The stats will have you believe Arsenal were overrun at Man City but this Gunners’ performance was full of cunning and maturity… and shows how much they’ve grown in the last 12 months

The better teams have a variety of match-defining blueprints in the locker that they can use depending on the opponent.

That is not new, although the best also have the courage to avoid their ego when necessary.

For Mikel Arteta, that equal measure of fear and respect for his mentor Pep Guardiola and the formidable Manchester City was translated into the match statistics.

Arsenal had 27 percent possession, 269 passes and 20 fouls. It contrasted with Man City’s 73 percent possession, 690 passes and nine fouls.

Taking a closer look at the numbers, this was the least amount of possession for the Gunners in a match this season.

The Gunners denied City’s players space and swarmed around them when they were out of possession

Arsenal had just 27 percent of the ball, the least possession they have had in a match this season

When asked why that was, Arteta said: ‘Brightness. Are you ready to follow 30 steps? And then, after recovering the ball, lose it and follow another 30 passes? Yes?

‘If so, then you are ready to play against Manchester City. It’s so important. If you’re not ready for that, you can’t play them.’

In the previous league match between these two sides, a 1-0 win over Arsenal in October, the North London club had 49 percent of the ball.

Following on from this approach was the composition of Arteta’s team on Sunday. Arguably Arsenal’s most powerful attacking force, Bukayo Saka was often spotted playing in defensive scenarios.

Saka even made four tackles, the most of any player on the pitch before his substitution in the 78th minute.

So despite eight consecutive wins in the league, Arteta had the shrewdness to step back with an eye to the bigger picture.

He had traveled to Manchester ready to return home with a point. You can’t blame him.

Despite the scoring chances, especially in the final minutes when Leandro Trossard failed to pick out Gabriel Martinelli and instead shot straight at Stefan Ortega, this is a good result for Arsenal. A very good one indeed.

Yes, a loss would have put Man City above them in the table.

But it is the scars left by the 4-1 humiliation at the hands of Guardiola’s men last April, which sealed Arsenal’s almighty title capitulation, that would once again have become somewhat visible, and are perhaps the most crucial element.

That could have had a knock-on effect for the matches to come, regardless of the opponent. And that is why Arteta deserves his credit, for maturity in a situation that could easily have been squandered by heightened euphoria after a stunning run that saw the Gunners take top spot in the competition with a Champions League quarter-final spot.

Lessons have clearly been learned since last April. The belief that the title this time is a realistic destination seems to be increasing.

Bukayo Saka made four tackles, more than any other player, during a demonstration of his defensive duties at the Etihad

Despite losing top spot in the Premier League, the Gunners will be happy with their performance

The returns of Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli add to a squad that possesses depth of strength that only Manchester City or Liverpool can match or even better.

Of course, there is still a long way to go. There are nine more league games to come, including an away match against north London rivals Tottenham. On March 31, 2023, Arsenal were eight points clear at the top of the table. At the end of the last campaign they were five points behind Man City.

Still, the point earned on Sunday feels like a big step forward towards their ultimate goal: title glory, rather than a nod to the side or backwards.