MAN CITY 0, ARSENAL 0
Liverpool emerged the major victors after Manchester City and Arsenal cancelled out each other in a goalless stalemate at the Etihad.
What had been built up as a blockbuster turned did not live up to expectations and was not the spectacle everybody had hoped for.
City, as expected, dominated play enjoying 72 per cent possession, but did little in the final third as they had only one goal attempt which was on target.
The Gunners were quite comfortable defensively while their tactic was to try and catch City on the counter, but they had only two efforts which troubled keeper Stefan Ortega.
And the two points which slipped away from both teams enabled Liverpool, who came from behind to beat Brighton, to go top.
They are two points clear of Arsenal and three of City after 29 games and seemingly in pole position to give Jurgen Klopp a second league title in his swansong campaign.
Arsenal were able to take more positives from the game as this was the first time in 47 Premier League games at the Etihad in which City have failed to score, a run stretching back to October 2021. They were the first team to keep a clean sheet at the ground in 882 days.
It was also only the fourth time in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career that one of his teams have failed to score in both league games against a team – Borussia Monchengladbach (2014/15), Manchester United (2020/21) and Crystal Palace (2021/22).
Worryingly for City, they are winless against the current top five in the Premier League this season.
Guardiola said: “We would preferred to have won but we take a point. It was a hard game, but I am so proud of my team.
“We didn’t create much, but they defended really well and weren’t easy to break down, but we tried.
“We take the point and refresh minds for Wednesday against Aston Villa.”
Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta said: “It was a thrilling game, tough against a very demanding opponent.
“We competed very well, and this was the first time they had not scored at home in nearly three years.
“On the downside, we had big situations to score, but needed to show more composure.
“We wanted to win and, if not, make sure we drew. We continue to make steps as a team, but there are many more to come.
Embed from Getty Images“They are the best team in the world by far and they have the best manager by far and we have to try and catch them.”
Guardiola made two changes from their FA Cup win over Newcastle a fortnight ago as Kyle Walker, injured on England duty, was replaced by Nathan Ake, while Kevin De Bruyne came in for Jeremy Doku.
John Stones, who also suffered a knock during the international break, was fit enough for a place among the substitutes but first-choice goalkeeper Ederson remained out with Ortega continuing to deputise.
Arsenal, meanwhile, made just the one change from their most recent game, the Champions League penalty shootout win against FC Porto on March 12, as Gabriel Jesus replaced Leandro Trossard up front.
The big news for the Gunners was that Bukayo Saka was fit to start despite the injury scare that forced him to miss England’s friendlies against Brazil and Belgium. Gabriel Martinelli, however, was not risked from the start and was among the Arsenal substitutes.
Arsenal carved out the first clear-cut chance as Jesus fired narrowly wide in the seventh minute from Ben White’s floated cross.
Ake had a great opportunity to make a 15th minute breakthrough but the ball flew off his shoulder straight to David Raya from inside the six-yard box from De Bruyne’s corner.
City were forced into a change inside half an hour when Ake limped off to be replaced by Rico Lewis.
Jesus had another great chance showing nifty footwork on the edge of the box before dragging a shot narrowly wide.
City made a bright start to the second period as Mateo Kovacic bent an effort narrowly wide from 25 yards within two minutes of the restart.
After an hour of stalemate, Guardiola made two further changes as Phil Foden and Kovacic made way for Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish.
There was goalmouth activity apart from a late chance which fell to substitute Leandro Trossard but his angled shot was easily dealt with by the City keeper.