win because Guardiola was tactically astute

Arsenal’s failure to secure victory in the home showdown was due to Guardiola’s tactical adaptability.

1. Many thought Arteta should have rotated his squad, particularly in midfield. The Spanish manager persisted with the midfield trio of Rice, Zubimendi, and Merino, who had started together in the recent Champions League qualifying match at Bilbao. Arteta had enough alternatives to rotate personnel to foster a more expansive style of football, helping Arsenal compete fairly and even consider beating a Man City side that had not been in great form early in the season.

While this perspective is not incorrect, it does not fully reveal the nature of the game, because Man City actually played a style that made many forget it was the usual Guardiola football. With a world-class goalkeeper like Donnarumma—who is not adept with his feet—and a striker like Erling Haaland, Man City shifted to a more pragmatic style rather than relying heavily on individual technical skills. This is clear when match stats show Arsenal’s average possession at 67%, compared to Man City’s 33%. In most big clashes between Man City and Arsenal, Guardiola’s side usually dominates possession. This signals Man City’s tactical awareness, willing to adopt a defensive posture in major games if needed. This was evident in the Manchester derby, where Man City did not overwhelm rivals MU with possession but chose to sit back and counterattack with three goals. There was no reckless passing to Haaland; every move was carefully planned. Guardiola has clearly prepared to adjust his philosophy at Man City after opponents successfully decoded his usual style, and Arsenal had certainly prepared for Man City to play aggressively as usual. In conclusion, despite having advantages in rest and squad depth over Man City, Arsenal appeared somewhat unsettled when Guardiola’s team “was not themselves,” changing tactics to prevent Arsenal from exploiting gaps.