Pep suffered over defensive plan as Arsenal hold City

Pep Guardiola said he did not enjoy asking Manchester City to use the defensive tactics that backfired as Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw for Arsenal on Sunday.

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Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (centre) vies with Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva (left), Rodri (second left) and Matheus Nunes (right) during the English Premier League match on Sunday. — AFP

(AFP)

Guardiola opted for an unusually cautious game-plan in the second half at the Emirates Stadium in a bid to cling on after Erling Haaland’s ninth-minute opener.

But the City manager's decision to substitute Norway striker Haaland and replace England forward Phil Foden in a switch to a back five ultimately proved unsuccessful.

Arsenal were able to monopolise the ball with City sitting so deep, and Martinelli broke the offside trap with a well-timed run onto Eberechi Eze’s pass before lofting a composed finish over Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Tellingly, City had just 32.8 percent of possession, which ranked as the lowest figure any Guardiola team have ever recorded in a Premier League match.

"I can’t believe I have another record in this country," he joked. "I give a lot of credit to Arsenal, especially when defending with five. We are not built for that but sometimes we have to accept it.