Is Arteta happy with a point against Man City?

Arsenal spent most of the time against Man City in their own half, more trying to prevent the opposition from scoring than to score themselves.

Perhaps the Gunners were playing for the draw, which they got in the end with the game finishing with a 0-0 scoreline. But Mikel Arteta insists that he wanted all three points.

However, the Arsenal head coach points out that the Gunners lost at the same ground 4-1 last season so a 0-0 draw is an improvement.

“No way can you be fully happy [with just a point],” the Basque told Sky Sports, as quoted by the BBC.

“Listen I think we have made a big step today. We had the experience of playing here last season and we have come across in a different way today. We played the game in an exceptional way, and in other parts of the game we could have done much better, especially with the ball in the final third.

“We didn’t have enough composure to play, and after we had some big, big moments to win the game.”

What was exceptional about the performance today?

“The commitment from the players,” Arteta said, “the discipline that they had in the defensive parts when we were really high up the pitch, we won the ball quite a few times. Then when they break the press, we tracked back and stayed deep.

“When they tried to move the structure we did really well to defend the box. We did really well. 2021 was the last time they did not score at home, three years, so that says how difficult it is.”