Report: Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal

Neither side was able to create any clear cut opportunities in a draw that keeps the situation at the top of the table very close.

Gabriel Jesus had a couple of half chances in the first half, and Leandro Trossard was denied late on, before Manchester City finished the game strongly. In the end we held on for our first point away to City since 2016, and stopped the hosts scoring at home for the first time in 57 games.

Cagey first-half

The hosts started quickly, and looked to pin us back in the opening exchanges, but it was Jesus, making his first start since January, who had the first half chance. Ben White’s deep cross was too high for Kai Havertz, but Jesus chested down before scuffing his shot just wide of the near post.

Nathan Ake had a close-range header from a corner saved on the line by David Raya, and City continued to dominate possession in our half.

Jesus, who started on the left, had our next chance. Martin Odegaard was able to orchestrate in the middle of the pitch, and the ball fell to Jakub Kiwior inside the area. He laid it off to Jesus just inside the D who shifted past the defender, but shot wide.

At the other end Erling Haaland got his head to a dangerous looking cross late in the half, but could only direct it wide under pressure from Gabriel and Kiwior.

But overall it was a fairly cautious first 45 minutes from both sides, and whereas City enjoyed more possession, in terms of chances there was nothing between the sides.

No breakthrough

Mateo Kovacic sent a long-range effort wide early after the restart before we looked to raise the tempo. Odegaard was leading the way, and released Bukayo Saka inside the area. His low cross went all the way through the six-yard box, and just ahead of the sliding Jesus, who would have had a tap in at the far post.

Pep Guardiola introduced Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku for the last half hour, and Mikel Arteta responded by bringing on both Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

We had to defend in numbers inside our own box as the game entered the final 15 minutes, making a succession of blocks and half clearances. It was all hands to the pump.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came on to provide fresh legs on the flanks. Both subs had chances. Martinelli had a shot blocked inside the box after more good work from Odegaard while Haaland miskicked at the far post from a City corner as the tension rose. Then Trossard broke through and forced a save from Ortega with five minutes left after beating the offside trap.

The hosts finished strongly, but in the end we took a point that ends our eight-game winning streak, but keeps us just ahead of the Champions in the standings.

FACTS AND STATS

Manchester City failed to score in a Premier League game at the Etihad Stadium for the first time since a 0-2 defeat to Crystal Palace in October 2021; they had scored in 47 straight home league matches prior to this draw.

We have kept a clean sheet in both of our league meetings with Manchester City this season, making us just the fourth side to shut out a Pep Guardiola side in two league matches in the same season, after Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2014/15, Manchester United in 2020/21, and Crystal Palace in 2021/22.

This match saw just three shots on target (1 Man City, 2 Arsenal), one of just three games to see three or fewer in the Premier League this season, which also includes the reverse meeting between the two sides in October (also 3 shots on target).

We attempted just six shots in this game, our lowest tally in a single Premier League fixture since November 2021, when we had five against Liverpool at Anfield.

This was Manchester City’s first 0-0 draw in the Premier League since March 2022 against Crystal Palace, ending their run of 75 consecutive league games without any being goalless.

City have drawn seven Premier League games this season, their most in a campaign since 2016/17 (9).

The two teams played out a goalless draw for the first time since January 2011, with each of the last 33 meetings between the two sides in all competitions seeing at least one goal prior to today.

What’s next

We have at least eight fixtures in April, starting on Wednesday at home to Luton Town, followed next weekend away to Brighton & Hove Albion, both in the Premier League.