Manchester Metropolis suffered late heartbreak, as an harm time leveller from Gabriel Martinelli earned Arsenal a degree on the Emirates Stadium.
The Blues took an early lead by way of Erling Haaland’s inevitable purpose, however spent many of the remainder of the sport defending in opposition to wave after wave of Arsenal assault.
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Metropolis largely stored Arsenal at bay, limiting them to 2 pictures on course throughout the total recreation, earlier than their previous enemy of a protracted ball excessive caught out the backline and allowed Martinelli to lob the ball over a stranded Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the online.
Meaning seven factors from three very robust video games in every week, so is nonetheless an encouraging signal regardless of late disappointment.
Listed below are three issues we discovered from the attract North London:
The total again conundrum is solved for now
Metropolis had been incredible yesterday, and in some ways deserved three factors. It was a spirited, decided efficiency, epitomised by Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico O’Reilly.
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The Uzbekistan worldwide stored Leandro Trossard in his pocket within the first half. He senses hazard, instances his tackles supremely nicely and is tremendous composed and crisp together with his actions.
He went off at half time injured, and let’s give Matheus Nunes credit score, as a result of he got here on and performed nicely.
However Khusanov has confirmed himself to be Metropolis’s finest proper again and we will solely hope that his harm isn’t in any manner severe.
And on the opposite facet, O’Reilly would possibly nicely have been my man of the match. He reads the sport exceptionally nicely and is a robust, clever defender.
The best praise that may be given to him is that Rayan Ait-Nouti – Metropolis’s new £35 million signing from Wolves – can have a struggle on his fingers to win his place again within the crew.
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Pep is turning into a pragmatist
By no means, ever, did I feel I’d see a Metropolis efficiency beneath Pep Guardiola with simply 32% possession.
Metropolis clearly sensed that Arsenal’s midfield trio of Declan Rice, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi could be nowhere close to artistic sufficient to interrupt down a deep defence, while Haaland and Jeremy Doku on the different finish could lead on the Blues ahead on the counter.
That was how Haaland’s purpose was scored; a scrap in midfield broke to the Norwegian, who flicked it to Tijjani Reijnders and zoomed ahead into area.
Reijnders carried the ball ahead and waited to play the go on the good second to Haaland, who completed emphatically.
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It was initially shocking to see, however in some methods it wasn’t so. Haaland fits a transition recreation, and so does Doku. Reijnders additionally does when it comes to attacking, however wants to enhance with duel profitable (I’m positive he’ll.)
The backline, principally Ruben Dias, thrive in sitting deep and defending, while Donnarumma can address being put beneath strain as arguably the very best shot stopping goalkeeper on this planet.
It is sensible that Guardiola is adapting to swimsuit what he has in entrance of him, significantly after a trophyless season final yr.
He likes a fluid, possession based mostly system, however finally Guardiola’s precedence has all the time been to win.
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There’s a tremendous core to this squad
I don’t suppose many individuals would argue with the assertion that Metropolis have the very best goalkeeper, left footed centre again, defensive midfielder and striker within the Premier League, if not the world.
To get again to their prime stage, Metropolis simply must construct round these gamers with high quality and provides them time to gel as a crew.
And so they’re already doing that.
Reijnders has the potential to be an elite high quality eight, and Phil Foden has definitely proven he’s ok as a ten.
Rayan Cherki is an elite expertise who simply must adapt, Doku is coming to fruition and the likes of Omar Marmoush, Khusanov and Nico Gonzalez are clearly helpful gamers.
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From the academy, Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis and O’Reilly are on the very least helpful squad gamers. James Trafford is an effective backup goalkeeper, Rayan Ait-Nouri is a superb attacking left again and the older gamers in Mateo Kovacic, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Bernardo Silva might be phased out within the subsequent two seasons, however nonetheless have rather a lot to offer.
I don’t suppose we’ll see the best possible of Metropolis this season, because of the adaptation means of so many new gamers directly. However I don’t doubt that this group of gamers beneath Guardiola will compete for and win one other Premier League earlier than the Catalan leaves the shores of England.