Arsenal Vs Manchester City [1-1] Premier League 2025/2026: Mikel Arteta Reactive Adjustments Vs Low-Possession Pep Guardiola – Tactical Analysis

Arsenal hosted Manchester City in matchweek 5 of the 2025/2026 Premier League season, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

This game saw a different Man City at the Emirates Stadium.

With just 33%, this was the lowest ball possession Pep Guardiola’s Man City have ever recorded in this fixture.

The visitors opened the scoring through a rapid counterattacking move after nine minutes, as Erling Haaland slotted it past David Raya with ease.

However, after a well-fought battle of over 90 minutes, the Gunners equalised through substitute Gabriel Martinelli in the third minute of injury time.

Although he would have wanted the three points, there are positives for Mikel Arteta from this contest.

Through this tactical analysis, we aim to identify what went wrong for Arsenal in the first half and how their personnel changes helped rectify the deficit in the second half, ultimately earning that well-deserved goal.

Arsenal Vs Manchester City Lineups & Formations

Lets examine how Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola have fielded their squads.

Arsenal Lineup Vs Manchester City

The hosts, Arsenal, played in a 4-3-3 formation.

David Raya started between the sticks, with a back four of Jurriën Timber (right-back), William Saliba (right centre-back), skipper Gabriel Magalhães (left centre-back), and Riccardo Calafiori (left back).

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