Manchester City failed to break down a determined Arsenal defence as a highly-anticipated clash at the top of the Premier League failed to live up to the hype in a 0-0 draw at the Etihad on Sunday.
Liverpool were the big winners of the day in the title race as they beat Brighton 2-1 to go top, two points ahead of Arsenal and three clear of City with nine games to play.
A share of the spoils preserves City’s unbeaten home run stretching back to November 2022 and ends Arsenal’s eight-match winning run in the Premier League.
But it is the Gunners who will be happier with a point as they prevented Pep Guardiola’s men from scoring at the Etihad for the first time in two years and 58 home games in all competitions.
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“Defensively we were outstanding,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. “The next step is with the ball to have more composure to attack better. “They are the best team in the world by far, best manager by far, and we have to catch up. That’s the challenge for us.”
City had 72 per cent possession but struggled to make anything of it against a defence that has conceded the fewest number of goals in the Premier League this season.
“We didn’t create much but it was almost actions,” said City manager Guardiola. “It’s not easy to break them (down) but I recognise the intention was there.”
Guardiola said Liverpool were now “favourites” to win the title in Jurgen Klopp’s final season.
City are still yet to win in six matches this season against other sides in the Premier League top five and must end that run when fourth-placed Aston Villa visit on Wednesday to keep their title challenge alive.
“Always who is first is favourite, second favourite is Arsenal,” added Guardiola.
“It is not in our hands. All we can do is win against Aston Villa.”
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– ARSENAL STILL MUST ‘IMPROVE’ –
Arsenal had also been in free-scoring form, netting 33 times during their eight-match winning streak.
However, the visitors had lost on their last eight trips to the Etihad, including a 4-1 thrashing as the title race swung decisively in City’s favour last season, and opted for a counterattacking approach.
“Eleven months ago we were here and the story was very different, we have to keep making steps,” added Arteta, who said his side still have to improve to match the standards City have set in winning five Premier League titles in six seasons.
“We are improving, competing better, understanding how you have to play these games.
“We have to come here and win. Today we draw and we still have to improve to be able to do that.”
Nathan Ake wasted the home side’s best chance in the first half when he failed to connect properly with a dangerous Kevin De Bruyne corner.
City were already missing the key defensive duo of Kyle Walker and John Stones after both were injured on international duty with England.
And Guardiola was forced to cobble together an even more makeshift backline when Ake hobbled off on 27 minutes.
Arsenal, though, rarely tested the City defence.
Gabriel Jesus could just not stretch far enough to meet Bukayo Saka’s cross in the only sign of life from the England international.
At the other end, Erling Haaland was extremely well-marshalled by Arsenal’s solid centre-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.
And the Norwegian fluffed his lines when he did get a rare sight of goal seven minutes from time as he failed to connect with a corner at the back post.
Arsenal’s best chance to snatch all three points came late on when substitute Leandro Trossard fired straight at Stefan Ortega.
But a share of the spoils leaves the title race still tantalisingly poised with three points separating the top three.
SALAH FIRES AGAIN
Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool to the top of the Premier League as the Egypt star’s clinical finish capped a stirring fightback to beat Brighton 2-1 on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were rocked by Danny Welbeck’s blistering strike after just 85 seconds at Anfield.
Luis Diaz restored order with an equaliser later in the first half, before Salah netted after the interval to seal a vital victory.
Salah’s third goal in his last three games was his 22nd in all competitions this term.
Unbeaten in their last six league matches, Liverpool sit three points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who face third-placed Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium later on Sunday.
An Arsenal victory would take them above Liverpool on goal difference. Any other result would keep Liverpool in pole position.
For the first time in 10 years, the Premier League’s top three were separated by only one point after 28 games prior to this weekend’s matches.
Thanks to Salah, treble-chasing Liverpool remain firmly in the hunt for a record-equalling 20th English title in Klopp’s final season.
Unbeaten in their last 27 home league games, Liverpool are back in action at Anfield against lowly Sheffield United on Thursday.
Just two minutes in, Brighton’s Simon Adingra broke quickly in a devastating counter-attack that caught Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley out of position.
When Virgil van Dijk’s scuffed clearance rolled to Welbeck just inside the penalty area, the Brighton forward lashed a strike into the top corner to leave Klopp shaking his head.
Salah was making his first league start since New Year’s Day after an injury-plagued beginning to 2024.
Looking to make up for lost time, Salah nearly grabbed the equaliser with a curler that whistled just wide.
The Egypt forward threatened again from Bradley’s cross, but he couldn’t keep his shot on target from a good position 10 yards out.
Liverpool’s dominance was rewarded in the 27th minute when Brighton failed to clear Salah’s header from a corner and Diaz volleyed home from close-range.
Darwin Nunez’s agile effort from flat on the turf was saved by Bart Verbruggen just before the break.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Max Allister squandered a chance against his former club with a header that flashed narrowly wide early in the second half.
Dominik Szoboszlai fired past the far post from 20 yards, while Nunez was denied by Verbruggen at the near post.
Wave after wave of Liverpool pressure crashed against Brighton’s defensive wall before De Zerbi’s men cracked in the 65th minute.
Mac Allister was catalyst with a perfectly-weighted pass that picked out Salah’s run into the area and the forward dispatched a composed low finish past Verbruggen.
In a tense finale, former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana should have punished his old team, but he rolled his shot wide to Klopp’s immense relief.
Source Agencies
