Arsenal 5-1 Man City: 'Tenacity, endeavour, composure' - how did Gunners clinch statement win?
2025-02-03
Category: sports

Arsenal's 5-1 win over Manchester City was not just a statement result, it was also a wonderfully complete performance by Mikel Arteta's side.To get a victory like this against such high quality opposition as the defending Premier League champions, you have got to get so many things right.For Arsenal on Sunday, that list included their mindset and the great variation they had in their play.Arteta had the gameplan, and his players displayed the tenacity, endeavour and composure to carry it out.
Risk and reward, then commitment and focus
Every aspect of Arsenal's defensive work against City was brilliant.They took risks at the right time with their high press, and got their reward with their first goal - then the same approach almost brought them another one soon afterwards too.On both occasions, City obviously made mistakes playing out, but you have got to have the bravery to go after them and make them try to take risks, and Arsenal did that early on.We have not always seen Arsenal do that against City in recent seasons, but it paid off this time.When they did lose the ball, the Gunners' recovery after the transition was incredible. The athleticism of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard was exceptional and, alongside them, Thomas Partey had an unbelievable game.You could say the same about their whole team - everyone was at it, in terms of their commitment, but they kept their heads too.When City started to get back into the game, later in the first half when they began dictating possession and play, Arsenal were disciplined enough to sit and defend their goal.You cannot press and play with high energy for the full 90 minutes and Arsenal were streetwise enough not to exhaust themselves in the first half and to leave something in the tank.Their decision-making in terms of when to press and when to drop deep, together with their willingness to do so much running without the ball, was all part of the plan - and they executed it perfectly.
Going long to avoid the press
Arsenal's intensity and physicality was probably the most glaring difference between the two sides, and as the game went on it became too much for City to handle.Whatever was happening, even when they were soaking up pressure, Arsenal still had the energy to launch dangerous counter-attacks, and they ended up overpowering City.Again, that was not just down to one or two players. As well as the midfield, their two centre-halves are athletic and strong, and their full-backs are quick and willing to get after opponents and put their foot in.I think Kai Havertz deserves some credit as well, because after that big miss at 1-0, it would have been easy for him to feel sorry for himself. Instead he kept going, kept working hard, and got his goal in the end.Collectively, Arsenal's mentality was extremely impressive and, tactically, they were spot on too.One of the things I thought was particularly clever, and which was definitely a ploy by Arteta, was the amount of times their goalkeeper David Raya went long when he had the ball.Arsenal did not even appear too worried about whether they won the ball or not when Raya played it forward - they just did not want to give City the chance to press them.It meant that when City did get the ball this way, they were in their own half and a long way from goal, so Arsenal had a chance to set their defensive traps again.There were still times the Gunners played out from the back, when there was more space, but that was only because Raya had played so many long balls that City had dropped off to deal with them. Again, their variation was key.
The only team who can push Liverpool
City's recent issues and the fact they are not at their best should not take anything away from this Arsenal performance, because it was phenomenal.The frustration for Gunners fans must be that they have not always reached these levels when it has mattered this season.They must look back to their last home league game, and the two-goal lead they gave up in their 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, and wonder how they let that happen.I actually think Arsenal, at the back of their minds, will have regrets about most of the points they have dropped in this campaign - for example, when they could not score against Everton, or the three games where they went down to 10 men.This was the game where they really showed how good they can be. I still think they will push Liverpool in the title race - and that they are the only team that I feel are capable of going the distance with them.Liverpool have their game in hand, against Everton, on 12 February. That is a tougher prospect now than when the fixture was meant to be played on 7 December, but whether their lead afterwards is six or nine points, it is still a big gap for Arsenal to make up.
A new striker for Arteta?
What would definitely help Arsenal's chances is if they are able to bring in a new striker before the transfer window closes on Monday.I can see why Arteta likes Havertz so much, because of his game intelligence - when to press and when to drop - and he plays that role so well for the team.He misses a lot of chances, like he did on Sunday, which is why he has had a bit of stick recently but you can never doubt his work ethic and the value that brings.In an ideal world, Arteta would like a striker who does the same amount of work as Havertz and also scores more goals, but there are not too many of them about.Tottenham's Dominic Solanke is one, and so is Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins - which is why the Gunners have already made an offer for him.Both of those players are a little bit different to Havertz, because he was a 10 before so knows how to drop in and link play better, but I am not thinking about a replacement for him anyway.Arsenal are trying to win the Premier League and Champions League so it is more the case that, with Gabriel Jesus sidelined, they need an alternative for Havertz if he gets injured.They are not just going to sign any striker - he has to have the qualities Arteta needs - but there is definitely a hole to be filled there in their squad.If they don't bring anyone in on Monday, they could find themselves short at a crucial stage of the season. I'd be amazed if they let that happen.Danny Murphy was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.