Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal: What Were The Key Talking Points As The Title Contenders Settle For A Point At The Etihad?

In what was billed as a season-defining showdown from the Etihad on Sunday afternoon, Manchester City and Arsenal settled for what was a largely uneventful 0-0 stalemate.

While Sunday’s meeting might have been pencilled in as a real title six-pointer, neither side managed to find much fluidity in the final third and chances came at a real premium here.

Watching Liverpool clinch a turnaround 2-1 victory against Brighton just minutes before Sunday’s showdown got underway, both camps respectively missed out on the chance to climb to the top of the Premier League table.

Although Pep Guardola’s defending champions might have dominated possession for large spells on home soil, it will certainly be Arsenal who feel that they came out as a slight winner here.

With all eyes falling on the Etihad on Sunday afternoon, we have taken a look at the main talking points from the blue half of Manchester.

City miss their chance to make a season-defining statement

While Guardiola might have been more than aware that his side faced a stern examination here, Manchester City will certainly feel that they missed out on the chance to claim what could have been a season-defining victory.

Although Guardiola’s men might have made real history last season as they got their hands on a maiden Champions League crown, the former Barcelona boss has a real domestic tussle on his hands over the final couple of months.

Dropping points away at Anfield prior to March’s international break, the Sky Blues would have been disappointed by a largely toothless performance on home soil.

Only registering a single shot on target here, Man City also saw their 57-game goal streak at the Etihad come to an abrupt end on Sunday afternoon.

While the reigning Premier League champions might have demonstrated last season that they can mount a dominant charge to the finish line, their bid to make more domestic history looks set to be going down to the wire.

A point that Arsenal would have taken

Although the Gunners might have watched their remarkable Premier League winning run come to an end here, there is no doubt that many Arsenal fans would have snatched at a point had it been offered before kick-off.

While Mikel Arteta’s young squad might have suffered title frustration last season as they missed out on the chance to get their hands on a first Premier League crown since 2004, Sunday’s guests have continued to shine this time around.

Punching a Champions League quarter-final ticket prior to March’s international break and with a heavyweight showdown against German giants Bayern Munich approaching on the horizon, Arsenal should find the mood in their camp at a continued high.

Cutting off the supply line to Erling Haaland here and not really under much sustained pressure in their own penalty box, Arteta will be excited by his side’s rugged performances at the back.

Despite gaining a fearsome reputation for their free-scoring displays since opening the New Year, the Gunners have conceded just a single goal from any of their previous four outings.

Liverpool get their dream afternoon

While all of Sunday’s attention might have been stolen by proceedings at the Etihad, it is Liverpool who lead the chase at the top of the Premier League table.

Laying down a marker just minutes before Sunday’s showdown in Manchester got underway as they clinched a comeback 2-1 victory against Brighton, Jurgen Klopp’s men have certainly completed a dream return from March’s international break.

With every fan in the red half of Merseyside watching on and praying that both of their title rivals would drop a pair of crucial points, it is Liverpool who are certainly the real winners following Sunday’s 0-0 stalemate at the Etihad.

With Jurgen Klopp shockingly announcing his Anfield retirement plans back in January, the former Borussia Dortmund boss is desperate to sign off his iconic nine-year stay with another Premier League crown.

Although both Man City and Arsenal might still be tipped by many as the two leading contenders over the final couple of months, Liverpool have continued to show that they aren’t letting up.

Match Report

Manchester City: Ortega, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodri, Silva, De Bruyne, Kovacic, Foden, Haaland

Subs: Doku, Lewis, Grealish

Arsenal: Raya, White, Gabriel, Saliva, Kiwior, Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Jesus

Subs: Trossard, Tomiyasu, Partey, Martinelli

Goals: N/A

Yellow Cards: Raya, Jesus

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Anthony Taylor