Backs-to-wall defensive DISPLAY was a one-off

STONES ADMITS ARSENAL GAME-PLAN UNLIKELY TO BE REPEATED

- By TYRONE MARSHALL

MANCHESTER City’s backs-to-the-wall defensive display at Arsenal was a one-off and isn’t a tactic that will be repeated this season, according to centre-back John Stones.

City had just 33% of the ball at the Emirates, their lowest share of possession in the Pep Guardiola era, and they had to weather plenty of pressure to emerge with a point, only coneding an equaliser in the 93rd minute.

Pep Guardiola also made some defensive changes as City’s attacking threat diminished, bringing on Nathan Ake for Phil Foden with a quarter of the game to play and then replacing Erling Haaland with Nico Gonzalez after 76 minutes.